Most collection software looks the same in a sales deck. The differences that matter only show up after you've onboarded a hundred accounts and put the app in the hands of field agents. Use this checklist before you commit.
1. Who actually owns your data?
The single most important question. Ask directly:
- Can you export every borrower, loan, and transaction whenever you want?
- Is there a self-hosted option so the data lives on infrastructure you control?
- If you stop paying, do you keep your data?
If a vendor is vague here, treat it as a red flag.
2. Does it work offline — really?
"Offline support" often means "it won't crash without signal." That's not the same as capturing collections offline and syncing later without losing a single entry. Test it: put the phone in airplane mode, record ten collections, come back online, and confirm all ten arrive intact.
3. Can you prove field visits?
For any team doing field collections, you need GPS and photo proof baked into every entry. Without it, you're trusting memory and honesty at scale — which never ends well.
4. Does it fit your loan types?
Generic tools force your business into their model. Make sure it handles the products you actually run:
- Daily, weekly, and monthly finance
- Interest-only / kandhu vatti
- Gold and product-backed loans
- EMI schedules and chit funds
See how flexible your options are on the loan types page.
5. Will your agents actually use it?
The best software is the one that gets used. Friction kills adoption. Look for:
- Fast entry (ideally voice entry)
- Multi-language support for your workforce
- A simple, forgiving interface for non-technical agents
6. What does it really cost?
Watch for per-borrower fees, setup charges, and "enterprise" tiers that appear the moment you grow. Get the full picture on pricing up front.
The quick version
Own your data. Prove your visits. Work offline. Fit your loan types. Get agents to actually use it. Know the real price.
If a tool clears all six, you're looking at software that will still serve you at ten times your current book. If it stumbles on any of them, keep looking.
Curious how Vasool measures up? Compare us directly.