Many pension scheme trustees and sponsors could be underestimating the scale of the challenge and the level of preparation required ahead of pensions dashboards, Isio partner and head of administration, Girish Menezes, has warned.

Speaking to Pensions Age, Menezes said that the pensions dashboard represents a "watershed moment" for the industry - not just in terms of enhancing member engagement but also in improving the quality of schemes' data, processes, and governance.

However, he warned that many are underestimating the preparation required, arguing that, without clearly defined trustee rules, a signed-off benefit specification, and well-cleansed data, there is a "significant risk" that schemes will struggle to meet their dashboard obligations on time or, worse, deliver an incomplete or inaccurate experience to members.

"This is not just a compliance exercise that can be delayed or approached reactively," he said, continuing: "While there is some uncertainty about the live date, the initial tests suggest the dashboard will go live sooner than many in the industry anticipate. This means trustees must act now.

"From the moment a scheme connects, the information displayed must be accurate and reliable. There will be no second chances.

"Trustees should see this as an opportunity - not just to comply with dashboard requirements but to tackle long-standing administration challenges, review scheme rules, and ensure their data is buyout ready.

"Addressing these issues now will be more cost-effective than waiting, as the pool of technically competent administration experts is shrinking, and the costs of data and administration improvements are expected to rise exponentially in the future."

With the first schemes already connecting to the dashboard, Menezes argued that the pensions industry's focus of the industry needs to shift.

"Deadlines and staging windows are important, but this moment must be seen as a bigger opportunity to modernise pension administration for the long term," he said.

"By treating administration as a strategic priority rather than a back-office task, schemes can build a foundation for better self-service, improved data quality, and enhanced member outcomes.

"Those who approach this moment strategically will not only meet their obligations but also set themselves up for long-term success. Those who delay risk higher costs, greater challenges, and missed opportunities to improve member outcomes."

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