Blog

Read our thoughts on the industry

When will digitalisation and DLT be the norm in international trade?

When will digitalisation and DLT be the norm in international trade?

Contour’s consultant in Turkey, Meral Sengoz, shares her insights on why the digitalisation of international trade has not reached critical…
From discussions to the real deal: The digitalisation of trade finance

From discussions to the real deal: The digitalisation of trade finance

Advancements in technology, from legal entity identifiers (LEI) to digital trade finance platforms, have contributed to an acceleration in the…
India’s incredible momentum on trade finance digitisation

India’s incredible momentum on trade finance digitisation

India is leading the world’s economies with its strong growth trajectory, despite many local and global challenges. As G20 host…
3 new use cases to grow your Letter of Credit business

3 new use cases to grow your Letter of Credit business

The electronic Uniform Customs & Practice for Documentary Credits (eUCP) is an important framework for the digital Letter of Credit,…
Facilitating the flow of trade finance through collaboration

Facilitating the flow of trade finance through collaboration

Trade finance facilitates the movement of goods and services around the world. But much of this $5.2 trillion ecosystem is…
Preparing for trade and supply chain finance 2.0 in MENA 

Preparing for trade and supply chain finance 2.0 in MENA 

Global trade has been disrupted by a pandemic, a war and other supply chain issues. However, digital developments in the…
International Women’s Day 2023: Engineering an equitable future for women

International Women’s Day 2023: Engineering an equitable future for women

On International Women’s Day this year, Contour is shining the spotlight on three inspiring women engineers, who work tirelessly behind…
Deep dives into commodities digitalisation: The developments that will drive adoption in 2023

Deep dives into commodities digitalisation: The developments that will drive adoption in 2023

The commodities industry is progressing on the pathway towards digitalisation but what’s next in the digitalisation agenda? And what are…
Contour APIs: Simplifying Letter of Credit processes through deeper integrations

Contour APIs: Simplifying Letter of Credit processes through deeper integrations

APIs are essential to enriching a user’s experience when connecting the data and capabilities of one software to another. To…
The State of Play: Trade finance digitisation in the US

The State of Play: Trade finance digitisation in the US

From Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) amendments to electronic signatures, digital trade developments in the US have taken a significant step…
The Real Goal of Digital Trade Finance: Sustainable growth in trade

The Real Goal of Digital Trade Finance: Sustainable growth in trade

Digitisation of trade finance is often stated as a goal for many fintechs, banks, corporates, and more – Contour included.…
Are advising banks necessary in today's digital world?

Are advising banks necessary in today's digital world?

Contour’s digital and dynamic solution for letters of credit (LCs) has given banks and corporates around the world an alternative…
EXCLUSIVE: “Oiling the Cogs” - Featuring Finastra and Contour in ‘The Paytech Magazine’

EXCLUSIVE: “Oiling the Cogs” - Featuring Finastra and Contour in ‘The Paytech Magazine’

It has never been so important to facilitate the movement of international trade finance, argue Finastra’s Michael Vrontamitis and Joshua Kroeker…
Sibos Spotlight: Collaboration is key to driving progressive finance

Sibos Spotlight: Collaboration is key to driving progressive finance

The theme at this year’s Sibos was Progressive Finance for a Changing World. There was a lot of excitement and…
Standards, solutions and supply chains: How digitisation is fuelling the future of the oil trading industry

Standards, solutions and supply chains: How digitisation is fuelling the future of the oil trading industry

Digitally transforming trade finance in the oil industry is a tremendous opportunity, but how does the sector overcome the obstacles…
Trade finance digitisation: Why the focus should be on the journey and not the finish line

Trade finance digitisation: Why the focus should be on the journey and not the finish line

When it comes to the digitisation of trade finance, the industry is often fixated on the momentum and when we’ll…
How Contour is leading digital asset innovation in trade finance

How Contour is leading digital asset innovation in trade finance

Much of the media’s focus on digital assets is on cryptocurrencies, which have been characterised by intense volatility and crypto…
Industry Perspectives: Why digital trade is set to surge across the Middle East

Industry Perspectives: Why digital trade is set to surge across the Middle East

Across the Middle East, financial institutions, fintech companies and regulatory bodies have taken steps over the past couple of years…
Cultivating Culture: Here are 3 ways we are doing it

Cultivating Culture: Here are 3 ways we are doing it

It’s no secret that a strong and positive workplace culture drives company success. How exactly is Contour shaping its culture…
Contour's revamped architecture is the answer to scaling a global trade network

Contour's revamped architecture is the answer to scaling a global trade network

Contour’s latest release, version 8.0, is a game-changing new architecture that features multi-identities for members. This ensures the network can…
How Contour is sustaining the future of global trade

How Contour is sustaining the future of global trade

Small and medium-sized enterprises make up about 90% of businesses in the world, however, many struggle to access trade finance.…
Contour’s Decentralized Network Streamlines Global Trade Finance by Digitizing Letters of Credit

Contour’s Decentralized Network Streamlines Global Trade Finance by Digitizing Letters of Credit

Globalization depends on banks and corporations employing digital technology to make trade more efficient. Lessening structural and financial constraints on…
The trade digitalisation journey – innovation at Contour

The trade digitalisation journey – innovation at Contour

TFG’s Deepesh Patel met with Contour’s CEO, Carl Wegner, and Chief Product Officer, Josh Kroeker, to discuss their approach to…
Banking on Technology: The business case for modernising trade finance

Banking on Technology: The business case for modernising trade finance

Digitalisation is an almost $2 trillion opportunity in trade finance and banks have a crucial role in this ecosystem. Many…
Contour’s Next Phase: Tokenising digital trade assets 

Contour’s Next Phase: Tokenising digital trade assets 

Digital assets, like Central Bank Digital Currencies and tokenisation, have the potential to make global trade more efficient, but it…
New data points, new opportunities for digital transformation

New data points, new opportunities for digital transformation

Data as the new oil or currency is not a new concept, but the pandemic has accelerated the emphasis on…
Ready to digitise trade? 3 considerations for commodities trading firms

Ready to digitise trade? 3 considerations for commodities trading firms

Sustainability, supercycles and digitisation. These are some of the megatrends impacting commodities trading today. But against a backdrop of supply…
Contour celebrates International Women’s Day 2022

Contour celebrates International Women’s Day 2022

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is #BreakTheBias – a gender equal world that is free from bias, stereotypes and…
How fintechs are advancing the digitalisation agenda

How fintechs are advancing the digitalisation agenda

Digitalisation and the deepening trade finance gap were among the key themes at the recent GTR MENA conference. With SMEs…
Looking forward to 2022

Looking forward to 2022

In many ways, 2021 was a formative year for Contour, as we put in place the pieces we needed for…
2021 in Review: Contour reflects on its impact on global trade

2021 in Review: Contour reflects on its impact on global trade

Global trade has been in the spotlight this year as the pandemic exposed many shortcomings and choke points of this…
How digitisation can add value to the agricultural supply chain

How digitisation can add value to the agricultural supply chain

The digitisation of agricultural supply chains has increased at a rapid rate, with more corporates and banks beginning to benefit…
Why Singapore is Asia’s jewel in the crown for trade finance

Why Singapore is Asia’s jewel in the crown for trade finance

Since gaining independence over fifty years ago, Singapore has established itself as a key player in Asia’s burgeoning tech and…
Corporate data – to keep or to sell?

Corporate data – to keep or to sell?

Who owns your data? Who can sell your data? While some individuals may choose to exchange privacy for free or subsidised digital services, more…
Blockchain’s potential to change the face of trade finance

Blockchain’s potential to change the face of trade finance

Of all the learnings from the pandemic, the realisation that digital transformation is no longer a choice is perhaps one…
Technology holds the key to driving greater sustainability in global trade

Technology holds the key to driving greater sustainability in global trade

Whether environmental, social or economic, the sustainability challenges at the heart of trade often seem insurmountable in this global, sprawling…
International trade must go digital to fight back against fraud

International trade must go digital to fight back against fraud

Trade finance is a critical component of global trade, enabling banks to provide risk mitigation and working capital facilitation. Any…
Trade Digitisation: To scale is to standardise

Trade Digitisation: To scale is to standardise

We, in the global trade and trade finance industry, are nearing an inflection point. We will either embrace digital platforms…
Contour's Growth in 2020: A year in review

Contour's Growth in 2020: A year in review

When Contour launched in January, we could not have anticipated the tumultuous year that would lay ahead. COVID-19’s impact across…
A step-by-step guide to trade digitisation

A step-by-step guide to trade digitisation

As much as USD 5 trillion of trade credit may be needed simply to bring the global trade in goods…
How technology & governance underpin Contour's value

How technology & governance underpin Contour's value

Revolution, evolution, disruption. The latest buzzwords do not really matter as trade finance has seen them all. What does matter…
Trade Digitisation: The catalyst for growth in developing and emerging markets?

Trade Digitisation: The catalyst for growth in developing and emerging markets?

Trade is the lifeblood of any economy. However, many regions are still unable to reap the benefits that international networks…
Why this pandemic has shown how critical it is to go paperless

Why this pandemic has shown how critical it is to go paperless

Since lockdown began in spring, there has been no shortage of discussions exploring how much the world has changed –…
Letters of Credit: How they work and the need for change

Letters of Credit: How they work and the need for change

Throughout history, Letters of Credit (LCs) have played a vital role in helping businesses move from the local to the…
Trade and Interoperability: A key value for Contour

Trade and Interoperability: A key value for Contour

For broad and diverse networks like trade, interoperability has been touted as the key to ensuring an effective digital future.…
Will blockchain digitise global trade?

Will blockchain digitise global trade?

The answer will depend on the industry’s appetite for change. In the time before computers and the internet, information travelled…
Disrupting trade finance with Contour

Disrupting trade finance with Contour

Published on January 29, 2020 | Article link Author: Chris Sunderman Blockchain lead for trade finance at ING wholesale banking…
Banks and businesses see transformative changes on Contour’s network

Banks and businesses see transformative changes on Contour’s network

A new case study by R3 reveals how Contour has brought significant benefits to banks and businesses by reducing many…
Rio Tinto, Baosteel carry out Rmb deal on Contour as new banks join network

Rio Tinto, Baosteel carry out Rmb deal on Contour as new banks join network

Global / 13 May 2020/ By Eleanor Wragg Article source: Global Trade Review (GTR) Blockchain trade finance network Contour has…
What is Corda?

What is Corda?

Corda is an open-source blockchain platform, enabling businesses to transact directly and in strict privacy, reducing transaction and record-keeping costs…
Financing a global business in today’s world

Financing a global business in today’s world

How technology can enhance the financial support for corporates and reduce the impact of outdated processes. Every growing global business…
Blockchain’s potential for better trade and a more sustainable environment

Blockchain’s potential for better trade and a more sustainable environment

The Times Raconteur shows how blockchain is revolutionising the trade finance sector A recent Times Raconteur piece has shown the…
Blockchain: Solving a trade finance inefficiency solution

Blockchain: Solving a trade finance inefficiency solution

A detailed look into the capabilities of blockchain for addressing the limitations of single windows. Exporters and importers in countries…