Start Digital Merchant Onboarding with MIMOIQ in Minutes and Beat Your Competition

Merchant Onboarding 22

Start Digital Merchant Onboarding with MIMOIQ in Minutes and Beat Your Competition

Merchant onboarding refers to the stage of the first encounter between a sales organization’s payment processing partners and new merchants. The stage is crucial to launching the underwriting process, which eventually defines the risk profile of a merchant. Avoiding this risk is essential to protect a business from financial losses. Moreover, it also helps the independent sales organization find trustworthy merchants. Therefore, merchant onboarding is crucial, though the traditional onboarding process can be time-consuming. A business can adopt digital merchant onboarding to reduce time and hassles in the process. 

MIMOIQ is one of the leading platforms that offer fast merchant onboarding. Faster onboarding through this digital platform prevents various hassles. Nevertheless, the onboarding process happens quickly, enabling businesses to run multiple merchant onboarding without difficulties. 

Table of Contents

The Drawbacks of Traditional Merchant Onboarding

Traditional merchant onboarding comes with many hassles, and most companies have taken measures to adapt to digital onboarding. In the following section, some of the drawbacks of traditional onboarding have been listed. 

Omit the Errors:

Traditional merchant onboarding is error-prone. Since the process is handled through human interactions, mistakes can occur at various stages. Therefore, most businesses nowadays move toward digital merchant onboarding.

Expensive Process:

Human intervention in a process makes it expensive due to the wages that should be paid to the executives. On the other hand, an automated process does not involve employee wages. As a result, the process becomes cost-effective.

Time-Consuming:

The merchant onboarding is time-consuming if a business follows the traditional human-based onboarding. While humans may take 30-40 minutes or even more in traditional onboarding, MIMOIQ’s digital onboarding takes only a few minutes.

Lesser Application Denial:

The application denial rate is significantly high in traditional merchant onboarding. You can reduce the application denial rate through digital onboarding. The traditional process can be erroneous, which increases the rejection rate.

How Can MIMOIQ Offer Seamless Merchant Onboarding?

Through digital onboarding, an independent sales organization can enhance speed and accuracy in merchant acquiring services. MIMOIQ offers a cutting-edge Merchant Onboarding platform, which omits manual intervention in the merchant onboarding process. Besides automating the overall process, MIMOIQ ensures a safe, error-free, and hassle-free process. 

 

In the following section, you can find more information on the digital onboarding services offered by MIMOIQ. 

A Fully Digitized Merchant Onboarding

MIMOIQ offers a completely digitized merchant onboarding system that does not involve human interactions. In the past, companies had to deal with paperwork for merchant onboarding. The executives had to create new files and check the past files for the merchant’s risk profile development. MIMOIQ’s digital onboarding system will eliminate human engagement in the process. Risk profile judgment and new merchant profile creation will happen automatically. 

A digitized system also gives easy access to the merchant’s onboarding information. The companies can check the merchants’ onboarding status and related documents. As a result, the decision-making process of an organization improves drastically. 

Lightning-Fast Onboarding Process

Faster merchant onboarding brings excellent convenience to business management. Adding new merchants quickly will help your business develop good relationships with the merchants. The conventional onboarding process becomes slow for two significant reasons. Firstly, the process is handled manually, which is time-consuming. Secondly, manual processes can get erroneous, and it takes a long time to address the errors and rectify them to continue with the merchant onboarding. 

Using the MIMOIQ digital onboarding solution is time-saving for businesses. You can obtain a lightningfast onboarding process without worrying about errors during the process. The digital merchant onboarding is error-free and hassle-free. Therefore, most businesses have gradually started adopting digitized merchant onboarding to reduce the time involved in the process. 

Reduce the Business Overhead Expenses

Paying wages to employees is the most significant business overhead expense for a business. In traditional onboarding, an independent sales organization must hire multiple employees to handle multiple merchant onboarding management tasks. The process often becomes lengthy due to risk profile analysis, and document verification which needs to be done depending on many factors. A machine can calibrate the risk profile with a higher conviction. Moreover, the chance of error is also low when you use a tool for digital onboarding. 

Therefore, businesses can save their expenses in two ways by adopting digital onboarding. Firstly, it can reduce the number of employees dealing with the onboarding process, as the tool is capable of handling multiple tasks. Secondly, the tool eliminates errors from the process and eventually saves the business money. You can notice a significant cost reduction by integrating the MIMOIQ with the merchant onboarding process. 

A Transparent Preboarding Process

Transparent and systematic pre-boarding is essential for fast merchant onboarding. Manual pre-boarding is also possible, though it increases the burden of employing a few more people. However, pre-boarding comes with many rewards too. Businesses that adopt this strategy can improve their onboarding speed. Nevertheless, risk profile analysis during onboarding will become easier due to the availability of necessary documentation that was procured during pre-boarding. 

MIMOIQ’s digitized merchant acquiring services come with a pre-boarding feature. The system allows merchants to pre-board and conduct the onboarding after the agreement between the parties. You can introduce such a flexible and standard merchant onboarding model to your business using the MIMOIQ platform. 

A Seamless and Accurate Compliance

Compliance is a concern for every organization during merchant onboarding. A mistake in maintaining compliance can lead to many troubles. Firstly, compliance leads to penalties for organizations, and the penalty amount is hefty in most cases. Secondly, compliance enhances the risks of operating a business with multiple merchants. Business transactions with a potentially risky merchant lead to financial losses. 

MIMOIQ’s digital onboarding platform helps businesses achieve compliance in digital onboarding. Accurate compliance eliminates the risks discussed above. The platform can access merchant data like credit scores, company structures, company information, director details, company turnovers, merchant reputation, and many more. 

Improve engagement with the Merchants

A digital onboarding process gives excellent satisfaction to the merchants. Every merchant expects minimal onboarding hassles to develop a long-term business relationship. Finding annoyances in onboarding also creates a wrong impression of your business among the merchants. The merchants want to collaborate with the businesses that readily embrace technologies to improve multiple business processes. 

A digitized process also helps businesses to find merchants from various locations. Physical distance will not be a big issue in digital merchant onboarding. As a result, independent sales organizations can find multiple merchants from various locations. It eventually helps the organizations grow their business quickly. 

Conclusion

Besides offering fast merchant onboarding, the MIMOIQ platform also ensures a personalized, seamless, and adaptable merchant onboarding experience through the digitized platform. As a result, it develops a flourishing partnership between the sales organizations and their merchants. Onboarding is the first interaction between an organization and a merchant. The first interaction should be effortless and hassle-free to build a flourishing relationship in the long run. MIMOIQ is one of the most trusted platforms for advanced digital merchant onboarding. 

Simplify Instant Digital Merchant Onboarding

Create a world-class digital merchant onboarding process with MIMOIQ. Streamline your Merchant onboarding process using one platform to handle KYC, AML, transaction monitoring, and risk analytics.

Get Started

Like this article?

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin

More To Explore

How Do Criminal Record Checks Work in India?

Criminal background check

How Do Criminal Record Checks Work in India?

Not everyone carries a criminal record. However, for an organization, it is vital to have a complete background check, especially for criminal record checks. Before hiring an application, a thorough background check is done, including a search of the applicant’s public criminal record. The criminal background check process involves looking through numerous publicly accessible documents to learn about the applicant’s criminal history. Examining court documents from civil and criminal cases is part of criminal record checks in India. Data that has been made available to the public by the courts are used for this. It all comes down to checking the person to see if they have ever been in trouble with the law. This background check is a crucial component of the pre-employment process. As a result, it guarantees a secure system within the administrative structure.

In India, there are different places where a criminal background check is done. Some of these are:

The District Court and the Supreme Court of India are publicly accessible with web databases to check criminal charges of an employee. A complete public criminal record check is unavoidably required to guarantee a safe workplace devoid of criminal intent. By performing a criminal background check, you can be confident that you are recruiting applicants with a clean record. It also entails looking through the Litigate database. A search of the Litigate database will reveal whether a candidate’s name is included in a private or public database, such as a criminal or law enforcement database.

Table of Contents

Why is it necessary?

It is vital to conduct a thorough criminal background check to keep the workplace secure. In other words, anyone hired for any position must have a spotless past. To be sure, the employer does a background investigation. The organization searches pertinent databases involving the candidate’s name in civil action, regulatory compliance, and criminal activity.

In addition to conducting a background check in India, it is vital to scan the global database to see whether the candidate has any connections to any crimes or offenses.

It is crucial for an employee to send verified documents to the hiring department for the smooth functioning of the process.

The Law About Criminal Background Check

There is no specific law in India that mainly addresses criminal record checks or inquiries into criminal histories. However, while checking criminal histories, the Indian Contract Act and Information Technology Acts of 2000 and 2005 were cited as standard laws. The Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act of 2005 imposes sanctions on businesses that fail to maintain the confidentiality of the personal information they acquire about their personnel.

How do government agencies conduct a criminal background check?

The public records of the State and Supreme Courts and district magistrates are the ideal resources government entities use to access databases they need before hiring employees. Most private and public organizations also confirm litigation-related information. They go to the National Crime Research Bureau and the CBI to check the candidate’s name on the most wanted list. Search the SEBI database, the Central Vigilance Committee’s roster, and the RBI database.

However, the verification process doesn’t start until the candidate has given their written authorization. As required by law, the government agency needs to question the nominee.

Deciding the Type of Background Check Needed

An applicant’s credit history, criminal history, and employment history are all checked as part of the background investigation. The profile and nature of the job will determine this check.

Other than that, many organizations prefer to check social media activities too. Another significant source of background checks in India is social media scanning. Prospective employers can map potential job applicants’ affiliations, tastes, and actions. In layman’s terms, the process allows talent scouts and recruitment firms to indirectly investigate criminal history and better understand their nature without spending time directly with them. In a large nation like India, the precautions mentioned above help ensure a thorough background check. However, authorization from the candidate is still required for screening medical, financial, and other essential data.

How to Get the Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)?

An individual may obtain a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) from the Indian Police or another duly appointed Indian government representative. The certificate helps to check any criminal records associated with a person’s name and issues a clearance certificate if they are clear. Like other criminal background checks, PCC is also a part of it. Indian or international nationals who reside in India or have previously done so may need a PCC. There are numerous reasons why PCC would be necessary, including:

A period of validity is not endorsable on an Indian PCC’s certificate. However, it is valid for six months, depending on the application’s authority.

What happens if there is a criminal background?

If the hiring agency finds that an applicant has spent 48 hours in jail, the authorities have the right to suspend the hiring. The agency also has the right to give serious consideration.

Later, the issue will be considered, and the agency’s answer will be reflected in its activity. It can terminate the profile or give it new life.

Hiring a Professional Criminal Record Checks Organization

No matter how big or small the organization is, it is vital to have a criminal record check. It is a crucial step to excluding those with criminal histories who pose a danger to the organization.

The expert team at MIMOIQ is dedicated to offering all types of criminal background checks per your company’s requirements. The company recognizes the value of criminal background checks and ensures they are accurate, reliable, and comprehensive. For any organization, the background check of an applicant matters the most. Depending on the position and business, various services may be part of a background check. A potent combination of services, including geo-tagging, quality management, and real-time data transmission, assures the validity of the data. It gives you a thorough overview of the subject’s background.

Various parameters are considered, and more than one kind of criminal history check ensures accurate results. Services are included under background checks:

Financial Verification

The financial background check services offered by MIMO can assist you in reducing the risk of fraud. MIMOIQ helps you with checks to determine customers’ credit and financial viability by providing tailored solutions.

Verification of Address

It is now easy to verify the address of your candidate with MIMO’s address verification services. The team confirms the information provided by the candidate by physically demonstrating the address using the extensive network and modern verification tools.

Using social media to confirm

72% of companies use social media to screen applicants throughout the hiring process. Employers can quickly map a prospect’s interests and affiliations on social media with the aid of MIMO. The company has a team of specialists who know what to look for.

The appropriate level searches public records. The applicant’s address, nationality, or designated jurisdictions determine which countries are searched. We also check the police records in the candidate’s new area if they move to another state or region. MIMOIQ also uses a technique for conducting criminal background checks where they look up information from different sources of databases and look at news articles.

Like this article?

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin

More To Explore

How Does Cash Collection Work for Microfinance Institutions (MFI)?

cash collection 2

How Does Cash Collection Work for Microfinance Institutions (MFI)?

Post-pandemic banks and non-bank lenders active in microfinance have begun implementing hybrid collection strategies from borrowers. To minimize process disturbances, they are attempting to combine physical and digital collection modalities. As a result, cash collections work differently for MFIs depending on the type of loan undertaken.

Due to the comfort level of the primary borrower base in making cash payments, repayments in the microfinance sector have historically been made in group meetings.

Microfinance has played a significant role in India’s financial status. By offering microcredit, MFIs (Microfinance Institutions) significantly contribute to promoting inclusive growth for low-and middle-income populations without access to formal finance.

Loan collection needs to be considered for any financial institution. They must work per the guidelines, ensuring the debtor faces no problems.

Table of Contents

What are microfinance and the types of institutions?

Financial firms, and microfinance institutions (MFIs), offer small loans to those without access to banking services. The term “small loans” has different meanings in different nations. All loans in India that are less than Rs. 1 lakh can be categorized as microloans. There are three different types of microfinance institutions offering microfinance:

What are the goals of microfinance institutions?

In recent years, microfinance institutions have grown in popularity and are increasingly viewed as useful tools for reducing poverty. Most MFIs have excellent track records and are profitable since they have effective loan repayment methods, while others are pretty self-sufficient. The following are the main objectives of microfinance institutions:

Let us check the different ways of improving cash collections in microfinance institutions:

Microcredit

One of the most effective methods for reducing poverty is microfinance, which offers tiny financial products. It also includes helping the impoverished in rural, semi-urban, and metropolitan areas to aid in their upliftment and improve their standard of living. Microcredit has been characterized as the provision of thrift, credit, and other financial services and goods in a minimal quantity. The RBI’s NBFC-MFI license is what allows MFIs to operate in India.

Collections

Individual and group loans with set repayment terms are frequently available from microfinance institutions. Depending on the plan and the institutions, the loan repayments could be weekly, monthly, or biweekly. A compelling collection strategy keeps MFIs’ goodwill with the borrowers while enabling them to convert receivables into liquid assets as rapidly as possible. In addition, microfinance institutions put down different cash collection options, helping debtors to repay easily

Digital Penetration

Market experts believe that the best way to help MFIs with collections is by teaching borrowers about making on-time payments and giving them the option to do it digitally. Thanks to the widespread use of smartphones and the reach of the mobile internet in India, every user can easily access digital apps. There are multiple apps available for loan repayment and receiving.

One could compare the repayment of the loan to paying any utility bill (such as an electricity bill or a mobile recharge bill), most of which have already gone digital thanks to India’s interoperable bill payment network. In addition, MFIs can help users know and learn which app is the best.

Loan Collection Using Apps

Using apps for loan collection is the best way. Some schemes are run by NPCI, following the guidelines set by the financial authorities. It connects all payment service providers to utility providers for easy payment options. Service Providers like MIMOIQ also provide the best platform that helps microfinance institutes with cash collection. For instance, MIMOIQ includes all the utility bill payment services available through online “agents” like Google Pay, BHIM UPI, and Amazon Pay.

Loan repayments by these microfinance institutions can be simplified using UPI payment apps such as PhonePe and Google Pay. The client pays the outstanding loan balance by displaying their customer identification number. The process acts as a self-serve model, and to complete the transaction, the borrower would need to be provided with contextual knowledge via SMS and WhatsApp.

Using Trusted Cash Collection Service

Along with UPI, companies can also use reliable cash collection services. As mentioned, MIMOIQ is the leading cash collection service. You may increase your cash flow by using MIMO Cash Collection Service to handle your cash management requirements and protect your cash deposits. MIMO provides a user-friendly solution that meets all your cash-related needs, from cash deposition to e-money transfer. In addition, the risk of improper cash handling and stealing is reduced because qualified specialists manage the whole collection and deposit procedure.

Financial Literacy on Repayments

Regarding cash collections or repayments, it is essential to have literacy on repayments. It is the responsibility of MFIs to inform borrowers of the risks of postponing payments through a variety of channels and to encourage them to make on-time payments whenever possible.

Along with this information, it is essential to provide simple DIY payment instructions for using UPI apps to make loan payments. Most households utilize the three most popular communication channels: SMS, WhatsApp, and IVR.

Different Groups by Microfinance Institutions for Loan Collections

The Joint Liability Group (JLG)

This informal club, typically of 4–10 people, looks for loans with mutual guarantees. Usually, the loans are used for farming or closely related activities. This group of borrowers includes tenants, farmers, and rural employees. In this JLG, everyone shares equal responsibility for prompt debt payback.

Self-Help Centers (SHG)

This self-help group consists of people from comparable socioeconomic backgrounds. These small business owners band together for a brief time and establish a shared fund for their operational requirements. These organizations fall under the category of non-profits. In addition, the group handles the collection of debt. In this type of cooperative loan, collateral is not necessary.

Bank Grameen Model

Prof. Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Prize winner, developed the Grameen Model in Bangladesh during the 1970s. In India, Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) were founded. The complete growth of the rural economy is the main goal of this system.

Rural Cooperatives

In India, rural cooperatives were created after the country gained freedom. Poor people’s resources were combined, and this fund was used to provide financial services. Although this system had intricate monitoring protocols, it exclusively benefited creditworthy customers in rural India.

Being Digitized with Professional Service

A lot of MFIs still maintain records on paper. Digitizing all data is the best way to overcome the problem of cash collections. MFIs should prioritize investing in data management systems so they can begin collecting data in the future rather than getting bogged down with digitizing outdated data. One should prioritize figuring out how to organize data to be valuable, effectively, and reliably collected online. The old data being digitized is a plus. MIMOIQ is the ideal platform MFIs can use for loan repayment.

Like this article?

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin

More To Explore

Digital Identity Verification and Document Verification to Know Your Customer

Customer Profile Validation

Digital Identity Verification and Document Verification to Know Your Customer

Document verification is important when onboarding new customers, depending on the type of bank you are running. KYC checks are now the norm in every industry, online and offline, no matter your business. Every business wants a long-lasting relationship with its clients, and every relationship begins with trust.

Document verification is the first step to creating that trust. Verification is crucial for businesses to guarantee that legitimate client accounts aren’t compromised and that they aren’t placing themselves at risk of fraudulent transactions. Customers also need to have equal trust in the company or bank. The initial stage in developing this trust is digital identity verification. Customers are more likely to return for additional purchases if they believe the procedure is fast, accurate, and secure. Additionally, businesses may concentrate on other tasks, like offering the most excellent experience possible, if they are convinced that clients are who they claim to be.

Table of Contents

Why is Digital Verification important?

Customers may lose control of their accounts if the documentation is submitted without notice and have money spent without their knowledge if their credentials are stolen. As victims learn the full depth of the problem, the effects of ID compromise can endure for months or even years. For instance, there are cases where victims receive calls from creditors from banks stating that they owe money and will have to face strict legal action. Deplorable document verification systems can help lower this risk by streamlining businesses to identify and thwart fraud before it gets out of control

Meanwhile, fraud and identity theft can cost businesses money because consumers may switch to more secure rivals or find the company’s inadequate data protection. Some of the reasons why electronic identity verification matters include:

Help to Prevent Fraud

Digital identity verification reduces discount abuse and increases the ROI of customized offers. Discount fraud is observed by businesses using identity marketing initiatives more than before.

Numerous businesses that provide students with personalized offers often compromise email addresses to confirm eligibility, which is quite a serious act. After a few years, many of the graduates still carry these email addresses. Utilizing faulty email address verification also restricts your audience because more than 40% of college students never received the wrong email address. Creating false email addresses is also simple, and many businesses lose money to fraudsters who do that. But digital validation is effective.

Help to carry out long-term relationships

Thanks to digital verification, customers are more likely to return when a procedure is quick, trustworthy, and secure. Contrarily, ID procedures that take too long are erroneous; keeping users in the dark about their status in the procedure or what will happen next will thwart efforts to forge reciprocal connections.

Respect Customer Privacy

Customers are concerned about the security of their personal information, and cases are growing in huge amounts. 4 out of 5 customers prefer not to do business with a company that doesn’t follow the right verification method and has faulty privacy practices. By requesting only the most basic personal information, digital verification protects their privacy. More than two-thirds of consumers are willing to share their name, birthdate, email address, and physical and mailing addresses for a personalized offer.

Privacy must be respected when implementing an identity marketing program that targets college students.

Helps in Boosting Operational Efficiency

Through automation, reliable digital identity verification tools help to increase overall productivity. The correct tools can decrease the need for manual review of PII and boost overall decision-making speed without compromising security by utilizing complex data analysis and comparison algorithms.

Increase the Confidence of Consumers

Customers are frequently eager to give businesses access to their personal and financial information to ease friction and speed up transactions. To avoid having to enter their credit card information each time they wish to make a purchase, users can, for instance, allow a website to remember it. Customers who find it comfortable can feel more at ease with the process thanks to secure and open digital verification services that reduce the overall time and energy spent reviewing documents and details manually.

Different Types of Digital Identity Verification :

Knowledge-Based Authentication

Knowledge-based authentication (KBA), which asks for an answer to security questions, confirms a person’s identification and general information sent. These questions are generally made straight for the person answering them but challenging for everyone else. Like “Who was your favorite teacher?” or “Which pets do you love?” A further precaution for KBA is the necessity to respond to the questions at a specific time. The fact that KBA is the most user-friendly verification method has the most advantage. However, the drawback of this method is how simple it is to find solutions through social networking

Education Verification (590 × 400 px)11

Two-Factor Authentication

In this type, the customer enters a code given to their email or mobile phone as part of two-factor or multi-factor authentication. Today, many online services use the verification technique; consumers may easily recognize and comprehend how to utilize it. You may quickly confirm a customer’s email address and phone number with 2FA or MFA. The process is critical; you need to be sure your consumer did not enter their info improperly.

Users need to provide their identification, commonly referred to as a token, along with the regular username and password when using the two-factor authentication.

Credit Bureau-Based Authentication

In the credit Bureau- based authentication, data from one or more of the credit bureaus are collected. The data involves name, address, and social security numbers. These are an important part of customer verification.

Credit-based authentication establishes a certain match of customers without jeopardizing the data for business benefit. However, for young people and new immigrants with thin credit files, it might not match.

Database Methods

Database ID techniques help check an individual’s identity card using information from many sources. Since the method helps assess the overall risk for the user, there is no need for manual reviews. Due to the prevalence of fictitious online identities, this method’s biggest drawback is that it doesn’t guarantee that the person supplying the information is also the one carrying out the transaction.

Online Verification

Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and human assessment are a few methods used in online verification to establish whether a government-issued ID belongs to the users. This verification technique often asks users to upload a photo of themselves holding an ID to confirm that the person on the ID is the same. Online verification is highly secured and is now followed by every other website. Still, some users find having to provide a photo of their face and ID to be a hassle or an invasion of privacy.

Biometric Verification

Based on bodily traits, biometrics helps in identifying and authenticating people. Facial recognition, iris, voice recognition, retina scanning, and fingerprinting are all examples of biometric technology. Customers who use these techniques will find them quite convenient because there are no passwords to remember or questions to respond to.

Using the Best Digital Identity Verification Service

It is best to connect with professionals to make the best use of electronic verification identification through modern tools. MIMOIQ is the leading company that deals with background checks and identity verification for NDFC, banks, and e-commerce companies. With the nationwide coverage, the company uses professional and agile technology, including geo-tagging, online data verification, and others

Like this article?

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin

More To Explore

How is Customer Profile Validation/Field Verification done in the Banking and Finance Industry?

Customer Profile Validation 2

How is Customer Profile Validation/Field Verification done in the Banking and Finance Industry?

There has been a massive change in customer onboarding and field verification processes in the past few years. Customer profile validation is an important part of easy onboarding and ensures the customer has a clean profile. Also called Customer Due Diligence, it is the procedure for gathering and confirming customer information. It includes the client’s name, address, and other private information.

When creating a business partnership, companies must perform CDD or field verification. For instance, a bank or trading platform might need to look up the person’s passport before allowing a consumer to open an account and make a deposit. In this article, we will check how profile validation/field verification is performed in the banking industry. But before that, let us check on customer profile validation. 

Table of Contents

What is Customer Profile Validation?

The bank performs credit card, KYC, and retail asset product validation. It is the critical stage of the product development process.  

The process helps to examine customer problems, the target market, and the banking product. After the validation process, the product can be iterated upon to discover the ideal market fit. Additionally, validation links the product with potential customers and paves the way for developing useful items consumers desire and need. These products include personal loans, auto loans, business loans, education loans, commercial vehicle loans, loans secured by real estate or mortgages, and home loans. 

What is Field Verification?

A vital step in a financial institution’s risk and credit approval procedure is field verification, also referred as contact point verification (CPV), background verification (BV), or field verification (FV). It enables the independent verification of important details about current or potential customers through in-person visits and other necessary due diligence procedures before establishing a banking or lending relationship.

When does the Customer Profile Validation take place?

The process of field verification should happen as early as possible in the banking system before a product team spends a lot of time and money developing a new product, of course. Your theory doesn’t need to be accurate. It only needs to be specific enough for you to know who you might want to talk to, what difficulties they could be having, and how your product might be able to help. 

Steps for Customer Profile Validation/Field Verification

Since we have covered what customer profile validation means and why it is important, let us check the steps involved in doing the job perfectly. 

Verifying the Customer

The first step in customer due diligence is gathering basic details about the client. Whether this customer is an individual or a business will determine the necessary list of data.

Confirming a person

Depending on the jurisdiction, you may need other details, but the following provides a standard starting point for identifying people:

Verifying the company

Field verification isn’t limited to customers only; banks also need to do company verification. Businesses must ask for and confirm specific information before partnering with other organizations. While the detailed list can vary between jurisdictions, the following is a common starting point:

The objective of taking these steps is to learn about the company’s beneficial owners. These people control over 25% of the corporation, directly or indirectly, or through other means. It is important to verify beneficial owners after being found.

Banks usually demand certified copies of the paperwork confirming the company’s legal foundation and the records showing all shareholders before lending over the loan or opening an account.

Choosing the right Customer Profile Validation Track

Banks can select between regular, enhanced, and simplified due diligence depending on the customer. For instance, a bank can still onboard a customer if it knows they are a public official (a PEP), but an extra check is required.

Ensuring Security when Having Profile Validation

Fraudsters have been known to send legitimate documents and even dark net selfies. Since there hasn’t been any document tampering in this instance, even the most trustworthy verification systems won’t find anything odd. Businesses can add a second facial biometric check-called liveness to prevent thieves from onboarding clients remotely. This check guarantees that the identity of the genuine document holder is verified.

Things to Remember in the Customer Profile Validation Process Conducted

Let us check some things the individual should know while conducting customer profile validation:

Mandatory

Mark the field under “Mandatory,” preventing it from being left empty. A star (*) symbol will appear next to the field name and any required fields. Incomplete “mandatory” fields prevent managers of content from saving entries.

Uniqueness

Unique marking helps in preventing the duplication of the content in the document. The validator will ask the user to alter the duplicate value each time they enter a previously entered value into a field that is meant to be unique.

Number of characters

Setting up the character restriction will ensure that users only enter the text that fits inside the field’s maximum or minimum character limit. For instance, if you wish to add a “Password” field to your website, you should specify the limit for the cell. The number of characters validation criterion is useful in this situation.

Types of Customer Profile Validation

Also known as data validation, different procedures ensure all the data included is accurate. Some of the types of data validation are:

Data Type Check

In this type, it is checked if the right data type is included in the document. If so, the system should reject any data that includes additional characters, such as letters or special symbols. A field, for instance, might only accept numerical information.

Code Check 2

A code check verifies that a field is chosen from an acceptable list of values or that it adheres to specific formatting guidelines. For instance, comparing a postal code to a list of legitimate codes makes it simpler to confirm if it is valid. Another element is the country code.

Format Check

Numerous data kinds adhere to a predetermined format. Date columns with a set format, such as “YYYY-MM-DD” or “DD-MM-YYYY,” are frequent use cases. Maintaining consistency over time and across data is made easier by a data validation process that ensures dates are formatted correctly.

Check for Consistency

A logical check verifies that the data entered is logically consistent. An illustration is determining whether the delivery date for a package is later than the shipment date.

How MIMOIQ is providing profile validation services all over India to NBFC and banks

MIMOIQ is the leading on-demand customer validation and last-mile delivery service in India. We undertake a complete tech-enabled customer validation service, concentrating on different cities from Tier 1 to Tier 4.


To ensure data validity, we employ skilled task associates and real-time monitoring technology, including geo-tagging, quality management, and real-time data transfer. Our service is not limited to customer profile verification but we offer document collection and verification services to NDFC and top banks in India.

Conclusion

The banking industry keeps updating its data on customers to ensure there is no fraudulent activity in the process. KYC, or customer profile validation, is now part of the customer onboarding process by banks. If you are entering the banking industry or financial services, then learning about field verification is a part of your job.

Like this article?

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin

More To Explore

TraQPayments Receives Payment Processing Software Recognition from Leading B2B Review Platform

TraQPayments Receives Payment Processing Software Recognition from Leading B2B Review Platform

TraQPayments Receives Payment Processing Software Recognition from Leading B2B Review Platform

Recently, a leading B2B software marketplace presented TraQPayments with a prestigious industry award in recognition of its exceptional performance in the payment processing software category.

CompareCamp, one of the most trusted and widely-known sources for comprehensive B2B and B2C SaaS reviews, recently lauded TraQPayments as one of the best payment processing platforms this year. The software review platform granted TraQPayments with a Rising Star Award, a type of recognition usually presented to payment processing platforms that have accumulated a growing number of followers and positive mentions from satisfied users on social media.

Following a strict criteria, CompareCamp came up with an authoritative ranking of the best payment processing and invoicing platforms and considered TraQPayments as a strong contender among the software products included on the list. CompareCamp’s team of expert software reviewers evaluated the features and functionalities offered by TraQPayments, considering it as one of the finest payment processing software products in the marketplace.

CompareCamp performed a thorough assessment of TraQPayments’ overall performance in terms of accepting payments, generating invoices, and offering subscriptions. In its detailed TraQPayments review, CompareCamp examined each of the key features that the platform offers. The review especially highlighted TraQPayments’ ability to support automated payments, increasing customer satisfaction and convenience, and improving the efficiency of payment collection processes.

TraQPayments was also commended for its invoicing features, which make it easier for businesses of all scales to generate and send invoices. The platform is built with a QR code function that allows customers to complete transactions and settle payments more easily. TraQPayments also supports a variety of payment options, such as digital wallets like GPay and BHIM UPI. Integrations with the platform make it possible for customers to settle their balances through credit, debit cards, and net banking.

According to a recent report, 82% of Americans today use online payments, which include in-store checkout via a phone or QR code, in-app digital purchases, and person-to-person (P2P) payments. With COVID-19 accelerating digitization in banking, payment processing software products like TraQPayments offer the most essential features for businesses to set up and manage online payments and provide a seamless experience for their customers.

CompareCamp carefully evaluated all of the features and functionalities offered by TraQPayments and included it in their list of best invoicing platforms. As an all-in-one electronic payment solution, TraQPayments equips businesses with all the right tools to accept payments online, streamline the billing process, and provide the best customer experience.

All things considered, our team at TraQPayment would like to express our gratitude to CompareCamp for presenting us with such a prestigious award. The honor of receiving this award from such a reputable organization inspires us to continue providing top-quality payment processing solutions to all kinds of businesses.

We would also like to thank our customers and users for trusting us with their payment processing requirements. Rest assured that we will continue to develop and provide you with newer and better services in the years to come.

Like this article?

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin

More To Explore

How Electronic Payment Solutions are the First Step into the Digital Age

ffirst step into

How Electronic Payment Solutions are the First Step into the Digital Age

Finance is a big part of people’s daily lives— both on a consumer and professional level. We rely on financial transactions for so much of our day-to-day living. We buy groceries, pay our bills, receive salaries and sales, budget our finances, and so much more. Over the years, many of these activities have moved to electronic platforms, sparking a vast movement in financial technology or fintech.

Nowadays, 64% of consumers use some form of fintech platform. And while the adoption of these tools for payment has increased, there is still some pushback. But the importance of electronic payment systems cannot be denied. We rely on it heavily today. So do businesses. And soon, there might come a time the majority of our transactions will happen electronically.

Table of Contents

Aspects of Payment You Can Digitize

Just what can businesses and people digitize today when it comes to our finances? There are many aspects that have now gone electronic when it comes to money. Here are just a few of them.

Purchasing

Probably one of the biggest shifts in the past half-decade has been the growth of e-commerce. Consumers are no longer just buying more online. They’re actually at a point where many of them prefer it over offline methods. In 2020 alone, amidst the height of the pandemic, e-commerce grew by 27.6%.

Hence, there has been a massive shift towards online payment gateways and systems. Some electronic payment system examples we might be familiar with include PayPal, GooglePay, ApplePay, AmazonPay, Stripe, and so many more. Another growing option is TraQPayments, which merchants can use to collect money via payment links.

B2B Payables

Not only are people buying more in a B2C setting. They’re also starting to shift many of their B2B payables online. Businesses prefer to pay their suppliers, providers, and utilities online. Doing so is not only more productive. It’s also easier to track. Without the problem of unnecessary travel times and queues, business owners and managers can now allot their time towards other more important activities in the business.

Invoicing

People no longer just want to pay online. They want to be paid online as well. Online invoicing has radically shifted accounting and finance in a whole new direction. Because merchants want to pay online, companies should now start thinking about providing digital invoicing options online. These invoicing softwares do more than just online billings— which accounting can then file much easier. They also allow invoice recipients to settle payments online with ease.

Some of the invoicing software and examples that people should start looking into are PayPal and Stripe. However, these two options can be known for their massive fees. So you might also want to look at TraQPayments as an invoicing software option, given it has competitive fees and many other features and benefits.

Accounting and Book keeping

Now that so much money is moving online, 40% of accountants want to automate accounts payable and invoicing. By doing so, they’re able to accomplish bookkeeping and finance tracking tasks faster. For an accounting firm, this advantage could mean being able to get more clients. For an accounting department in a large corporation, that means that accounting managers will be able to stay up-to-date on all finance tracking with very little chance of falling back on work.

Personal Budgeting

Not only can professional accountants automate their bookkeeping. Individuals can also do so at a personal level. For someone who wants to pay their internet bill or water bill, electronic payments will most likely be a more viable option. It removes the hassle of having to leave the office for an hour to head over to the nearest payment center, for example.

There’s also the abundance of budgeting apps on mobile phones now that make it easier for people and families to get better control of their finances.

Payroll

Human resource departments also get to benefit from the growth of online payments’ popularity. 54% of small businesses say that there is room for improvement in their payroll policies and systems. Switching to online payroll services could be one of those improvements for your business.

Online payroll systems help HR departments save time and energy by automating salary computation and making it possible to disburse payments to employees virtually. That, in turn, speeds up the payout process. When employees get paid faster and more promptly, you’ll also have happier staff in general.

Expense Management

If your business still relies on manual systems to disburse, liquidate, and report back petty cash expenses, travel expenses, and so on, then there’s a chance you’re leaving money on the table. Expense management software makes small expenditure management more convenient for entrepreneurs, managers, and finance departments. Because most expense management systems are cloud-based, companies can also collect reports from traveling staff even before they get back to the office. This added edge allows for smoother accounting and more accountability.

Advantages of Going Electronic With Your Payments

All in all, it’s safe to say that electronic payments make our lives easier. And there are many advantages that build that case. If you’re not convinced, these benefits should be able to solidify this case.

Ease of Business

The ease of doing business should be a priority across economies, especially for small to medium-sized businesses. With the added features of electronic payment systems, SMEs can transact faster, take payments from clients and customers wherever they are, and grow much easier than traditional methods alone. 

The pandemic taught us that e-commerce and digital business should be a staple for any business, no matter how large. And more innovations in electronic payment markets make it easier for everyone to do that. Mobile adoption has also helped increase the ease of doing business. 90% of fintech users have used some form of mobile payment.

Saved Time and Resources

Electronic payment options save everyone time and resources. Imagine the decreased hassle of having to buy food because food delivery apps now make it possible to order and pay for food without leaving their home or office.

The cost savings brought about by electronic payments also compound massively. For instance, the cost of sending digital invoices is much lower than having to print and freight hard copy invoices. Invoice management software can also automate payment reminders so that business owners and finance staff no longer have to do so manually when clients fail to pay on time. 

Security

There’s an ongoing debate about the security of online payments, given how cybersecurity threats have risen with time. But overall, online payment options can provide more layers of security. Processes like KYC procedures and authentication steps add more layers of protection to people who send or receive payments online.

The security advantages of electronic payment systems will only improve through time as more protection innovations arise. We’re in the early stages of digital adoption still, and there’s plenty more room to grow, particularly around financial security.

Increased Reach

Businesses that use electronic payment options like e-commerce and online invoicing now have the ability to reach more clients, no matter what part of the country (or even the world) they are. Purchasing trends like cash on delivery and digital wallets are improving transactions online and encouraging more customers to buy virtually. As that reach grows, businesses will only grow more.

The Future of Business with Electronic Payment

All in all, the business world has drastically improved as electronic payment solutions improve with time. And those two will only keep growing together as more businesses and consumers start adopting this new era of commerce.

Like this article?

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin

More To Explore

How Software Solutions Ensure Corporate Social Responsibility for Businesses

Solution ensures corporate social responsibility

How Software Solutions Ensure Corporate Social Responsibility for Businesses

A corporation’s social responsibility directly affects its public image, which can make or break its chances of success in the long run. That’s why corporations should make sure they incorporate software solutions that ensure corporate social responsibility into their business models from the beginning.

These software solutions can help manage your CSR activities and stay in line with the most up-to-date regulations on socially responsible businesses. Also, good CSR will help save your business money, as per the study by ERA Environmental Management Solutions.

As long as you use these software solutions, you can rest assured that any impact your company has on its local community or the world at large will be positive and beneficial to your customers and employees. Here are some ways software solutions can help you ensure your CSR for your business.

Table of Contents

Build Awareness About an Issue

One of the best ways to ensure corporate social responsibility is through education. Many people may not be aware of how your company is helping a particular cause or addressing an important issue.

If you want to drive corporate social responsibility, be sure to build awareness about what you’re doing and how your efforts benefit others. Using communication software can help. Each one provides tools designed to foster open communication and keep employees up-to-date on internal and external activities.

Moreover, communication software can improve collaboration among team members and allow businesses to communicate more effectively with customers. So, to build awareness through software solutions, make sure to check this list of best communication software today.

Recruit Volunteers and Donors

One of the best strategies of corporate social responsibility is to build a network of volunteers and donors who support your business activities. This allows you to set up actions that benefit your community without costing any money, as you have individuals on hand who are happy to support your charitable efforts.

With tools to communicate CSR activities in place, you can make sure to have a streamlined volunteer process in place, with an easy sign-up and a system for recognizing volunteers’ contributions. You may also set up specific forms of recognition, such as rewards or gifts, that you can distribute at special events and during holidays.

Basically, online tools will help you manage the relationships between your company and its supporters—even if they aren’t in-house employees.

Participate in Fundraising Events

You’ve probably heard about cause marketing, in which companies partner with charities to help support a cause. This is one of the many types of corporate social responsibility that’s definitely valuable. However, if you want to ensure your company is living up to its commitments to environmental sustainability or animal rights (for example), software solutions can help with participating in fundraising events.

Digital tools also keep track of donations and are great at promoting your company’s philanthropic efforts with customers and prospects. Remember, creating value for customers is one of the top reasons impacting a company’s purpose, as per a business review by Harvard.

Connect with Customers

Can you imagine your office without an internal communication software or a business owner who doesn’t have an effective way to promote their products? The same is true with corporate social responsibility. It’s difficult to implement a strategy that helps companies connect with their customers and stakeholders if they don’t have tools like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Let alone software solutions that help monitor how customers are engaging with a company online and offline.

In fact, many of these tools allow companies to streamline their CSR efforts by creating corporate social responsibility training programs and communicating them more effectively. Additionally, some platforms enable employees to learn about ethical issues within their company to ensure sustainable growth for years to come.

Host Online Fundraisers

Hosting online fundraisers is one of the best ways to ensure corporate social responsibility. This is where you give your customers and clients a chance to support your cause in exchange for rewards or recognition. Online fundraisers are also great tools that allow businesses to engage their audience, raise awareness, and support important causes.

The good news is that there are plenty of fundraising tools available today. One example is TugboatFundraiser—it has everything you need to run an effective fundraiser. The software lets you build a campaign website and accept donations via major payment options, such as Visa, MasterCard, and PayPal.

Promote Giving Opportunities

Big corporations that are able to take advantage of tools and software solutions designed specifically to help with promoting giving opportunities can really change how they connect with their communities. For starters, the software makes it simple to keep track of giving opportunities. It also gives you an easy way to communicate your CSR efforts internally and externally, ensuring that your employees stay in touch with what they’re doing socially on behalf of your company.

Additionally, as a business owner, you want to make sure that all your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed by clients or potential customers. When used correctly, software solutions designed to support CSR can help big businesses promote their activities.

If people know what your corporation is doing for others, there’s a better chance they’ll continue using your services or buying from you again in the future. As revealed in the report by Aflac, 77% of customers are motivated to purchase from a brand committed to improving the environment and society.

Incorporate Giving into Employee Benefits

A number of companies have begun offering CSR tools as part of their employee benefits packages. These tools are designed to help employees communicate their CSR initiatives and align with those of their employers. As a result, more businesses are being positively influenced by internal and external forces in terms of corporate social responsibility.

Do Something Local

The internet has made it easy to support and interact with organizations, but there’s something about doing something local. Now, thanks to a slew of apps, software solutions can help you get involved in your community—whether that’s through volunteering or donating funds.

Because of technology and the growing digital transformation, businesses can easily integrate corporate social responsibility into their day-to-day operations without taking up too much time. This means they’re able to do more for their communities without taking away from other areas of importance within their organization.

Use Corporate Sponsorship to Work with a Nonprofit

One of the best things about corporate sponsorship is that it’s a way to work with a nonprofit on something you both want. If you’re looking to use corporate sponsorship to work with a nonprofit, software solutions can help with managing their database and ensuring that information is transparent to all parties involved. Just be careful not to get wrapped up in any political issues and make sure you find an organization whose mission aligns with your company’s vision.

Use Software Solutions for Your CSR Now

If you’re looking to ensure corporate social responsibility in your business, software solutions are a must. But with so many tools available today, it can be hard to know which solution is right for your specific needs and can give you the best business benefits of CSR.

The type of software solution that perfectly meets your needs depends on your company’s situation. Hence, knowing which factors to consider when determining which CSR software is right for you can be helpful as you narrow down your options.

Like this article?

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin

More To Explore

What are the KYC Procedures for Merchant Onboarding?

KYC procedures for merchant onboarding

What are the KYC Procedures for Merchant Onboarding?

The merchant onboarding process is at the core of the payments industry, its effectiveness either enabling or inhibiting growth for businesses in this soon-to-be $2-trillion market. The global payments sector is rapidly evolving, with legislative changes, macroeconomic developments, and fintech’s push into the payments industry that is posing problems and opportunities. 

As payments companies negotiate the industry’s challenges, they are all affected by the digital change that is sweeping financial services. Customers and merchants have grown accustomed to faster, more convenient service, prompting payment providers to invest in digital infrastructure upgrades to gain speed and flexibility. Meanwhile, new businesses are emerging onto the market with unprecedented speed. 

When onboarding merchants, certain risks must be addressed, such as fraud, excess chargebacks, money laundering, tax evasion, and so on. Regulatory guidelines and applicable regulations compel us to take a number of preventive measures, including Know-Your-Customer (‘KYC’) and merchant due diligence procedures, in order to achieve this. As a result, we conduct a series of checks for merchants that begin before onboarding and last until the conclusion of their engagement with us. Financial service institutions or any other businesses who want to onboard merchants onto their platform can use the techniques described here to comply with guidelines and mitigate risk. 

Table of Contents

What is KYC?

When a client attempts to open an account or on board with a regulated financial institution, such as a bank, a private bank, or an investment company, KYC is conducted (e.g.: the KYC process you undertake when opening a bank account). An individual or a legal entity can be a client. The goal is to verify the client’s identity, address, and legitimacy through crucial document verification. When combined with due diligence and other mandatory tests, these allow us to identify possible fraudsters, and shell corporations and detect money laundering, among other things. Non-regulated enterprises, such as an online marketplace, are frequently required to conduct a full or partial KYC as a precaution. These enable us to secure ourselves and our end customers and the financial system as a whole. 

The Complete KYC Procedure

The KYC document check, also known as the Customer Due Diligence Check, is in the initial stage. Individual KYC and Business KYC are two types of KYC that can be used: 

Step 1: The KYC document check or CDD process

  • Individual KYC: We do a ‘KYC’ process, or CDD for an individual, when you are a merchant who is an individual (e.g., a sole proprietor). In general, we check your identity using an OVD check (identity documents such as Aadhaar, passports, driving licenses, and so on), individual PAN verification, and, if applicable, current address proof check (utility bills, etc.). We can also request additional documents to confirm your financial or company position, such as your business registration documents. 
  • Business KYC: When we are on-boarding a business partner, we perform a Business KYC procedure, also known as a CDD for a business. The OVD check is replaced by an ‘entity-proof’ check in this case. This, too, varies depending on the type of legal company you are. If you’re a company, for example, we’ll need to verify your certificate of incorporation, memorandum and articles of organization, and other documents. If you’re a trust or partnership, we’ll need your trust/partnership deed, registration certificates, and other documents. 

Step 2: Check for sanctions and PEPs on the sanction and PEP lists.

The names of our clients and their beneficial owners must then be checked against specified lists, such as national and international terrorism lists, or lists of “Politically Exposed Persons.” We must also notify the Financial Intelligence Unit of India (‘FIU-IND’) if a name appears on a sanctions list. We also check blacklists, greylists, and defaulter lists for firms, directors, and other individuals issued by banks, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, the Securities and Exchange Board of India, the Enforcement Directorate, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (US), and others (for a detailed list please see Appendix II below). These checks help us combat terrorism and money laundering, as well as determine risk thresholds for individual clients. 

Step 3: Merchant screening and onboarding policies

Following that, we do a background and antecedent check in the form of an initial screening, for which we establish an internal merchant Onboarding Policy. The purpose of this step is to confirm the nature, purpose, and legitimacy of a potential client’s business. To determine business legitimacy, we conduct a variety of checks, including licensing/registration checks, credit checks, profit and loss statement checks, balance sheet reviews, and so on, based on information we obtain directly from the prospective client, as well as publicly available information such as the merchant’s websites, product listings, end-customer reviews, social media activity, and so on. We must additionally check for PCI-DSS compliance because it is mandated by law.  

Step 4: Merchant profiling and levels of diligence

Following these preliminary assessments, we must categorize merchants as low, medium, or high risk. Based on this, we determine the levels of due diligence and post-onboarding monitoring we do; for example, we need to conduct enhanced due diligence for PEPs but simpler due diligence for self-help organizations. We’re also barred from doing business with some industries (tobacco, hacking, gambling, weapons, and so on), while others are considered high-risk (pharmaceuticals, matrimony, gaming, security brokers, jewelry, and so on), necessitating more scrutiny and caution. 

Step 5: Continuous due diligence

Following onboarding, our due diligence procedures will continue to monitor any suspicious changes in merchant behavior. A change in the merchant’s website details, for example, or an unexpected display of high-risk products, could suggest fraud. These circumstances may necessitate a review of merchant risk profiles and due diligence levels. 

Step 6: Keep track of your transactions

We monitor merchant transactions as part of our onboarding process to look for any potential red flags, such as differences in expected transaction characteristics. Expected total transaction volume, average order value, chargeback frequency, and so forth are examples. For instance, if a merchant exceeds the maximum transaction limitations, exhibits a strange refund pattern, or receives frequent end-customer complaints, these are all red flags. Regulated entities must report any suspicious transactions (such as those that raise money laundering concerns) as well as transactions above specific thresholds (e.g., cash transactions over Rs.10 lakh, cross-border wire transfers surpassing Rs.5 lakh) to the FIU-IND. 

Step 7: Requirements for record-keeping and internal governance

Then, for at least 5 years, we preserve records of all merchant transactions and identity documents. These must be made available to the authorities upon request, such as in the case of an investigation. Internal governance demands such as dedicated internal committees, internal audits, periodic risk assessments, and proper employee training are also in place to ensure effective implementation of requirements. A Designated Director and a Principal Officer must also be selected, as they have specific reporting responsibilities under the PMLA. 

Step 8: Updates on a Regular Basis

Finally, both merchant risk profiles and KYC must be updated on a regular basis. It is required by law to update merchant KYC every 10 years for low risk, 8 years for medium risk, and 2 years for high risk. This is also aided by the continuous due diligence checks. 

Final thoughts:

Merchant onboarding is beset by the same age-old regulatory, trend, and competition issues that hamper the payments industry as a whole. Where once the industry dynamic was split between large retailer’s competitive margins and smaller merchant’s regulatory issues, the spectrum has now expanded to embrace the rising marketplace economy. Because everyone is a merchant in today’s environment, merchant onboarding volume, and transactional volume are both lucrative and hard. The marketplace economy has created a risk and regulatory gap, which is being navigated by a subset of creative payments organizations. 

Like this article?

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin

More To Explore

Best Practices for Managing and Improving Merchant Onboarding

Merchant Onboarding

Best Practices for Managing and Improving Merchant Onboarding

The recent global health crisis has had an influence on a wide range of industries and geographies, not least the payments industry, which has seen an unprecedented transformation. Consumer purchasing habits have evolved to online shopping for products and services, resulting in the requirement for faster onboarding and better continuing merchant monitoring to reduce fraud and compliance risk for merchant acquirers. 

When it comes to onboarding new merchants, automation is critical in order to make a smooth transition from the previous time-consuming approach to a slicker, faster process that reduces friction for the new merchant. But what steps should merchant acquirers take to guarantee that they are prepared to meet this new challenge of changing the customer experience while limiting risk? 

Table of Contents

Automation of underwriting processes

It is critical for acquirers to provide a smooth merchant onboarding experience for their customers. With the epidemic hastening the general public’s shift to a more online approach, new smaller digital-only merchants are popping up all the time, with low margins and a need to be up and running quickly; for them, a swift onboarding procedure is vital. 

Before an underwriting decision can be made, the normal merchant onboarding process comprises a number of phases that must be completed, as shown in the creative below. This is typically a 3–5-day process. This process is too protracted, as previously said, given the current climate and the unique terrain of online-only micro-merchants. 

Digital automation can shorten the time it takes to underwrite a new merchant from days to minutes. However, if not done appropriately, this speed in decision-making can come at the expense of risk management and have a detrimental influence on the acquirer’s profitability. 

Collecting data that is both actionable and objective

Effective onboarding decisioning requires access to meaningful and objective data. To enrich their perspective of each applicant, merchant acquirers should use a combination of their own data, third-party data, and assessment services. The best strategy is to combine application data with external data from a growing industry of data suppliers who can provide essential insight and assessment on topics like bank account validation, email addresses, IP addresses, device IDs, and negative hotlists. Internal data from various sources is ingested, which eliminates human data entry and reduces judgmental underwriting decisioning while also ensuring consistency. 

Using analytics and algorithms

Acquirers should not only have precise and objective data, but they should also be able to analyze it using analytic models and procedures. The tools should allow the acquirer to import models, scorecards, trees, and tables, and they should be completely user-configurable. Acquirers frequently have historical data about applicants in addition to external data, but it is inaccessible owing to the sprawl of data. Rather than going through the pain of trying to centralize all referential data in a single data store, design a solution that allows you to take data from multiple sources and retrieve it when you need it. 

Effective risk management, tracking, and learning rates

Risk management should not be the primary consideration for merchant acquirers and their merchant customers during the onboarding process. Merchant acquirers’ portfolios have become riskier as a result of increased digitization and demand for innovative payment options. As new entities pop up and enter the system at breakneck speed, the barrier to entry into the digital/ecommerce economy has increased. Validating these new entities necessitates the use of more robust systems that can make use of both internal and external data. 

Acquirers should improve their ability to manage fraud and compliance risk by evaluating possible collusive or fraud-targeted merchant behavior, the chance of merchant attrition or insolvency, and current and prospective merchant profitability. 

There is an increasing requirement for merchant monitoring in real-time in order to spot aberrant merchant behavior in time to prevent losses. We also find a lot of value in linking pre-book (onboarding) performance/results with post-book (monitoring) outcomes in order to establish a faster learning loop and enhance both areas. In reality, many acquirers are looking to meet both of these demands with a single platform/capability to improve insight sharing. 

Ensuring that merchant monitoring methods are comprehensive

Risk management is a continuous necessity that does not end after a merchant is onboarded. The world of business moves quickly, and many businesses, particularly smaller, more flexible ones, must pivot or alter their course quickly to stay competitive. Their consumer profile may alter as a result of these developments. As a business grows, a merchant may need to expand into new markets or adjust the way they accept payments to accommodate a greater range of card types and payment methods. As a result, their risk profile may shift, leaving your company vulnerable.

Identifying potential changes in a merchant’s sales operations that could influence their risk criteria requires some type of ongoing monitoring. Keeping note of indicators such as surges in sales activity, surpassing payment thresholds, out-of-area or strange sales activities, and altering website products or connections can provide you with an up-to-date image of each merchant you work with and show any potential red flags. Keeping a lookout for their presence on punishment lists, as well as any unfavorable or adverse media coverage, will be essential.  

An effective merchant monitoring approach will be automated, leverage cutting-edge analytics, real-time urgency and flexible data ingestion, and be able to proactively alert acquirers to potential risks and double as a competitive advantage for attracting new merchants to their network. 

Technology that is 'plug and play'

It’s critical to get your relationship with your new merchant off to the greatest possible start. A quick and flawless automated sign-up procedure can help attract and secure new merchants to your payments firm, but if things go wrong once they’ve signed on the dotted line, all your efforts could be for naught. A key component of the merchant onboarding process is a faster merchant setup. It enables merchants to swiftly deploy the equipment and technology they require to accept payments right now. As a result, this step should be as simple and straightforward as signing up.

Your new merchant will be a happy customer if everything is ready to ‘plug and play’ right out of the box. If it’s difficult to set up and get ready to use, they’ll toss it in the back of the drawer before it’s even used – and your brand’s reputation suffers as a result. As a result, make sure that all of the software, training materials, and other information that the merchant will need to get up and running is preloaded or supplied with the device, so that your new customer has everything they need right away. 

Quicker go-live

Because of the ecommerce boom, the introduction of smart technology, and the pervasiveness of social media, today’s consumers demand fast access. This puts pressure on merchants and brands to be available to their customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which necessitates collaboration with service providers that can assist them in achieving this high level of service. Merchants, like customers, don’t want to wait weeks for a new potential payment provider to process their manual (or even paper) application. They expect to be up and running in a matter of minutes. Why not a merchant account if they can obtain this level of service with a commercial banking account?

To learn more about our advanced merchant onboarding solutions. 

Like this article?

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin

More To Explore