For years, merchant cash advances have been a lifeline for small enterprises (SMEs) that are overlooked by traditional banks. SMEs need MCA funders, who in turn need the right tools to reach and better serve SMEs.
And now, thanks to how far and quick technology is taking us, MCA funders are closing more deals, faster than ever before. In other words, more SMEs are securing the funding they need to thrive.
But here’s the catch—more and more, we’re recognizing just how important human interaction is in building customer trust.
In a period dominated by digital-first strategies, we can’t forget about valuing genuine, personal connections between enterprises and their customers.
Below, we’ll share how your MCA funding operation can strike the perfect balance between cutting-edge technology and that essential personal touch.
The Technology Behind MCA Funding
While many times invisible to our day-to-day tasks, there’s a lot of technology that powers the entire MCA funding process—managing everything from applications to repayments, while ensuring that funding flows smoothly and efficiently.
The most robust funding platforms rely on this technology, which comes in diverse forms, such as:
- Database management: Essential for storing and managing data regarding applications, approvals, disbursements, and repayments. These systems provide a centralized library that helps funders track each stage of the funding process.
- Document management: Used for digitizing, categorizing, and storing critical documents like applications, contracts, and financial reports—which help to boost team efficiency and enable compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Financial management: Ideal for tracking and managing transactions like disbursements and repayments. By providing real-time insights into cash flow, funders can make more informed allocation decisions.
- Reporting tools: Vital for generating reports on funding activities and performance metrics. These tools help funders analyze data, evaluate their strategies, and highlight areas for improvement—all while adhering to regulatory requirements.
Meanwhile, emerging technologies are set to further revolutionize the merchant cash advance funding process and landscape—leading to smarter funding decisions and better support for business growth:
- Artificial intelligence (AI) holds promise (and reality) for streamlining application processing, assessing risk through machine learning, detecting fraud in real-time, providing customer support via chatbots, and more.
- Internet of Things (IoT) can gather real-time data on business operations and project outcomes, improving predictive analytics and reporting capabilities, while also helping with inventory management.
- Cloud computing enhances the MCA funding process by providing secure, centralized data storage, facilitating collaboration, and offering powerful analytics—all while delivering scalable and cost-effective IT infrastructure.
- Decision engines automate risk assessments and enable faster decision-making, which streamlines the approval workflow. These tools also continuously learn from new data to improve accuracy and ensure compliance.
Combined, these tools are increasingly making the funding experience ever-smoother and more streamlined—helping merchant cash advance funders operate more effectively, while giving merchants the financial support they need to thrive.
The Benefits of Automation in MCA Funding
A key theme in the technologies mentioned above is the power of automation.
Every MCA funder knows how labor-intensive funding can be. So by automating nearly every stage of the lending process, your business can achieve all kinds of benefits.
Efficiency
Automation significantly reduces manual work by streamlining virtually every step of the MCA funding process. For example, automated underwriting can quickly analyze applicant data, speeding up decision-making. Plus, automation can handle collections tasks like payment reminders and follow-ups, removing the need to constantly send out manual messages.
Accuracy
In the merchant cash advance funding world, even a small mistake can have big consequences. Automation helps reduce human errors, ensuring accuracy in data entry and decision-making. For instance, funders using automated data validation tools can keep data consistent, cutting down the risk of costly errors.
Cost Savings
Tasks that once required many employees can now be handled by automated systems, creating a leaner operation. Automation also speeds up the funding cycle, leading to faster disbursements and lower admin costs. For example, automated application reviews reduce processing times from days to hours, giving funders more time to focus on other tasks.
Transparency
Automation boosts transparency for MCA funders by providing clear audit trails that capture every step of the funding journey. With organized information readily available, funders can quickly spot issues and opportunities, allowing them to make smarter decisions while fostering a greater sense of accountability throughout the whole process.
Risk Management
Automation helps MCA funders track borrower data in real time, allowing them to spot potential portfolio risks before they escalate. Plus, automated reporting gives insights into key performance indicators, making it easier for funders and merchants to make informed decisions while staying compliant with changing regulations.
Customer Experience
Automation optimizes funder communications by sending out payment reminders, personalized promotional offers, and tailored account updates. This keeps merchants in the loop at every step of the process—from application to repayment and beyond—and creates a smoother, more transparent, and trustworthy experience for customers.
The Importance of the Human Touch in MCA Funding
Absolutely, automation does a great job of crunching numbers and analyzing data.
But the real magic in a successful MCA funding operation lies in relationships—and only the human touch can unlock its full potential.
Here’s why the human element is so vital when working with merchants.
Building Relationships
When you take the time to get to know the SMEs you’re funding, you create an open environment for communication. Customers can feel more comfortable sharing their concerns and goals with you, making it easier for everyone involved to achieve their goals.
Providing Personalized Support
Because each client has unique needs and challenges, a one-size-fits-all approach to service just won’t work. This is where human judgment becomes essential, to grasp the context and nuances of each customer’s situation so you can tailor products and support to their needs.
Empathizing With Merchants
Many merchants seeking merchant cash advances come from minority or underrepresented groups—in fact, in the U.S. there’s a higher percentage of immigrant-owned SMEs. This makes cultural sensitivity essential, as understanding diverse backgrounds enhances the funding experience.
While automation streamlines processes, it often lacks the personal touch needed to build trust. But by showing genuine empathy, funders can create a more inclusive and supportive environment for these merchants.
Ensuring Accountability
Human oversight is key to making sure MCA funds are used correctly and that projects stay on track. Unlike automation, which can overlook nuances and context, human reviewers can spot potential issues in applications and prevent unethical practices with a more discerning eye. This personal touch helps maintain the integrity of MCA funding programs.
Best Practices for MCA Funders
So how do you go about finding the perfect mix of automation and human interaction? Here are some best practices to guide you.
- Identify the right tasks for automation vs. humans. Start by figuring out which tasks are ideal for automation, such as credit evaluations and generating advanced reports. Save the tasks that need a personal touch—like building relationships and making nuanced decisions—for your team members.
- Use automation to enhance (not replace) human interactions. Automated systems should only be used to support one-on-one communications—not to fully replace the human connection. For instance, automated reminders can help keep the lines of communication open while still allowing for personal engagement.
- Provide training and guidelines to your team. Today’s top automation tools are generally quite user-friendly. That said, you shouldn’t leave employees to guess about you to use them. Instead, provide them with clear instructions for using these tools effectively—including when to rely on technology, and when to engage directly with merchants.
- Regularly evaluate effectiveness. Ask staff how the automation is affecting their workflows, and whether they’re getting more done. Similarly, reach out to merchants to see if your blend of automation and human interaction is meeting their needs. Doing so will help you make informed adjustments, ensuring your automation effectively supports your goals.
By thoughtfully integrating both automation and human interaction, you can enhance all kinds of efficiencies while still maintaining that unique personal touch that fosters successful relationships with merchants.
Onyx IQ: Automation With a Heart
In a crowded marketplace where everyone seems to promise the same thing, it’s tough for SME owners to determine which MCA funder can truly meet their needs. That’s why striking a balance between technology and personal client service is so important.
After all, trust and relationships are built between people—not machines—and without that human touch, merchants can feel lost when making decisions about their money.
Therefore, merchant cash advance funders that focus on putting the customer first are the ones that will grow and thrive, while those that ignore this will likely get left behind.
By blending powerful automated technology with authentic connections, your MCA team can focus on what truly matters and forge partnerships that lead to lasting success.
Onyx IQ’s automated end-to-end loan management platform is designed to supercharge your MCA funding company. We automate what needs to be automated—and free your time to focus on the human interactions that matter.
Ready to take your lending to the next level with automation—and reclaim time for nurturing client relationships? Schedule your free demo today.
