Applications form the backbone of every funding process in MCA and small-business lending. They capture crucial information about the merchant, ownership, and requested funding amount, but these packets often arrive incomplete.
Missing pages, unsigned forms, and blank fields delay underwriting and force brokers and funders into endless back-and-forth emails.
Heron automates the completeness check for applications by scanning every incoming submission for missing data, pages, and attachments.
The platform identifies gaps such as missing signatures, incomplete ownership details, or absent supporting documents and can automatically trigger a missing-info request. This ensures every application that reaches underwriting is complete, accurate, and ready for review.
By automating completeness checks, MCA brokers and funders eliminate repetitive review work and maintain clean, decision-ready queues that accelerate deal flow.
Use Cases
- Detect missing pages: Heron scans multi-page applications and flags incomplete documents before they reach underwriting.
- Verify mandatory fields: Checks for key information such as requested amount, business name, owner data, and signatures.
- Identify missing attachments: Detects absent supporting files like IDs, voided checks, or bank statements.
- Auto-trigger follow-ups: When gaps are found, Heron sends prebuilt missing-info requests to the submitting ISO or broker.
- Categorize completeness level: Assigns a completeness score to submissions, helping prioritize ready-to-underwrite deals.
- Prevent stalled workflows: Incomplete packets are automatically held until all required documents are received.
These use cases replace manual document checking with a fast, reliable system that keeps queues flowing smoothly.
Operational Impact
Completeness checking transforms operations by eliminating slow, error-prone intake processes.
- Speed: Detects missing content instantly on intake, not hours later.
- Accuracy: Guarantees every application in the queue meets minimum submission standards.
- Efficiency: Reduces rework by catching issues before underwriting begins.
- Transparency: Tracks which ISOs frequently send incomplete packets.
- Scalability: Handles large intake volumes without adding staff.
Funders using Heron’s completeness automation report 70–90% fewer incomplete applications entering their underwriting pipelines.
How Completeness Checking Works in Heron
Heron’s completeness detection operates as part of its intake and scrubbing workflow.
- Receive submission: Applications arrive via email, API, or portal and are grouped with related files.
- Run document checks: Heron confirms all expected files, such as the application form, IDs, and bank statements, are present.
- Inspect page sequences: Each PDF is scanned for missing or duplicated pages, ensuring continuity.
- Field-level validation: Heron confirms that required fields like ownership details and signature lines are filled.
- Assign a completeness score: Submissions receive a percentage score based on how much information is provided.
- Trigger missing-info request: If critical elements are absent, Heron sends templated outreach emails requesting the missing files.
This integrated process makes sure no incomplete submission proceeds unnoticed or delays funding.
Data Quality and Compliance Benefits
Completeness checks reinforce operational integrity and audit readiness.
- Standardization: Enforces uniform document standards across brokers.
- Traceability: Each check and flag is logged for compliance and performance review.
- Audit trail: Every submission’s completeness result and follow-up actions are recorded.
- Data hygiene: Prevents duplicate or partial records from cluttering CRMs.
- Secure verification: All scans and completeness reports are processed in Heron’s SOC 2 Type II environment.
- Regulatory confidence: Teams maintain verifiable records of every submission’s validation process.
These measures help funders stay compliant while maintaining faster turnaround times.
Collaboration and Queue Management
Automated completeness checks foster better communication between ISOs and funders.
- Real-time feedback: ISOs receive instant alerts when their submissions are missing items.
- Transparency: Brokers can track which documents are incomplete or rejected.
- Reduced manual review: Underwriters only see validated, complete applications.
- Streamlined workflows: Complete packets are prioritized automatically for underwriting.
- Queue visibility: Managers can see real-time completeness scores and submission statuses.
This transparency shortens decision cycles and reduces administrative overhead across teams.
Performance Metrics
Completeness automation impacts key operational metrics that directly affect deal speed and quality.
- Turnaround time (TAT): Reduced as incomplete packets are identified early.
- Exception rate: Decreases as submissions become cleaner over time.
- Touches per submission: Drops since fewer manual reviews are needed.
- Backlog reduction: Queues clear faster as complete deals move forward.
- Accuracy rate: Maintains consistent 95–98% validation accuracy.
These metrics make completeness checks a leading lever for scaling efficiency.
Benefits of Using Heron for Checking Completeness of Applications
- Speed: Detects and flags missing documents instantly upon intake.
- Accuracy: Ensures all fields and attachments meet standards before underwriting.
- Consistency: Applies the same completeness logic to every submission.
- Scalability: Handles large ISO volumes automatically.
- Accountability: Maintains a full log of completeness scores and outreach history.
Heron replaces manual inbox triage with an intelligent automation layer that ensures every deal entering underwriting is complete and ready to go.
FAQs About Check Completeness for Applications
How does Heron check if an application is complete?
Heron analyzes each submission for missing fields, signatures, and attachments. It also checks page counts and validates that supporting documents are present and linked correctly.
What happens when Heron finds missing information?
Heron can automatically send a missing-info request to the broker or ISO using a prebuilt template. The submission remains in an exception queue until all required documents are received.
Can Heron handle different funder requirements for completeness?
Yes. Each funder can define specific completeness rules, such as required forms or attachments, and Heron enforces them automatically.
How does this affect underwriting speed?
Underwriters receive only fully complete packets, eliminating delays caused by incomplete submissions and reducing queue time significantly.
Does Heron track completeness over time?
Absolutely. Every submission’s completeness score, flags, and follow-up actions are logged for reporting, giving managers visibility into broker performance and workflow quality.
