Step-by-step guide on how to evaluate, select, and implement the right LOS/LMS for your business – including timeline, costs, pros and cons.
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Selecting and implementing a Loan Origination System (LOS) and Loan Management System (LMS) is one of the most critical decisions for any lending organization. This comprehensive guide provides a structured framework to evaluate vendors, understand implementation timelines, budget accurately, and avoid common pitfalls.
A Loan Origination System manages the front-end of the lending process – from application intake through loan approval and disbursement. It’s where the customer journey begins and where credit decisions are made.
A Loan Management System handles the back-end operations – everything that happens after disbursement through the life of the loan until it’s fully repaid or closed.
Modern Trend: Leading lenders are moving toward integrated platforms that combine LOS and LMS into a single unified system. This approach offers:
Legacy Approach: Some organizations still use separate best-of-breed systems for LOS and LMS, but this requires complex integration, increases maintenance burden, and creates data silos.
Before evaluating vendors, get crystal clear on what you need. This prevents scope creep and helps you compare apples to apples.
Create a cross-functional team to ensure all perspectives are considered:
| Role | Responsibilities | Key Concerns |
|---|---|---|
| Business Owner/CEO | Final decision, budget approval, strategic alignment | ROI, competitive advantage, scalability |
| CTO/Technology Head | Technical evaluation, integration assessment, security review | Architecture, APIs, security, maintainability |
| Operations Head | Process mapping, workflow evaluation, efficiency gains | Ease of use, automation, productivity |
| Credit/Risk Head | Underwriting evaluation, risk engine assessment | Decision accuracy, fraud prevention, portfolio quality |
| Finance Head | Cost analysis, accounting integration, ROI modeling | Total cost of ownership, accounting accuracy |
| Compliance Officer | Regulatory compliance assessment, audit trail evaluation | RBI compliance, data privacy, audit requirements |
| Customer Service Head | Customer experience evaluation, support requirements | User experience, customer satisfaction |
Develop a weighted scoring system to objectively compare vendors. Here’s a recommended framework:
| Category | Weight | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Features & Functionality | 25% | Must meet current and future business needs |
| Ease of Use | 15% | Drives user adoption and productivity |
| Implementation Timeline | 10% | Faster time-to-market means faster ROI |
| Total Cost of Ownership | 15% | Not just initial cost, but 3-5 year TCO |
| Technology & Architecture | 10% | Future-proof, scalable, maintainable |
| Security & Compliance | 10% | Non-negotiable for financial services |
| Integration Capabilities | 5% | Must work with existing ecosystem |
| Vendor Stability & Support | 5% | Long-term partnership viability |
| Customization & Flexibility | 3% | Ability to adapt to unique needs |
| Reporting & Analytics | 2% | Data-driven decision making |
Research available LOS/LMS vendors in the market. Consider:
Narrow down your long list (15-20 vendors) to a short list (3-5 vendors) using these filters:
| Filter | Criteria | Deal Breakers |
|---|---|---|
| Market Focus | Serves your industry and geography | No experience in your loan types or market |
| Customer Base | Has customers similar to your size and profile | No reference customers in your segment |
| Compliance | Supports your regulatory requirements | Doesn’t support RBI compliance for India |
| Deployment Model | Offers your preferred deployment (cloud/on-premise) | Only offers model you can’t accept |
| Budget Range | Pricing aligns with your budget | Minimum commitment exceeds your budget |
| Timeline | Can meet your go-live deadline | Implementation timeline exceeds your deadline |
Send a structured RFI to shortlisted vendors asking for:
Send detailed RFP to your final 3-5 vendors. A comprehensive RFP should include:
Evaluate each vendor against these comprehensive criteria:
| Category | Key Features to Evaluate |
|---|---|
| Application Management | Multi-channel intake, digital application forms, document upload, co-applicant management, prefill from databases, save and resume, application tracking, duplicate detection |
| KYC & Verification | Aadhaar verification, PAN verification, video KYC, DigiLocker integration, face matching, address verification, bank account verification, employment verification |
| Credit Assessment | Bureau integration (CIBIL, Experian, Equifax), credit score analysis, bureau report parsing, affordability calculator, debt-to-income ratio, bank statement analysis, GST data analysis, alternative data sources |
| Underwriting | Rule engine, scorecard builder, policy configuration, decision trees, ML models, manual underwriting queues, risk-based pricing, approval limits, delegation matrix, exception handling |
| Loan Product Config | No-code product builder, interest rate configuration, tenure options, fee structure, eligibility criteria, documentation requirements, approval workflows, offer variations |
| Document Management | Document templates, OCR/data extraction, document verification, version control, secure vault, retention policies, e-sign integration, automated document generation |
| Loan Servicing | Account setup, payment scheduling, EMI calculation, interest accrual, payment processing, prepayment handling, late fees, restructuring, foreclosure, account statements |
| Collections | Collection queues, allocation strategies, communication templates, payment promises, settlement tracking, legal case management, recovery tracking, collection analytics |
| Customer Portal | Self-service account access, payment history, statement download, raise requests, chat support, document upload, loan status tracking, prepayment calculator |
| Reporting & Analytics | Pre-built dashboards, custom report builder, scheduled reports, portfolio analytics, delinquency reports, origination metrics, underwriting analytics, BI tool integration |
| Accounting Integration | Chart of accounts mapping, automated journal entries, GL posting, reconciliation, interest income recognition, provision calculation, accounting reports, ERP integration |
| Compliance & Audit | Complete audit trail, user activity logs, data privacy controls, RBI reporting, CERSAI integration, regulatory reports, consent management, data retention |
Schedule detailed demos with each vendor. Make demos effective by:
Call 3-5 reference customers for each vendor. Ask:
Your technical team should evaluate:
| Technical Aspect | What to Evaluate |
|---|---|
| Architecture | Monolithic vs microservices, cloud-native design, scalability patterns |
| APIs | API completeness, documentation quality, versioning, rate limits, webhooks |
| Security | Certifications (ISO, SOC2, PCI-DSS), encryption, access controls, VAPT reports |
| Data Model | Database design, data ownership, export capabilities, backup and recovery |
| Performance | Response times, throughput, concurrent users, stress test results |
| Infrastructure | Cloud provider, regions available, uptime SLA, disaster recovery |
| Integration | Pre-built connectors, middleware support, data sync capabilities |
| Technology Stack | Modern vs legacy, technology longevity, hiring availability |
For finalists, consider a paid POC to validate:
Don’t just look at license fees. Calculate the total 3-5 year cost:
| Cost Category | Typical Range (India) | Key Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Setup/Onboarding Fee | ₹5-50 lakhs | One-time, covers initial configuration and go-live |
| License/Subscription Fee | ₹1-15 lakhs/month | Recurring, based on volume, users, or modules |
| Per-Transaction Fees | ₹5-50 per loan | Watch out for these – they scale linearly with growth |
| User Licenses | ₹500-3,000/user/month | Can add up quickly for large teams |
| Implementation Services | ₹10-100 lakhs | Data migration, integration, custom development |
| Training | ₹2-10 lakhs | Initial and ongoing training programs |
| Customization | ₹50,000-10 lakhs each | Each custom feature adds cost and maintenance |
| Integration Development | ₹2-20 lakhs per system | For systems without pre-built connectors |
| Third-Party Services | ₹50,000-5 lakhs/month | KYC, bureaus, e-sign, payment gateways, SMS |
| Support & Maintenance | 15-25% of license annually | Often included in SaaS, separate for on-premise |
| Upgrades | ₹5-20 lakhs annually | Major version upgrades, often free in SaaS |
| Infrastructure (On-Premise) | ₹10-50 lakhs annually | Servers, storage, networking, redundancy |
| IT Staff (On-Premise) | ₹20-60 lakhs annually | 2-3 FTEs for system administration |
Here’s a realistic TCO comparison for a mid-sized NBFC processing 50,000 loans/year:
| Cost Component | Cloud SaaS (Modern) | On-Premise (Legacy) |
|---|---|---|
| Year 0 (Implementation) | ||
| Setup Fee | ₹10,00,000 | ₹25,00,000 |
| License (Annual Prepay) | ₹36,00,000 | ₹1,00,00,000 (perpetual) |
| Implementation Services | ₹15,00,000 | ₹50,00,000 |
| Training | ₹3,00,000 | ₹8,00,000 |
| Infrastructure Setup | ₹0 | ₹30,00,000 |
| Year 0 Total | ₹64,00,000 | ₹2,13,00,000 |
| Year 1-3 (Annual) | ||
| License/Subscription | ₹40,00,000 | ₹0 |
| Support & Maintenance | Included | ₹20,00,000 |
| Infrastructure | Included | ₹15,00,000 |
| IT Staff | ₹0 | ₹30,00,000 |
| Upgrades | Included | ₹10,00,000 |
| Annual Recurring | ₹40,00,000 | ₹75,00,000 |
| 3-Year Total Cost | ||
| Total 3-Year TCO | ₹1,84,00,000 | ₹4,38,00,000 |
| TCO Savings with Cloud | ₹2,54,00,000 (58% lower) | |
Modern cloud SaaS platforms typically cost 50-60% less than on-premise solutions over 3 years. The savings come from:
Recommendation: Unless you have specific data residency requirements that mandate on-premise, choose cloud SaaS.
Implementation duration varies significantly based on system complexity and your approach:
| Platform Type | Timeline | Key Factors |
|---|---|---|
| Modern No-Code SaaS | 5-7 days | Self-service configuration, minimal customization, pre-built integrations |
| Configurable SaaS | 2-4 weeks | Vendor-assisted configuration, some integration work |
| Legacy SaaS | 6-12 weeks | Limited configurability, requires customization, complex integration |
| On-Premise Solution | 12-24 weeks | Infrastructure setup, installation, configuration, customization |
| Custom Development | 24-52 weeks | Build from scratch, highest risk and cost |
A structured implementation follows these phases:
Many organizations consider building custom systems. Here’s an honest analysis:
| Factor | Build Custom | Buy Commercial |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Cost | ₹50L-5Cr upfront | ₹10L-50L upfront |
| Time to Market | 12-24 months minimum | 1-12 weeks |
| Features at Launch | Basic MVP only | Full-featured from day one |
| Ongoing Development | ₹50L-2Cr annually | Included in subscription |
| Maintenance Burden | You own it completely | Vendor responsibility |
| Innovation | Only what you build | Continuous vendor innovation |
| Compliance Updates | You must track and implement | Vendor handles automatically |
| Security & Testing | Your responsibility and cost | Vendor tested and certified |
| Scalability | Must architect and test yourself | Proven at scale |
| Team Dependency | High – key person risk | Low – vendor team support |
| Best Practices | Limited to your experience | Industry best practices built-in |
| Total 3-Year Cost | ₹2Cr-10Cr+ | ₹1Cr-3Cr |
95% of organizations should buy a commercial solution. Here’s why:
Even Then: Consider buying a platform and customizing it rather than building from scratch.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
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| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
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| No-Code Platform Pros | Traditional Platform Cons |
|---|---|
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Mistake: Choosing the cheapest vendor without considering TCO, capabilities, or implementation time.
Impact: The “cheap” solution costs more in customization, delayed launch, and lost opportunity.
Solution: Evaluate based on total value, not just initial price. A faster implementation can generate revenue months earlier, easily offsetting a higher license cost.
Mistake: Trying to replicate every existing process exactly as-is rather than adapting to best practices.
Impact: Implementation delays, higher costs, difficult upgrades, and maintenance nightmares.
Solution: Follow the 80/20 rule – configure 80% using standard features, customize only truly differentiating 20%.
Mistake: IT team selects and implements system without involving actual users.
Impact: Poor adoption, user resistance, productivity loss, and implementation failure.
Solution: Include end users in evaluation, demos, UAT, and training. They’re the ones who will use it daily.
Mistake: Assuming integration will be easy without proper technical due diligence.
Impact: Project delays, cost overruns, data quality issues, and operational disruptions.
Solution: Thoroughly assess integration requirements upfront. Choose platforms with pre-built connectors to your existing systems.
Mistake: Expecting to go live in 2 weeks when realistic timeline is 8 weeks.
Impact: Rushed implementation, inadequate testing, poor training, and post-live issues.
Solution: Accept realistic timelines based on vendor experience. If you need faster, choose a no-code platform designed for rapid deployment.
Mistake: Taking vendor claims at face value without talking to existing customers.
Impact: Discovering issues after contract signing when it’s too late.
Solution: Always call 3-5 reference customers. Ask hard questions about implementation, support, and hidden issues.
Mistake: Treating implementation as purely a technical project without addressing people and process changes.
Impact: User resistance, low adoption, and failure to achieve expected benefits.
Solution: Invest in change management – communication, training, super-users, and ongoing support.
After evaluating 20+ LOS/LMS platforms using the framework above, Roopya consistently emerges as the superior choice. Here’s why:
Industry Average: 6-12 weeks for traditional platforms
Roopya: 5-7 days average, 3 days fastest
Advantage: 85% faster time to market
Business Impact: If you’re processing 1,000 loans/month at ₹50,000 revenue per loan, launching 2 months earlier generates ₹10 crore in additional revenue. This alone pays for the entire 3-year software cost.
| Certification/Compliance | Roopya | Typical Competitor |
|---|---|---|
| ISO 27001 (Security) | ✓ Certified | Some competitors |
| SOC 2 Type II | ✓ Certified | Rare among competitors |
| PCI-DSS Level 1 | ✓ Certified | Very rare |
| RBI Compliance | ✓ Full compliance (FPC, digital lending) | Partial compliance |
| DPDPA 2023 | ✓ Fully compliant with consent management | In progress for most |
| Penetration Testing | Quarterly by external agencies | Annual or on-demand |
| Security Audits | Continuous automated + quarterly manual | Periodic only |
| Data Encryption | AES-256 at rest and in transit + field-level | AES-256 basic |
| Audit Trail | Immutable blockchain-backed audit log | Database audit logs |
| Disaster Recovery | 15-min RPO, 1-hour RTO | 24-hour RPO, 4-hour RTO |
Roopya is one of the only platforms globally with all three critical certifications: ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II, and PCI-DSS Level 1.
Unlike point solutions that only handle origination or servicing, Roopya provides complete loan lifecycle management:
| Capability | Roopya | Point Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| Loan Origination | Complete LOS | Some specialize here |
| Underwriting | AI/ML + rules + scorecards | Some specialize here |
| Loan Servicing | Complete LMS | Often missing or basic |
| Collections | Advanced AI-powered collections | Often requires separate tool |
| Accounting | Full GL integration | Usually not included |
| Analytics | Real-time dashboards + BI | Basic reporting |
| Customer Portal | White-label mobile app + web | Often not included |
Point solutions require you to integrate multiple vendors:
Roopya’s Advantage: Single integrated platform eliminates integration complexity, reduces cost by ₹50-100 lakhs, and provides unified customer view.
| Loan Type | Roopya | Typical Competitor |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Loans | ✓ Full support | ✓ Usually supported |
| Business Loans | ✓ Full support | Basic or limited |
| MSME Loans | ✓ Full support | Often not supported |
| Vehicle Loans | ✓ Full support | Limited availability |
| Home Loans | ✓ Full support | Limited availability |
| Gold Loans | ✓ Full support | Rarely supported |
| Microfinance | ✓ Group + individual | Rarely supported |
| Credit Cards | ✓ Full support | Rare |
| BNPL | ✓ Full support | Some support |
| Invoice Financing | ✓ Full support | Rarely available |
Even if you only offer personal loans today, your business will evolve. Roopya supports your growth journey:
| Cost Factor | Roopya | Traditional Platforms | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup Fee | ₹10L | ₹25L | ₹15L |
| Implementation | ₹15L (1 week) | ₹50L (12 weeks) | ₹35L |
| Annual Subscription | ₹36L | ₹60L | ₹24L/year |
| Per-Transaction Fees | ₹0 (unlimited) | ₹10L/year | ₹10L/year |
| User Licenses | Unlimited included | ₹6L/year | ₹6L/year |
| Customization | ₹0 (no-code) | ₹15L | ₹15L |
| Support (24/7) | Included | ₹5L/year extra | ₹5L/year |
| Upgrades | Automatic, free | ₹10L/year | ₹10L/year |
| 3-Year TCO | ₹1.33Cr | ₹2.43Cr | ₹1.10Cr (45%) |
| Support Metric | Roopya | Industry Average |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 24/7/365 | Business hours only |
| Critical Response Time | < 15 minutes | 2-4 hours |
| Normal Response Time | < 1 hour | 4-24 hours |
| Support Channels | Phone, Chat, Email, WhatsApp, Video | Email, Chat |
| Dedicated Account Manager | ✓ All customers | Premium tier only |
| Technical Account Manager | ✓ Included | Extra cost |
| Uptime SLA | 99.9% with financial credits | 99.5% best effort |
| Customer Satisfaction | 4.8/5 CSAT, NPS 85 | 4.2/5 CSAT, NPS 55 |
Roopya delivers 3-5x better ROI than alternatives by combining:
Ready to see the difference? Book a personalized demo and see Roopya configured for your specific loan products in under 30 minutes.
Most importantly: The best platform is one that helps you lend faster, cheaper, and better – generating more revenue with lower risk and cost.