The traditional cross-border payment landscape has become hollow for businesses and their customers! It has become costly, time-consuming, and totally unorganized. This turn of events has happened becаuse оf the global digital transformation and ongoing innovations.
And it's a fact! Why would a business want to operate on traditional cross-border payment methods if they could offer advanced remittance management software - a by-product of technological innovation?
According to the latest study by Allied Market Research, the global remittance market is predicted to grow to USD 1.3 trillion by 2030 at a CAGR of 5.7%. This stat adds to the fact that businesses will see a rise in remittance management software usage.
This blog post will discuss the major challenges in the traditional cross-border payment landscape and how an effective remittance management software can transform the cross-border remittance landscape.
So, let's begin the transformative journey!
Challenges faced by traditional cross-border payment landscape
Traditional cross-border payments have become challenging to operate with for both businesses as well as customers. This has happened due to some major challenges that become a hurdle in the process making it very difficult and complex!
The major challenges faced in traditional cross-border payments are:
High Fees and Hidden Charges
Very high transaction fees and hidden charges associated with traditional remittance channels severely diminish total payouts. Banks typically charge upwards of $15-$45 in fees while money transfer operators add exchange rate margins of 3-4% per transaction.
These compounding costs can add up to 10-20% of transfer values. And the lack of transparency only makes it worse.
Slow Transfer Speeds
Average transfer times range from 1-5 days for bank wires and 2-5 days via cash pickup services. Such lengthy processing periods limit the overall volume of remittance-related transactions while introducing forex volatility risks. Families relying on these payments are left without funds when needed most due to these slow processes.
Complex Processes
The document requirements, location restrictions, too many parties involved, and verification procedures involved make the entire process cumbersome for your migrant customers.
Navigating regulatory environments across source and recipient countries proves to be challenging. This hinders adoption among immigrant demographics that stand to benefit the most from cross-border payments.
Lack of Transparency
With limited transaction transparency, sender have negligible clarity on payout predictions, forex conversions, processing statuses, or stages. This makes monitoring and reconciliation incredibly difficult resulting in increased transfer costs. Such a lack of transparency weakens trust in legacy remittance systems.
Read More: Overcoming the challenges of cross-border payments
Negative Impact of the traditional cross-border payment landscape
The challenges of the traditional cross-border payment landscape have a very negative impact on it especially for migrant workers. The major negative impacts are
Financial exclusion of migrants
Being a migrant worker in another country is comparatively low-paying. And the high fees and unclear processes make it worse for the unbanked and underbanked migrants to access the formal remittance channels. Sometimes the lack of valid ID proof can also hinder access to the services.
High cost for migrants to send money back home
The high fees for the transactions impact the incomes of the migrants resulting in income loss in the long run making it difficult to send money home at regular intervals. This negatively affects their reasons to migrate for a better life for themselves and their families.
Loss of income for families relying on remittances
Delayed availability due to slow transfers negatively impacts recipient families using remittance funds for daily needs. Hidden charges also drastically reduce receivable amounts causing temporary cash flow issues.
How an Effective International Remittance Solution is Transforming Cross-border Payments?
Of course, there are so many challenges associated with the traditional cross-border payments landscape. But, where there are problems, the solution is always in the making. The solution to the traditional methods of remittance is an “Effective International Remittance Management Software”.
But the question is, how is it a solution? What is it offering that is different from traditional methods? Read on further to this section to understand!
Easy Signup and Convenient Access
Emerging remittance solutions aim to expand access by reducing onboarding friction and enhancing last-mile reach.
Simple documentation requirements
Optimized KYC protocols enable remote customer screening based on basic ID proof and contact details. This allows migrant workers with limited paperwork to also utilize remittance channels formally.
Availability on mobile devices
Intuitive mobile apps with SMS-enabled interfaces are designed for ease of use by first-time remitters as well. Digital remittance platform brings services to basic feature phones thereby reducing adoption barriers significantly.
Multiple language options
Platforms customized to display in native languages transform the customer experience for expatriate workers. It also becomes easier to educate them on remittance processes in a localized context.
Low-Cost Transfers
An effective international remittance management software minimizes transfer and other associated fees to provide affordable money transfers for all customers, especially those sending smaller, regular payments. Ways it accomplishes this include:
Minimal Fees Per Transaction
Instead of charging a percentage of the transferred amount, reasonable flat fees per transaction are applied regardless of transfer size. This avoids penalizing lower-income customers.
Favorable Exchange Rates
Competitive foreign exchange rates and spreads closer to mid-market rates help customers get good value. Transparency over live exchange rates allows customers to find the most optimal time to convert and transfer funds.
No Hidden Charges
In remittance management software, all fees and foreign exchange rates are clearly displayed upfront so customers know exactly what to expect. There are no surprise extras or unexpected deductions later in the transfer process. Complete fee transparency plus minimal fees provides peace of mind.
Fast transfer speeds
An efficient international remittance management software utilizes the fastest payment rails and settlement infrastructure to provide recipients with rapid access to funds. This includes:
Near Real-time Transfers
By leveraging instant payment capabilities and keeping transfers in-network as much as possible, funds can be sent and made available to recipients in near real-time. This is exponentially faster than traditional remittance providers depending on legacy batch settlement models.
Funds Available Within Minutes/Hours
Where real-time is not yet possible across certain currency corridors, optimal transfer channels are used to ensure funds are accessible to recipients within minutes or hours at the very maximum.
High security and compliance
Maintaining robust security protections and meeting all regulatory requirements is a critical pillar of reliable international remittance management software services. Key elements include:
KYC and AML Regulations
In-depth KYC (know your customer) and anti-money laundering checks are performed to verify customer identities and ensure the legitimacy of funds in compliance with cross-border regulations. Automated monitoring and customer due diligence also flag any possible suspicious activity.
Data Encryption
Customer data and transaction information are encrypted both in transit and at rest using industry-standard protocols. This prevents leaks of sensitive information to malicious actors, fraudsters, and hackers. Data access is also restricted only to authorized personnel for extra security of the data and payment.
Fraud Monitoring
Advanced monitoring systems tracking factors like suspicious location patterns, devices, and payments work to catch potential fraud and prevent loss of funds in real time before completed transfers.
Transparent processes
An effective international remittance solution recognizes clear communication and transparency over payment processes and builds trust and confidence. Key aspects of a transparent process offered by remittance solution include:
Status Tracking
With an effective remittance solution, customers can easily track the current status of transfers within their accounts or directly via email/SMS notifications if preferred. Real-time visibility over where theіr payments stand removes uncertainty and builds trust and loyalty among the customers.
Transfer Receipts
In the mоdern effective remittance solution, detailed receipts provide an upfront breakdown of all transfer details for customer records - amount sent/received, fees paid, FX rate, recipient details, etc. This gives a more clear picture of the transactions and the money flow. Receipts play a crucial role in enhancing understanding as well as financial planning.
Customer Service Support
Highly trained multilingual agents are available to answer customer inquiries, provide transfer assistance, and quickly resolve any issues via phone, chat, email, and more. Reliable support is invaluable for customer assurance and long-term association with a solution provider.
Benefits of Improved Cross-Border Transfers with remittance management software
Now that we know that an effective international remittance solution can be game-changing for businesses offering remittance solutions to customers. But, how will these improved remittance services help the cross-border payment landscape? There are a few benefits of it including:
Financial inclusion
Innovative remittance solutions promote the financial inclusion of underbanked migrant workers via convenient mobile access and minimize cost barriers that dissuade the utilization of legacy remittance channels.
Digital remittance platform offering greater access provides financial stability for more families relying on remittance income for essential needs. Recipient digital wallets also enable further digital banking and payment utility.
Read More: Boost Financial Inclusion With Cross-border Payment Solution
Wealth creation
Reduced transfer fees and exchange rate markups allow a higher proportion of migrant wages to flow back to their families and communities. Accumulated savings over time empower greater wealth-building investments in assets like homes, education, healthcare, and micro businesses.
Global development
Remittances represent a significant driver of growth in many developing regions; reliance on these payments continues to increase. More affordable and efficient white label remittance platforms through remittance management automation maximize the backflow of funds to enable infrastructure improvement, enterprise growth, community resilience, and further economic participation.
How DigiPay.Guru Can Help?
DigiPay.guru offers an advanced international remittance platform provider designed to transform the cross-border payment landscape with its affordable, secure, and efficient cross-border remittance services.
It offers multi-currency support, API integrations, real-time money transfers, enhanced security features, and analytics & reporting to make your customers’ lives easier while sending and receiving money from across the globe.
Conclusion
Traditional cross-border payments are no longer prevalent due to their slow processes, high costs, and regulatory challenges. Thus, effective remittance management software has come into the market to transform the entire cross-border payment landscape by offering all the features, services, and benefits that make international remittance easy, secure, fast, and user-friendly.
We, at DigiPay.Guru, offer the best-in-class international remittance solution for making global payments easy for your customers and offering the best customer experience. If you are looking for a perfect remittance solution for your business, DigiPay.Guru is the remittance platform provider for you!
