Digitalized Financing is a Game-Changer

A digital financing process offers an array of significant benefits for everyone in the auto retail ecosystem, from dealers and their customers to lenders and automakers. John Currado (JC), the president of taq Automotive Intelligence, a leading provider of digital retailing solutions for the auto industry, explains just how the company’s all-digital financing process is reshaping the ways in which the industry operates.

Q: What are the advantages of a finance process that is entirely digital, not only for dealerships but also for customers, lenders and automobile manufacturers?

John Currado: A fully digital finance process offers more than speed and efficiency; it transforms the experience for everyone involved: dealerships, customers, lenders and OEMs.

For dealerships, it streamlines operations, reduces errors and simplifies compliance, freeing staff to focus on customer engagement. OEMs gain real-time visibility into dealer activity, enabling better forecasting, faster market response and stronger support. Lenders benefit from quicker application processing, accurate data access, and improved decision-making, driving faster funding and higher throughput.

And for customers, who are at the heart of the experience, it removes the traditional friction points; long waits and unclear next steps.

Q: Apart from the potential time savings and greater efficiency, what additional benefits does an all-digital experience provide?

Currado: From our perspective, the real magic happens beyond the basics of time savings and efficiency. A digital experience opens the door to personalization, transparency and convenience. Customers can complete key steps — like applying for credit, reviewing finance options and signing documents — on their own time, from wherever they are. That’s not just convenient — it’s empowering.

Ultimately, going fully digital is about giving customers what they want: a modern, intuitive, and transparent journey that reflects the way they expect to do business today. It’s a smarter more aligned experience — for customers, for the dealership and for every partner involved.

Q: How does an all-digital finance experience change the way a dealership operates? And how can this all-digital experience enhance the retailer’s partnerships with lenders and OEMs?

Currado: Adopting an all-digital finance experience does more than modernize work-flows — it reshapes how a dealership operates, collaborates and competes.

Digital tools open new doors in how retailers engage with their lending partners and OEMs. With real-time visibility into deal status, data accuracy and customer insights, dealers can move with greater confidence and speed. Lenders benefit from cleaner applications and quicker turnarounds, while OEMs gain transparency into pipeline activity and performance trends. It’s a stronger, more collaborative ecosystem.

Q: If a dealership isn’t already fully digital on the finance side, what should it do now to make that transition? And what pain points or challenges might arise?

Currado: For dealerships exploring digital finance or assessing its fit, success starts with a clear road map and trusted partners.

Begin by identifying friction in your current process: Are customers delayed by approvals? Is paperwork still printed? Are employees duplicating tasks across systems? Pinpointing these issues reveals where digital tools can have the most impact.

We’ve partnered with dealers to solve exactly these operational hurdles. From fragmented workflows to inconsistent lender integrations, we’ve seen it all — so we build tools that cut manual work, centralize deals and guide staff through every finance step.

Transitioning to digital isn’t without challenges. Setup and integration take time, but these short-term efforts lead to long-term gains in efficiency and customer experience.

Q: What has taq Automotive learned from the experience of developing an all-digital financing platform? Has digital lived up to its promise?

Currado: At taq, years of developing and refining our all-digital financing platform have proved one thing: digital doesn’t just deliver on its promise – it redefines what’s possible.

Success isn’t about putting forms online; it’s about reimagining the finance journey to be smarter, more intuitive and aligned with how today’s customers want to engage; simplifying complexity, enabling seamless handoffs and ensuring technology enhances — rather than disrupts — business flow.

We’ve also learned that digital transformation works best when it meets dealers where they are. Every store operates differently, and not every team is ready to go all in.

That’s why our solutions are flexible, scalable and supportive — whether a dealer is taking one step or embracing full digitization.

Most important, digital has delivered real value: faster deals, fewer errors and a better customer experience. For dealers, that means a clearer path to profitability. For customers it means less waiting, more transparency and a process as modern as the vehicles they’re buying.

Ultimately, we believe we’re delivering on the digital promise by focusing on the right balance of people, process and tech.

Q: How does data generated from a fully digital finance process benefit automakers and lenders, and how does that tie into the concept of automotive intelligence as a differentiator for taq?

Currado: One of the strongest advantages of a fully digital finance process is the depth of data it unlocks — for OEMs and lenders alike.

In traditional setups, finance data is fragmented, delayed or lost in paper trails. But with an end-to-end digital experience, every step — from application to funding — is captured in real time, with accuracy and consistency. OEMs gain visibility into deal flows and measurable KPIs: deal timelines, program usage, dealer performance, and support needs.

For lenders, this data sheds light on credit application trends approval rates, funding speed and pipeline forecasting. It helps refine decision models, surface new opportunities and strengthen dealer collaboration.

This is Automotive Intelligence.

At taq, we define it as using data strategically to drive smarter decisions across the automotive finance ecosystem. It’s not just dashboards — it’s actionable insight. It helps OEMs optimize programs, empowers lenders to decide with speed and confidence, and ensures every stakeholder — from manufacturer to dealer to customer — benefits from a more connected, transparent finance journey.

ABOUT THE PANELIST

John Currado
Presidenttaq Automotive Intelligence

With more than 25 years in automotive financial lending, John Currado (JC) is focused on building relationships and creating win-win partnerships by earning trust and delivering strategic solutions.