In this enlightening podcast episode, Lars Markull interviews Jarvey Moss, founder of Saible, about the evolving landscape of embedded finance in the construction industry. They explore the unique challenges of cash flow in construction, how Saible is addressing these issues, and the potential for technology to transform this traditionally slow-to-adapt sector.
The Construction Industry Landscape
- 99.1% of businesses in the UK construction industry are SMEs
- The industry suffers from a high insolvency rate due to poor cash flow
- Construction projects involve complex ecosystems with multiple stakeholders
- Main contractors often act as risk absorbers, which can lead to financial strain
Cash Flow Challenges in Construction
- Money moves through the supply chain in a serial fashion, causing delay
- Subcontractors often provide free credit to businesses higher up the chain
- Long and compounding payment terms are common, especially at higher tiers
- Insolvencies can lead to cascading failures throughout the supply chain
Saible's Innovative Solution
- Creates dedicated bank accounts with legal trusts for each project
- Enables parallel fund distribution instead of serial payments
- Allows supply chain members to authorize payments to each other
- Calculates and distributes funds to individual businesses simultaneously
Technology Adoption in Construction
- Recent explosion of construction technology solutions
- Adoption rates historically low but improving rapidly
- Oracle ERP and Coins are widely used in the industry
- Procore is becoming a significant player across project lifecycles
Future of Embedded Finance in Construction
- Focus on solving specific customer pain points
- Potential for expansion into adjacent verticals or international markets
- Importance of data utilization in maximizing value
- Challenges in building sustainable business models for providers
By addressing the unique financial challenges of the construction industry, Sable and similar innovators are paving the way for more efficient, transparent, and stable project financing in this crucial sector.