The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many lenders in supply chain finance to pivot their strategies to the online or digital environment. This may include payment modifications, self-service capabilities, and increased bandwidth for online transactions. The supply chain industry has been traditionally slow to embrace new technologies, relying on legacy philosophies and outdated systems. For many, COVID-19 has exposed critical technological gaps in their lender business tools, systems, and processes. Lenders who remain ahead of the curve are utilizing digital transformation to enhance their overall performance to streamline their processes. 

The key to consistent growth and stability of any powerful company or organization is built by a strong foundation. This remains true for equipment finance lenders in the supply chain. In theory, lenders should have the capability to build from their existing processes, procedures, and platforms. However, not all of them do. Advanced technology will allow for more sophisticated additions to be built from simple foundations. According to ABI Research, now more than ever, strategies need to be reshaped and plans need to be adjusted. 

Identifying Areas of Need

Lenders who service the supply chain are affected differently depending on their market segment and their loan origination process. Considering this recent shift in business spending habits, now would be an ideal time for lenders to reevaluate their lending strategy. When the market is down, lenders experience even more competition and uncertainty. To remain competitive themselves, lenders will need to connect with potential buyers across all shopping channels including online, mobile and through the equipment manufacturers. Making quick lending decisions can be the difference between a borrower choosing one lender over another. 

Engaging your borrowers at different levels through the various channels that they utilize most should be a top priority. For example, shoppers today spend much of their time utilizing mobile and online channels to shop various equipment manufacturers and options. They will research through non- traditional methods, and many will look to secure financing online – a process that will continue as we all practice “social distancing.” 

Other companies are looking to change their financing structures altogether. According to a recent survey from Fleet Advantage, a provider of lease financing for fleets, roughly 50% of fleets have trucks older than 2017 and are leveraging equipment lease finance programs as a way to upgrade and save on the bottom line. 

Merging Antiquated Systems 

Today’s loan origination platforms and solutions can support all market channels to access borrowers from supply chain businesses of all sizes. They can also be integrated with manufacturer software so borrowers can initiate loan applications at any time from the convenience of their mobile phones, opening new lending opportunities that may otherwise be missed. What’s more, the built-in AI technology will also help ensure the lender is offering the right terms for each individual customer or business. 

In the wake of COVID-19, lenders should expect that transactions will be moved to the online marketplace. Not only in the near term, but in the future post-pandemic. The transactions will not simply be handled the way they were in years past, where a lender requests information from a customer such as business financials. Instead, the entire process from application to delivery of equipment will be handled online. Lenders utilizing technology to approach the market in a more direct way will have a competitive advantage and will be ready to take advantage of new business buying patterns and behaviors. 

Strengthening Digital Solutions 

Now more than ever, businesses are looking for ways to relieve themselves of payments in the near-term. Strong lending technology partners are offering creative ways for lenders to not only retain business but win new business during this time. Some lending technology partners are offering their customers curated programs that allow them to contact existing customer businesses to offer them refinancing on their equipment finance loans. 

For example, if a business is a long-term customer with a specific bank, yet their equipment is financed through another vendor, that bank would be smart to contact that customer regarding the refinance of their loan. If the bank can offer incentives such as no short-term payments, the customer is likely to take advantage of the offer, which only further solidifies the customer's loyalty to that bank. With interest rates seemingly low, anything the bank refinances now will be a better deal than what the business could finance two or three years ago.

Planning for Recovery

The sudden shift in working environments has only amplified the need for equipment finance lenders to update their tools and processes. It is critical to include digital and cloud-based options for customers who are now forced into remote working situations. The industry need for technological advancement is clearer than ever before. Companies that learn from the current business challenges and adopt agile solutions will remain more flexible and fluid in times of economic recession and can better prepare themselves for recession recovery. 

Vladimir Kovacevic is co-founder and managing partner of Inovatec, a provider of cloud-based lending software solutions.