Abhishek Goel: Revolutionizing Debt Collection with an Expertise in Consumer Behaviour

With the rapid growth of consumer credit and the huge amount of financial data developing effective predicting models is very crucial. Dasceq is focused to change debt collection by understanding customer behavior leveraging proprietary alternative data. Dasceq's proven PCC framework has processed more than 140 million accounts and US$42 billion and improved money collected by more than 12%, reduced cost to collect by more than 30%, and significantly improved consumer experience. The company's mission is to transform collection practices as FICO transformed credit underwriting through AI/ML and big data. Dasceq has developed AI/ML solutions across the lending cycle, created predictive analytics to identify high-risk patients, and has founded multiple leading analytics companies.

A Passionate Data Science Leader

Abhishek is the CEO and Founder and Consumer Behavior Expert for  Dasceq.com.  He led the development of analytical solutions for employers and clients that have saved or improved profit by more than US$3 billion. He has experience working and providing consulting and strategy services to C-level executives of global financial institutions. Abhishek is passionate about giving back through teaching how to learn and apply data science. He is an adjunct professor and advisor, teaching data science concepts and applications to various professional, corporates, and graduate programs such as Springboard.com, SMU (http://www.smu.edu/cape), and UTD (http://jindal.utdallas.edu/marketing/ms-marketing/). Springboard is an online learning platform that prepares students for the tech industry's most in-demand careers with comprehensive, mentor-led online programs in software engineering, data science, machine learning, UI/UX design, cybersecurity, and more.

Abhishek is also the owner of an education company called A-Data Leader that helps experienced data executives to scale their careers further. He is a regular speaker at local and national data science conferences, collection industry conferences.

The Journey Towards Success

Abhishek has successfully bootstrapped analytics practices and multiplied revenue for multiple business units as part of Big 4, global financial services, and fintech companies. Abhishek's expertise includes data analytics, analytics strategy, machine learning, deep learning, artificial intelligence, predictive modeling, robotics, compliance analytics, credit scoring, marketing analytics, collection analytics, voice monetization, political campaign analytics, risk, and operations analytics, consumer lifecycle analytics, marketing analytics, data mining, data visualization, model validation, predictive/statistical modeling, model development, data mining and segmentation, consumer behavior and transaction analytic, spend analytic using multiple analytical tools like SAS, Python, Hadoop/Hive, Neo4j, SAS E Miner, SAS E Guide, SQL, Tableau and Qlikview.

As an entrepreneur starting a next-generation company in a new low awareness market is time-consuming and needed a lot of teaching. Abhishek has spent considerable time explaining the product and networked with people to generate awareness about the changing market.

Driving Innovation in the Marketplace

Dasceq continuously seeks guidance on requirements from its clients. It supports consumers affected by debt and engages them to understand their expectations. The company deep-dives its data to identify areas of improvement and improve the consumer experience. Dasceq develops innovation strategy in convergence with commercial, marketing, sustainability, and HR teams. The company's multi-year plans with clearly defined objectives and barometers of progress ensure that innovation is plotted and appraised granularly. Abhishek believes that the tech industry enjoys comparatively more innovation, product launches, and M&A activity, than, for example, the pharma industry. There are several reasons for this. For one, there are far fewer barriers to entry. While skilled workers are a constant in both industries, working in digital technology doesn't require the same level of academic achievement as in pharma. "With small start-up costs and the potential for huge and timely payoffs, it's no surprise that VC interest in the tech sector is heating up. Access to this capital, in turn, allows tech companies to grow as private companies for far longer than those in any other sector," he adds. Arguably, this has enabled many of the industry's transgressions. But it also has created an atmosphere where rapid and constant innovation is celebrated – and made possible due to the agility and responsiveness of private companies.

Leveraging Disruptive Technologies to Serve Customers

Disruptive technology is an innovation that significantly alters the way that consumers, industries, or businesses operate. A disruptive technology sweeps away the systems or habits it replaces because it has attributes that are recognizably superior. Even a start-up with limited resources can aim at technology disruption by inventing an entirely new way of getting something done. Established companies tend to focus on what they do best and pursue incremental improvements rather than revolutionary changes. They cater to their largest and most demanding customers.

Dasceq goes beyond just technology or new tools. Its products include the best way to implement solutions so that clients can get the best value. The company leverages industry best practices along with new technology and deep consumer behavior-driven studies to get the biggest return. Dasceq is actively using 36 technologies for its website, according to BuiltWith. These include Google Apps for Business, Microsoft Exchange Online, and Facebook Sharer. This year, Dasceq is projected to spend US$57.2K on IT, according to Aberdeen.

Insights into the Future

Abhishek asserts that the industry is changing rapidly with regulatory pressure and consumer behavior. COVID-19 has accelerated digital adoption by companies. Dasceq is continuing to understand and is coming up with an additional product to help clients improve the consumer experience.

A Leader Drives Strategic Marketing with Right Team

Abhishek always believes that a tech leader should always have patience. It takes more time to build a profitable and sustainable company and reputation in the industry. A leader must focus on marketing and innovation. Moreover, having the right team is so important that the leader should hire professionals and experts and not those who agree with him and let go of even good friends if they are not aligned. Being able to be resourceful is key to success.

A Piece of Advice to the Emerging Leaders

The biggest advice Abhishek offers for emerging leaders is to figure out the challenges of prospects and work hard to solve them. There is a lot of opportunities currently and one can make a deep impact by leveraging technology. As a tech leader keeping track of trends and the skillset that the leader will require throughout the year will enable him to track how he can apply those skills to future opportunities. When working in a remote environment, it is fundamental to practice emotional intelligence as a tech leader. Being in a virtual setting, speaking with the team through screens rather than face-to-face in those office 'water cooler' moments can make it more difficult to ascertain how the members of the team are feeling. Practicing emotional intelligence will allow the leader to manage both his own and the emotions of his tech team, enabling him to keep motivation high, improve communication as well as empathize with the team. Building resilience within the tech team will help members to cope with this level of uncertainty and foster a culture of adaptability that can be extremely beneficial in times of unpredictability.

Moreover, the collection industry is going through a paradigm shift. Most collectors do not understand how to influence the consumers. Over the next few years, Dasceq foresees a major aggregation and change in a shift as lenders and debt collectors will be forced to adopt new technology and always be aware of consumer experience.