Are You Ready for AI to Drive Auto Lease & Finance?

Embrace the inevitable

Once a new technology rolls over you, if you’re not part of the steamroller, you’re part of the road. — Stewart Brand, Project developer, writer, and entrepreneur

Almost overnight, it seems artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing industries worldwide, and its impact on automotive is no exception. With the help of AI, automotive finance and lease businesses are already streamlining processes, improving customer experience, and detecting fraud. For lenders, AI offers a more efficient underwriting approval process. For borrowers, AI-powered platforms make it easier to compare and choose financing options, turbo-charging their experience. Are you all-in with AI yet?

Efficiency is key

For all parties, AI’s enhanced efficiency is key. It automates routine tasks, which saves time and reduces errors, which leads to cost savings for businesses and quicker, more accurate results for customers. AI can also help businesses make better data-driven decisions, such as predicting customer demand and identifying high-risk customers, and removes implicit or explicit biases in the decision-making. And customers get nearly instantaneous personalized customer payment plans based on their individual financial history and current situation. Critically, AI algorithms can detect and prevent fraudulent transactions before they happen, protecting both the lender and the borrower from financial loss.

The human touch

But with all AI’s benefits, there comes the occasional hiccup. While AI is matchless at automating and streamlining payment processes, it all but eliminates the human touch. The most obvious gap affects the customer who looks forward to a personal sit-down with a loan officer to ask questions and apply in person. Each lender will have to decide for themselves how to satisfy those important hands-on relationships. 

In addition, AI algorithms can sometimes make mistakes or fail to detect fraudulent activities. So to be trustworthy, AI requires human oversight to verify the accuracy and security of financial transactions. When something goes wrong with the credit report or other important information, it takes a skilled professional to step in and make the necessary adjustments. 

Companies must ensure that AI is used ethically to eliminate bias in decision-making, that customer data is protected, and to guard against the potential for AI to be used for malicious purposes. 

There’s always a cost

AI offers tremendous potential to transform finance payments, but it also requires careful planning and management to mitigate potential risks and ensure its successful integration. Implementing AI technology requires significant investment of both time and money to ensure that customers’ sensitive information is protected from unauthorized access and theft. All that takes a worthwhile financial investment which promises to reap rewards. Lenders need to plan for these costs.

Outlook is bright

Despite these challenges, the outlook for lender efficiency and enhanced customer experience is positive and the technology inevitable. AI has the potential to streamline the lease and finance payment process for everyone involved—from application to assessing creditworthiness to providing real-time payment reminders that make it easier and more convenient for customers. And finally, AI can also be used to detect and prevent fraudulent activities, reducing the risk of financial losses. 

As AI continues to evolve, businesses need to stay up-to-date with the latest developments and adapt their strategies accordingly. With it, AI brings penny perfect payments and credit perfect payments – Win-Win for customers and lenders alike!