In an interview with TimesTech, Mahesh Shukla, Founder and CEO of PayMe, highlights how the company is leveraging advanced technologies such as AI, data analytics, and mobile-first platforms to transform digital lending in India. He shares insights on enabling faster credit access, improving risk assessment, and enhancing financial inclusion, while ensuring strong cybersecurity and seamless customer experiences in an increasingly digital-first financial ecosystem.
Read the full interview here:
TimesTech: As digital lending continues to evolve, how is PayMe leveraging technology to deliver faster and more seamless credit access for salaried individuals and small businesses?
Mahesh: At PayMe, technology is central to how we simplify and accelerate credit access. Our digital-first lending platform enables end-to-end online loan processing, allowing salaried professionals and small businesses to apply, verify documents, and receive approvals within minutes. By integrating digital KYC, account aggregation, and automated workflows, we reduce paperwork and processing time significantly. This approach helps us reach customers who may otherwise face delays in traditional lending channels. Ultimately, our focus is on creating a seamless, transparent, and convenient borrowing experience that aligns with the expectations of today’s digitally connected consumers.
TimesTech: How are technologies such as data analytics and automated credit assessment helping PayMe improve risk evaluation and responsible lending?
Mahesh: Data analytics and automated credit assessment play a vital role in strengthening our risk evaluation framework. At PayMe, we leverage advanced analytics to assess multiple data points such as transaction behaviour, income patterns, repayment history, and financial stability indicators. Automated credit models allow us to make faster yet well-informed lending decisions while maintaining responsible lending practices. This technology-driven approach not only improves accuracy in credit assessment but also enables us to extend credit to deserving borrowers who may not have extensive traditional credit histories, thereby balancing growth with prudent risk management.
TimesTech: With the rapid growth of fintech platforms, how important is mobile-first technology in expanding access to financial services across India?
Mahesh: Mobile-first technology has become a key driver in expanding financial access across India, particularly in semi-urban and emerging markets. At PayMe, we recognise that smartphones are often the primary gateway to financial services for many users. Our mobile-friendly platform allows customers to apply for loans, upload documents, track applications, and manage repayments conveniently from their devices. By simplifying the user journey and ensuring intuitive design, mobile-first solutions help reduce friction in the lending process and bring formal financial services closer to individuals and small businesses that may have previously been underserved.
TimesTech: How is PayMe integrating digital infrastructure and SaaS-based fintech solutions to enhance the overall customer lending experience?
Mahesh: PayMe actively leverages modern digital infrastructure and SaaS-based fintech solutions to streamline our lending ecosystem. Through integrations with digital KYC systems, payment gateways, credit bureaus, and account aggregation frameworks, we are able to build a seamless and efficient lending process. SaaS-based tools also help us scale operations, automate workflows, and enhance customer onboarding without compromising speed or compliance. These integrations allow us to offer a smoother and more transparent experience to borrowers while ensuring that backend processes remain efficient, secure, and adaptable to evolving regulatory and technological developments.
TimesTech: Cybersecurity and data privacy are critical in fintech. What steps is PayMe taking to ensure secure digital lending and protect customer data?
Mahesh: At PayMe, safeguarding customer data and maintaining strong cybersecurity standards are top priorities. We implement robust encryption protocols, secure cloud infrastructure, and multi-layer authentication systems to protect sensitive financial information. Our systems are regularly audited and monitored to ensure compliance with evolving regulatory guidelines and industry best practices. In addition, we follow strict data governance policies that limit access to sensitive data and promote responsible usage. By investing continuously in security infrastructure and awareness, we aim to build trust with our customers while ensuring that digital lending remains safe and reliable.
TimesTech: How do emerging technologies like AI and machine learning have the potential to reshape credit underwriting and financial inclusion in the coming years?
Mahesh: Artificial intelligence and machine learning are expected to significantly transform how credit underwriting is approached. These technologies can analyse large volumes of structured and alternative data to generate deeper insights into borrower behaviour and creditworthiness. For fintech platforms like PayMe, this means the ability to make faster, more accurate lending decisions while reducing bias and improving risk management. AI-driven models can also help identify creditworthy individuals with limited traditional credit histories, which may contribute to expanding financial inclusion and bringing more people into the formal credit ecosystem.
TimesTech: Looking ahead, what technology trends do you believe will define the next phase of innovation in India’s fintech and digital lending ecosystem?
Mahesh: The next phase of fintech innovation in India will likely be shaped by deeper digital integration across the financial ecosystem. Technologies such as AI-driven credit analytics, open banking frameworks, embedded finance, and account aggregation are expected to play a major role in improving credit accessibility and personalization. Additionally, stronger digital public infrastructure and real-time data sharing could enable more inclusive and efficient lending models. For fintech companies like PayMe, the focus will be on combining these technologies to deliver smarter, faster, and more responsible financial solutions that meet the evolving needs of consumers and businesses.
