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Data to the Rescue: How AI is Cracking Open Small Business Finance

In this blog, Tito Sarrionandia explains how Liberis leverages AI and deep data insights to transform financing for small businesses, surpassing traditional lending limitations.

Read more February 5, 2024

Demystifying Embedded Finance: How AI Is Changing the Game 

The blog discusses how artificial intelligence is changing the embedded finance landscape by providing tailored experiences, streamlined customer experiences, test data for training models, and transparency.

Read more December 6, 2023

The Role of Sustainable and Green Lending in Promoting Social Responsibility for Small Businesses

Discover how sustainable lending empowers small businesses to thrive responsibly, funding eco-friendly projects that build trust with ethically minded customers.

Read more July 26, 2023

Revolutionising Customer Experience: Collaboration between Traditional Banks and Embedded Finance Platforms

This blog explores how traditional banks are revolutionising customer experience by collaborating with embedded finance platforms, which seamlessly integrate innovative financial services within non-financial companies' products or services, enhancing convenience, personalisation, accessibility, and security while streamlining financial transactions and improving financial education.

Read more July 20, 2023

4-Click Funding: How E-Commerce Platforms Can Offer Instant Financing 

Discover how 4-click funding revolutionizes e-commerce platforms, empowering merchants with instant, personalized access to vital funds while ensuring convenience, transparency, and security.

Read more July 12, 2023

A Day in the Life of a Global Customer Operations Manager with Tracy Kitchen

Tracy Kitchen, Global Customer Operations Manager at Liberis shares what a 'day in the life' looks like.

Read more March 8, 2024

Life at Liberis with Santhiya Sutharsan

Santhiya Sutharsan, People & Talent Coordinator shares what life at Liberis is like.

Read more February 22, 2024

The Benefits of Embedded Finance: A Dive into AI-Powered Solutions

Embedded finance, enhanced by AI, is revolutionizing the financial services industry by offering seamless customer experiences, cost savings, operational efficiency, and market competitiveness.

Read more December 19, 2023

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Embedded Finance

Demystifying Embedded Finance: How AI Is Changing the Game 

Embedded finance is a big change to the fintech world. It has completely changed the way we think about financial services. It’s so popular that you’ve probably used it before, even if you don’t know it. 

Embedded finance is a new way to provide financial services. It uses technology to connect financial products, like payments, loans, and deposits, to non-financial platforms, like company websites and mobile apps. This makes it easier and cheaper for merchants and brands to offer financial services to their customers. 

The driving forces behind embedded finance 

The rise of embedded finance has been made possible by three big changes in the business world: 

These three forces are working together to create embedded finance services that can strengthen brand loyalty, increase customer retention, boost conversion rates, and generate repeat business. And the growth is amazing: the global embedded finance market is expected to grow from $264 billion in 2021 to $606 billion in 2025. 

Another technological development that’s fuelling this unstoppable growth is artificial intelligence (AI). 

The transformative power of AI 

The rise of AI has turbocharged the intersection of finance and technology. AI is constantly changing, which makes it possible to create embedded user experiences that are more and more intuitive, natural, and engaging. And the benefits are clear: 

Tailored experiences 

AI algorithms allow embedded finance platforms to personalise user experiences by analysing huge amounts of data in real time. This helps them to understand customer preferences, behaviours, and patterns, and to tailor financial services, such as loans, accordingly. 

For example, AI-powered credit scoring models use machine learning to analyse non-traditional factors, such as reviews, to offer terms and conditions that are tailored to an applicant’s unique financial situation. 

Streamlined customer experience 

Embedded finance platforms can also use real-time data analysis to offer convenient experiences from start to finish. For example, embedded lending makes the loan application and assessment process easier and faster by delivering a frictionless four-click journey that unlocks funds quickly and cost-effectively once AI has expedited the merchant pre-approval process: 

  1. See the offer: The lending feature is seamlessly integrated into the brand’s existing customer journey. 
  2. Customise the offer: Real-time user experience optimisation customises the lending offer based on the brand’s offerings and your needs.  
  3. Confirm details: Your details are processed instantly, and you get an automatic approval decision and offer.  
  4. Sign the contract: You accept the offer immediately and get access to the funds almost instantly. 

This convenience removes barriers to access to capital, such as old-fashioned lenders, and gives small and medium-sized businesses the point-of-need access to capital they need to manage their cash flow efficiently. Consumers can also access flexible payment structures that improve their online shopping experience. 

Create test data to train models and assess systems 

By simulating user activity patterns and generating scenarios that mimic the characteristics of real-world situations, generative AI can be used to create synthetic test data for training models and evaluating systems. This diverse and representative dataset enables robust testing and development of embedded finance systems and informs decisions.   

For example, generative AI is a powerful tool for creating synthetic data that mirrors fraudulent patterns. By training generative AI models on vast datasets containing known instances of fraud, it’s possible to generate data that simulates the characteristics and behaviours of fraudulent activities. This can be harnessed to create realistic scenarios for testing and fine-tuning embedded fraud detection capabilities.  

Transparency 

As AI is used more and more in embedded finance, businesses want access to more real-time data to make better decisions. But how accurate is this data? Explainable AI (XAI) is helping to bridge the gap between AI models and user trust in their reliability. XAI is a set of processes and methods that makes AI more explainable, intuitive, and understandable to human users without sacrificing performance or prediction accuracy. 

For example, non-financial businesses that offer lending as part of their customer experience are using XAI to make informed creditworthiness decisions directly within their core applications or products. Liberis offers a revenue-based lending model powered by an intelligent data engine that accurately predicts business transaction revenues and makes personalized and pre-approved offers instantly. 78% of businesses receive their funding in less than 48 hours. 

What does the future hold for AI and embedded finance? 

AI can constantly learn and adjust, so embedded finance will keep evolving in terms of user experience, transparency, fraud prevention, and accessibility of financial services. The progress that AI has already made will continue to advance as AI learns from experience and applies what it learns. 

Generative AI, the technology behind ChatGPT, is taking this to the next level. Generative AI goes beyond traditional AI, which is typically used to analyse data and make predictions, by creating new data. For example, generative AI can be used to create chatbots that can understand the context of a situation and respond accordingly to provide personalised financial advice and support. This is just one example of how AI is making embedded finance more seamless, tailored, and accessible. 

Posted on December 6, 2023 By Kieran Darmody
Sustainable Finance

The Role of Sustainable and Green Lending in Promoting Social Responsibility for Small Businesses

Customer trust and loyalty have to be earned. Traditionally, businesses worked to the theory that if their product and customer experience were up to scratch, belief in their brand would be unwavering. But today’s ethically conscious consumer demands much more. They want to engage with businesses that consider the impact of their activities on employees, customers, communities, and the environment – and take actions to promote their well-being.

This recognition of the environmental and social impact of businesses has elevated social responsibility into a touchstone of customer trust and loyalty. To tap into this sentiment, small businesses must demonstrate a collective consciousness for these factors – but this doesn’t come cheap.

Investment is one of the biggest barriers to this shift to sustainability – until now. Sustainable and green lending have emerged to bridge this funding gap:

  • Green lending: The provision of financing for projects or initiatives that have a positive environmental impact – typically those that support renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean technologies, sustainable infrastructure, and other environmentally friendly initiatives.
  • Sustainable lending: This evolution of green lending takes into consideration environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues and risks, with the aim of increasing long-term investments in sustainable economic activities and projects.

Understanding sustainable and green Lending

Green lending

Green lending aims to redirect capital towards businesses that promote environmental sustainability. Lenders have specific eligibility criteria to identify and assess the environmental benefits of the borrower’s proposed projects or initiatives, such as implementing energy-efficient upgrades or investing in sustainable transportation.

Sustainable lending

Sustainable lending aims to support projects and initiatives that promote long-term sustainable development, taking into account the ESG impacts of the borrower. Therefore, the borrower’s eligibility for funding hinges on their sustainability performance across the three metrics: environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and good governance practices.

Traditional lending

In contrast, traditional lending decisioning models typically focus on the borrower’s financial capacity and their historic creditworthiness. This narrow approach perpetuates invalid assumptions that small businesses are too risky to engage with – leaving them disenfranchised. It also encompasses a broader range of projects and initiatives that don’t have predetermined sustainability criteria.

Social responsibility and small businesses

Morally-centred small businesses that actively contribute to the well-being of communities and address social and environmental challenges gain a competitive edge – and the benefits are compelling: enhanced reputation and brand image, increased employee satisfaction and productivity, improved risk management, long-term sustainability, and stakeholder engagement and partnerships.

Most small businesses are entrenched in their local community and environment. This deep-rooted presence provides an opportunity to build meaningful relationships that benefit the community: they engage with local stakeholders, create jobs, stimulate economic growth, contribute to community development, and reduce unemployment rates.

A confluence of their size and passion for the local area allows them to positively impact their surroundings. Having leveraged their relationships with local stakeholders to fully understand their environmental and social impact, small businesses can adopt meaningful sustainable practices. And they are well-placed to act on their promises because they typically have greater flexibility in implementing eco-friendly measures compared to large corporations.

However, there is a common barrier to achieving social responsibility for businesses of a certain size: funding. Sustainable lending practices break down these barriers for small businesses by replacing rigid legacy lending models with ESG-related eligibility criteria – unlocking funds that have previously been beyond their grasp.

Benefits of sustainable and green lending for small businesses

Favourable decisioning criteria will remain rudderless if small businesses are deterred from applying for sustainable or green loans in the first place by unaffordable repayment terms. Access to affordable capital for socially responsible projects is a critical factor in accelerating the transition to sustainable business practices. Sustainable and green lending initiatives typically offer favourable terms and lower interest rates, making capital more accessible and affordable for these projects.

Fluid access to affordable capital means social responsibility goals and values don’t simply remain nice ideas that don’t get off the ground. These financing channels direct money to socially responsible projects, allowing small businesses to align their funding with their ESG aims.

Supporting sustainable and green lending initiatives

Financial institutions have a crucial role to play in promoting sustainable and green lending. To achieve this, they must replace antiquated lending infrastructures with accessible and affordable products – such as green bonds, green loans, and sustainability-linked loans. A fulcrum of this accessibility is their ability to establish sustainability criteria that borrowers must meet to qualify for loans.

Liberis has reinforced its commitment to responsible and sustainable investment practices by developing Cashback for Green. Inspired by the growing appetite from small businesses for green funding solutions, they have collaborated with their partners to reward customers with cashback when they invest their funding in green purchases.

The government are also key enablers of sustainable finance practices. Motivated by their sustainability targets, they have introduced lending products that will help them achieve their goals. For example, almost £5 billion of funding is available to help UK businesses become greener as part of the government’s commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

Tax benefits and incentives for adopting sustainable practices are also being leveraged by the government in their drive to sustainability, such as reliefs for buying energy-efficient technology for businesses.

Overcoming challenges and limitations

Small businesses may perceive sustainable practices as expensive or believe they will increase operational costs. While these projects and initiatives can yield long-term cost savings, the initial investment or transition period may deter businesses that are focused on short-term profitability. This lack of knowledge might also cloud their understanding of the benefits of sustainable lending practices, preventing them from accessing the necessary funding amid erroneous assumptions that banks – which have a poor track record when it comes to funding small businesses – are their only option.

To plug these knowledge gaps, they must be given agency to understand the sustainable and green lending options that are available – bringing education that reflects this into sharp focus. Empowered by knowledge and understanding of these practices, they can look beyond their bank when seeking funding for sustainable initiatives.

Future outlook and opportunities

Financial technology is driving increased adoption of sustainable finance practices by enabling greater transparency, efficiency, and accessibility of the associated products. These solutions are supporting sustainable banking practices, such as digital platforms that promote responsible investing, provide ESG ratings, and facilitate sustainable lending and payment systems. This innovation helped the market for sustainable finance to accelerate past a trillion dollars in 2021 – a meteoric rise for a sub-sector that didn’t exist a decade ago.

The financial industry is recognising that new products and services are needed to catalyse financing from the widest possible pool of borrowers – otherwise, social responsibility efforts will stagnate. Several new offerings that remain at a nascent stage have been added to the sustainable and green lending ecosystems – such as sustainable trade finance and repurchase agreements linked to ESG criteria, green scrutinization, and green leasing/lending.

Conclusion

ESG-driven social responsibility projects and initiatives without funding will remain impotent. They require sufficient funds to fuel a range of activities through their full lifecycle that will underpin their success: research and development, infrastructure and implementation, scale and reach, education and awareness, ongoing support and maintenance, and collaboration and partnerships.

Sustainable and green lending unlocks access to vital funds by replacing rigid decisioning models with specific eligibility criteria linked to the use of the funds and the borrower’s sustainability performance. This agile approach to lending is helping to democratise finance for small businesses, which have traditionally been sidelined by legacy lenders. Empowered to integrate social responsibility into financial decisions, these businesses are reducing their environmental footprint and enhancing their social impact – and building trust and loyalty with today’s ethically conscious consumer in the process.

Posted on July 26, 2023 By Kieran Darmody
Embedded Finance & AI

Data to the Rescue: How AI is Cracking Open Small Business Finance

Small businesses are often overlooked when it comes to getting finance. Despite employing the majority of people globally, they face impossible hurdles when they need money to cover cashflow or expansion.

The reason is simple: data. If you only measure the data points available via a traditional lending process, you miss what’s special about each small business, and dismiss them too quickly. Small businesses are unfairly seen as unprofessional, and not standardised enough to accurately risk assess – unless you know exactly where to look in the data.

The rise of easy-to-integrate, powerful AI tools means that data is quickly becoming the only differentiator of note when it comes to tech platforms. More data, more accurate data, data that’s easier to access, and a deeper understanding of this data is what matters.

The Liberis platform can leverage AI to lend sustainably to more small businesses than any other finance platform. How?

The depth of our data

For 16 years, we’ve financed small businesses and meticulously tracked their performance data. Working with our partners, we collect daily, anonymous information about their businesses. This data includes cases where businesses succeeded despite lacking the usual factors that attract traditional lenders. By capturing and analysing these outliers, we’ve built a wealth of knowledge about what truly makes small businesses thrive.

Our flexibility to consume new data

We partner with payments, food delivery, salon management software, and more, reaching a diverse variety of small businesses. Each partner offers unique insights into specific industries and which data points indicate high performance. We’ve learned to incorporate this custom data and build a flexible platform to take in the data points that our partners know make a difference when spotting brilliant small businesses. We use this diverse data to deeply train our AI, incorporating everything from occupancy rates to food hygiene ratings and customer reviews. Every piece helps us discover hidden gems among small businesses.

We speak to small businesses every single day

When all else fails, there’s no substitute for a quick call with somebody who knows how your business works. While we are confident enough in our data that we can make the majority of our decisions in established markets automatically, without human input – our small business facing teams are on the phone every day to talk to everybody else. We live and breathe small businesses, so we know how to spot diamonds. Crucially, each of these conversations feeds directly back into our data and makes it more likely that we can automatically spot the next brilliant small business who applies.

These three strengths mean our platform is better able to deploy AI to sustainably fund small businesses than any other and is improving every single day.

Learn more

Keen to learn more about our platform? Fill out the form below and a member of the team will be in touch with you.

Posted on February 5, 2024 By Tito Sarrionandia
Embedded Finance Traditional Banks

Revolutionising Customer Experience: Collaboration between Traditional Banks and Embedded Finance Platforms

Once an afterthought for traditional banks, customer experience is now a touchstone for these legacy providers of financial services. With their monopoly eroded by the emergence of tech-driven financial companies (fintechs) in the wake of the financial crisis, they can no longer take customer retention for granted – forcing them to rethink their outdated financial services. Empowered by choice and innovation, the modern consumer demands access to customer-centric services that focus on providing a positive experience at the point of sale.

Spearheading this disruption of the antiquated brick-and-mortar banking model is embedded finance: the seamless integration of innovative financial services or tools within the products or services of a non-financial company. This alternative model is allowing banks to bridge the gap between customer expectations around efficiency, speed and personalisation and what their narrow legacy tech can deliver.

Enhancing convenience and accessibility

A product of the fintech movement, embedded finance providers are breaking down entrenched barriers to financial inclusion that previously obstructed consumers’ – both individuals and businesses – access to vital services. This subversive approach allows them to give consumers exactly what they want: frictionless financial services that mirror the highly personal and streamlined experiences they enjoy elsewhere online.

With the embedded finance journey seamlessly integrated into the non-financial companies’ user interface, customers can bypass clunky traditional structures that rely on legacy third parties, multiple forms, and manual processes. The result is a streamlined customer experience that saves them time and effort while cultivating a sense of security and reliability.

Personalised financial offerings

Back when banks held a monopoly over the financial services space, a handful of providers offered the same generic services under different brands. No longer fettered to these narrow services, consumers are demanding bespoke experiences beyond physical branches. Embedded finance is empowering banks to develop a deep understanding of each customer’s requirements and deliver a set of tailored digital experiences that satisfy them – and it’s being powered by AI.

The modern consumer typically chooses to engage with brands that acknowledge and remember them. This relies on the aggregation and analysis of data to deliver personalised services that are relevant to their requirements and preferences. Embedded finance augments conventional data sources based on demographics and age with AI-powered personalisation. Advanced algorithms possess the power to conduct real-time analysis of vast datasets and recommend tailored products and services based on their browsing/buying preferences.

This marks an inflection point for banks, who are breathing new life into their customer experience by swapping a narrow set of services for the ability to anticipate and give them what they want at the right time, through the right channels.

Streamlining financial transactions

Embedded finance allows banks to simplify the banking process by replacing time-consuming and inefficient manual interactions with a seamless online user experience. Customers can access financial services directly within the platforms they already use, eliminating the need to navigate multiple third-party apps or websites. For example, some e-commerce platforms offer embedded payment processing, allowing customers to make purchases without being redirected to external payment gateways – reducing friction and enhancing the overall user experience.

Another example is embedded lending, which expedites the loan application and assessment processes by leveraging advanced algorithms – with the application process conducted online with a few clicks and a decision made within minutes.

Improving financial education and empowerment

Financial literacy – the knowledge and skills needed to make important financial decisions – is a key attribute for both individual and business customers when applying for products. Embedded finance’s innate ability to streamline traditionally convoluted and confusing financial services provides consumers with transparency and clarity about the products available to them.

Consumers are exposed to financial concepts in a more accessible and intuitive manner when these services are integrated into everyday products. By eliminating barriers to entry and simplifying the user experience, they gain a better understanding of financial management and can make more informed financial decisions.

Embedded finance can also provide educational content directly within financial applications or platforms. Users can access articles, videos, tutorials, and other resources that explain key financial concepts, terms, and strategies. By integrating financial education into everyday activities, people can learn at their own pace and develop a deeper understanding of personal or business finance.

Building trust and security

As financial services become more integrated into everyday platforms, the risk of fraudulent activities increases amid an ever-expanding and evolving cyber-attack surface. Any concerns around trust and security in the digital banking space are being addressed by a compelling weapon in the embedded finance armoury: artificial intelligence (AI).

AI-powered fraud detection and prevention tools conduct real-time analysis of broad and diverse customer data sets and present their findings expeditiously. When fraud is detected, AI models can automatically reject transactions or flag and rate them for further investigation.

Case studies and success stories

Liberis has partnered with Barclaycard to offer their small business customers access to personalised revenue-based finance. Called Barclaycard Business Cash Advance, this elevated customer experience allows these organisations to access finance based on their overall business revenue rather than historic credit scores – a frictionless service that unlocks the funding they need to grow.

Liberis advances a sum of money to eligible merchants on the agreement that they pay the sum plus a pre-agreed fee. This alternative finance product offers fixed-cost financing with flexible payment terms – allowing business owners to access the funds they need when they’re needed.

Future Trends and innovations

For the customer experience to meet shifting user expectations around efficiency, speed and personalisation, the embedded finance ecosystem must be agile enough to shift with them. By harnessing the dynamic power of AI to constantly learn and adjust based on vast sets of transactional and operational data, embedded finance platforms are creating user experiences that are increasingly intuitive, natural, and engaging – a perpetual evolution that has the customer at its core. Banks that leverage this agility unshackle themselves from their rigid traditional services that restrict customers to the same turgid experiences.

Conclusion

Banks that fail to recognise the pivotal role customer experience plays in building trust and loyalty in the modern financial landscape will remain stuck in the past – a world where customers were taken for granted. Those that are prepared to evolve in this increasingly saturated market by respecting the contemporary consumers mounting demand for efficiency, speed and personalisation will meet their expectations during every interaction – and improve retention rates.

By collaborating with an embedded finance platform, banks can provide a seamless and convenient online journey that bypasses multiple third-party apps or websites. Once a pipe dream for customers amid unyielding rigidity in the banking model, this streamlined experience is appealing to their appetite for customer-centric services – heightening their satisfaction and engagement.

Posted on July 20, 2023 By Kieran Darmody
e-Commerce Embedded Finance

4-Click Funding: How E-Commerce Platforms Can Offer Instant Financing 

Proactive e-commerce platforms don’t rest on their laurels. Having worked hard to partner with merchants, they work even harder to retain them. It’s this enterprising approach that allows them to focus on retention rates rather than churn rates. But with so much competition, it’s a challenge for them to remain in sight of their customers’ wandering eyes. 

Auxiliary services can build a mutually beneficial online experience that differentiates e-commerce platforms and retains merchant customers – provided they add value. Agile lending services have the potential to cement the platform/merchant relationship by providing access to vital funds for these small businesses. But, offering lending services for the sake of it is not enough; they must appeal to the merchants’ need for a seamless, streamlined, and tailored experience – without exposing the platform to fraud, credit risk, and compliance challenges. 

For this reason, dynamic e-commerce platforms are choosing to integrate an instant 4-click funding journey that has convenience, transparency, and personalisation at its core into their ecosystem – unlocking time-critical funds for merchants safely. 

Understanding 4-click funding

Powered by AI, 4-click funding eliminates friction from the lending process, unlocking funds for merchants quickly and cost-effectively. This helps to democratise finance for these small businesses by removing barriers – namely clunky and unaccommodating legacy lenders – that have traditionally prevented them from accessing vital funding.  

So, how exactly does 4-click funding enable e-commerce platforms to offer financing to customers in a matter of minutes? 

  1. See the offer: The lending functionality is seamlessly embedded into the platforms’ existing customer journey using sophisticated – and customisable – APIs, enabling an automated pre-approved offer to be made. 
  2. Customise the offer: Real-time user experience optimisation customises the lending proposition depending on the platform’s offering and the customers’ requirements.  
  3. Confirm details: The applicant’s details are processed instantly, and an auto-approval decision is made followed by an auto-approved offer. 
  4. Sign the contract: The applicant accepts the offer immediately, gaining access to the funds almost instantly. 

This ability to expedite the fund process provides merchants with the point of need access to the capital they crave, enhancing their cashflow management and increasing their purchasing power and inventory management; while the e-commerce platform builds brand loyalty and increases revenue through elevated user experience – a ripple effect that benefits both parties and has safety at its core.  

Risk management and credit decisioning

Inserting lending services that lean on outdated legacy infrastructures exposes e-commerce platforms to credit risk. This reliance on historic credit scores that overlook applicants’ future financial position prohibits them from flagging high-risk customers that might default on their repayment obligations.  

By augmenting the lending application and assessment processes with advanced algorithms, 4-click funding expedites credit-approval times and creates transparent credit decisioning models by analysing broad and diverse data sets in real time. This not only prevents applicants whose finances might deteriorate from being approved; it ensures creditworthy applicants aren’t rejected. For example, risks associated with instant financing are mitigated through robust automated underwriting practices that leverage cash flow and transaction data to drive instant – and informed – financial assessments. 

Security and fraud prevention

Automated fraud detection and prevention tools conduct real-time analysis of vast swathes of transactional data, allowing platforms to identify nuanced trends that can be used to detect fraud in real time. Once fraud is identified, advanced algorithms can automatically reject transactions or flag and rate them for further investigation.  

AI’s ability to process large volumes of data expeditiously also reinforces instant funding from a compliance perspective. With clunky manual processes consigned to the past, real-time performance data drives prompt preventive action if processes become non-compliant.  

Integration and user experience

Instant funding is a cornerstone of the embedded lending model: the seamless integration of lending services by non-banks into their infrastructure. Innovative e-commerce platforms partner with a third-party provider like Liberis to leverage embedded lending. This tech-led specialist helps them to seamlessly integrate agile lending options into their platform by harnessing customisable APIs – significantly reducing the time to market. 

With the instant funding application and approval process integrated into the platform’s user interface the customer journey is optimised for a smooth and intuitive 4-click experience: see the offer, customise the offer, confirm details, sign the contract.  

Success stories

Klarna – a leading global payments and shopping service – has partnered with Liberis to embed instant funding into their online experience as a value-added service for merchant customers. Their Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) offering relies on the delivery of short-term financing to customers, allowing them to make purchases and pay for them at a future date. By integrating 4-click funding into their platform, they empower merchants to access finance without friction. 

Future implications and innovations

One of 4-click funding’s main strengths is its dependence on AI. The definition of dynamic, AI is constantly learning and adjusting, providing e-commerce and embedded lending platforms with the agility needed to evolve by creating user experiences that are increasingly intuitive, natural, and engaging. 

Any concerns around AI algorithm transparency are being allayed by the emerging field of explainable AI (XAI), which augments AI’s innate ability to process large volumes of data expeditiously with clarity. XAI has the power to dispel questions about the validity of the outcomes AI produces by explaining the characteristics and rationale of its output. The in-depth insights offered by this descriptive tool will drive increased trust in and adoption of 4-click funding. 

Conclusion 

4-click funding ticks all the value-added service boxes for e-commerce platforms merchant customers: convenience, transparency, and personalisation. It’s this triumvirate of factors – or lack of – that have traditionally shackled these small businesses from a lending perspective.  

By integrating 4-click funding e-commerce platforms can provide merchants with the expedited lending service they deserve – safely and securely. This instant access to tailored funds isn’t just a nice change to the cumbersome and convoluted traditional lending model; it can mean the difference between surviving and ceasing to exist.  

With the anxiety of being rejected by legacy lenders assuaged and time-critical funds accessed, e-commerce platforms’ value-added service will achieve what it set out to: attract and retain customers. 

Posted on July 12, 2023 By Kieran Darmody
Industry Review

Navigating the Future: 2024 FinTech Predictions with Rob Straathof

As the CEO of Liberis, I’ve been at the forefront of the FinTech revolution, a space where innovation isn’t just a buzzword—it’s the very currency of our realm. The industry’s landscape is ever-changing, and as we gaze into the horizon of 2024, several burgeoning trends are set to redefine the financial ecosystem.

Gen AI: The driver behind FinTech’s Evolution

The role of Gen AI in FinTech is expected to expand exponentially. Gen AI is no longer a mere strategic edge; it is set to become the central system of FinTech operations. Its capability to learn, reason, and comprehend at a granular level will be critical in areas such as granular compliance checks, assisting sales agents with questions, training agents to close more deals, selecting the right leads for targeting and marketing, and getting one step closer to real-time decision-making for underwriting and affordability checking. By the end of 2024, I anticipate Gen AI to underpin a new wave of FinTech solutions, offering hyper-personalised services on a scale previously unimaginable.

Embedded Finance: The Invisible Thread of Commerce

Embedded finance has steadily woven its way into the fabric of daily transactions, and its continued expansion is set to continue unabated. By 2024, embedded finance will likely be an integral thread in the tapestry of commerce. Purchasing a vehicle, investing in equipment, or upgrading technology will all come with financial solutions woven into the purchase journey itself, eradicating the need for separate banking interactions.

Consumer Preferences: Ecosystems over Institutions

A pivotal shift is underway in finance, with preferences moving from traditional banking institutions to integrated financial services seamlessly embedded within preferred ecosystems. By 2024, this shift is predicted to dominate consumer and Small Business owners’ behaviour, as financial solutions that align with individual lifestyles and consumption habits take precedence. Platforms that can offer financial products within these ecosystems will establish the new standard for engaging with finance.

Next generation of Frictionless Finance

At Liberis, we’re not just passive observers of this revolution; we’re active participants. We’ve spearheaded an industry-leading 4-click embedded business finance journey that exemplifies our commitment to innovation. This pioneering approach seamlessly integrates funding into the purchasing process, allowing business owners to access pre-approved, frictionless finance effortlessly. This transformative solution eliminates the need for explicit finance applications, enabling businesses to secure funding as a natural part of their existing purchasing journey.

In my 2018 article for British Airways Highlife, I envisioned a future where merchants seamlessly access credit without explicit applications, with the entire process embedded into the purchasing experience. Today, we’re proud to have realised this vision five years ahead of schedule.

Looking Ahead: The Roadmap for FinTech

The future we’re shaping at Liberis is one where business owners spend less time navigating financial complexities and more time growing their enterprises. The financial ecosystem of 2024 will be characterised by its dynamism, its seamless integration, and its invisible efficiency. As industry leaders, it’s our prerogative to innovate with intention, anticipate the evolving needs of our customers, and adapt to the ever-changing landscape, ensuring that we’re not just offering products but enabling progress.

Get in Touch

Ready to embrace the FinTech future with us? If our vision excites you or if you have questions about what these trends mean for your business, don’t hesitate to reach out. Simply fill out the form below to start a conversation with our team.

Posted on December 18, 2023 By Rob Straathof
Life at Liberis

A Day in the Life of a Delivery Manager with Sophie Tetley

What’s your name and what do you do at Liberis and where in the world do you work?
Hey, I’m Sophie, based in Nottingham, UK. I currently work as a delivery manager at Liberis. My journey here has been a ride as I started in a customer-facing role and then transitioned into the world of technology within Liberis.

From the moment you wake up in the morning, what do you look forward to for the day ahead?
Embracing new opportunities and learning new things. Each day in the world of delivery brings a new challenge, making every day unique. I appreciate the fast pace and constant busyness of my role. It allows for continuous learning and finding innovative ways to perform my job at its best.

Describe a typical day for you in your role.
A typical day for me starts with a stand-up meeting with my team where we discuss what we delivered the day prior, our tasks for the current day and any potential challenges we might face. I then spend a good portion of my day managing and coordinating various projects and understanding the WHY and HOW, ensuring they are on track and progressing as planned. I interact with multiple teams across the organisation to ensure everyone is aligned and moving forward together. I also reserve some time for problem-solving, as unforeseen issues often arise in the world of technology. Towards the end of the day, I review the project progress and prepare for the next day’s tasks.

What advice would you give a colleague whose just joined your team?
I would advise you to always keep an open line of communication with your team and stakeholders. Transparency is key in managing expectations and ensuring everyone is aligned with objectives and progress. Don’t hesitate to ask questions and seek clarity when needed. Foster a positive culture where everyone feels valued and heard. And lastly, never stop learning and improving. Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth.

Are you office based, remote or hybrid? What are the pros and cons, if any?
I’m a remote worker, but in order to excel in my role as a delivery manager, I spend at least two days a week in the London office. A major advantage of this arrangement is that I can collaborate with people in person, get updates, and offer my support in real time. However, a downside is the lengthy travel to London, but its worth it!

Posted on December 7, 2023 By Sophie Tetley
Revenue Finance

Give your business the gift of growth

Fund your business to support the seasonal surge with Revenue Finance 

The leaves are falling, the temperature is dropping, and the nights are drawing in, meaning the biggest retail event of the year is around the corner: Black Friday. On 24th November the starting gun is fired on the busy Christmas shopping period when the sale to end all sales gets underway – with millions of deals for everything from tech to teapots. 

Credit cards will be primed and shopping lists curated across the land as customers get ready to bag some bargains. But what about the businesses without which none of this would be possible? Christmas presents an opportunity for retailers to cashing in on the seasonal surge. One-quarter of small business owners expect to make more than half of their annual revenue in the final months of the year. 

Lightening up the holiday load

However, this seasonal surge in demand can expose small businesses to potential financial challenges: an increase in returned products, the need for an injection of inventory, rising overheads, and understaffing.  

To turn these problems into profit-producing opportunities, it’s important for businesses to lay the foundations for financial stability during this bumper sales period. This requires them to bridge the gap between increased footfall and online activity, with the resources needed to cater for the Christmas rush.  

Snowball your profits with Revenue Finance

Revenue Finance offers flexible and fast funding during this key business period. This alternative financing model enables small businesses to access funding based solely on their overall business revenue. It allows them to avoid the clunky and restrictive funding services typically offered by traditional lenders.  

Getting started is easy, done online in just a couple of clicks. Even better, you’ll receive a decision swiftly and funds could be with you in as little as 24 hours. As for repayments, they’re flexible and tie in with your business’ income from customer transactions.

Harness the Holidays

Empowered by this seamless injection of festive funding, small businesses can plan for a profitable holiday period: 

  • Increase inventory levels: Access to additional funding can ensure that inventory is maintained at an optimal level during this busy period. This can help shield businesses from inventory shortages before customer payments have cleared, allowing them to make the most of the increased footfall.  
  • Launch marketing campaigns: Nurturing customer relationships and acquiring new ones can be supported by marketing activities just before Black Friday and during the holiday period. Marketing at this time of the year can be more expensive, so a cash injection can help to support these additional costs.  
  • Hire additional staff: Access to working capital can support businesses to cope with the spike in demand. Use funding to employ temporary seasonal staff and cover the costs of overtime for existing staff.  

Get access to bespoke, flexible, and speedy funding when they need it most. Approval for funding and repayment processes are primarily based on your total revenue, eliminating the need for complex financial statements and mounting interest. Prepare to turn Christmas into a time of boosting profits, rather than tackling problems.  

Get in touch

If you’re a customer of Worldpay, then feel free to get in touch to see if you are eligible for funding.

Posted on November 21, 2023 By Courtney Yule
Life at Liberis

A Day in the Life of an Associate Partner Manager with Ryan Kitto

What’s your name and what do you do at Liberis and where in the world do you work?

Hi! I’m Ryan and I’m an Associate Partnerships Manager at Liberis, based in London.

Describe a typical day for you in your role.

Every day in partnerships is different, which keeps the work fresh and exciting. A typical day might include routine tasks like reporting performance to partners, as well as more strategic work like developing initiatives to grow and develop the partnerships. This helps us fund more SMEs and continue our own growth.

From the moment you wake up in the morning, what do you look forward to for the day ahead?

I enjoy learning from the brilliant people at Liberis about our product and the wider market. A chicken shawarma from the nearby food stalls is a close second.

What advice would you give a colleague whose just joined your team? 

To understand the other functions and how they relate to your new role, spend as much time as possible with the other teams across the business.

Are you office based, remote or hybrid? What are the pros and cons, if any? 

I typically spend three days a week in the office and two working from home. Working in the office is great for collaboration and soaking up information from other people. There’s also a great culture at Liberis and everyone is sociable, so I enjoy coming in. Working from home has its benefit too – it’s a chance for me to get my head down and crack on with work (and avoid the tubes during rush hour!)

Posted on November 10, 2023 By Ryan Kitto
Life at Liberis

A Day in the Life of a Head of Delivery with Leanne Mills

What’s your name and what do you do at Liberis and where in the world do you work?

Hi, I’m Leanne Mills and I’m currently the Head of Delivery at Liberis, based in London, UK.

Describe a typical day for you in your role.

In my role, I am responsible for overseeing and managing a diverse portfolio of deliveries. This involves working on various projects and initiatives across multiple teams, ensuring that they are properly planned, resourced, and executed to achieve Liberis’s goals and objectives.

On a daily basis, I start my day by checking the status of ongoing initiatives and managing all direct messages to the business. This ensures that all team members are well-informed and up-to-date on the latest developments. Additionally, I work closely with stakeholders to engage them in the journey, whether it’s expanding into new markets, aligning teams towards a common goal, or onboarding new partners. By doing so, I ensure that all projects are delivered on time and meet the highest standards.

As part of my role, I analyse our delivery processes to identify bottlenecks and make informed decisions to streamline workflows and enhance the overall delivery experience. This continuous analysis enables me to make informed decisions and implement necessary changes to streamline workflows and ultimately enhance the overall delivery experience. It also allows me to stay proactive and ensure that the delivery operations are running smoothly and efficiently, meeting the needs and expectations of our customers.

From the moment you wake up in the morning, what do you look forward to for the day ahead?

Every day brings new opportunities and challenges. I strangely enjoy the context switching as it gives me a chance to embrace new challenges and make a positive impact. Each morning, I wake up with the thought of how I can create a repeatable operating pattern for executing initiatives. This involves increasing our output to the point where complex deliveries are done quickly and become part of our regular workflow.

What are your stand-out memories of working at Liberis so far?

We have made significant progress in our speed to market. By introducing and building up a partner-delivery function, we have not only reduced the time it takes to launch to a new partner, but also improved our overall efficiency. With this new function in place, we are now able to launch to a new partner within days instead of months, which has greatly accelerated our go-to-market process. This streamlined approach allows us to consistently meet launch deadlines without incurring significant increases in costs or putting excessive strain on our capacity. As a result, our business expansion strategy has been positively impacted, enabling us to grow and scale at a faster pace.

What advice would you give a colleague who has just joined your team?

For a colleague who has recently joined the Delivery Management team, my advice would be to take advantage of every opportunity to learn and develop. Take a proactive approach in acquiring knowledge, eagerly absorb insights from experienced team members, and be open to new ideas. Don’t hesitate to ask questions and seek guidance when necessary.

In addition, focus on promoting effective cross-functional delivery by working closely with other team members and effectively communicating the value of your role to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. It is also important to establish credibility and influence across departments.

What do you look forward to most in Liberis’ future?

In Liberis’ future, I am most excited about the potential for further growth. I look forward to exploring new markets, expanding our partnerships, and continuing to deliver exceptional results for our customers. We are only just getting started, and I am eager to be a part of it!

Are you office based, remote or hybrid? What are the pros and cons, if any?

I’m currently office based. My role heavily relies on collaborating and working with multiple teams and disciplines across the organisation. In my opinion, it is essential to come together face to face in order to build a relationship of trust. Building this level of trust promotes influence, which is a crucial requirement for this role.

Posted on October 12, 2023 By Leanne Mills
Life at Liberis

Life at Liberis with Irina Miinin

What’s your name and what do you do at Liberis?

My name is Irina Miinin, and I am the Sales Manager in Nordics region at Liberis.

What makes you proud to work here?

I am proud to be able to offer our customers a product that they love and want to avail of over and over again. Furthermore, I take great pride in collaborating alongside the dedicated and ambitious individuals at Liberis. In Nordics we have grown incredibly fast since I started, and I am very proud to lead the Nordics Sales team that consistently tackles challenges with such determination.

What are your stand-out memories of working at Liberis so far?

I started at Liberis in September 2020 which was in the middle of the pandemic. Our Sales team consisted of two people and we took care of two markets, customer service and collections. The operational demands were notably modest in comparison to the present, yet upon reflection, it is remarkable to look back to the initial stages from which we embarked.

Since working here, what ways have you developed – personally and/or professionally?

I joined Liberis 3 years ago as a Customer Success Executive. Few months in, the structure in our Sales function was changed and I started as Sales Manager for Nordics region. When I first started, we were in total 4 people working from Stockholm, now we are 15 with growth continuing. It has been truly gratifying to witness and actively contribute to the progressive evolution of both our region and Liberis at large. It’s a unique learning experience that I don’t think you get very often.

What makes Liberis different from anywhere else you’ve worked?

The hard-working mindset people have at Liberis and the extent you actually can influence things on operational level even though you are not a senior manager or head of anything.

What do you look forward to most in Liberis’ future?

When people in Nordics know who we are and know the name Liberis!

Posted on September 7, 2023 By Irina Miinin
Life at Liberis

Life at Liberis with James Bail

What’s your name and what do you do at Liberis?

My name is James Bail and I’m a Staff Engineer at Liberis.

What makes you proud to work here?

The product is great, plugging the huge gap in SME finance with a versatile and ethical funding option is a no-brainer – and the tech we get to use to provide that revenue is super interesting.

What are your stand-out memories of working at Liberis so far?

  • The many developers I’ve worked with over the last 6 years, all fantastic and massively insightful – I wouldn’t be where I am today without their guidance.
  • At our Summer party 2021 where I watched one of my mates try to sing screamo karaoke with the CEO, it wasn’t a screamo song.
  • Lockdown and the huge effect it had on the business and my colleagues. We used the time amazingly to deliver Project Z and our partner platform. We came out the other side a much stronger group both culturally and technically.

Since working here, what ways have you developed – personally and/or professionally?

I joined Liberis straight out of university back in 2017. I have developed almost entirely here from many different flavours of developers, product managers and my own bosses. There is so much to learn, the business is fast-paced and throws you straight in the deep end – there’s no better way to hone your craft. Liberis will expose you to both the technical and the non-technical aspects of software delivery, which gives your job a great balance.

What makes Liberis different from anywhere else you’ve worked?

They give you the reins if you want to hold them and not hand-hold you, unless of course you need support.

What do you look forward to most in Liberis’ future?

When we’re the market leader of SME financing and our API features are at the pinnacle of world-class software.

Posted on August 24, 2023 By James Bail
Life at Liberis

A Day in the Life of a Customer Operations Associate with Brandon Lowe

What’s your name and what do you do at Liberis and where in the world do you work? 

My name is Brandon Lowe and I am a Customer Operations Associate based in the US. I offer excellent customer service to our merchants by providing them with deal statements, answer any questions they have about their accounts and set up their payments process so they can receive funding for their businesses.

From the moment you wake up in the morning, what do you look forward to for the day ahead? 

I look forward to answering calls and emails from our merchants so that they feel at ease that their business is in good hands and taken care of in the future as we provide them with funding to maintain their daily operations. It feels good to help others and to help them keep their dreams alive.  

Describe a typical day for you in your role. 

I start my day off with answering any emails that I may get over night, then usually sit in a few meetings on new procedures that are being implemented in my role. The rest of the day is spent answering calls and emails about account balances or updates on where the merchant is at in the funding process. I also work on getting agreements signed in a timely manner so we can submit a merchant’s paperwork to the appropriate place and get them set up to receive funding for their business.

What advice would you give a colleague whose just joined your team? 

Take control of every situation and be proactive. Ask as many questions as possible to get the best understanding of any project or task.

Are you office based, remote or hybrid? What are the pros and cons, if any? 

I’m based in Atlanta, where we have a great office location at Ponce City Market. I work in the office three days a week. The pros are great, because it offers me flexibility to work from home on days that I need to be present at the house to help out family. The cons are Atlanta traffic, but there’s just no way around that. I love my work schedule and the flexibility that’s offered to me at Liberis.

Posted on August 17, 2023 By Brandon Lowe
Life at Liberis

A Day in the Life of a Sales Executive with Mez Choudhury

What’s your name and what do you do at Liberis and where in the world do you work?

My name is Mez Choudhury, and I’m a Sales Executive based remotely. My role revolves around building and maintaining strong client relationships, as well as guiding and supporting business owners throughout the seamless process of accessing our merchant cash advances, enabling them to achieve their business objectives. Additionally, I help spearhead ideas tailored to SMEs, fostering their growth and success.

From the moment you wake up in the morning, what do you look forward to for the day ahead?

My mornings kick off with a to-do list, I can’t work without them! Our client base is super lovely, and finding out about their businesses and how we can help them grow is so rewarding!

Also, I am blessed with the best co-workers ever! They make work feel so lively and vibrant, and there’s this constant buzz in our roles that’s just so thrilling. From securing deals to making sure everything runs seamlessly, it’s nonstop adrenaline.

Oh, and the cherry on top? My personal growth is a top priority here! I recently got my level 2 certification as a Mental Health Workplace Responder (so important to me with my background in Psychotherapy!). Plus, I’m in this awesome mentor program that pairs me up with a senior employee at Liberis, helping me grow even more. Opportunities for development are always available if you want it to be!

Describe a typical day for you in your role.

My day is like a puzzle, putting together the pieces to create strong, lasting connections with clients. It’s all about making sure their needs come first, and I do it with a genuine smile and interest. But that’s not all! I work closely with various departments, ensuring everything flows smoothly for our merchants Oh, and when it comes to closing deals and handling objections, I’ve got it covered like a pro. It’s all about finesse and getting things done!

I can’t forget this bit – checking in with my clients, cheering them on, and seeing how their plans are going. Renewals keep me busy, but they keep things exciting too!

What advice would you give a colleague whose just joined your team?

Just be yourself and let that personality shine! We’ve got the loveliest clients. Don’t worry if things seem super-fast at first – we’re all here to support you every step of the way. So, ask away and soak up the knowledge from our amazing team. We love seeing you grow!

Are you office based, remote or hybrid? What are the pros and cons, if any?

I’m fully remote, and it has truly transformed my work-life balance! One of the best things is having the freedom to create my ideal workspace and organise my day accordingly knowing that there is always support from my team when needed. The best part? I’m not alone in this remote setup, as some of my teammates also work remotely, making us a united force!

But let’s be real – there are some challenges too. We do miss the face-to-face interactions sometimes, but we’ve got it covered with regular virtual hangouts, every Friday and team socials. We have these quirky yet helpful blob trees that keep us connected emotionally, even when we’re miles apart! 🌟

Posted on August 2, 2023 By Mez Choudhury
Life at Liberis

Life at Liberis with Laura Wyglendacz

What’s your name and what do you do at Liberis?

Hi! My name is Laura Wyglendacz. I’m a leader and a technologist. For the past 5-6 years my focus has been building data products.

I’m playing a few different roles at Liberis. My job title is Staff Engineer. Staff+ Engineers are individual contributors. It is a leadership role predicated on broad organisational influence and involvement. Right now I’m also managing Liberis’ data engineers in an interim Head Of role. I’m building relationships with and between teams who produce or consume data. I expect my role and job title will continue to evolve, due to Liberis’ size and lifecycle stage. My personal style is to switch between tactical and strategic modes depending on what’s required. Liberis is in growth mode, scaling up. We need to be agile and innovative to secure our place in the market. I’m helping define and build the sociotechnical* data systems to support this growth.

Sociotechnical: shorthand for the complex interactions between people and organisations, and the infrastructure and software that they build*.**

What makes you proud to work here?

Lots of things! Here are my top 2 so far:

Leaders I respect

  • Individual leaders have shown themselves to be vulnerable, approachable, and self-reflective.
  • Many of them ‘practice what they preach’ in terms of demonstrating company behaviours. This includes admitting when they fail.
  • This is rare in my experience, which makes it all the more notable.

Action-oriented culture

  • Meaning is derived from action and behaviour, rather than what the company, or individuals, say they will do.
  • This is apparent across the whole business – from PR, to People, to Operations (and beyond!).

What are your stand-out memories of working at Liberis so far?

I have only worked here for 5 months, and from my first day, I have felt welcome. It still FEELS good to work here. In some organisations, friendliness stops after a couple of weeks when your ‘new person’ status wears off, or, it is limited to your functional area.

This is super important to me. As a socially anxious person, I struggle to feel comfortable in new groups. Times of change like starting a new job are nerve-wracking for other reasons too. I’m neurodivergent and upheavals in routine and environment affect me disproportionately. The culture of social inclusion at Liberis has brought me out of my shell and helped me settle in quickly. I feel motivated to pass on that great feeling, by reaching out to connect to others more than I usually would.

I also remember being immediately inspired by people here. Regardless of job title or business function, a curiosity and drive to succeed infuses conversations at Liberis with an energy that I find motivating and exciting.

Since working here, what ways have you developed – personally and/or professionally?

I’m the kind of person who can’t put a wall between the personal and the professional. That is not to say I don’t have boundaries, but anything I spend 8+ hours a day doing would become profoundly personal to me in terms of impact on my whole life. I’ve recently experienced a few difficult years of mental and physical health challenges. The biggest contributing factor was being bullied whilst working somewhere that did not have a well-functioning People team. At Liberis I have a good support network of people and resources already. It is no exaggeration to say that it is healing to work at a company which has already demonstrated how much it values me and cares about my well-being and health.

It will be easier to develop professionally in such an environment – my people management skills are growing fast, and I’m excited about what comes next!

What makes Liberis different from anywhere else you’ve worked?

Liberis is showing strong signs of commitment to inclusion – in deed, not just in word. I have several hidden disabilities, and I’m a woman (yup, still a rarity in tech) – so this is important to me.

I’m 11-12 years into my tech career, and just about everywhere I’ve worked or interviewed at has talked big talk about being inclusive and diverse. Most of those places did not commit to making reasonable adjustments and did not do the work to avoid or challenge discriminatory practices and behaviours, either institutionally or amongst individuals.

Liberis seems different. It has engaged with my identity, my needs and my rights in an authentic and intelligent manner. It is the first place I have worked which acknowledges the urgency and importance of supporting me to be myself and to be well, by listening, learning, and taking action quickly.

What do you look forward to most in Liberis’ future?

I am very excited about seeing the future product opportunities that will be unlocked when Liberis’ investments in event-based architecture and a scalable data platform start to bear fruit.

Posted on July 27, 2023 By Laura Wyglendacz
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