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Moving decision rights from people into systems

The largest gains came from where decisions were made, not from working faster.

SectorFinancial services
Period2019–2024
RoleTransformation and operational efficiency roles
90%of manual underwriting automated
7,000manual triggers a year removed
3distribution channels

Context

Across five years of operational transformation, the pattern that produced the outsized results was consistent, and it was not effort or headcount.

Intervention

Process automation within data systems, which moved decision-making responsibility from individuals into the system — for pricing, risk management, approval and dependent operational processes.

Outcome

  • Automated 90% of manual underwriting and pricing for the client segments in scope, exceeding the original target.
  • Removed 7,000 annual manual triggers across pricing, risk and dependent processes.
  • Reduced operational drag nationally across three distribution channels.

Why it matters

This is a position, not a tactic: the constraint is usually where a decision sits, not how hard the person making it is working.