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Published on:
May 18, 2023
By
Pranjal

Bridging the financing gap: Empowering MSMEs through collaborative financing

The MSME sector has long been a key driver of India's economy, making a considerable contribution to its expansion and advancement. However, the sector has long faced a basic problem that has limited its potential: access to capital. The growth of collaborative financing ecosystems and the introduction of new technologies are expected to fundamentally alter how the industry operates.

Financial institutions have been looking for creative ways to help MSMEs' financial requirements while also empowering them in recent years. Leading the charge, utilising cutting-edge digital tools and offering quick and simple financing options are fintech players and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs). Additionally, collaborative financing ecosystems are seen as a possible way to increase the amount of resources available to solve the financial worries of The MSME sector has long been a key driver of India's economy, making a considerable contribution to its expansion and advancement. However, the sector has long faced a basic problem that has limited its potential: access to capital. The growth of collaborative financing ecosystems and the introduction of new technologies are expected to fundamentally alter how the industry operates.

Financial institutions have been looking for creative ways to help MSMEs' financial requirements while also empowering them in recent years. Leading the charge, utilising cutting-edge digital tools and offering quick and simple financing options are fintech players and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs). Additionally, collaborative financing ecosystems are seen as a possible way to increase the amount of resources available to solve the financial worries of MSMEs; wherein multiple lenders come together to provide a comprehensive suite of financial services to entrepreneurs.

Collaborative financing ecosystems: A prudent approach towards extending customer-centric solutions

To close the INR 25 trillion credit gap in the MSME sector, cooperation between established financial institutions and new-age lending organisations is urgently needed. Collaborations between organisations, such as fintech start-ups and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), etc., will guarantee the creation of a comprehensive financial ecosystem that is assured, forward-looking, and quick to extend loans to potential borrowers who were previously turned down due to incomplete submission of personal information, documentation, credit history, and collateral. 

A new class of financial services will emerge as a result of the unified strategy, and they may be able to bridge the credit gap for MSMEs in a way that is both economical and successful. For instance, a higher credit outflow in a shorter amount of time will be possible thanks to the creativity and agility in underwriting loan applications and approvals that is supported by the digital lending infrastructure of fintech start-ups. Collaborative financing will also make it easier for MSMEs to acquire credit at reduced rates. This is made feasible by the cooperative ecosystem, which enables several companies to split the risk associated with financing MSMEs, which will result in reduced interest rates and fees for MSME borrowers and more inexpensive financing overall. 

MSMEs gain from other customer-centric solutions in addition to the end-goal of having access to capital as a result of the collaborative approach among many entities. This involves having access to knowledge and materials. This includes assistance with marketing, financial administration, and other areas of business support that are closed off to MSMEs who want to develop. 

Unlocking new credit potential

Regulations governing non-banking financial institutions have changed, creating new opportunities for cooperation to address the wider issue. All stakeholders have been able to combine their resources as a result and acquire a competitive edge in the market. The new regulations will also aid in NBFCs' interest alignment and increase market credit, hence reducing any liquidity difficulties. For instance, a partnership between an NBFC and a bank would allow the former to service untapped markets while the latter would profit from the former's advanced technology. The cooperation of banks, NBFCs, and fintech companies would not only be advantageous to these organisations but will also give customers more leverage to access funding.

The alliance model, which includes co-lending, on-lending, securitization, and various other approaches, can be used to solve this transformation in MSME financing. The use of financial technology will improve access to high-quality loans as these collaborations develop and grow. This will ultimately increase financial access and streamline the loan application procedure. Additionally, this will reduce operational costs and give competitive interest rates to MSME borrowers searching for quick funding channels. It will also allow quick turnaround times for submission, sanction, and disbursal.

Developing the new-age financial system for MSMEs

After the pandemic, the MSME sector in India was able to weather the anticipated economic slowdown thanks to rapid government assistance and digitisation's capabilities. Today, the industry is expected to expand into new business sectors and realise its full potential; for this to happen, easy access to financing is very essential.

By making the lending process as complex and effective as possible to supply specialist credit services, NBFCs and Fintechs are expected to play a crucial and supportive role in releasing financial services for MSMEs. Better market cooperation will be made possible by simple access to capital and higher-quality loans, which will help increase total economic activity. 

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