Machine learning, for all its cool applications, is at its core the generation of predictive models using advanced algorithms that learn from data. If we have enough reliable and stable data to feed it, we can build models and make predictions on just about anything. If you are new to machine learning, read more on What is Machine Learning?
In a collections operation, having enough data shouldn’t be a problem. But knowing how to use the data at your disposal to increase your collection yields is the challenge. In this blog, we discuss how machine learning can help improve your debt collection process.
Top machine learning applications for collections & recoveries
Identify propensity to pay or roll
Using machine learning, you can identify the accounts most likely to roll forward to a worse delinquency state and those most likely to pay at any given time, driving internal pre-delinquency and delinquency strategies. In addition, this will allow you to determine the best treatment for each account, achieve higher collection yields and decrease your operational costs by increasing your call centre agent efficiency and effectiveness.
Identify the best time to call customers
You can use ML to predict the best time and the best number on which to contact debtors. Then you can prioritise calls by time of day when a debtor is most likely to answer. This will not only reduce your telephone costs but will increase connection and collection rates, by improving your call centre agent effectiveness. The only requirement is that you have historical dialler information at a number level with previous outcomes that can be fed into the model to make predictions.
Yield forecasting
Standard forecast comparisons of month-on-month; month-on-year etc. data will not give you accurate forecast predictions to create intervention strategies to mitigate potential risk. For collection operations, a critical success factor is the ability to predict month-end outcomes accurately within the early stage of the billing cycle.
Using machine learning methods, it is possible to forecast yields accurately, and predict which remedial actions will have a short or long-term impact if you are not tracking to your targets. Use these insights to inform your business and drive collections strategy.
What are some other benefits of machine learning?
Other than increasing your collections through the decisions it makes, other benefits of using machine learning in your business include:
- Yielding insights humans don’t see in large sets of data
- Possible higher accuracy of predictions over and above your current models
- Removes human biases from decisions
- Higher productivity and less time spent on laborious tasks
- Higher conversion rates and yields
- Lower employee turnover
What does it take to get started with machine learning?
If you are outsourcing the ML to experts that know what they are doing and your use case is known to the data scientists, not much! Stable and reliable data, of course, and enough of it for algorithms to pick up patterns and learn. Infrastructure and talent are a requirement if you’re setting your machine learning up from scratch, but there are many applications and software available with machine learning capabilities. This means that you can purchase tools and systems with built-in machine learning capabilities. You don’t have to worry about building a machine learning application from scratch, hiring data scientists in-house, or keeping the system maintained and up-to-date.
Find out more about utilising machine learning in your business by downloading our Guide to Machine Learning for Business.
