Aaron Lloyd reads. A lot. Five books a week, thousands of pages, countless ideas filtering through his mind. Some see books as entertainment or education—Aaron sees them as fuel. Analytical frameworks, cutting-edge fiction, human psychology—every page shapes how he sees the world, technology, and the future of the title industry.
And that future? It’s not just about having data—it’s about using it. Not just refining processes, but reinventing them. The title industry is old—centuries old. There’s no magic reset button, but there are ways to make it faster, smarter, and more efficient. With over 20 years in title and tech, Aaron knows one thing for certain: the industry will either evolve, or it will be replaced.
From Closing Deals to Building Solutions
Aaron’s career isn’t just about title—it’s about transformation. As a senior national commercial closer, he handled transactions across 26 states, working with REITs, defense contractors, and Fortune 500 companies. But living and dying by a monthly balance sheet left him wanting more. He saw technology as the force multiplier the industry needed. So, he pivoted.
He joined ResWare, diving deep into enterprise software, implementation, and engineering. Then came Qualia. Then Shaddock. In under four years, he built an entire application support and engineering team—bringing third-party tools in-house, developing services that had never existed before, and unlocking the power of data analytics. His team isn’t just integrating systems—they’re redefining how title and escrow operate at scale.
The Industry’s Biggest Missed Opportunity? Data.
For all the talk of innovation, title has lagged behind. The biggest technological advancements haven’t come from within—they’ve come from adjacent industries. Lenders have pushed further than title companies. Real estate agents have seen more tech investment. Meanwhile, title has focused on tools that serve realtors rather than transforming its own workflows.
That’s where Aaron is focused—on how data can actually change the game.
“Title is a data-driven industry, but we haven’t treated it that way,” he says. “Silicon Valley and fintech have built entire business models around data, while title is just waking up. If we don’t figure this out now, someone else will.”
And that’s the real risk. Technology providers aren’t just building tools for title companies—they’re positioning themselves to replace them. Lenders, hungry for control, see title as an obstacle, not a necessity. If title professionals don’t take ownership of their data, the industry as we know it may not survive.
Where Title Innovation Is Actually Happening
Aaron doesn’t believe in innovation for its own sake. He believes in targeted, measurable improvements that make businesses run better. Right now, he’s focused on four key areas:
- Containerization – Deploying applications in self-contained environments, making them more secure and scalable. If something goes wrong, you don’t patch—you destroy and rebuild in minutes.
- Infrastructure as Code – Automating infrastructure configurations to make systems faster, more secure, and adaptable.
- Data Laking – Aggregating and normalizing data across companies to unlock real insights.
- Machine Learning and AI – Using technology to free up humans for high-value work—not replacing people, but elevating them.
Yet his biggest frustration? The industry still isn’t leveraging its own data. Title companies sit on years of transaction history, market trends, and risk analysis. But most don’t even know how to access it. If they don’t start using it, someone else will.
The Shift to Shared Data and Industry-Wide Evolution
The last few decades were about digitizing title. The next will be about what we do with that data. As consolidation accelerates and national players expand, independent title companies must embrace collaboration—or risk obsolescence.
Over the next 5 to 10 years, Aaron predicts:
- Standardization will dominate – Proprietary processes will give way to streamlined, integrated systems.
- Shared data models will be essential – Companies that resist collaborative, data-driven solutions will struggle to compete.
- Technology will drive decisions – Title must evolve from one-off transactions to a continuous, data-powered system.
But resistance to change persists. Legacy processes and the “this is how we’ve always done it” mindset are making the industry vulnerable.
“Tech providers are moving in. Lenders want more control. If we don’t step up and own our processes and data, someone else will,” Aaron warns.
Looking Ahead: What Comes Next
Aaron’s role at Shaddock isn’t just about improving one company—it’s about shaping the future of title at scale. His focus? Integrating 21+ acquired companies into a unified enterprise and educating the industry on strategic growth.
Too many title owners don’t fully understand how they make money, where they lose money, or what drives profitability. Without that knowledge, growth is accidental—not strategic.
For Aaron, the future of title isn’t just about better software—it’s about a mindset shift. Title companies must think like tech companies—because if they don’t, tech companies will think like title companies and take over.
The industry is at a turning point. Data is the key. The only question is: Who will use it first?
And with all that disruption ahead, the real mystery might be this: How will Aaron still find time to devour five books a week?
The Growth & Scale Report is published by CloseSimple, and explores strategies for growth and tools for scaling your title or escrow company. The report emphasizes the art of balancing growth and scale, with a focus on personal and organizational success stories. It aims to share insights from industry leaders who have navigated these challenges, providing a platform for broader conversations in the business landscape.
