
Shriram Finance Plans Loan, Adding to Record $2 Billion Funding
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Shriram Finance Ltd., India's biggest truck financier, is in talks with banks to raise up to $250 million, adding to its record of $2 billion borrowing through offshore loans this financial year.

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Bloomberg
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WhatsApp's ‘No Ads' Promise Meets Meta's Reality
It's hard to think of a more extraordinary business deal than Facebook's $19 billion acquisition of WhatsApp in February 2014. Its creators were outliers. With a lean staff of just a few dozen people, they had no marketing department, no sign on the door, and had spent zero cents from their sole investor, Sequoia Capital. But WhatsApp had 450 million users, mostly outside the US. Founders Jan Koum and Brian Acton also hated ads. They'd spent a combined 20 years working at Yahoo! Inc. bonding over their frustration with a business model that sucked up personal data to show us pop-ups. Building ad systems was 'depressing,' Koum told me in an interview in mid-2014. But not too depressing to sell their chat service to online ad magnate Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive officer of Meta Platforms Inc., just a few months later. Eight of WhatsApp's roughly 50 employees made more than $100 million off that deal, while Koum gained a net worth of $6.8 billion.


Time Business News
5 hours ago
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Top Debt Collection Software for Faster Recovery Solutions
Debt recovery is an essential process for financial institutions, NBFCs, utilities, telecom companies, and any organization extending credit. However, traditional debt collection methods are often manual, time-consuming, and prone to inefficiencies. In the age of automation, debt collection software has emerged as a game-changer, streamlining recovery efforts, reducing overhead costs, and improving customer engagement. With a combination of AI, analytics, and multi-channel communication capabilities, modern debt collection software ensures faster recoveries and higher success rates while maintaining compliance and enhancing borrower experience. Debt collection software is a digital tool designed to automate and manage the entire collections process. It assists organizations in tracking overdue accounts, initiating follow-ups, negotiating settlements, generating reports, and ensuring legal compliance. Whether handling consumer loans, utility bills, medical collections, or credit card debt, this software enables companies to create personalized recovery workflows that align with their operational and regulatory requirements. Advanced debt collection software is equipped with various modules to ensure a comprehensive and intelligent recovery process. Some essential features include: Automated Reminders & Notifications : Sends SMS, emails, or calls to defaulters for gentle nudges or final notices. : Sends SMS, emails, or calls to defaulters for gentle nudges or final notices. Omni-channel Communication : Facilitates contact through preferred platforms—WhatsApp, email, IVR, and more. : Facilitates contact through preferred platforms—WhatsApp, email, IVR, and more. Payment Gateway Integration : Allows users to make instant payments through UPI, cards, or wallets. : Allows users to make instant payments through UPI, cards, or wallets. Predictive Dialing & Voice Bots : Streamlines outbound calling and reduces human effort. : Streamlines outbound calling and reduces human effort. Case Management Tools : Helps agents categorize and track disputes, promises to pay, and settlement agreements. : Helps agents categorize and track disputes, promises to pay, and settlement agreements. Dashboard & Reporting : Provides real-time insights into recovery metrics, team performance, and customer responsiveness. : Provides real-time insights into recovery metrics, team performance, and customer responsiveness. Regulatory Compliance: Ensures the organization adheres to FDCPA, GDPR, and local lending laws. These features allow lenders to manage thousands of accounts effectively, with minimal manual intervention and maximum transparency. Implementing a powerful debt collection software platform yields several benefits for both the lender and the borrower: Automation and data-driven strategies help identify the best times and methods to contact defaulters, increasing the chances of successful collections. By reducing dependence on call center staff and manual tracking, businesses can cut costs while improving efficiency. Most platforms come with built-in compliance checks and legal safeguards, reducing the risk of penalties or reputational damage. Borrowers appreciate non-intrusive, self-service payment options and well-timed reminders that maintain respect and dignity during recovery. Collection agents can prioritize accounts based on risk scoring and automate repetitive tasks, improving overall productivity. One key aspect to note is how this technology marks the Dawn of Smarter debt recovery systems—ones that blend human empathy with automation, ensuring a more dignified, efficient, and data-centric approach. 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Highly customizable and suited for large-scale collections across financial services, healthcare, and telecom. Ideal for small to mid-sized collection agencies, it offers cloud-based deployment and multi-language support. Best for digital lenders and fintech companies, it integrates fraud detection with intelligent collections workflows. These platforms have revolutionized the way companies handle collections, increasing efficiency, reducing disputes, and ensuring data-driven recovery. Modern debt collection software must seamlessly integrate with: Core banking and CRM platforms Accounting software and ERP systems Payment gateways and mobile wallets Communication tools like Twilio, WhatsApp API, or email marketing tools Additionally, the ability to customize workflows, reminders, compliance rules, and language preferences is essential to meet the diverse needs of different industries and regions. Depending on organizational size and infrastructure, companies can choose between: Cloud-Based Solutions Faster implementation Access from any location Lower upfront cost Regular automatic updates On-Premise Solutions Full control over data Higher upfront cost but long-term asset Best for firms with strict IT governance policies Cloud-based models are now favored by most businesses due to scalability and cost advantages. Given the sensitivity of borrower data, debt collection software must meet strict cybersecurity and compliance standards. This includes: End-to-end data encryption Role-based access controls Two-factor authentication (2FA) Secure cloud hosting on AWS, Azure, etc. Regular audits and legal documentation trails Compliance with global and regional regulations such as GDPR, PCI-DSS, RBI norms, and FDCPA is non-negotiable for ethical and legal debt recovery practices. In a world where customers expect digital convenience and lenders face pressure to optimize operations, debt collection software provides a crucial edge. It not only accelerates collections but also brings transparency, compliance, and strategic value to recovery efforts. The Dawn of Smarter collections is already here—where automation meets empathy, where AI supports accountability, and where recovery is as much about data as it is about relationships. Whether you're a bank, fintech, or utility provider, investing in the right debt collection software can redefine your approach and enhance your bottom line. By embracing these digital tools, organizations can transform collections from a pain point into a competitive advantage. TIME BUSINESS NEWS


The Hill
8 hours ago
- The Hill
Trump Mobile faces roadblocks
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