The mortgage industry is chasing artificial intelligence, but many lenders are missing the real foundation for transformation. In this conversation, Allison LaForgia sits down with Larry Bailey, Founder and CEO of Mortgage Workflow Partners, to explore why workflow, not technology hype, determines whether innovation actually works. Drawing on decades of experience in mortgage operations and technology, Bailey explains why workflow optimization is critical before adopting AI, what a “native-first” approach really means, and why many misunderstand their own processes. The discussion explores what separates lenders that successfully modernize from those that struggle, and why workflow discipline is critical for navigating market cycles.
Bailey reflected on his early experiences in mortgage technology and what ultimately inspired him to start Mortgage Workflow Partners. “After all that time in mortgage . . . when I went to work for Ellie Mae back in 2012 to actually implement Encompass for clients…I’d ask people at that time for your documented workflow. I never got a good answer. It was always either zero, we have nothing, or we have something, but it’s really old,” he said.
