By Heidi McMillen 

In auto finance, the frustration isn't coming from the decisions being made. It's coming from everything surrounding them.   

Too often, auto loans slow down not because of credit, but because the process behind the scenes is fragmented, manual, and unclear. Information lives in too many places. Ownership of the next step is often assumed instead of defined. Everyone is working hard, yet progress feels harder than it should. 

The signs are subtle at first. A follow-up that shouldn't be necessary. A document that needs to be resent. An auto loan that feels approved but somehow isn't moving. 

Individually, these moments seem minor. Together, they create a level of friction the industry has quietly learned to accept. 

But the question is, why? 

Two Sides, Same Problem, Different Experiences 

For lenders, onboarding is meant to set standards, manage risk, and make sure everything is compliant. But in reality, it often depends on spreadsheets, emails, file cabinets, and information known only to a few people. 

Every exception adds work, missing documents slow momentum, and audits repeatedly surface the same concern: Is this information actually current? 

For dealers, the frustration is just as real, and often even more obvious. 

With every lender setting different expectations, a simple onboarding process quickly turns into unnecessary repetition and delays that dealers can't influence. 

Neither side is at fault. The real issue is systems that were never designed to work together. 

When Process Gets in the Way of Trust 

Dealer and lender relationships rely on trust, but trust can't grow in a disorganized environment. 

When dealership onboarding happens in disconnected systems, confidence drops. Lenders hesitate, dealers get frustrated, deals slow down, and relationships are strained right from the start. 

What's missing isn't effort or expertise. It's actually the structure. 

Both sides need a cohesive understanding of requirements, progress, and approvals, so they don't have to rely on memory, manual tracking, or constant follow-ups. 

So, We Took a Step Back… 

Instead of just trying to speed up onboarding, we asked the more obvious question: 

What if onboarding really worked for both sides? 

• What if lenders had full control over requirements and standards, without creating more work for their teams? 

• What if dealers had clarity from the beginning, without having to navigate a maze of forms and requests? 

• What if the whole process were in one place, and everyone could see what's happening? 

That's when the solution stopped being theoretical and became obvious. 

Introducing boardme 

boardme by OttoMoto® was created to relieve this exact headache. 

boardme is a digital onboarding tool managed by lenders. It simplifies, standardizes, and secures the approval process for auto dealers when they submit loan applications.  

It replaces scattered processes with a clear workflow, bringing together documentation, due diligence, approvals, and updates in one place. 

Designed with both sides in mind, boardme brings structure without friction. For lenders, boardme offers: 

• Control over onboarding requirements and standards 

• Clear visibility into dealer status and documentation 

• Reduced compliance risk through consistent, repeatable processes 

For dealers, boardme provides: 

• Transparent onboarding expectations 

• Fewer repeated requests and less manual back-and-forth 

• Faster access to lending programs 

The result isn't just efficiency. It's confidence. 

Confidence that onboarding is complete, documentation is current, and both sides are aligned before the first deal even starts. 

A Better Start Leads to Better Relationships 

Onboarding sets the tone for everything that follows. It's not meant to be this complex. 

Clear, reliable onboarding removes friction early, so dealer–lender relationships can move forward with momentum instead of manual work. 

boardme does more than just onboarding. It builds a stronger foundation for dealer-lender relationships. 

If small issues are slowing down your dealer–lender relationships, it's a sign the foundation needs attention. 

See how boardme becomes the clarity you've been missing.