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business|financial|services|systems

Vehicle finance on cusp of revolution, says WesBank’s Msibi

Ghana Msibi

Ghana Msibi

11th February 2021

By: Irma Venter

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

     

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The demands on financial institutions are changing rapidly as younger age groups start to actively participate in the acquisition of assets, says WesBank Motor CEO Ghana Msibi.

“I expect the motoring industry, including vehicle finance, to evolve more in the next five years than it has in the past four decades.”

Generally speaking, Baby Boomers and members of Generation X are regarded as age groups prone to saving, notes Msibi.

They tend to build balance sheets and work toward owning large assets outright, such as cars and houses. 

On the converse, younger Generation Y and Z groups prefer paying for usage, with less appetite for taking the risks associated with ownership. 

“Subscription services are, therefore, becoming a lifestyle trend banks can’t ignore, and the way the youth buy food, shop for clothes, and even watch TV, will influence the packages banks offer for acquiring, or at least using, big-ticket items in the short term,” says Msibi.

“Let’s use television as an example. Where South Africans previously had access to a one-size-fits-all satellite package, online streaming has afforded near limitless options for viewing pleasure. 

“Why pay a premium for a number of channels you will never watch, when more affordable streaming services with broader programming and tailored playlists, all on demand at the click of a button, are available as an alternative? 

“Over a relatively short time frame, streaming services have revolutionised TV by offering more immediacy and huge variety at lower cost.”

How does this translate to vehicle finance, asks Msibi.

“Of course WesBank will continue to offer traditional instalment options for those who want to finance to own, but our industry needs to evolve with a more balanced menu and greater flexibility when it comes to subscription or pay-for-usage packages. 

“If a customer has no intention of owning a vehicle at the end of a finance agreement, why should they be held to the same or similar terms as the customer who does? 

“In a way, this concept is already in place with various guaranteed future value programmes, but an evolution and improvement in pay-for-use arrangements is on the horizon,” says Msibi.

Shared mobility is another area to consider, he notes.

It is possible that in the not-too-distant future a group of people, rather than an individual, could apply for finance on a single vehicle. 

This will mean that affordability calculations are based on multiple incomes, with an end result that a pool could subscribe to, or eventually own a car together. 

“We currently offer this in spousal arrangements, but we’re looking at how to roll it out with more flexibility in the future,” says Msibi.

Digital Tools
The expansion and development of digital tools within the banking sector is an obvious necessity, as today’s customers expect more immediacy and personalised interactions than ever before, says Msibi.

Stacks of documents for application processes are considered old-fashioned and unnecessary in today’s transactions, he adds.

“As banks, we have intimate understandings of our customers’ financial situations, so the responsibility of affordability calculations should rest more with banks and financial institutions and fall less on the shoulders of customers.

“While existing online calculators and budgeting tools already offer conveniences customers didn’t have access to just over a decade ago, I feel much more can happen at the backend level, in turn making a customer’s buying journey a far simpler process.”

Conventionally, buyers shop for a car and then approach a bank for finance. 

This is somewhat backwards in today’s world, and pre-approvals will become more streamlined with maximum purchase prices already in hand before setting foot on a dealer floor, believes Msibi.

This will expedite processes once a vehicle is chosen, with the possibility of driving away in a new car within moments, instead of days, in some cases.

“Historically speaking, banking systems aren’t geared for the flexibilities we’re exploring today,” says Msibi.

“For ages our systems for finance arrangements were built on tried, trusted and traditional money-lending methods, but, like so many other industries, we’re evolving with the times. 

“WesBank is travelling a fast-paced journey, with customers’ newfound expectations leading the way. Our intent is to cater to new demands, and significant investment has been put in place to develop new business methods.”

 

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

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