Tag: point of sale finance

4 Key Factors When Selecting a POS Lender for Your Business

Posted on by Kevin Lawrence

When it comes to evaluating a POS lender for your business, merchants, service providers, and contractors typically focus on two metrics – approval rates and cost.

Pricing is straightforward to assess, but what about approval rates? Are they a reliable metric for comparing financing programs?  

While approval rates are essential, they are only part of the story. If upgrading your point-of-sale financing experience is on your agenda, there are additional factors that you should consider to evaluate finance providers uniformly.  

  1.  POS financing approval rates
  2.  Approval amount
  3.  Loan terms & conditions
  4.  Does the financing amount offered meet the sale amount

A summary of each is provided below.

POS Financing Approval Rates 

What does it mean if a point-of-sale finance provider indicates they have an approval rate of 80%? Are they referring to ecommerce applications? Perhaps they are talking about in-person or in-store applications. The consumer finance provider likely has different underwriting strategies for each channel that affect approval rates for that channel. Given this complexity, a better indicator would be approval percentages by consumer fico tier and channel(s) as appropriate.  

Approval Amount

Another important factor when selecting a consumer lending partner is whether their minimum and maximum loan amounts align with your ticket requirement. For example, if your average ticket is less than $300, you are probably focused on BNPL providers. If the average ticket is $3,000, deferred interest options like 0% interest and extended terms will be critical.  

Loan Terms & Promotions

The most popular POS lenders bring extra value to the table beyond just cost, approval rates and approval amounts.  These providers act as a cousultant and advise you about trends and best practices in consumer finance. Consider the added value of a partner that can explain the benefits of a deferred interest program versus equal payments with no interest or why installment loans might be better than revolving lines of credit for your customers.

Financing Offered Meets the Sale Amount

This is one of the most critical, but often overlooked, metrics when choosing the best lending partner for your business.

You need to understand the percentage of the lender loan offers that equals or exceeds the purchase amount requirement. Having a high approval rate is great, but what good is a loan offer that doesn’t allow the consumer to make the purchase?
For example, how helpful is it to offer your customers a $1,500 loan when trying to sell a treadmill for $2,500?

Purchase Conversion Rate

The Purchase Conversion Rate is arguably the most important metric and answers whether a finance program will drive sales.  

The conversion rate is the percentage of offers accepted by the consumer and utilized to make a purchase. Factors that impact conversion rate can include:

  • Is the consumer redirected from the merchant website to apply?
  • Is there a seamless transition from one program to another if the consumer is declined?
  • Are the repayment terms and conditions agreeable?

If the consumer experiences friction anywhere in the purchase process, they are more likely to drop out and abandon the cart.
A seamless customer journey with agreeable terms and conditions is more likely to result in a purchase. 

The Embedded Lending Platform Advantage

One of the major advantages of ChargeAfter’s embedded lending platform is the ability to provide merchants with these analytics and much more. Merchants can view the performance of each lending partner in a single console and on a near real-time basis.  

With this data, merchants are empowered with the tools they need to better evaluate the performance and effectiveness of their lending partners, identify any gaps in consumer coverage, evaluate new promotion offers, and even perform A-B testing with various lenders.  

ChargeAfter operates the largest network of lending partners offering installment loans, private label credit cards, revolving lines of credit, BNPL, subprime lending, lease-to-own, and even B2B financing. A single integration with ChargeAfter provides you with access to all of the programs and tools you need to maximize finance penetration.

 

About Kevin Lawrence
VP Global Lender Relations

Kevin has worked in the banking and finance industry for over a decade. He has worked closely with some of North America’s largest banks, financial institutions, and retailers. Kevin is an expert in embedded consumer financing and B2B financing and has a deep understanding of current trends and where the industry is heading.

The Difference Between Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) and Consumer Financing Platforms

Posted on by chargeafterdev

The buy now, pay later option has become a widely favored payment method within consumer finance platforms, with over 50% of US consumers utilizing such a service.

What is Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL)?

 

Buy now, pay later (BNPL) is an innovative payment option that enables customers to acquire products and services without paying the total upfront. Instead, they can instantly finance their purchases and repay them through fixed, interest-free installments over a set period—for instance, a $100 purchase in four equal installments of $25.

Widely used by a diverse range of businesses, particularly e-commerce retailers, BNPL services help boost conversion rates, increase average order values, and attract new customers. Companies that have integrated BNPL services have experienced up to a 30% incremental rise in sales volume. This payment alternative grants customers the convenience of immediate financing for their purchases paid through predetermined installments.

BNPL repayment illustration

As a merchant, you receive the complete payment for the item upfront, excluding any merchant fees, and are not responsible for handling the financing. Buy now, pay later providers undertake the responsibility of underwriting customers, managing installment plans, and collecting payments, allowing you to concentrate on expanding your business.

This guide provides an overview of buy now, pay later payment, and other financing options. It will educate you on their functionality and assist you in selecting a provider.

 

How do Buy-Now-Pay-Later Services Work?

  1. Customers can use BNPL to purchase products or services online or in-store by selecting the BNPL option via an app.
  2. Once a plan is selected, approval from the BNPL platform is obtained, initiating the payment cycle. The first payment is deducted at checkout, while the remaining installments are typically interest-free. Extra costs may be incurred for late payments.

bnpl-fintech-Customer Journey

Businesses obtain the entire payment upfront (excluding any merchant  fees) upon completing the transaction at checkout. Customers make their installments directly to the buy now, pay later provider, often without interest and with no extra fees, provided they pay on time.

 

Do Buy-Now-Pay-Later  Payment Methods Affect A Customer’s FICO Score (Credit Score)?

 

What Is FICO Score?

A FICO score is the number used to determine someone’s creditworthiness. Financial institutions and lenders use this as a guide to determine how much credit they can offer a borrower and at what interest rate. FICO scores can range from 300 to 850. The higher the number, the better. A FICO score is based on a few different factors:

FICO-Score-chart

When customers exercise caution by avoiding overspending and consistently making timely payments, the majority of buy now, pay later payment options should not substantially affect their credit scores.

How Buy-Now-Pay-Later Services Make Money?

Different FinTechs monetize their BNPL platform in different ways. Generally, providers derive income from the merchant, customer, or both. The fees for merchants vary depending on the provider but typically encompass an initial setup fee and a fixed charge for each transaction. Customer fees usually involve late fees incurred due to missed payments.

What Are The Benefits Of Buy-Now-Pay-Later Services?

Seamless checkout experiences are crucial for any business, especially when targeting e-commerce expansion. Customers anticipate smooth, personalized payment experiences that allow them the freedom to select their preferred payment method. Buy now, pay later payment options provide adaptability and ease to your customers, minimize fraud, and enhance conversion rates and average order values.

As the cost of living increases, customer demands for BNPL solutions will likely grow, making it a superior short-term installment payment option even for credit card holders.

Get Paid Upfront And Receive Protection From Repayment Risk And Fraud:

The merchant obtains the entire transaction amount upfront, without delay—regardless of the customer’s success in paying their installments. Consequently, buy now, pay later providers/lender-network assume all customer risks, protecting your business from fraud. In cases where a customer files a fraud-related dispute, the buy now, pay later provider bears the risk and any related expenses.

Extend Customer Reach:

Providing diverse payment methods enables you to establish a relevant and recognizable payment experience, attracting more customers. Buy now, pay later options appeal to younger consumers who frequently lack credit cards: 27% of millennials and Generation Z shoppers utilized buy now, pay later services in 2021*. Additionally, buy now, pay later services to possess well-established marketing channels, including shop directories and email marketing, which may present further opportunities for reaching new customers.

MorningConsult-BNPL-Use-by-Generation-Aug2021

* Marketingcharts.com – August 2021 | Data Source: Morning Consult

Enhanced Customer Experience:

Buy now, pay later payment solutions provide customers with a quicker, more accessible means of obtaining financing. Customers undergo a soft credit check (as opposed to a hard review associated with other financing methods), and there are no separate applications, application fees, or added processing time. Most providers feature easy-to-understand repayment plans and terms. Additionally, returning customers can enjoy a seamless checkout process, finalizing their payments in just a few clicks.

Increased Sales Conversion

Customers are more inclined to complete a purchase if they can pay over time. Buy now, pay later services help alleviate the sticker shock—making four interest-free payments of $50 appears less daunting than a single $200 credit card transaction with accumulating interest.

Increase The Value Of Sales

Buy now, pay later services eliminate the obstacle to making more substantial purchases by enabling customers to split the payment over time, accommodating their budget. For businesses offering lower-priced products, customers might be more inclined to buy extra items when they discover the option to spread the total cost over in installments.

Problems With Providing Buy-Now-Pay-Later

Buy now, pay later (BNPL) is a popular option for consumers who want to purchase without paying the total amount upfront. However, it has many limitations. It is only suitable for specific credit types. BNPL may be an option for those with good credit and a stable income, but it will decline those with lower credit scores, resulting in low approval rates.
Most BNPL loans range from $50 to $1000. For larger purchases, there is a need for other financing options.
Additionally, existing BNPL providers have a one-size-fits-all approach and don’t offer personalized lending. In today’s world – different people need different consumer financing options, and different consumers have unique financial situations; a customized approach can help them access suitable credit for their needs and budget. Without personalized lending options, consumers may be presented with unstable lending options, resulting in an inability to repay, high-interest charges, and potentially damaging their credit score.
The lack of personalized lending options in existing BNPL providers can also be bad for merchants. When consumers are given a one-size-fits-all financing option, it can lead to a higher rate of default and late payments.

Consumer Financing Platforms

While both consumer financing platforms and “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) solutions provide consumers with access to credit, there are some advantages that consumer financing platforms have over BNPL solutions. First, consumer financing platforms often offer more flexible repayment terms, allowing borrowers to choose a repayment period that suits their budget and financial situation. In contrast, BNPL platforms typically require repayment within a short timeframe, which can be challenging for some borrowers. Additionally, consumer financing platforms may offer lower interest rates and fees than BNPL platforms, saving borrowers money in the long run. Finally, consumer financing platforms may offer a broader range of loan options and loan amounts, making them a better choice for consumers who need more substantial financing for significant purchases. The main reason consumer financing platforms are more flexible and carry these benefits is that they connect to multiple lenders and are not the lender itself. Overall, while BNPL platforms can be convenient for smaller purchases, consumer financing platforms are often better for consumers looking for more effective and flexible financing options.

Buy Now, Pay Later Provider Comparison.

BNPL vs Consumer finance

 

Choosing the right buy now, pay later provider depends on the types of products you sell, their prices, and your customer base. When evaluating providers, consider the following:

Repayment terms: Buy now, pay later providers offer varying installment plans and term lengths, ranging from several weeks to multiple years. If your business has a high average order value, seek lenders that provide repayment over an extended period (like monthly installments over six months). Conversely, merchants with lower average order values may opt for fewer installments over a shorter duration, such as four installments over six weeks.

Credit limits: Each customer will have a unique spending limit based on their usage, credit, and repayment history. However, some buy now, pay later providers impose minimum and maximum credit limits. Assess your average order value and choose a provider that offers sufficient credit for customers to complete a purchase.

Customer location: Determine the markets in which you would like to provide buy now, pay later services, taking into account your customers’ locations. Often, this may involve offering multiple buy now, pay later providers to maximize your geographic coverage. With ChargeAfter’s multi-lender platform, this is unnecessary because the ChargeAfter platform connects you to the relevant lenders and services in one platform.

Affirm

Affirm BNPL range from 4 interest-free bi-weekly payments to extended installments for eligible customers of up to 36 months. The usual 0% APR loans range from 3,6, to 12 months.

Afterpay

Afterpay, known as Clearpay in the UK and the EU, enables customers to split payments into four interest-free bi-weekly installments or three interest-free monthly installments. With 20 million active users, it operates in Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, Spain, the UK, and the US.

Klarna

Klarna Pay in Installments lets customers spread the cost of an online purchase over three or four interest-free payments. Klarna Pay Later in 30 days allows customers to complete a transaction and pay the total amount later, with no extra cost. Klarna Financing provides up to 36 months of credit for approved customers.

ChargeAfter

Multi-Lender Consumer Financing

Offering the power of choice, ChargeAfter provides a single application for personalized point-of-sale financing, guaranteeing approval and acceptance rates for any consumer financing option. ChargeAfter’s multi-lender platform caters to all credit types and currencies and connects consumers with suitable lenders for all e-commerce and in-store financing needs.

Consumer Finance, Not Only BNPL

Unlike other platforms, ChargeAfter allows for various types of consumer finance:

— Straight Revolve:
A type of credit that a borrower can continue to draw from and repay.

straight revolve Revolving-Credit-Facility

* wallstreetprep.com

— Deferred Interest (6/12/18/24 Months):
The interest is deferred during the promotional period. To avoid paying finance charges, the entire balance must be paid off, in full, at the end of the promotional period.

— Equal Pay:
Equal monthly payments are required during the promotional period. Interest does not accrue during the promotional period. This type of financing is designed to pay off promotional balance in full within the promotional period.

— Fixed Pay:
Fixed monthly payments are required during the promotional period. APR is assessed during the promotional period.

— B2B Financing

B2B financing can take many forms, including trade credit that can help businesses manage their cash flow, invest in new equipment or technology, and fund growth initiatives. B2B financing can benefit both the lender and the borrower. It can help businesses maintain strong relationships with their suppliers and customers while accessing the capital they need to succeed.

— LTO

Lease-to-own (LTO) is a financing option to lease a product or equipment with the option to buy it at the end of the lease term. This financing option is also available for businesses or merchants.

— Private Label Credit Cards

A retailer or brand issues private-label credit cards that can only be used to purchase at that specific retailer or brand. These credit cards may offer rewards, discounts, or other benefits to incentivize customers to use the card for purchases. Private-label credit cards can help retailers build brand loyalty and increase sales by providing customers with a convenient financing option and encouraging repeat purchases.

Supports All Platforms

Easily integrate point-of-sale financing options on your Magento, Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, hybris, custom platforms, and more with simple-to-connect extensions or basic JavaScript code.

Providing POS checkout financing for your website or physical store has always been more complex.

Credit spectrum

Credit spectrum refers to the consumer’s creditworthiness range, from those with excellent credit to those with poor credit. Lenders use credit scores and credit reports to determine a consumer’s creditworthiness, and this information is used to determine the interest rate and terms of a loan. The credit spectrum typically includes different categories, such as prime, near-prime, subprime, and deep subprime, each reflecting a different level of creditworthiness.


Post Sale Management

ChargeAfter offers all-around performance and transaction reporting through an intuitive dashboard. Access your transaction history, monitor live trades, and effortlessly handle settlements, up-selling, refunds, and partial credits with just a click of a button.

White-label Consumer Finance platforms

As a large retailer or established brand, ChargeAfter is dedicated to promoting your brand rather than ours. Tailor the entire point-of-sale checkout financing experience to align with your brand identity and provide customized Point of Sale finance offers that your customers will easily recognize.

Support

ChargeAfter prioritizes the success of our merchants by offering 24/7 support and assistance. Whether you require aid with processing financing settlements, custom reporting, or developing creative for your next buy now pay later financing campaign, we’re here to assist you in achieving your goals.

About ChargeAfter

ChargeAfter’s headquarters is in New York. The company’s investors comprise prominent entities such as The Phoenix, Citi Ventures, Banco Bradesco, VISA, MUFG, BBVA, Synchrony Financial, PICO Venture Partners, Propel Venture Partners, Plug and Play VC.

For more information & or to Schedule a Demo, visit https://chargeafter.com/contact-merchant/

 

Big Brands Embracing Consumer Finance

Posted on by chargeafterdev

Over the past few years, many retailers have concentrated on direct-to-consumer and e-commerce. As part of this – specific consideration has been given to consumer financing, and significant agreements have been made between consumer finance FinTech companies and big-brand companies such as Walmart, United Airlines, Amazon, Lenovo, and many others, even though these retailers already have well-established private label credit card programs.

Consumer appetite for consumer financing and BNPL drives merchant demand for point-of-sale financing.


Consumer appetite for BNPL

* https://www.oberlo.com/statistics/buy-now-pay-later-us-users


Beyond surveys, historical growth statistics, or forecasts for rising popularity in consumer finance, the evidence lies with two simple metrics:

—  How many companies include consumer financing at their point of sale, and
—  Are any big brand retailers are embracing it

The fact is, consumer financing has always been a staple with big retailers.

The difference in recent times is that big brands recognize the benefits of partnering with innovative FinTechs, allowing them to concentrate on their core business while benefiting from new technologies as they are developed.

Previously, this was exclusive to merchants with the resources to integrate or develop point-of-sale finance options into their platform.

Innovation by FinTechs has accelerated the adoption of consumer finance as demand by merchants is fueled by consumers’ need for affordability in the face of the current and imminent challenging financial environment.

It is essential to understand that consumer finance does not exclusively mean Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL), although BNPL does fall under the umbrella of consumer finance.

 

Evolution of consumer finance

 

Consumer financing has evolved from credit cards and prime lending solutions often offered by traditional financial institutions such as banks to a technology-diverse fintech landscape with various financial service providers and platforms.

But what does this new ‘landscape’ offer, and how do we navigate it?

We look at how merchants use various consumer finance options and highlight their benefits.

 

Credit Card

credit card payment

The credit card option at checkout is widely known to us. It is the most prevalent payment method. Almost all banks and financial institutions provide many credit card types that are accepted as payment methods offering goods or services anywhere. One can purchase anything within a predetermined credit limit and pay later without impacting their monthly budget. A key advantage of using a credit card is converting the total purchase amount into affordable equated monthly installments (EMI), facilitating easy repayment over time. EMI conversions from credit card purchases have transformed the shopping experience significantly.

 

As popular as credit cards have been, consumers know their glaring disadvantages. The most infamous being high-interest charges. Further, the prime lender provides the loan (credit). i.e., the institution that issued the credit card reduces the credit limit by an amount equal to the bill amount converted into EMIs. 

 

Buy Now, Pay Later

 

Single Lender BNPL Platform

 

BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) is unsecured consumer credit and an increasingly popular fintech-enabled payment option, most commonly offered on e-commerce platforms. The history of BNPL traces back to the installment plan – a way to pay for large purchases over time by spreading it over several smaller payments.

 

As a form of POS (point-of-sale) financing, credit originates directly at the time and point-of-sale, as opposed to a customer being required to secure credit from a lender ahead of their shopping experience.

Fintech companies have developed different flavors of BNPL. However, most are similar in that they have a single lender. Sometimes, as with PayPal, the lender is also the technology provider.


How BNPL works in the USA

 

Studies have shown that BNPL increases retail sales. The reason is that some consumers may not have a credit card, prefer not to use credit cards, and many times look at BNPL as a better alternative to credit card installments, as  BNPL offers an alternative to installment payments that is often with favorable repayment terms when compared to the use of credit cards.

 

Most, if not all, well-known big brands, such as Amazon, Walmart, and many more, have teamed up with BNPL FinTechs to expand their consumer financing options to increase sales while limiting risk. This strategy has proved to be successful.

 

 

Walmart

Walmart is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets, discount department stores, and grocery stores. With over 10,000 stores in 27 countries, Walmart offers a wide range of products, including groceries, electronics, clothing, and home goods, at low prices to attract budget-conscious shoppers. The company is known for its efficient supply chain management. Walmart added Affirm as a  BNPL for installments of 3,6 and 12 months.

Walmart Affirm BNPL

 

 

Amazon

The largest retailer in the world and founded in 1994, Amazon is a multinational technology company. It specializes in e-commerce, cloud computing, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence. 

In this example , Amazon has partnered with ZIP to offer short terms installments. 


Amazon Zip BNPL







The problem with single-lender BNPL

 

However, although very convenient, single-lender BNPL platforms do not necessarily offer the consumer the best loan terms and are limited to BNPL only.

 Customers must conform to single-lenders’ terms of service and credit score policy.

 Imposing these terms of service may result in less than desired loan terms offered to the consumer or, even worse, a failed loan origination. Both scenarios heighten the probability of sale abandonment.

Big brands have recognized that consumers shop for the best deals, not only in products and services but also in costs and terms associated with financing their purchases.

 For this reason, established merchants offer customers multiple payment options at checkout. Including multiple BNPL service providers and options. Most of which are single-lender platforms.

Bed Bath & Beyond, for instance, diversifies its consumer financing options to its customers by partnering with multiple BNPL financing providers.

Bed-Bath-&-Beyond-Consumer-Finance Multiple BNPL




Merchants have found that sale abandonment decreased because customers have more options for lending at the point-of-sale. While this is a good strategy by the merchants, it has many limitations. For one, it is still a limited short-term installment offering. Even when using several BNPLs, surveys found that almost 30% of merchants report that their consumer financing approval rates are less than 60%. 

Furthermore  –  it creates a fragmented checkout experience. Sometimes, customers may still abandon their cart, feeling overwhelmed, unsure, and confused with the various options. Decision paralysis occurs because there is too much choice.

multiple BNPL payment options

 

A study by SMARTASSISTANT found that 54% of consumers have stopped purchasing products from a brand or retailer website because choosing was too difficult.

The same is true for products & services and checkout payment options alike.



Multi-lender Consumer finance & BNPL platforms

 

As a means to offer the advantages of the different types of consumer finance options available and address their shortcomings, ChargeAfter developed a multi-lender consumer finance embedded lending platform.

Backed by over 40 lenders, in a single checkout financing option, merchants can offer their customers the best consumer loan at checkout, which is lightning fast and provides the best loan terms.

ChargeAfter’s platform and network finds the best loan suited for the customer and merchant with a streamlined and efficient process that feels indigenous to the merchants’ site and brand.

Unlike conventional consumer finance options and single-lender BNPL, surveys have shown that multi-lender consumer finance platforms achieve loan approvals of 80% or more.

ChargeAfter’s platform is seamlessly integrated throughout the merchants’ channels – online and in-store –  to create an omnichannel experience that feels proprietary to the consumer. The benefit of omnichannel experience in itself adds value to the merchant.

As a solution that maximizes return through its obsession with the customer journey experience, ChargeAfter’s platform elevates the consumer experience, reduces cart abandonment, and increases return business.

Some examples of big brands using a multi-lender platform include:

 

Lenovo

Founded in 1984 and specializing in personal computers, smartphones, tablets, and other electronic devices, Lenovo is the world’s largest PC vendor by unit sales.

Lenovo is a multinational technology company that operates in over 60 countries.

Lenovo BNPL


Jerome’s
Jerome’s Furniture is a family-owned and operated retailer that has been serving Southern California for over 65 years.

Jeromes BNPL

 

 

 

About ChargeAfter

 

ChargeAfter is the leading multi-lender white-labeled consumer financing platform and lender network for global banks, financial institutions, and merchants. Powered by a data-driven decision engine and network of international lenders, ChargeAfter streamlines the distribution of credit into a single platform that merchants can implement rapidly online, in-store, and across any point of the loan.

ChargeAfter investors include The Phoenix, Citi Ventures, Banco Bradesco, Visa, MUFG, BBVA, Synchrony Financial, PICO Venture Partners, Propel Venture Partners, and Plug and Play VC. ChargeAfter is headquartered in New York.

 

 For more information, visit https://chargeafter.com/about-us.

Boost Your Sales Growth: The Benefits of Ecommerce Financing

Posted on by chargeafterdev

Consumer finance is not set to grow. It’s growing!

According to data from the Federal Reserve, (POS) Point-of-sale financing makes up approximately 10% of the total unsecured lending balances in the United States. In 2020, credit card balances amounted to around $750 billion, while POS balances totaled about $100 billion. Nevertheless, POS financing is expanding more rapidly than any other category of unsecured lending. It is set to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20% for the 5 years preceding 2024. (I.e. financial years 2020 up to and including 2024)

Consumer Finance market growth

Similarly, according to McKinsey Consumer Lending Pools, the same trend is can be seen internationally with POS financing making up 11%

growth of point of sale financing pos financing

 

Prudence Research has also shown, how BNPL, a financial instrument for short term installment loans,  falling within the POS Finance umbrella, has grown and how it is forecasted to grow dramatically in the coming years.

For instance, the Buy Now Pay Later market size is forecasted to grow to a staggering 3.2 Trillion dollars by 2030.

buy now pay later market size

Financing can expand the customer base for various purchases, including appliances, electronics,  furniture, home improvement projects, and services like elective medical procedures and dental equipment and procedures. Offering financing options can boost sales for any seller, whether in a brick-and-mortar store, online, or through a call center, and cater to all consumer types.

Buying a product or service that costs between $1,000 and $10,000 is more complex than making a $50 purchase by swiping your credit card. Businesses need to make an effort to attract a broader range of consumers.

Through embedded finance, consumer financing has expanded beyond buy now, pay later and adopted long-term installment payment, 0% APR, revolving lines of credit, and more, to offer consumers flexible payment options.

Industry analysis found how consumer financing increases merchant sales. For instance:

  • According to The Inaugural Citizens Point of Sale Survey by Citizens Financial Group, the most notable finding is that 76% of consumers are more likely to make big-ticket sales when given the option of consumer financing, such as BNPL or other payment plan options.Of those surveyed, 66% want consumer finance alternatives to credit cards.The survey revealed that consumers would prefer non-credit-card consumer financing with fixed monthly plans,  clear payment terms, and a clear understanding of how the amount will be paid off as the most important factors when considering a large purchase.

 

  • Comparably, a study by Futurepay.com reports that 56% of shoppers are more inclined to purchase a high-priced item online if financing options are available. This percentage increases to 73% for frequent online shoppers. These statistics are very close to findings by the Citizens Financial Group.

    shoppers using layaway & consumer finance on big ticket items
  • A recent FREE retailer insights survey by ChargeAfter indicates that from a retailer’s perspective, 85% of retailers expect year-on-year growth in consumer financing.

 

Consumer Finance: Higher Value, More Sales


Merchants selling higher ticket items who offer consumer finance options achieve more sales than merchants without consumer financing options.

‘The Big Ticket: What’s stopping Shoppers’ (big-ticket survey) published its findings.

According to them, financing alternatives stimulate high-value purchases. Over two-thirds of shoppers (68%) and 79% of daily shoppers would be more inclined to purchase a high-priced item if they could divide the cost into smaller payments. For high-priced items under $1,000, almost half of all shoppers (47%) prefer alternative financing over a credit card to complete the transaction. Even at a price as low as $200, 15% of shoppers were willing to switch away from a credit card.

price point when shoppers use consumer finance**

 

Similarly, ChargeAfters’ Retailer survey released in 2023, from a retailers’ perspective, states that merchants recognize that financing options drive big-ticket purchases.

The number of BNPLs merchants offered to customers is not affected by the retailers Average Order Value (AOV). However, other POS financing options vary significantly depending on the AOV of the business. When the AOV is less than $500, companies typically offer 2.5 different POS financing options. However, when the retailer AOV exceeds $500, this number increases to 3.5 different POS financing options. As their AOV increases, merchants seek to diversify their payment options to meet customer demands. There is no one-size-fits-all solution regarding financing options, particularly with a substantial AOV. Offering a limited BNPL of pay in four or six installments is insufficient as customers require more flexibility and choice.


Financing options by Average Order Value (AOV)

Financing options by Average Order Value AOV

Fintech companies at the forefront of consumer finance innovation offer embedded financing & lending technologies making it easier for merchants to integrate omnichannel consumer financing solutions.
Embedded finance solutions that integrate easily, such as ChargeAfters’ multi-lender platform, allows merchants to offer their customers quick, convenient, and personalized financing options.

Customers connect to a wide choice of financial products and lenders in a single application, resulting in an 85% approval rate. Merchants increase sales by offering consumer financing and installment payments on sales where the same customers would typically walk away from the sale.

 

Reduce Cart Abandonment with Consumer Finance


The Big Ticket: What’s stopping Shoppers survey found that 66% of shoppers abandon their carts after adding an item to their shopping cart.
72% of this abandonment was due to the items being too expensive, and 16% because there were no payment options.

shopping cart abandonment reasons

 

 

Another Research conducted by beymard.com in 2022 shows that site trust (18%), complicated checkout process (17%), inability to calculate total order cost upfront (16%), not enough payment options (9%) and. Credit card declines (4%) are the main reasons for abandonment. These statistics can be significantly improved with the correct embedded finance technology.

reason for shopping cart abandonments during checkout

With an embedded lending platform like that of ChargeAfter, merchants can increase sales by decreasing cart abandonment.

Conclusion

 

Reducing cart abandonment is one of the most significant benefits of offering consumer financing and installment payments in e-commerce stores. Many customers abandon their carts because they need help to afford the full price of an item at the time of purchase. However, by offering financing options, merchants can make sales more affordable and accessible, reducing the likelihood of cart abandonment and increasing the chances of a sale.

In addition to reducing cart abandonment, offering financing options can increase customer loyalty and repeat business. Customers who take advantage of financing options are more likely to return to the same merchant for future purchases, as they have established a relationship and trust with the merchant through the financing process.

Offering financing options can help merchants reach a wider audience of potential customers. Many consumers who may not have been able to afford high-ticket items in the past may now be able to do so with financing options, opening up a whole new market for the merchant.

Finally, offering financing options can help merchants stand out from the competition and differentiate themselves in the crowded e-commerce marketplace. By providing financing options, merchants can provide a more comprehensive and customer-centric shopping experience that distinguishes them from other retailers.

Why ChargeAfter Launched a White-Label BNPL (Buy Now Pay Later) Service

Posted on by chargeafterdev

Financing platforms must create new services or integrate existing ones to stay up with the demands of merchants and customers in the market as modern consumer financing develops quickly. Given the intense competition in the market and the growing popularity of BNPL lending, it is difficult to stay on top without modernizing the financing system and providing the highest level of customer service. That has become the reason why the leader in consumer financing, ChargeAfter, has decided to implement BNPL white label services.

 

What is the BNPL white label?

 

The company can employ consumer finance in its e-commerce store and brand it under its name when using the BNPL white label services provided by the financing platform. Simply put, the retailing business can make its operation appear more professional and can do so in the simplest method imaginable. Instead of spending a ton of money developing a new finance system, retailers may now provide branded POS financing services by just utilizing the existing model.

 

Why did ChargeAfter adopt a White-Label service?

 

As the market becomes more competitive, more BNPL providers are attempting to gain an advantage by introducing fresh services that rival BNPL providers do not. Additionally, BNPL white label has grown in popularity among both consumers and merchants, and since ChargeAfter’s lending platform has always given customers the best services possible, the company decided to implement white label services as well. This will keep merchants informed about the consumer financing industry and allow them to enhance their performance. Retailers are now able to get greater results and rise to the top of the selling sector thanks to BNPL white label, which has its advantages.

 

Benefits of BNPL White Label

 

BNPL white label has advantages of its own, much like other consumer financing features. With many BNPL benefits in general, we can go over the following three advantages of white label services:

 

1.    Makes your Business Well-known and Reliable

 

White label services, as we already established, are branded with the firm’s name, giving the company a more trustworthy appearance in the eyes of the customer. As the corporate name is less easily recalled than the lending system itself, when customers use consumer financing without a white label, it is typically a one-time transaction. The reason for this is that customers search for the best BNLP lending option rather than the store itself because the financing platform is the one that specifically allows customers to divide their payments, and customers prefer to select the right platform rather than search for the right store online. So, branded finance software will increase customer loyalty and brand recognition for your business.

 

2.    Makes the Financing Experience Better

 

When a customer wants BNPL services at the point of sale, they are typically referred to the websites of various financing platforms, where they may have to spend a lot of time filling out numerous forms to obtain the funds they require. In the case of the BNPL white label, the customer fills out the application on the e-commerce website. In particular, when using ChargeAfter’s white label services, the merchant can be confident that the customer will receive credit for the purchase because ChargeAfter provides them with a number several lenders from which the system will select the most appropriate option for their needs.

 

3.    Boosts Sales and Conversion Rate

 

As was already mentioned, white label services provide a better user experience, which may be a key factor in reducing cart abandonment and increasing traffic to your websites. By utilizing ChargeAfter’s BNPL white label services, your business can provide the greatest experience to the consumer, which will naturally have a favorable impact on sales and conversion. Buyers want simple financing and a shopping experience.

 

Summary

 

To sum up, ChargeAfter’s global lending platform has adopted BNPL white label services to stay up with the industry’s rapid expansion and provide the best BNPL lending services to retailers. As consumer finance is becoming one of the main ways to purchase items or services, ChargeAfter makes it possible for consumers to buy things online in the best way possible.

 

Want to learn more? Reach out to us here.

White-label BNPL: What is it?

Posted on by chargeafterdev

 

A consumer financing option called BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) allows customers to buy goods or services and spread out their payments over time according to a pre-set payment plan. BNPL services are mostly offered by lending and financing platforms at the point of sale.

When a product or service is created by one company and branded under the name of another, this is known as a white label. BNPL white label service is offered by the financing platform of ChargeAfter.

 

Benefits of BNPL White Label

The most effective POS lending platforms are made available to customers by merchants with a white labeled multi-lender, BNPL  platform. Merchants can boost their sales and build consumer trust by using ChargeAfter’s white label product  —  as well as get the best and most modern financing software solution for their stores, both online and off.  Additionally, ChargeAfter’s multi-lender network and consumer financing platform is available for banks, acquirers, and other financial institution to implement white label services and provide BNPL consumer financing to their merchants.

 

Customizable White Label Services

ChargeAfter’s turnkey, BNPL white label platform is customizable for banks, acquirers, financial institutions and merchants, meaning that they can brand and offer our BNPL consumer financing platform as their own.

The platform is made up of many parts that may be adjusted without requiring the development of a new solution. Want to learn more? Schedule a demo or reach out to us here.

 

Want to learn more? Reach out to us here.

Why banks should adopt “Buy Now Pay Later” (BNPL)

Posted on by chargeafterdev

 

Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) has emerged as one of the most popular trends in open banking, digital lending, and retail, with an expected projected value of $3.98 trillion by 2030. Big businesses are making money by allowing customers to make fast purchases without having to deal with the discomfort of paying for them right away. With such a profitable market and enormous potential for future expansion, banks must follow in the footsteps of the BNPL sector to avoid being left behind. Buy now, pay later, also known as shop now pay later services, is quickly replacing the conventional technique of getting bank credit, a personal loan, or a debit card to buy high-value goods or services.

Buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) is currently the fastest-growing online payment option in many economies as a result of the convergence of digitization, past years’ pandemic accelerated transition to online purchasing, and the growth of younger, active consumers. Customers appreciate having the option to make an immediate purchase and spread out their payment over multiple installments with no fees or interest if made on time. Additionally, BNPL is attractive to retailers as a technique for boosting sales and converting more customers.

Banks are getting ready to adopt buy now, pay later (BNPL), potentially in a significant way. More than 40% of consumers prefer to use BNPL choices from their banks rather than those offered by other businesses, but there is a need for urgency. Banks, meanwhile, have gotten into the game quite late, which makes it hard for those financial institutions to dominate the BNPL market and be better than already successful companies.

BNPL Popularity is Still Increasing

 

BNPL first grew in size in Australia and New Zealand before fast escalating in Europe, where the key brand leaders have emerged. In less than a year, the market in the UK increased to five million users. The US took longer to adopt BNPL, it is currently forecast that growth will meet or exceed that of some regions of Europe, with a predicted compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.7 percent from 2021 to 2028.

These days, more people are using Buy Now Pay Later. Since 2019, the use of BNPL and POS financing has increased thrice in the US. Even though younger people tend to use consumer financing, in previous years all age groups have used it. There have been some misconceptions that BNPL financing is more popular with consumers who have lower income levels; however, recent figures indicate that popularity is rather evenly distributed across all income level categories. The BNPL option is more appealing to people with lower credit scores.

 

 

The Risks of Unregulated BNPL Services

 

Many European nations already have laws prohibiting credit or retail websites. Due to the clients’ massive debts to several BNPL financing platforms and the fact that the majority of them were not subject to any rules, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau launched an inquiry in the US last December.

The BNPL model also causes the regulators to have a lot of concerns. When consumers used BNPL for their payment plan, we can see that in the cases of consumer financing for merchants and merchant financing for customers, 25% of the revenue for financing platforms came from missed payments. Another major issue is the lack of customer credit transparency. According to statistics, 10% of bank clients who used BNPL were already behind on their payments.

Banks Should Be More Active on the Market

 

Due to the fact that the majority of BNPL businesses that offer consumer financing to retailers are not facing federal banking requirements. It is obvious that those unregulated finance platforms, which issue consumers with an increasing number of debts, will expose them to risks over time.

Unregulated BNPL enterprises are already a problem and are facing opposition in several countries, like Australia and UK, because they provide customers with a variety of point of sale financing alternatives that, in most cases, leave them with enormous debts they may not be able to repay.

As it will be profitable for them to gain more clients and give them the opportunity to become industry leaders in BNPL services, this is the part where the banks should play a role. It will also be crucial for future customers, as it will help them avoid the risks of massive debt from unregulated consumer financing platforms.

How are the banks better? Because banks are regulated, both consumers and retailers can feel secure when breaking purchases into payment agreements.

Banks will need to decide whether or how they want to enter this industry as BNPL continues to grow. If they will not participate on time and delay their actions, they may be left without a huge number of customers with various credit demands.

How Can Banks Dominate

 

When merchants realize there are better and more secure choices available, they will switch to banks. Banks have the ability to plan for the future and play the long game. They can also modify consumer financing for small businesses to increase their clientele from numerous companies. Smaller merchants will be pleased to collaborate with financial institutions as well since this will help them avoid being burdened by bad BNPL debt.

Although fintech is currently more popular in the market, there are some steps with which the banks can overtake them. Due to the fact that traditional lenders can provide significantly better interest rates to both businesses and consumers, other Buy Now Pay Later services will also drop their interest rates.

Point of sale financing can also be available to BNPL banks. Numerous banks in Latin American nations have adopted BNPL at the point of sale using credit cards. Because it is so comfortable and simple to use, POS financing draws clients. Customers may easily spread out their payments over time. In pricey areas like healthcare or maintenance, it is quite possible for banks in the US and Europe to employ the same POS financing approach.

There are numerous examples of banks aiming to dominate the BNPL industry. For instance, we witnessed how The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) developed a new product called StepPay that has lower merchant charges and is a significant competitor on the BNPL market. Others are attempting to invest in infrastructure to create better apps or services and provide a better customer experience.

Fast innovation is more important than ever for legacy banking organizations to stay up with the quickly evolving digital market. These companies require clever, economical solutions. One strategy is implementing Bank BNPL White label products through partnerships with third parties. By implementing application programming interfaces, banks may react fast to new issues like Buy Now Pay Later. Products under the BNPL white label can change the market quickly and increase the number of customers for the BNPL banks.

Offering a retroactive plan that needs credit card ownership is not the only strategy that banking providers should employ if they want to enter the BNPL market with the greatest potential. As an alternative, they ought to provide a variety of financing solutions, and these, ought to be publicly accessible at the moment of sale.

The seamlessness of having Buy Now Pay Later available right away at the time of purchase, whether online or in-store, is eliminated by the retroactive model. Younger customers’ resistance to credit is also significantly influenced by the revolving nature and numerous hidden costs associated with credit cards. They, therefore, turn to pure plays for BNPL solutions as a result. BNPL is already available at the point of sale from some local banks in addition to card transactions.

BNPL Banks’ time to respond to this action is limited. They also have the resources, financial stability, and customer confidence to match these services. If they want to keep the loyalty of their younger clients, they cannot let this chance slip by. Even though it won’t be simple, it will be great for the banks themselves to be a part of one of the biggest and most well-liked financing solutions, and it will also make consumers safer to know that their debts are regulated and cannot harm their future finances. In the end, we can say with certainty that banks have a great future in the BNPL and consumer financing, if they understand how different market segments operate and learn how to appeal to the increasing groups, they may increase their market share in BNPL.

 

About ChargeAfter

 

ChargeAfter is a leading multi-lender platform for Buy Now pay later (BNPL) Consumer Financing. It connects businesses with the most reliable lenders, enabling them to offer customers the greatest financing solutions. With the best system of Waterfall Financing, ChargeAfter guarantees BNPL lending to every shopper, by matching the most relevant lender to every client. Using the unique consumer financing technology, ChargeAfter provides all parties, merchants, lenders, and consumers, with the best shopping experience. Phoenix, MUFG, VISA, Bradesco, BBVA, Synchrony, PICO Partners, CITI, Propel Venture Partners, Plug and Play, and other companies worldwide are among the investors of ChargeAfter.

 

Want to learn more? Reach out to us here.

ChargeAfters BNPL White Label for Banks

Posted on by chargeafterdev

Consumer financing in general and Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) in particular provide clients with funds at the point of sale for the goods or services that best suit their needs. These days, it is the easiest and most convenient means of funding. With the ability to access funds, make purchases, and make payments over time, BNPL has been increasingly popular among clients because of its quick and simple experience. To maximize its benefits, lenders and retailers both use BNPL. They can raise the user base and sales since BNPL lending is the most popular financing option right now and has the most users, which ensures an increase in the clientele for both lenders and merchants and gives them the opportunity to become more successful.

What is BNPL White Label

Large fintech firms, including ChargeAfter, provide BNPL white label services to banks. When a bank chooses to use the BNPL white label option, they have access to all the financing platform’s features and can put the platform on any number of merchant websites that also want to use BNPL lending and consumer finance. The platform is branded with the bank’s name, which is the primary benefit of a white label. Therefore, the BNPL software will be developed by the fintech business, and the bank or the retailer will be able to utilize it under their name, giving them a more professional appearance and winning over more customers.

Using a Viennese Fintech company as a partner, Deutsche Bank recently gave businesses white label services. Retailers can employ the BNPL services and profit from the large bank.

ChargeAfter Global Lending Platform

Additionally, ChargeAfter offers BNPL white label services to banks and retailers. Employing ChargeAfter’s white label services is a fantastic helper for merchants and banks because it provides one of the fastest and most convenient services available. Offering your customers and clients the greatest financing platform could not be easier than this. The ChargeAfter platform has been improved over the years, and as a result, it is currently the most modern and ideal financing software. By utilizing its white-label services, banks may save time and money by using ChargeAfter’s platform with their branding.

Benefits for Retailers and Banks

White label services are one of the best solutions and can be helpful even for large banks, as demonstrated by the case of Deutsche Bank. The basic explanation for this is that BNPL lending and retail finance have both grown in popularity recently, forcing banks to either collaborate with or stay up with smart Fintech firms like ChargeAfter. The banks and ChargeAfter’s worldwide lending platform may work together to create the most appealing financing software, which will be made available to customers at the point of sale. Those kinds of collaborations are giving them more retailer clients as they benefit from the financing platforms as well, and a bigger client base, as BNPL lending, is in huge demand nowadays.

 

White Label Banking: The Future of Lending Services

White label services are being implemented by more banks, which is increasing consumer demand for BNPL. Traditional financial institutions have begun to collaborate with fintech firms and employ BNPL for banking services since they have observed that shop now pay later offerings are growing more appealing to consumers. Users enjoy digital forms of lending with options that are quicker, safer, and more comfortable, according to research from last year, which demonstrated that BNPL lending, POS financing, and other smart Fintech solutions are essential to the future of consumer financing. So, it follows that to maintain the quick pace of consumer financing advances, an increasing number of banks will work with Fintech firms like ChargeAfter.

Summary

Finally, given that banks must work with Fintech firms, we can conclude that selecting ChargeAfter’s leader financing platform for BNPL white label services will be a significant advancement for any institution. Every bank will benefit greatly from being able to participate in modern consumer financing experiences and ensure that their relationship with the retailers and customers is secure and stable through the strongest financing platform of the ChargeAfter network because ChargeAfter’s lending platform is already established and is trusted by many retailers around the world.

 

Want to learn more? Reach out to us here.