NLB Lease&Go’s Path from Vision to 85% Market Adoption

With insights from Managing Director Claus-Peter Müller, we trace the NLB Lease&Go’s platform’s journey from inception to current success and its future in a rapidly evolving industry.

Three years ago, we helped NLB Lease&Go revolutionize leasing in Slovenia with a unique digital solution for car dealers and intermediaries. In a close partnership, we launched a platform that fully digitizes the leasing process, turning a days-long, paperwork-heavy procedure into a smooth digital experience.

The NLB Lease&Go platform streamlines the entire leasing process, from the initial application to contract signing, and today boasts an impressive 85% adoption rate among vendors.

This success story took center stage at the latest edition of Business Breakfast – a closed-door event for the business community organized by Infinum Slovenia. Featuring NLB Lease&Go’s Managing Director Claus-Peter Müller, the event explored how a big idea became an even bigger reality through collaboration, innovation, and a bold vision for the future of leasing and mobility.

The NLB Lease&Go platform has come a long way since its initial idea and MVP. What began as a solution for Slovenia is now a robust platform localized for three markets, including Macedonia and Serbia, with plans for further expansion.

It all started with NLB Lease&Go’s bold vision and willingness to embrace new ideas.

“NLB enjoyed being part of this project because it aligns with their values,” said Claus-Peter Müller. “NLB cares about the region and the people, and though it is primarily a bank, they are open to new ideas. That openness enabled us to digitalize leasing and launch projects that aren’t typical for a banking system.”

This dedication was evident from the start, with NLB Lease&Go’s management deeply involved in shaping the solution. High-level executives spent hours in workshops with or team, mapping processes, brainstorming, and outlining solutions – often with a colorful flurry of post-it notes.

“Our board was involved from the beginning, and that effort was necessary to bring the product to market,” Müller noted. “We learned a lot during the process, thanks also to Infinum’s team. There were hiccups along the way, but we overcame them together.”

Drawing on his decade of IT leadership experience, Müller acknowledged the challenges: “Typically, the success rate of such ambitious projects isn’t high – you often run over budget and timelines. But here, we managed to pull it off. We delivered a very good first version of the application, which we’ve been steadily improving with new features over the last three years.”

Regardless of its growth, the product’s original mission remains the same: simplifying leasing and empowering NLB Lease&Go’s partners to take control of the process.

“The basic idea was to enable our partners to own the process,” Müller explained. “With a tool like this, they can steer the course, choose packages, and communicate more effectively, rather than just sending an email and waiting for something to happen.”

While NLB Lease&Go is intuitive and easy to use, it simplifies an inherently complex process. Behind its user-friendly interface lies a technically sophisticated system designed to handle every stage of the leasing journey. This includes integrating with scoring tools in real time to enable instant approvals, as well as a modular architecture that makes the platform adaptable to diverse markets and regulatory requirements.

One of the product’s most challenging features to implement was digital contract signing. Today, it’s the platform’s star feature and a major factor in enabling deals to be finalized in such a short time frame.

“It’s like always – you start out with a very good business idea,” explained Müller. “But as you dig deeper, you start to understand how many processes are involved, what steps need to be automated, and how to transfer all that into code. Then it gets complicated.

“Despite the complexity, we created a solution that feels remarkably simple to use. “We had a good core system to start with,” Müller explained. “But even with a steered workflow, there were still many manual inputs and administrative steps. Now, we’ve reduced the typical 60 to 70 steps in an application process to around 25, making the process much faster and very convenient.”

Mastering the technical challenges and refining the user experience was only part of the story. Even the best-designed product doesn’t automatically guarantee user adoption.

“When we first launched, we thought, ‘Okay, we have a great product. We’ll bring it to the market, and everyone will be happy,’” said Müller. “But adoption was very diverse. Some vendors looked at it and said, ‘What is this? I don’t need it. I don’t like it – this is some witchcraft,’ while others were eager to try it. That was a key learning for us.”

Realizing that some vendors were naturally more tech-inclined while others required more time and support, we worked with NLB Lease&Go to help in the transition. “We’re not forcing the product on anyone – if a vendor wants to send emails or rely on paper, they still can,” Müller shared. “But what we do is provide them with strong arguments for going digital: it’s faster, more convenient, and allows for immediate feedback while also offering a higher service level for their clients.”

The platform’s transparency also plays a significant role. Vendors can see pricing options, application statuses, and scoring results in real time, making the process faster and more transparent. “It’s a win-win for vendors and clients,” Müller noted, though adoption took significant effort over one and a half to two years.

The effort has clearly paid off. Today, the platform boasts an impressive adoption rate, with vendors using its features to various degrees – from generating informative offers to completing the entire leasing process, including contract signing.

“We set ambitious goals for adoption, aiming for 95-99% straight-through processing,” said Müller. “We’re not there yet, but we’re very close. Over 85% of vendors are actively using the application in some capacity.”

Products like NLB Lease&Go don’t just offer convenience today – they are poised to play a key role in the future of the automotive industry, which is undergoing a seismic shift. As traditional ownership models are increasingly questioned, the sector is looking toward subscription-based models and full-operation leases that span the entire vehicle lifecycle.

“Our current solution is still limited to financing and aligned with the concept of owning a car,” said Müller. “But it will need to evolve toward subscription-based models and full-operation leases, where the leasing company takes on the risk of the asset. Clients need an easy way to access mobility services, which means integrating financing with a range of non-financial products. As a bank, we can’t tow your car or repair it, but we can develop a system that connects you with partners who can.”

Looking ahead, the next steps for NLB Lease&Go include expanding its ecosystem, opening it up to additional services, achieving even wider user adoption, and supporting an omnichannel approach. Together, we continue to refine the platform and adapt it to different markets. Thanks to its adaptability and forward-thinking design, it’s positioned to stay relevant in an industry poised for significant change.

The journey of NLB Lease&Go was featured at the third edition of our Business Breakfast, titled Groundbreaking innovation in the leasing sector: presenting the Lease&Go platform. 

The Business Breakfast series is about creating an environment where the Slovene business community can exchange ideas, discuss challenges, and collaborate on solutions. And yes, it’s also a great excuse to enjoy some excellent coffee, snacks, and networking. We can’t wait to see what the next one brings.

For more details on the NLB Lease&Go solution, read the full case study. And if you are looking for a partner to turn your ambitious idea into an innovative digital product, we’re here to help.