turning delay into advantage: keeping momentum through market transformation

With delivery timelines continuing to extend, many in the market are asking the same question: what’s the real impact, and what should firms be doing now to maintain momentum?

the impact of delay

The pushback in delivery dates is not without consequence. Firms now face several operational and strategic challenges:

• Dual-running pain: Legacy and new systems will co-exist for years, adding both cost and complexity.
• Planning fatigue: Repeated shifts in timelines create uncertainty and slow decision-making.
• Readiness risk: Fragmented adoption could erode the benefits of standardisation.
• Competitive drag: London risks falling behind faster-moving markets like Bermuda or Singapore.

keeping the momentum

While the delay presents challenges, it also creates a valuable window of opportunity. Firms can use this time to strengthen foundations and stay ahead:

• Fix the data: Enhance data quality and governance now, ahead of the Core Data Record. These improvements also yield strong internal efficiencies.
• Stay flexible: Invest in middleware and APIs to bridge legacy and future systems.
• Stay engaged: Participate in market pilots and testing programmes to be ready early.
• Plan scenarios: Budget for dual-running into the late 2020s to manage costs proactively.
• Align with partners: Ensure brokers, carriers and vendors share a consistent roadmap.
• Upskill teams: Use the extra time to build capability, strengthen data literacy and embed change.

Delays bring short-term pain, but the direction of travel remains clear. Firms that keep their foot on the pedal investing in data, integration, and people will turn today’s breathing space into tomorrow’s competitive edge.

beyond compliance: a market-wide transformation

Blueprint Two isn’t just about meeting compliance requirements it represents a market-wide transformation. By reshaping technology, data, workflows and culture, it sets the foundation for a more flexible, data-driven and cost-efficient future.

Those who prepare early will gain the most. But success won’t come from technology alone it’s about a mindset shift. The winners will rethink how they approach data, processes, people and partnerships.

the pillars of preparation

• Data Integrity: Treat data as a core asset. Audit its quality and lineage, and correct issues at the source for lasting accuracy.
• Architectural Agility: Future-proof technology through ACORD, eBOT and eCOT readiness. Prioritise an API-first, modular approach in collaboration with vendors.
• Operational Excellence: Simplify and automate core workflows. Use early piloting to refine and de-risk adoption.
• Cultural Investment: Build organisational resilience through data literacy, change-readiness and dedicated data steward roles.
• External Partnership: Drive ecosystem-wide adoption by engaging brokers, platforms and working groups validating integrations through Vanguard testing.
• Value-Driven Rollout: Deliver measurable business value through phased adoption, careful dual-running and the pursuit of high-impact quick wins.

a smarter, digital-first market

The goal is clear: to build a digital-first, data-driven market that works smarter for everyone. Firms that act now refining their data, modernising their architecture and empowering their people won’t just be ready for what’s next. They’ll help define it.