Hewitt and PensionDCisions offer governance product

The consultant said its DC diagnostics service will help trustees and scheme sponsors to manage key issues and identify risks by providing independent data on process and administration quality – such as how quickly leavers’ statements are produced, members’ enquiries are handled and new members are signed up.

The service will also allow trustees and scheme sponsors to measure the speed of response of fund managers following member investment decisions.

It said it will additionally look at individual member behaviour – enabling trustees and scheme sponsors to develop tailored communications programmes for maximum impact.

Hewitt head of DC consulting Andrew Warwick-Thompson said the move would unbundled management information from administration and investment management.

He said: "While conventional measures of efficiency and performance may appear acceptable, they can often leave material issues among the underlying membership undetected.

"In order to manage these risks more effectively, it is vital to identify problems at a service provider and individual participant level – and at the earliest opportunity."

The diagnostics service will be available to all Hewitt clients and have the capability to interact with all major administrators and contract providers.