GE's energy rentals business automates its credit assessment process

GE Energy Rentals, a business unit of General Electric Power Systems (GEPs), uses an automated Web-based application to assess customers' credit worthiness. GE's Global Research Center developed the system using quantitative business modeling and decision-support-system design. The system uses a model for credit decisions that captures the thought process expert credit analysts use to assign credit lines to customers. In addition, the system provides users with the analytics and reasons underlying credit decisions. It has enhanced productivity and efficiency by speeding up credit approvals. In addition, by providing a standard platform for credit approvals, it ensures consistency in the process of assessing and approving credit. The system has decreased costs by eliminating a credit-analyst position despite growth in the business and has also saved over 60 percent of the costs per credit decision. We are adapting this approach for other GEPs business units.