This week at the Auto Intel Summit in Cary, North Carolina, F&I Sentinel Chief Product Officer Kat Venner-Fowler joined Auto Remarketing Senior Editor Nick Zulovich for a fast-paced, live speed session that puts data integrity in the F&I product compliance space squarely in the spotlight.
Kat broke down what many in the industry have suspected but haven’t yet named: dirty data is quietly cutting into lender profitability, creating compliance risk, and diminishing the consumer experience.
“We’re seeing a critical failure in data integrity within the F&I product sector,” Kat shared. “Manual double data entry and a lack of centralized data sources are creating a perfect data storm. For lenders aiming for same-day funding and dealer and consumer satisfaction, prioritizing data standardization and automation is no longer optional—it’s imperative.”
Her message is clear: data is not just an IT issue—it’s a profitability issue, a compliance issue, and a trust issue. And it’s holding the industry back.
During the session, Kat outlined three key challenges F&I Sentinel sees every day working with our clients spanning lenders and F&I product companies as well as dealers across the industry.
1. Bundled F&I products + a patchwork of ever-changing regulations = complexity and higher risk of getting data wrong.
As F&I product bundles become more complex and state-by-state compliance requirements continue to evolve, many lenders are left even more unsure of what they’re actually financing. The result? Costly funding errors and time-consuming contract rewinds.
2. Disconnected systems are breaking the data chain.
Lenders, dealers, Fintechs and F&I product administrators often use different data naming conventions, formats, and technologies. This fragmentation creates delays in F&I product funding, servicing disruptions, and a growing disconnect between originations and downstream functions.
3. Manual processes stand in the way of same-day funding.
In too many instances, lenders still rely on scanned documents and manual rekeying from image files such as jpgs. This outdated approach introduces errors, slows down funding and ultimately degrades the consumer experience.
Structured, centralized data is essential to achieve the speed, accuracy, and transparency today’s market demands.
F&I Sentinel is leading the charge to fix this. We’re building the data infrastructure that a modern F&I product marketplace demands that normalizes F&I product naming conventions, formats and how they are captured communicated across the ecosystem. The F&I Sentinel managed compliance solutions ensure that what’s being sold is what’s being financed, serviced, and ultimately, honored.
Clean, structured, and compliant data is the foundation for faster funding, fewer errors, and stronger customer relationships. It’s also the key to protecting lenders from regulatory pitfalls while enabling them to scale confidently in a digital-first world. At F&I Sentinel, we believe the future of F&I product compliance starts with data integrity. And we’re here to help the industry get there.
Connect with us to learn how we’re driving data standardization across the F&I lifecycle—from originations through servicing: https://fandisentinel.com/contact-us/
About Auto Intel Summit [AIS & NRC]
AIS & NRC unites leaders in technology and finance to explore the evolving future of the automotive industry. Attendees will uncover key trends, innovations, and disruptions shaping how customers shop for, buy, and lease vehicles. The summit dives deep into the digital transformation of automotive retail, finance, and remarketing, offering insights on regulatory shifts, investment strategies, and real-world B2B and B2C applications of cutting-edge technologies. Join us to navigate the forefront of innovation and drive the future of automotive engagement.
