Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of Southeast Asia’s economy, representing over 90% of all businesses and nearly 70% of the workforce. Yet, despite their critical role, SMEs face persistent barriers when it comes to accessing trade banking and cross-border finance—challenges that are particularly acute in the region’s dynamic, fast-growing markets. As global commerce becomes increasingly digital, the transformation of trade banking is emerging as a powerful lever to unlock growth, close funding gaps, and empower Southeast Asian SMEs to compete on the world stage.
SMEs in Southeast Asia operate in a demanding environment, often as micro-enterprises run by a single owner and employing fewer than ten people. Their most pressing needs are straightforward: quick access to cash, fast and flexible financing, and support for day-to-day operations. However, traditional trade banking processes have long failed to meet these needs, especially in the context of cross-border commerce:
The result is a significant funding gap—estimated at over $5.4 trillion globally for SMEs—with Southeast Asia representing a major share. Over 85% of SME customers in the region are now considering alternatives to traditional bank loans, including fintechs and digital-first providers.
The rapid adoption of digital technologies across Southeast Asia—accelerated by the pandemic—has created fertile ground for innovation in trade banking. SMEs are increasingly comfortable with online sales, digital payments, and cloud-based business tools. Banks and fintechs are responding by reimagining their offerings and leveraging digital platforms to deliver faster, more tailored solutions.
Banks are investing in digital platforms that streamline the entire trade finance process. By automating onboarding, credit assessment, and servicing, they can reduce approval times from weeks to hours. Straight-through processing, powered by cloud, AI, and machine learning, enables real-time decision-making and minimizes manual intervention—critical for serving high-volume, low-margin SME segments.
Open banking initiatives are gaining traction, allowing SMEs to securely share transaction data with banks and third-party providers. This transparency enables more accurate credit assessments and personalized product offerings. For example, partnerships between banks and accounting platforms in Singapore allow SMEs to share real-time financial data, resulting in quicker loan approvals and access to tailored services.
No single provider can address the full spectrum of SME needs. Leading banks are forming partnerships with fintechs, logistics companies, and other ecosystem players to offer integrated solutions. These partnerships enable SMEs to manage payments, payroll, cashflow, and trade documentation from a single digital platform, reducing complexity and cost.
A major Thai bank partnered with Publicis Sapient to go beyond a new app, seeking a new business model and robust technical foundation. In just 12 weeks, a multidisciplinary team delivered a front-to-back banking platform, connecting mobile, payments, and real-time data. The result: the bank can now adapt quickly to market changes, launch new SME products at speed, and meet evolving customer expectations—all while adhering to strict regulatory obligations.
Publicis Sapient helped Siam Commercial Bank launch XPlatform, a one-stop cloud and DevOps solution. This platform streamlines developer processes and accelerates the creation of innovative digital banking products, empowering the bank to better serve SMEs and retail customers alike.
A standout example of digital transformation in trade banking is the launch of fully digital trade finance banks, such as AGTB. By building a digital-first platform from the ground up, AGTB was able to eliminate legacy system constraints, integrate seamlessly with partners via APIs, provide a single source of truth for client data, enable rapid onboarding and real-time risk assessment, and offer a broad range of digital payments and transaction services. This approach reduced costs, accelerated time-to-market, and delivered a client-centric experience—demonstrating what’s possible when banks put SME needs at the center of their strategy.
To succeed in the digitized trade banking landscape, banks and fintechs in Southeast Asia should consider the following strategies:
Digitized trade banking is not just about speed and efficiency—it’s about building trust, transparency, and long-term value for SMEs. As banks and fintechs continue to innovate, the winners will be those who deliver predictable, transparent processes, offer greater visibility and control to SME clients, and evolve beyond transactional relationships to become trusted partners in growth.
By embracing digital transformation and ecosystem collaboration, financial institutions in Southeast Asia can unlock new growth opportunities, close the SME funding gap, and help the region’s businesses thrive in the digital age.
Ready to lead the next wave of SME banking innovation? Connect with Publicis Sapient to accelerate your digital transformation journey.