In the rapidly evolving landscape of financial technology, where traditional banking models are being disrupted by innovative digital solutions, the groundbreaking work of Shruti Khandelwal stands as a testament to visionary product leadership and transformative market understanding. Her pioneering role in launching India's first comprehensive supply chain lending platform for small and medium enterprises has redefined how financial institutions approach underserved market segments, particularly in the complex world of logistics and transportation. Building a Three-Sided Financial Ecosystem Working with one of India's largest public sector banks, Shruti spearheaded the development of an ambitious three-sided platform that would fundamentally change how supply chain financing operates in the country. The initiative aimed to create a complete ecosystem for supply chain lending, beginning with a strategic pilot focused on logistics aggregators and their extensive network of truck fleet owners – a demographic traditionally overlooked by conventional banking products. End-to-End Leadership and Complex System Architecture The complexity of this undertaking cannot be overstated. Shruti assumed end-to-end responsibility for the entire project lifecycle, from initial business case development and opportunity assessment through user research, product design, development, execution, and market launch. This comprehensive approach required not only technical expertise but also deep market insights and exceptional stakeholder management across multiple organizational levels. At the core of the platform's architecture were four critical user journeys that Shruti meticulously designed and optimized: vendor onboarding and loan sanction processes, invoice presentment systems, payment and reversal mechanisms, and comprehensive monitoring with early warning and recovery capabilities. Each component required careful consideration of user experience, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency. Revolutionary Processing Speed Through Real-Time Innovation The most remarkable achievement of Shruti's leadership was the development of a revolutionary real-time underwriting and credit decisioning system. This innovative approach transformed what had been a cumbersome, weeks-long process into a streamlined experience that could deliver loan sanctions in under 59 minutes – a reduction from approximately 10 weeks to less than one hour. This dramatic improvement in processing time represented not just a technological advancement but a fundamental shift in how financial services could be delivered to time-sensitive business operations. Deep User Research and Market Immersion Recognizing that truckers represented an underserved and poorly understood user segment, Shruti demonstrated exceptional commitment to user research and market understanding. Rather than relying on assumptions or secondary research, she personally immersed herself in the trucking ecosystem, spending three days at major toll points where trucks congregate. Through direct conversations with 25-30 truckers and logistics companies including Porter, she gained invaluable insights into their pain points, financial literacy levels, and understanding of credit products. This hands-on research approach proved crucial in addressing fundamental questions about user adoption and product-market fit. Shruti's fieldwork revealed critical insights about truckers' ability to provide essential data points, their willingness to establish new banking relationships, and their specific needs gaps – intelligence that directly informed the product design and customer journey architecture. Exceptional Market Impact and Adoption Success The market impact of Shruti's work has been extraordinary. As one of the first comprehensive supply chain lending products in India, the platform achieved remarkable adoption rates and financial performance. Within just six months of launch, more than 60,000 vendors had been successfully onboarded to the platform, with an overall loan sanctioned amount reaching $2 million USD annually. These metrics demonstrate not only successful market penetration but also the platform's ability to address genuine market needs at scale. Advancing Financial Inclusion and Industry Standards The success of this initiative extends beyond immediate financial metrics. By creating a viable digital lending solution for India's trucking industry, Shruti's work has opened new possibilities for financial inclusion and economic empowerment among small business owners who previously had limited access to formal credit systems. The platform's success has likely influenced other financial institutions to reconsider their approach to supply chain financing and underserved market segments. Setting New Benchmarks for Fintech Innovation Shruti's leadership in this project exemplifies the intersection of technical innovation and market insight that defines exceptional product management. Her ability to navigate complex regulatory environments, coordinate multiple stakeholder groups, and deliver a technically sophisticated solution while maintaining focus on user experience demonstrates the multifaceted expertise required for breakthrough fintech innovation. The project's success has established new benchmarks for digital lending product development in India's fintech sector. The dramatic improvement in processing times, coupled with successful large-scale adoption, provides a compelling case study for how thoughtful product design and deep user understanding can transform traditional financial services delivery models. Industry-Wide Impact and Future Implications Looking forward, the implications of Shruti's work extend well beyond this single project. The methodologies, user research approaches, and technical innovations developed during this initiative have likely influenced broader industry practices and opened new possibilities for financial technology applications in underserved markets. About Shruti Khandelwal Shruti Khandelwal is a highly accomplished product leader specializing in fintech and payment products, currently based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her distinguished educational background includes a Master's degree in Product Management from Carnegie Mellon University, complemented by advanced studies from the Indian Institute of Management. This combination of technical expertise and strategic business acumen has positioned her as a bridge between complex technical requirements and strategic business vision. With an unwavering focus on user-centric innovation and data-driven decision making, Shruti has successfully launched numerous digital fintech products throughout her career. Her approach consistently emphasizes business impact, technological excellence, and collaborative team dynamics. Her commitment to advancing consumer technology while creating intuitive, impactful digital experiences reflects her dedication to developing solutions that genuinely enhance people's lives and expand access to essential financial services. Shruti's work exemplifies the transformative potential of thoughtful product leadership in the fintech sector, demonstrating how deep market understanding, technical innovation, and user-centered design can create solutions that drive both business success and positive social impact. This story was distributed as a release by Echospire Media under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. Learn more about the program here. This story was distributed as a release by Echospire Media under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. Learn more about the program here. This story was distributed as a release by Echospire Media under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. Learn more about the program here .
