Intermediaries remain a vital asset in finance despite rise of AI: Adrian Stalley
Every industry across the UK is understandably focusing on the integration of AI and automation. Businesses can compare lenders online, submit applications at the click of a button and use AI to streamline processes that once took weeks.
At the same time, as the finance market becomes more complex, trusted expertise becomes more valuable, not less.
SMEs aren’t simply seeking access to funding. They’re looking for clarity, guidance and expertise. They want to speak to someone who understands the wider alternative finance market and the realities of running a business in this volatile economy. At their best, intermediaries and advisers do far more than source funding. They help ambitious businesses convert opportunity into action. They understand not just the numbers behind a deal, but the commercial momentum behind it.
This is just one reason why advisers have never been more valuable, for both clients and lenders.
Clients are increasingly asking questions that would have been rare just a few years ago: Who is funding the lender? How secure is the facility? What will happen if market conditions deteriorate? Will this lender be here to support me in a year’s time? No longer unusual, these queries are now part of everyday conversations.
In this climate, intermediaries do far more than just introduce clients to lenders. They help SMEs navigate an increasingly complex funding landscape, where human expertise frequently matters more than technology. Often the difference between a funded deal and a declined deal isn't the opportunity itself; it’s whether someone can recognise its potential. Experienced advisers know that context is everything.
Funding decisions are rarely just about the numbers. While algorithms can assess data quickly, an intermediary will understand the wider context of the deal and find the best lender for the job.
When businesses face uncertainty, the last thing they want is a chatbot. They need a reliable voice to help them make informed decisions specific to their needs, not an algorithm giving a simple ‘computer says yes or no’ answer.
Rising costs, uncertainty, regulation and sector pressures are creating a difficult landscape for businesses. In this environment, intermediaries are increasingly acting as trusted advisers and sounding boards, not just introducers.
The intermediary-client relationship is crucial, and just as valuable is the one between intermediary and lender. The best outcomes happen when all three parties are aligned.
The strongest partnerships create a shared understanding of how to deliver the best outcomes. Over time, intermediaries better understand a lender’s strategic advantages, while lenders in turn gain a clearer view of the opportunities that advisers can bring.
At Reward, those long-term connections mean we can offer what SMEs and advisers increasingly value most: decisive funding decisions, backed by the clarity and confidence that come from truly understanding both the intermediary and the business.
Technology will inevitably play a bigger role in finance. However, its value lies in supporting, not replacing, the human element.
In a market increasingly shaped by automation, the businesses that continue to grow will be those able to move quickly when opportunity presents itself. Technology will continue to make finance more efficient, yet ambition will always require understanding, judgement and trust. Which is why intermediaries remain such a vital part of the funding community.
Adrian Stalley is Reward Funding’s Head of Partnerships