The latest developments in machine-human engagement can offer auto finance customers an ‘almost human’ experience that could transform service levels. Meet Rachel, a ‘digital human’ created by Soul Machines as part of its work with IBM to enable greater levels of face-to-face interaction in business. According to chief business officer Greg Cross: “Humans can communicate in lots of ways. But when we actually want to have important conversations we always do those face to face.” Delegates at the Auto Captive Summit, hosted by global finance technology supplier White Clarke Group, were able to see Rachel first-hand during a presentation by Toby Woolfe, industry solutions business development executive at IBM.
The latest developments in machine-human engagement can offer auto finance customers an ‘almost human’ experience that could transform service levels. Meet Rachel, a ‘digital human’ created by Soul Machines as part of its work with IBM to enable greater levels of face-to-face interaction in business. According to chief business officer Greg Cross: “Humans can communicate in lots of ways. But when we actually want to have important conversations we always do those face to face.” Delegates at the Auto Captive Summit, hosted by global finance technology supplier White Clarke Group, were able to see Rachel first-hand during a presentation by Toby Woolfe, industry solutions business development executive at IBM.
Societe Generale has appointed Claire Calmejane as chief innovation officer to help drive its digital transformation. She will report to chief executive officer Frédéric Oudéa. Calmejane's mission will be to foster an innovation culture in the company and identify new business developments and services for customers.
Societe Generale has appointed Claire Calmejane as chief innovation officer to help drive its digital transformation. She will report to chief executive officer Frédéric Oudéa. Calmejane's mission will be to foster an innovation culture in the company and identify new business developments and services for customers.
Global software company Alfa has held its second UK Hackathon to drive innovation and new ideas within the business. Staff from Alfa UK worked in teams over two days - some through the night - on projects of their choosing. Prizes were awarded to all category winners, with some given the opportunity to take their ideas forward into the development phase. The only requirements were innovation and collaboration.
Global software company Alfa has held its second UK Hackathon to drive innovation and new ideas within the business. Staff from Alfa UK worked in teams over two days - some through the night - on projects of their choosing. Prizes were awarded to all category winners, with some given the opportunity to take their ideas forward into the development phase. The only requirements were innovation and collaboration.
The UK asset finance market is mature and generally stable. Some might even say it’s slightly boring (but we don’t listen to them). So, after the Financial Times ran a feature article, ‘Banks warn about overheating UK asset finance market’, reporting a view that rising competition in the UK’s asset finance market is “pushing down profit margins and encouraging increasingly risky practices in the loosely regulated sector”, it seems worth taking a step back to consider the claims.
The UK asset finance market is mature and generally stable. Some might even say it’s slightly boring (but we don’t listen to them). So, after the Financial Times ran a feature article, ‘Banks warn about overheating UK asset finance market’, reporting a view that rising competition in the UK’s asset finance market is “pushing down profit margins and encouraging increasingly risky practices in the loosely regulated sector”, it seems worth taking a step back to consider the claims.
A skilled, diverse workforce is the key to successfully tackling the digitalisation challenge. By having different views and different backgrounds, a company can broaden its horizons and introduce new ideas and an enthusiasm for innovation that will lay the foundations for companies to adapt to change. According to Andy Denton, CEO of global financial software giant Alfa, companies need a cultural shift to embrace the potential of digitalisation.
A skilled, diverse workforce is the key to successfully tackling the digitalisation challenge. By having different views and different backgrounds, a company can broaden its horizons and introduce new ideas and an enthusiasm for innovation that will lay the foundations for companies to adapt to change. According to Andy Denton, CEO of global financial software giant Alfa, companies need a cultural shift to embrace the potential of digitalisation.
Leasing industry association Leaseurope has revealed its annual ranking of the largest European leasing companies and named Societe Generale Equipment Finance as the largest company. The ranking provides a yearly update on new leasing volumes and portfolios of the largest leasing firms in Europe. Companies are ranked according to the value of their new contracts in 2017. Societe General Equipment Finance, including ALD Automotive, reported nearly 600,000 new contracts and more than €19 billion of new business.
Leasing industry association Leaseurope has revealed its annual ranking of the largest European leasing companies and named Societe Generale Equipment Finance as the largest company. The ranking provides a yearly update on new leasing volumes and portfolios of the largest leasing firms in Europe. Companies are ranked according to the value of their new contracts in 2017. Societe General Equipment Finance, including ALD Automotive, reported nearly 600,000 new contracts and more than €19 billion of new business.
The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) has launched an ambitious ‘Plug-in Pledge’ to get hundreds of thousands of plug-in vehicles registered by 2025. The association says its members will be buying 300,000 plug-in vehicles a year within the next six years, which will see their total fleet size of zero-emission capable cars and vans surge from the current level of 50,000 to 720,000. BVRLA members and their customers will in future account for 60% of new plug-in hybrid and pure electric vehicle registrations, association executives say.
The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) has launched an ambitious ‘Plug-in Pledge’ to get hundreds of thousands of plug-in vehicles registered by 2025. The association says its members will be buying 300,000 plug-in vehicles a year within the next six years, which will see their total fleet size of zero-emission capable cars and vans surge from the current level of 50,000 to 720,000. BVRLA members and their customers will in future account for 60% of new plug-in hybrid and pure electric vehicle registrations, association executives say.
Ford of Britain has launched a direct-to-customer online sales channel. Users of the site can set a budget, obtain a part exchange value, review and choose cars, then arrange finance online and order. Consumers can select delivery either from a local dealership or direct to a location of their choice.
Ford of Britain has launched a direct-to-customer online sales channel. Users of the site can set a budget, obtain a part exchange value, review and choose cars, then arrange finance online and order. Consumers can select delivery either from a local dealership or direct to a location of their choice.
Global business services and enterprise application solutions provider NETSOL Technologies has secured a multi-million dollar agreement to increase support for a major auto captive in Asia. NETSOL will deploy its NFS Ascent platform, including loan origination and contract management, with the unnamed existing customer, which is an international tier-one finance business with a multi-billion dollar loan portfolio.
Global business services and enterprise application solutions provider NETSOL Technologies has secured a multi-million dollar agreement to increase support for a major auto captive in Asia. NETSOL will deploy its NFS Ascent platform, including loan origination and contract management, with the unnamed existing customer, which is an international tier-one finance business with a multi-billion dollar loan portfolio.
Car-as-a-service provider LeasePlan has become a founding partner of the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Challenge, a new global coalition to increase uptake of cleaner transport. The aim of the ZEV Challenge is to bring together local authorities, cities, businesses and organisations to send a clear signal to the automotive industry about the increasing demand for electric vehicles (EVs).
Car-as-a-service provider LeasePlan has become a founding partner of the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Challenge, a new global coalition to increase uptake of cleaner transport. The aim of the ZEV Challenge is to bring together local authorities, cities, businesses and organisations to send a clear signal to the automotive industry about the increasing demand for electric vehicles (EVs).
CWB National Leasing has been awarded the 2018 Operations and Technology Excellence Award by the US Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA). The Operations and Technology Excellence Award is presented to equipment leasing and finance companies that have demonstrated best practice in developing and implementing innovative uses of technology or creative business processes to improve operations, enhance customer interactions, enter new markets and build overall ROI.
CWB National Leasing has been awarded the 2018 Operations and Technology Excellence Award by the US Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA). The Operations and Technology Excellence Award is presented to equipment leasing and finance companies that have demonstrated best practice in developing and implementing innovative uses of technology or creative business processes to improve operations, enhance customer interactions, enter new markets and build overall ROI.
Fleet Advantage, a specialist in truck fleet business analytics, equipment financing, and lifecycle cost management, has warned of a significant lack of communication between fleet operations and finance departments, which means that many organizations with a private fleet are failing to achieve the full financial benefits of leasing. Over one-third (38%) of fleet executives surveyed said their largest communications struggle was the inability of finance departments to clearly communicate the company’s financial metrics and goals to the operations department.
Fleet Advantage, a specialist in truck fleet business analytics, equipment financing, and lifecycle cost management, has warned of a significant lack of communication between fleet operations and finance departments, which means that many organizations with a private fleet are failing to achieve the full financial benefits of leasing. Over one-third (38%) of fleet executives surveyed said their largest communications struggle was the inability of finance departments to clearly communicate the company’s financial metrics and goals to the operations department.
Captive auto finance company Hyundai Capital America (HCA) has launched a pilot car subscription program that includes a special lease price, auto insurance, and service maintenance on selected vehicles. The option, called Hyundai PLUS, is available via its Hyundai Motor Finance brand and is initially being offered in Ohio at select dealerships, on the MY18 Hyundai Elantra, Sonata, Tucson, and Santa Fe Sport models, with future expansion plans to follow.
Captive auto finance company Hyundai Capital America (HCA) has launched a pilot car subscription program that includes a special lease price, auto insurance, and service maintenance on selected vehicles. The option, called Hyundai PLUS, is available via its Hyundai Motor Finance brand and is initially being offered in Ohio at select dealerships, on the MY18 Hyundai Elantra, Sonata, Tucson, and Santa Fe Sport models, with future expansion plans to follow.
The seventh annual Leasing Industry Great British Pub Quiz, hosted by New Leaf Search, saw 10 teams battle for honours at The Counting House in London recently. Quizmaster Nathan Hamer, part of the team that writes quiz content for TV shows including The Code, Child Genius and Only Connect, put the 60 guests through their paces, with the winners receiving a New Leaf Search Leasing Industry Great British Pub Quiz 2018 engraved glass award and certificate.
The seventh annual Leasing Industry Great British Pub Quiz, hosted by New Leaf Search, saw 10 teams battle for honours at The Counting House in London recently. Quizmaster Nathan Hamer, part of the team that writes quiz content for TV shows including The Code, Child Genius and Only Connect, put the 60 guests through their paces, with the winners receiving a New Leaf Search Leasing Industry Great British Pub Quiz 2018 engraved glass award and certificate.
We know we can use blockchain within banking to offer increases in efficiency and security whilst simultaneously reducing costs, meaning it’s potential is massive, but what do we really know about the technology and can we trust it yet? Finance professionals overall are either intrigued by the potential of blockchain or against it over fears that it poses more of a threat than a solution, especially in the realms of security. With the general lack of knowledge on the subject, it seems only few have an insight into the future potential of this technology and how exactly it can be fully utilised in certain sectors.
We know we can use blockchain within banking to offer increases in efficiency and security whilst simultaneously reducing costs, meaning it’s potential is massive, but what do we really know about the technology and can we trust it yet? Finance professionals overall are either intrigued by the potential of blockchain or against it over fears that it poses more of a threat than a solution, especially in the realms of security. With the general lack of knowledge on the subject, it seems only few have an insight into the future potential of this technology and how exactly it can be fully utilised in certain sectors.
Equiniti Riskfactor is providing its specialist risk management software to the Canadian asset-based lending market for the first time after signing its first client in the country. It will work with Ontario-based Baron Finance, a financial services provider specialising in asset-based lending, invoice factoring, purchase order financing and accounts receivable funding. The deal will see Equiniti Riskfactor provide Baron Finance with its risk management and analytics software in the latest stage of its international expansion strategy.
Equiniti Riskfactor is providing its specialist risk management software to the Canadian asset-based lending market for the first time after signing its first client in the country. It will work with Ontario-based Baron Finance, a financial services provider specialising in asset-based lending, invoice factoring, purchase order financing and accounts receivable funding. The deal will see Equiniti Riskfactor provide Baron Finance with its risk management and analytics software in the latest stage of its international expansion strategy.
The Spanish Vehicle Leasing Association (Asociación Española de Renting de Vehículos) has revealed its member fleet grew 10% in the first half of 2018, compared to the same period last year. Members added more than 155,000 vehicles, taking the total fleet to nearly 860,000 units. During June, members registered 31,604 cars and vans, a rise of nearly 16% compared to the same period last year.
The Spanish Vehicle Leasing Association (Asociación Española de Renting de Vehículos) has revealed its member fleet grew 10% in the first half of 2018, compared to the same period last year. Members added more than 155,000 vehicles, taking the total fleet to nearly 860,000 units. During June, members registered 31,604 cars and vans, a rise of nearly 16% compared to the same period last year.
Lack of communication impacts fleet financing
Hyundai pilots car subscription service
Macquarie Corporate & Asset Finance takes trophy at New Leaf Search Leasing Industry Great British Pub Quiz
From banks to blockchain – what does the future hold?
Equiniti Riskfactor expands into Canada with Baron Finance deal
Spanish vehicle leasing market grows 10% in first half of 2018
Autofutura to host Asia Pacific roundtable
Average UK POS car finance breaks £20,000 barrier for first time as demand rises 
UK asset finance market continues to grow
