F&I Sentinel Addresses The GAPA/SCIC/MVPPA Annual Meeting
Our F&I Sentinel team recently participated in the GAPA/SCIC/MVPPA Annual Meeting in Fort Worth where we shared our perspective on how technology partnerships can enhance operational efficiency and mitigate risks associated with F&I product cancellations and refunds. The GAPA/SCIC/MVPPA Annual Meeting is the largest annual gathering of F&I product company trade association members and it was a valuable opportunity to strengthen our relationship with our network of more than 600 F&I product administrators.
Key Takeaways from the Conference
The conference highlighted several key themes, including the changing regulatory environment, the growing importance of technology, and the need for more effective solutions to customer pain points. Innovation was a significant topic, with many conversations focusing on how new approaches can solve old problems.
A major theme discussed was the fragmented nature of the Vehicle Protection Product market. Currently, dealers, lenders, F&I product providers and consumers often lack a shared view of the same information. It was widely agreed that this lack of transparency and visibility can lead to inefficiencies and a breakdown in trust.
Leading the Discussion on F&I Product Cancellations & Refunds
The widespread concern over managing F&I product cancellations and refunds (see our recent “Ask Me Anything”) was repeated in many of our discussions at the meeting. Vice President of Account Management Keishawn Batts spoke on a panel diving into the details. He emphasized that the greatest opportunities for improvement lie in transparency and efficiency. He highlighted how technology can unify the ecosystem, ensuring aftermarket products are compliant, accurately disclosed and seamlessly integrated into financing. This, in turn, builds trust, reduces friction, and ultimately, drives adoption.
AI and F&I Product Cancellations
When asked about the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning, Keishawn noted that AI can flag anomalies, identify compliance gaps, or predict refund obligations before they become issues, which helps lenders and providers make better decisions faster while reducing costs. However, while AI can dramatically enhance scale and precision, it shouldn’t completely replace human judgment.
Keishawn also addressed the coordination challenges across the multiple parties involved in the auto financing process: dealers, F&I product companies and lenders. He stressed that without a centralized system, refunds can be delayed, miscalculated, or even lost, and that consumers deserve better. He believes the key is building a streamlined, automated refund ecosystem that simplifies the process for the dealer and ensures the consumer is made whole quickly and accurately.
The big opportunity is building a trusted infrastructure that makes every transaction cleaner, faster and safer.
– Keishawn Batts, F&I Sentinel
The Future of F&I Products in Auto Finance
Based on our observations and the insights shared at the conference, there is a growing appetite among F&I product companies to adopt automation, collaborate on APIs to integrate applications and forge strategic partnerships to reduce friction and delays in accurate cancellations and refunds. When all stakeholders continue down this road, our collective net value will be in the speed and foresight achieved, helping lenders and F&I product companies make better decisions faster, while reducing costs.
Among the many important auto finance events, this gathering of aftermarket product company professionals continues to be a valuable means to gather useful feedback and align with our partners on common goals. And, while it only lasts a couple of days, the real benefits are earned over the long term as we continue nurturing these conversations after returning to the office.
We look forward to learning more, providing our unique thought leadership, and engaging with product companies throughout the entire year.
