Blend Support Timeline: Encompass Web integration - FAQs

As ICE promotes their Encompass Web Client and phases out support for certain SDKs in the Smart Client by October 2025, Blend is actively preparing to support this transition with a comprehensive Encompass Web integration.

Here’s what to expect:

• Support for Encompass Web: Blend will now manage the entire end to end integration with the Encompass Web Client (including disclosures workflows) within our first party integration framework that is actively in development. Blend’s integration with the Web Client is expected to be backwards compatible with Encompass Smart Client, removing the need for customers to rely on a third party plugin starting in late Q2 2025, per ICE’s roadmap for the 25.2 release. Although we don’t expect this update to require significant engineering work from customers, we recommend allocating resources to manage small configuration changes and to support any required testing in advance of rolling out the new Blend integration.
• Pilot Program: Starting in Q1 2025, Blend will open up a pilot program for Encompass Web. Customers who express interest and meet our selection criteria will be eligible to participate in the Encompass Web pilot program. If you're interested in joining the pilot, please reach out to your Blend representative for more details on eligibility requirements.
• Blend Integration Partners:  Blend maintains strong partnerships with Kensie Mae and Mace to support the current disclosure workflow via the Encompass Smart Client Desktop. Our collaboration will persist in supporting lender use cases reliant on the Encompass Smart Client.
• Existing integration is supplemented with Encompass Web specific integrations: Blend’s existing data & docs integration using Encompass Developer Connect is compatible with Encompass Web and will not be changing. Our roadmap includes supporting specific workflows that today rely on a plugin and in the future will rely on Encompass Developer Connect or Encompass Partner Connect integrations.

For more information, feel free to review our FAQ page below. For any questions on the release timing, we encourage you to connect with your ICE partner directly for the latest updates. 

1. When will Blend fully support the Encompass Web integration?

Blend is committed to providing seamless support as ICE transitions to a fully web-based Encompass experience. Our integration with the Encompass Web Client is currently in pilot, with wider rollout expected in Q2 2025 and beyond. 

• Pilot Program: Blend will launch a pilot program for Encompass Web starting in Q1 2025
• Full Support (GA): We anticipate general availability (GA) for Encompass Web support by mid-2025.

2. Can you ensure that Blend will support Encompass Desktop without the use of SDKs after October 31, 2025?
Yes, Blend will continue to fully support our Encompass customers following ICE’s SDK deprecation on October 31, 2025, without requiring SDKs. However, this support for Encompass Desktop is contingent on ICE’s delivery of the disclosures framework update, currently on their roadmap for a mid Q2 2025 release (Encompass 25.2). This update is expected to provide backward compatibility between Encompass Web and the Smart Client by allowing customers to access the Web version of the eFolder in Encompass Desktop. Customers will be required to enable One Time Password (in Encompass eFolder) and SkyDrive (in Encompass eFolder) to migrate.

3. What support is Blend providing for disclosures workflow in Encompass Web?

Blend will manage the disclosures workflow through our own integration framework integrated to Encompass via Encompass Partner Connect.

4. Who is eligible to participate in the Encompass Web pilot program?

Customers who express interest and meet our selection criteria will be eligible to participate in the Encompass Web pilot program. If you're interested in joining the pilot, please reach out to your Blend representative for more details on eligibility requirements.

5. Which connections rely on the third party plugins versus the Blend owned integrations?

Blend currently owns the outbound integration for data and documents to Encompass. Our third party partners offer plugins that primarily handle inbound integrations to Blend. As a part of our Encompass Web integration, these inbound integrations will be transitioned to Blend owned integrations fully powered by Encompass APIs.

6. Will the upcoming Encompass release allow Blend to automate disclosures to third parties?
Automating disclosures with the new integration is not planned in H1 2025. We hope to have more updates on this going into H2 2025 and beyond.

7. Will Blend support both the SmartClient and Web versions of Encompass?

Support for the disclosures framework for the new integration is on ICE's roadmap for the 25.2 release, which is expected in mid Q2 2025.

8. Will our team need to build Blend’s APIs directly?

No, Blend is handling the scope of work required to ensure compatibility with Encompass Web. In most cases, customers will only need to make minimal configuration changes in Encompass to facilitate API-driven processes, such as disclosure transmission.

9. Will Blend’s partnerships with Kensie Mae and Mace continue?

Yes, Blend will continue collaborating with Kensie Mae and Mace to support disclosure workflows for lenders using Encompass Smart Client Desktop. This support will continue until customers fully transition to Encompass Web or a fully Blend owned integration.

10. Will Blend’s existing data and document integration work with Encompass Web?

Yes, Blend’s current data and docs integration, which uses Encompass Developer Connect, is fully compatible with Encompass Web and does not require any changes.

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