afb Application Services AG publishes guest article in a handbook of automotive banks

Munich, 20 August 2015 - afb Application Services AG (afb), a leading European full-service provider for the optimisation of financing processes of banks and leasing companies, has published a guest article on the forward-looking role of modern IT systems in the new edition of "Handbuch Automobilbanken - Finanzdienstleistungen für Mobilität" (Handbook of Automotive Banks - Financial Services for Mobility) by editor Prof Dr Frank Stenner.

The only comprehensive reference work on the subject of automotive banks, this handbook was first published in 2009. The changes of recent years are what prompted Prof Dr Frank Stenner, editor, author and lecturer with many years of experience in the field of automotive financial services, including with the BMW Group, to revise the articles in the first issue in collaboration with the authors, source new authors and add new contributions. The handbook examines the role of automotive banks affiliated with manufacturers, so-called captives, in the automotive industry. It includes contributions from renowned CEOs, directors and experts from automotive banks, the automotive trade and the affiliated service providers, as well as leading representatives of important organisations, academia and the European Central Bank. Practical and precise, it demonstrates how the automotive bank business model works.

The handbook deals in particular with the major trends of recent years – changes in consumer behaviour, digitisation and increasing regulation. These developments in the economic, technological, financial and regulatory environment have a significant effect on the business model of automotive banks.

In his article "How do modern IT systems support the business of the automotive banks of tomorrow?" André Becher, Manager Requirements Engineering / Quality Assurance at afb, addresses the complex interplay of the factors of products, processes, partners and IT systems. He considers the challenge the automotive banks face as "holistic financial services providers" in developing comprehensive solutions to meet market needs, while at the same time establishing a competitive advantage. He then goes on to explain why and how modern, flexible and reliable IT is a key success factor for every automotive bank.

"Automotive banks operate, currently and in the future, as an integrated financial services provider for mobility services. If a financial services provider launches a new product, it must where necessary also expand its partner network and align its processes with the new product. Modern IT systems support the financial services provider to respond flexibly and quickly to changing market needs," explains Becher.

The German title of the guide is "Handbuch Automobilbanken - Finanzdienstleistungen für Mobilität“ and is immediately available in its electronic version from Springer-Gabler Verlag at http://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-662-45196-0. The print version is expected to be available at the end of August 2015.

About afb Application Services AG

Based in Munich, afb Application Services AG has been optimising the financing operation of banks and leasing companies since 1995. A full-service provider, afb offers a customer- and project-specific mix of process, specialist and IT consulting, projects based on the afb Credit Management Solution, application and infrastructure management, business process management and outsourcing. Its innovative solutions enable companies to automate the entire credit process – from quotation to application with fully automated credit decisions and processing, through to contract management. Well-known companies from the financial services sector make use of the solutions offered by afb internationally to generate a significant percentage of their turnover.

To find out more, please visit www.afb.de

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Tel: +49 (89)78000-353
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