How Mettus’ Credit Assessment Decision Engine Helped Unify a National Retail Franchise

At Mettus, we live to solve real business problems through technology that reshapes perspectives. Before we introduce you to our growing suite of solutions, we are proud to share the story of how the Mettus data-driven credit assessment Decision Engine in partnership with XDS helped transform credit decisioning for one of South Africa’s largest retail franchise groups. This engagement didn’t just solve a complex operational challenge, it showcased the power of intelligent automation, real-time data, and collaborative problem-solving.

What the decentralised and inconsistent credit process meant for the client

When a national retail franchise group operating across more than 85 branches approached XDS, they had a clear goal: to bring order to a decentralised and inconsistent credit process. Each branch had the autonomy to assess credit applications, and that came at a cost.

The decentralised and inconsistent credit process meant:

• Decisions varied from branch to branch.
• Human bias and favouritism crept into approvals.
• Loan turnaround times were unpredictable.
• Oversight from head office was limited at best.

What they needed was a unified, data-driven decision engine. One that could apply consistent logic, eliminate guesswork, and scale effortlessly across locations.

How we put our manifesto of solving real business problems through innovative technology into action

We built a robust, cloud-based Decision Engine tailored to their franchise model. This resulted in a scalable, configurable platform that put speed, consistency, and accuracy at the heart of credit granting. The engine’s key capabilities:

• Automated risk scoring
• Advanced OCR integration
• Multi-source validation
• Self-configurable rules
• Real-time credit decisions

From the outset, our approach was collaborative. We worked closely with the client’s CEO, COO, and tech teams to:

1. Map customer journeys and credit workflows,
2. Define scoring logic based on operational realities,
3. Integrate seamlessly with the client’s front-end loan system, internal platforms, OCR provider, and XDS bureau data.

After months of design, testing, and performance tuning, the Mettus Decision Engine went live in March 2025. A six-week support phase followed, ensuring that the rollout was smooth and staff adoption was high.

Our Decision Engine solved the problem and delivered results that matter

The implementation delivered significant results across the client’s operations. Standardised credit decisioning was achieved, with all branches now following a uniform scoring model, eliminating inconsistencies caused by human discretion. Accelerated processing meant loan approvals now happen in seconds, creating a faster and more customer-friendly experience. The client also gained greater oversight and control, as head office can enforce policies centrally while still allowing configurability at management level.

With lower integration risk thanks to Mettus’ seamless API-based framework, communication across previously fragmented IT environments became efficient and reliable. Finally, the future scalability of the solution was secured through a cloud-based architecture, allowing the Decision Engine to expand across new stores, geographies, or even additional financial products.

Driving digital credit decisioning with intelligence

Through the deployment of the Mettus Decision Engine, the client moved from a fragmented, manual credit environment to a fully automated, standardised, and centrally governed system. The Intelligent Collective’s (Mettus and XDS) consultative approach, deep industry expertise, and seamless integration capabilities ensured a smooth rollout, rapid adoption, and measurable impact. This project reinforces Mettus’ position as a trusted technology partner not only offering credit data, but delivering intelligent platforms that drive operational efficiency, improve customer experience, and support long-term scalability.