Lease Group leverages finance from SFS to scale business

In a fast-moving, competitive marketplace, Lease Group is taking advantage of the Application Programming Interface (API) capabilities offered by Siemens Financial Services (SFS) to speed up financing decisions. Through this integration, Lease Group customers typically receive credit decisions within five seconds, and access business-critical equipment and technology with minimal delay.

With over 25 years in the business technology market, Lease Group has helped thousands of businesses nationwide – from small independent shops to multi-national retailers and charities – to upgrade their systems and technologies via their seamless finance solution. It is a trusted leasing provider to companies such as Vodafone.

 

Working in sync

As a finance specialist, the Group has always been a pioneer, and was one of the first to offer a risk-free, flexible approach to funding smart devices, separating hardware from airtime. So it saw a synergy with SFS, based on common expertise in the same tech-based assets Lease Group finance – from laptops and smartphones to software and servers – executed via SieSmart, the SFS digital financing platform.

In fact, it was SFS’ appetite for smartphone financing that first brought the two companies together. Lease Group were looking for an optimal funder to work with, who would meet all their criteria: a partner able to finance a range of equipment and who would support their lean business model, maximising efficiency. With its new API capabilities on the horizon, SFS was already an attractive option, and its new smartphone offering was the final tick in the box.

 

Instant credit decisions

Connecting the SFS platform with Lease Group’s systems through the API functionality took only ten weeks, allowing the Group to quickly capitalise on market demand. The integration created an interface that typically offers users credit decisions within just five seconds, taking Lease Group’s service and offering to new heights.

These decisions are not simply an estimate. With SFS behind the system, deals are ‘rubber stamped’ as approved – a differentiator from other platforms on the market. Technology vendors who use the platform can also track their orders from documentation to signature to payout – full transparency at the touch of a button. When needed, an account manager at SFS is always on hand to provide support and answer queries.

 

Diversifying assets

Over the years, Lease Group has responded to market and customer demands, and now has a diverse offering, financing assets in renewable energy, telematics, catering and security. Simon Fabb, Co-Founder & Group Marketing Director, explains how this is facilitated by SFS, “With SFS, we don’t need to pitch or explain what we sell, they already have a knowledge base in multiple industries. Coupled with great support, service and account management, it is a really good fit for our business growth path.

“More often than not, Siemens also manufactures the equipment we’re financing, such as EV chargers. This is especially helpful when a supplier approaches us about a new product or emerging technology. Speed is critical in these situations and we’re able to provide a quick decision on whether we can offer financing or not.”

James Twineham, Account Development Manager – Broker Finance at Siemens Financial Services, commented, “It’s a delight to work with a fellow tech expert and support Lease Group in competing with some of the bigger players in the field. Lease Group is an excellent example of how businesses can gain a serious edge by leveraging finance and digital solutions. The near-perfect approvals rate speaks for itself.”