Finastra tams with CargoX to modernise trade finance

By Vriti Gothi

Finastra has partnered with CargoX to accelerate the adoption of digital-at-source electronic trade documentation as financial institutions and corporates move to modernise trade finance operations and reduce reliance on paper-based processes.

The collaboration integrates CargoX’s blockchain-secured electronic trade document (eTD) platform with Finastra’s Trade Innovation solution, enabling the secure exchange of more than 65 types of trade documents across global trade networks. The cloud-based integration is delivered through Finastra’s open API framework, Trade Innovation Nexus, supporting real-time, scalable document transfer.

The combined offering is designed to address longstanding inefficiencies in trade finance, where manual handling of paper documents contributes to delays, operational risk and fraud exposure. According to the companies, the platform provides advanced encryption, full audit trails and improved traceability, helping financial institutions accelerate processing times while lowering operational costs and reducing the risk of document loss or tampering.

Peter Kern, VP Commercial at CargoX, said the integration would “establish electronic trade documents as a reliable foundation for international trade,” adding that the partnership will help banks and corporates reduce fraud, improve efficiency, and meet evolving digital trade requirements.

Anastasia McAlpine, Head of Product Management, Trade and Supply Chain Finance at Finastra, said the initiative reflects the company’s focus on interoperability and ecosystem-driven innovation. “Together, we’re enabling financial institutions to digitise at source, streamline operations, and unlock new value for their clients, especially SMEs, through secure, scalable, and cloud-enabled solutions,” she said.

The move comes as the trade finance industry intensifies efforts to digitise documentation and improve transparency across supply chains. Paper-based processes remain a major friction point, contributing to processing delays and limiting access to finance for smaller businesses.

The partnership also aligns with broader industry initiatives to accelerate electronic documentation. Member carriers of the Digital Container Shipping Association have committed to issuing bills of lading fully electronically by 2030, signaling a structural shift toward standardised digital trade workflows.

By combining Finastra’s global banking footprint with CargoX’s blockchain infrastructure, the companies aim to support financial institutions in transitioning to secure, interoperable digital trade environments and advancing the sector’s broader push toward efficiency, risk reduction, and sustainability.