Embracing change, why don’t pension schemes re-platform?

In the ever-evolving world of pension management, staying ahead of the curve is crucial. Yet, many pension schemes find themselves stuck with outdated platforms, reluctant to make the leap to more modern solutions.

  • Not uncomfortable enough to move 
  • Lack of awareness of better solutions 
  • Perceived high cost of transition 
  • Concerns about impact on the admin team

The comfort zone

On the first point it’s clear that many schemes can be far from satisfied with their current provider but not so dissatisfied that they are actively seeking to move. Often a platform going out of support can be the trigger.

Believe in better

From first-hand experience of talking to pensions managers there’s a low expectation of what can be achieved by moving platform and the problems that can be solved. When they realise that better is possible, they get very interested.

Too expensive

The biggest barrier however can be the anticipated cost to move.

spoke to one pensions manager running a scheme with around 20,000 members. When they moved to their current platform some 10 years ago the cost was in the region of £1M! However, it’s important to consider that technology has evolved, and modern solutions often offer more cost-effective transition processes.

Internal cost to change

It’s not just the transition costs but the impact on staff and resourcing the transition internally. One scheme we spoke to found, the move to their current platform very hard as a lot of the sign off on calculation testing fell on the admin team, who were flat out running the scheme on a day-to-day basis. They vowed never to move again! However, modern platforms have streamlined these processes, significantly reducing the burden on internal teams. 

A modern solution

Mantle relative to many legacy platforms can transform the experience for administrator and member alike. Mantle offers: 

  • 100% calculation automation
  • Integrated payroll, treasury and accounts  
  • Integrated actuarial for live valuations
  • Member self-serve in the bundle
  • Pensions Dashboards ready 

This creates efficiency, saves money and delivers a better experience for administrators and ultimately the member. 

The cost effective transition


We know from clients that our transition costs are a fraction of others. There’s a number of reasons for this. 

A highly configurable solution. No development required or black box coding of calculations for even the most complex benefit structures. 

 No rocket scientists required. Skilled administrators can set up Mantle reducing setup costs. 

Making it easy

Moving platform is undoubtedly a significant undertaking for any scheme, even if the benefits are clear. 
Calculation testing can have a big dependency on the in house team.

Wind forward to a modern system with a different approach to onboarding and the cost to transition is a fraction of what was paid previously and the call on the admin team minimised.  

Embracing the future of re-platforming

Don’t let the fear of change hold your scheme back. Explore the possibilities of modern pension management software and take the first step towards a more efficient, cost-effective, and member-focused future. Your administrators—and more importantly, your members—will thank you for it.

For further information on re-platforming and what Mantle can offer,
visit our website www.mantleservices.com or contact us at enquiries@mantleservices.com  


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Mantle Services appoints new Chief Commercial Officer

Mantle Services (Mantle), the pensions administration and actuarial software provider and part of the 3173 Group alongside Dalriada Trustees and Spence & Partners, today announces the appointment of James Whittingham as Chief Commercial Officer.

James has a track record of building new ventures in high-growth industries, as well as considerable commercial and operational expertise in sectors including investment, technology, FinTech and HRTech.

James joins Mantle from TalentClouds, a HRTech firm, where he was Chief Executive Officer overseeing their growth to 1,000+ monthly clients utilising their employee onboarding and background screening platform. Prior to this, James was General Manager at Liberis, a FinTech lending firm where he was part of the founding team in 2013. Here he managed teams across Sales, Customer Success, Operations, and Marketing. By the time of James’ departure in 2021, the business had facilitated over £500m in lending across nine countries. Beyond this, James has been an active board member, advisor, and founding investor in several other high-growth companies across FinTech, Consumer Retail, and Technology Consulting.

James holds a Masters degree from the University of Cambridge in Philosophy in Management and Finance, following a Bachelors in Computer Science from the University of Teesside.

James Whittingam, Chief Commercial Officer of Mantle commented:

“I’m thrilled to join Mantle at such an exciting time and to be a part of such an innovative company transforming the pensions space through technology. The firm’s commitment to providing real-time tailored solutions aligns with the industry’s increasing need for advanced administration and actuarial software. I look forward to working closely with the team, using my experience in launching innovative initiatives to drive further growth for Mantle and provide great value to our clients.”

Mike Selby, Managing Director of Mantle commented:

“We are delighted to welcome James to the firm. Mantle is at the forefront of the provision of up-to-date, tailored pensions data information. Trustees, administrators and members are currently seeking ever more technologically advanced defined benefit software. Through his deep commercial experience and his work at a number of early-stage companies, James brings precisely the right set of expertise to ensure that Mantle is able to tap into this demand.”


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