What Is a Second Look Workflow?
A second look workflow refers to a dedicated path where deals that pass most checks but still raise concerns are sent for additional review.
In MCA and small business lending, this might include cases with unusual cash-flow patterns, borderline eligibility scores, or risk flags that do not automatically disqualify the deal.
This workflow typically appears after scrubbing and initial underwriting checks. Operators use it to balance speed with caution by moving routine submissions quickly while pausing sensitive ones for deeper review.
How Does a Second Look Workflow Work?
Second look workflow combines automated routing with targeted human oversight.
- Trigger detection: Submissions with borderline metrics, incomplete explanations, or medium-confidence scores are identified.
- Queue routing: These cases are routed into a separate review queue distinct from exceptions.
- Additional evaluation: Reviewers assess the flagged issues in more detail, often with more context or supporting documents.
- Decision path: Deals either move forward with approval, are declined, or are sent back for clarification.
In Heron, second look workflows are built into automation.
- Automated intake: Submissions are ingested and scrubbed.
- Flagging logic: Heron identifies borderline submissions that need human judgment rather than outright rejection.
- Workflow routing: These cases are sent into a “second look” review queue instead of blocking all progress.
- Structured outputs: Notes, flags, and reviewer outcomes are logged into the CRM.
- Next action: Once resolved, the submission rejoins the main pipeline with an updated status.
This approach helps teams manage sensitive deals consistently without disrupting high-volume flows.
Why Is a Second Look Workflow Important?
For brokers and funders, second look workflows are important because not all risk signals are absolute. Some deals deserve a closer review before being declined or approved.
By creating a structured path for these edge cases, funders can catch nuanced risks while still moving fast on clear submissions.
Heron strengthens this practice by automating the routing of borderline cases into second look workflows. This ensures consistency, reduces bias, and saves underwriters from having to manually separate sensitive cases.
Common Use Cases
Second look workflows are applied in underwriting and decisioning.
- Routing borderline submissions with near-threshold daily balances.
- Reviewing deals with minor identity mismatches or missing context.
- Assessing unusual deposit or repayment patterns that automation cannot fully classify.
- Escalating high-value deals for an extra layer of scrutiny.
- Providing an audit trail of why sensitive cases received manual attention.
FAQs About Second Look Workflow
How does Heron manage second look workflows?
Heron automatically routes borderline cases into a second look queue, logs the reasons in CRM fields, and enables reviewers to resolve them without blocking other deals.
Why are second look workflows valuable for MCA brokers and funders?
They provide a structured way to manage sensitive cases without slowing down all submissions. This improves risk control while maintaining speed.
What outputs should teams expect from second look workflows?
Teams receive structured CRM records showing why a deal entered second look, reviewer notes, and final resolution status. This creates clarity and accountability in decision-making.