ATLANTA -

Dealers can now apply and be approved for access to Equifax consumer insights data in a matter of hours thanks to a new, streamlined onboarding platform released on Monday.

Leveraging technologies from DocuSign and Salesforce.com, along with its own proprietary technology and process innovation, Equifax insisted that it helped to transform dealer credentialing from a long, paper-intensive procedure spanning several days or weeks into a more seamless, all-digital transaction that delivers approvals within hours of receiving the necessary documents from dealers.

This self-service platform utilizes Equifax’s own commercial credit decisioning service, BusinessConnect, to help automate data gathering and security credentialing.

This process can accelerate overall onboarding cycle time by reducing the amount of data required, as well as the time applicants spend inputting application information.

BusinessConnect is built on the Salesforce.com platform, and is a cloud-based commercial credit and collections application available for purchase through the Salesforce App Exchange.

“This represents a complete overhaul of the traditional manually intensive auto dealer onboarding process,” Equifax senior vice president of operations Patricia Rosenfeld said.

“We continually look for ways to help improve the customer experience, and we are particularly pleased about the dramatic improvements we’ve made in the credentialing process, which will directly benefit auto dealers and customers alike,” Rosenfield continued.

Equifax explained that the process is further simplified by giving the applicant the ability to send and sign documents online utilizing DocuSign.

In addition to helping eliminate the hassles, costs and often lack of security in printing, faxing, scanning and overnighting documents to complete transactions, DocuSign helps can enable dealers to track the status of their applications quickly and easily at any point in the process.

Officials indicated document transactions are performed often in minutes, with fewer errors, and usually on the first try. Agreements are then retained in and easily accessible from the DocuSign cloud.  

“The most successful auto dealerships will be fully digital by the end of the decade so they can meet consumer expectations of a fast, easy and secure experience that mirrors how they do business in today’s mobile world,” said DocuSign vice president of business development Glenn Griffin.

“We’re thrilled to see how Equifax has leveraged DocuSign’s Digital Transaction Management (DTM) platform and eSignature service to help automate paper-based processes, accelerate auto dealer onboarding, and improve the experience for dealers, employees and customers alike,” Griffin added.

Equifax also mentioned the portal also was designed with the mobile user in mind. Applications can be submitted and tracked via virtually any mobile device.

“We are putting more control of the application and credentialing process back into the hands of the auto dealer,” said Equifax vice president of commercial sales Scott Spencer.

“Leveraging our cloud-based credit platform BusinessConnect, this all-digital, straight-through process allows them to gain access to Equifax products quickly, so they can help grow their business profitability while assuming a sustainable level of risk,” Spencer went on to say.