A Cross-Border Trade & Payment Platform
A web-based trade financing solution enabling KYC-verified customers to apply for credits on international trade orders online
Industry
FinTech
Team
10 members
Launched
2024
Country
USA
About a Project
Our customer is a US-based startup who aimed to connect African exporters and importers with global liquidity providers, facilitating seamless access to pre-shipment and post-shipment financing. The client needed a reliable IT partner to create a secure web-based FinTech platform for trade financing digitalization
Goals set to Cleveroad
Develop an MVP version of a web-based trade financing solution with proper functionality scope, meeting the strict timeline of 4 months for development and budget limitations
Secure the platform’s financial operations with a robust web admin panel, covering operations management and user control to prevent fraud
Ensure that the platform architecture is scalable and flexible enough to support growth in the future while keeping infrastructure costs low at early project stages to meet budget constraints
Solutions we've delivered
Creation of a trade financing web app’s MVP covering essential features such as KYC verification, account management, trade orders, financial requests management, and multi-lingual support
Development of an Administrative web panel enabling the management of the KYC process, approving and setting up credit line limits, customizing interest rates, generating payment schedules, and payment tracking
Implementation of AWS Lambda serverless architecture for rapid and cost-efficient development and deployment of the MVP, with the future-readiness of migrating workloads to containers like AWS ECS or Kubernetes
Results for the Customer
Successful launch of the cross-border trade and payment web platform’s MVP version on time and on budget, allowing for testing the solution on a real audience and gathering early feedback
Robust web-based admin panel under Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) policies, providing only necessary functionality for each admin role to ensure proper management and solid security
Cost-effective infrastructure setup during initial stages with the ability to scale seamlessly over time, ensuring long-term flexibility, reduced maintenance overhead, and readiness to handle high traffic as the user base grows
Business Challenges
Our customer is a US company providing trade financing services for businesses in African countries engaged in international commerce. To automate loan requests, they needed a digital platform designed to streamline their workflows and facilitate loan submissions. It was essential to create a secure and reliable FinTech solution with a user-friendly interface. Therefore, our client needed an expert software development partner to:
Automate financial requests for trade orders. Сreate a solution for automating existing business processes in trade finance requests and provide customers with a convenient tool for applying for trade finance loans within a secure web platform. A trade finance platform should minimize manual processes and allow our client’s customers to enter all required information regarding their companies, make financial requests for their trade orders, and track request processing online.
Release the platform’s MVP version within a tight budget. Identify the proper MVP scope to develop a reliable financing platform for traders, including all the essential basic functionality: a landing page with a questionnaire for guests, a functional Customer side to cover trade finance requests and management functionality, and an admin panel to validate users and control all operations. Ensure the scope of work aligns with the required budget and timeline constraints.
Prepare the platform for future growth. Build a FinTech platform that is scalable and modifiable from the 1st version, enabling seamless growth to reach a broader audience and expand into global markets. Our customer required a comprehensive technical plan for future functionality improvements from the early stages, to gain a clear understanding of the project’s development roadmap and a transparent budgeting strategy.
Project in Details
We have developed a web trading finance platform for importers, exporters, and trade partners, and an admin panel to manage KYC and financial requests
Solution Architecture
- The entry point of the trade financing web app is a Guest module for unregistered users. It features a landing page with the platform’s value proposition and an embedded questionnaire to collect key business details like company name, years in operation, revenue, commodity type, and contact data, streamlining the onboarding process from the very first touchpoint.
- The Customer Web Module provides a secure platform for users to onboard, submit requests, and manage trade-related activities. It features a responsive design for access across devices and supports multiple languages to accommodate diverse regions. Built-in analytics tools offer users performance insights through a user-friendly dashboard.
- The Admin Panel combines tools for managing client onboarding, verifying KYC submissions, and processing financial requests. Role-based access control ensures tailored permissions across functions such as Account Management, Credit Analysis, and Finance Management. Administrators' panel also supports two languages, facilitating international cooperation, and acts as the operational core of the platform, ensuring security and efficient workflow execution.
Product Essentials
We’ve developed a full-fledged cross-border trade and finance platform tailored for small and medium-sized African businesses. The platform covers all core needs of international trade, from seamless onboarding and KYC verification to dynamic trade order tracking and multilingual support
Enterprise-grade management tools, including:
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Granular permission management across user types
- Workflow management: Configurable approval processes and credit assessment tools.
- Operational dashboard: Key performance indicators and business intelligence.
- Multi-entity management: Customer, supplier, and service provider administration.
The Admin Panel supports both English and French interfaces, ensuring efficient cross-border collaboration and operational transparency across regions.
A guided onboarding flow starts with a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire. This step gathers key business information such as years in operation, commodity type, and turnover, ensuring a tailored experience.
New users register via secure email sign-up with verification and password recovery. After registration, businesses proceed to a fully digital KYC process, submitting business and personal details, as well as required documents such as tax certificates and registration forms.
All KYC data is reusable and editable, allowing businesses to update their profile and re-upload specific documents when needed. Users can easily track their KYC status — Passed, Under Review, or Requires Info — directly from their profile.
The onboarding process also includes automated ID verification, which is applied to all directors and shareholders. Admins can trigger email invitations to launch secure Didit sessions, where users complete identity checks and sanction list screenings (AML, PEPs, Sanctions). Once completed, the system receives a PDF verification report from Didit, which is automatically saved under a new document type.
The platform offers multiple financing pathways to support diverse business needs:
- Pre-approved credit facilities: Businesses can apply for revolving credit lines by submitting business documentation and trade projections. Upon approval, users access flexible financing for future transactions.
- Invoice-based financing: Working capital solutions tied to specific transactions, where users submit trade documentation to unlock financing based on configurable advance rates and terms.
- Real-time application tracking: Centralized request management with status visibility and streamlined approval workflows.
All submitted requests are managed through a dedicated interface, with status updates and approved amounts clearly visible. Admins can activate or restrict access to new requests and manage approvals securely through the admin panel.
Comprehensive order lifecycle management supporting both self-financed and platform-financed transactions:
- Structured trade cycles: Automated timeline calculations covering procurement, logistics, and settlement phases.
- Multi-status tracking: Real-time visibility into order execution and shipment progress.
- Documentation management: Integrated document storage and retrieval system.
- Automated reporting: Comprehensive order summaries and audit trails.
Unified workspace providing:
- Portfolio overview: Real-time view of available credit, active orders, and repayment obligations.
- Analytics integration: Performance insights and trend analysis for export-focused users.
- Multi-language support: Localized interfaces for global accessibility.
- Compliance tracking: KYC status monitoring and regulatory compliance tools.
Integrated cross-border payment capabilities featuring:
- Third-party integration: Seamless connection with established payment infrastructure.
- Real-time FX Services: Live exchange rates with transparent margin structures.
- Multi-payment Support: Flexible payment scheduling and tracking.
- Automated Reconciliation: Payment-to-order matching and documentation.
Development in Detail
- Our team conducted three key phases during the trade financing platform development: the Discovery Phase, the MVP development (1st iteration), and the improvement & rebranding stage (2nd iteration). Our initial delivery team included web developers, QA, PM, BA, UI/UX designer, DevOps, two Web Team Leads, and a Solution Architect. In the second phase, the team was scaled down at the client's request. During the project, we maintained close collaboration through Google Meet and a dedicated Slack channel.
- During the Discovery phase, we collaborated closely with our client to define the platform's core features based on thorough competitor analysis to keep functionality realistic and up-to-date. Given the timeline limitations, we managed to define, validate, and agree on all basic requirements within a couple of weeks. At the client's request, we also prepared a roadmap of suggested features and improvements for future iterations. The Discovery deliverables included a Design Concept, Feature Breakdown List, Activity and BPMN diagrams, Quality Attribute Scenarios, and a Project Plan.
- During the MVP development, we focused on building a basic platform version that allowed users to register and submit trade order requests and enabled admin users to manage those requests. With these essential features in place, we prioritized a seamless user experience and efficient workflows. After launching the MVP, the client tested the platform with real customers and received positive feedback, confirming that the core functionalities met their initial needs. This iteration set a solid foundation for future enhancements.
- For the platform improvement stage, we focused on refining the trade finance platform based on real user feedback from the MVP. The product was fully rebranded, along with a redesigned UI and improved admin panel for more efficient trade request management. New features included trade analytics for export customers to track income and order profitability, and support for self-funded trade orders to offer greater financing flexibility. We also made the customer-facing modules mobile responsive, ensuring smooth access across devices. Backend improvements were implemented to enhance scalability and align the platform with long-term business objectives.
Technology stack
Tech stack was selected and used considering customer needs and the solution's business logic
Web Architecture
Backend
.NET
Frontend
React.js
Mobile stack
Cross–platform
RESTful API
MySQL
Tailwind Elstar
AWS infrastructure
S3
Lambda functions
Route 53
API Gateway
Cloudfront
Amazon RDS
Cloudtrail
Cloud watch
AWS SNS
Results Obtained
Accelerated product launch with minimal investment
Thanks to a focused Discovery Phase and precise planning, we helped the client launch a working trade financing platform's MVP with competitive and up-to-date functionality in a limited timeline, while staying within a strict budget. Rapid first development iteration allowed the client to test their business model with real users, start generating traction, receive positive feedback, and confidently plan next steps without overinvesting upfront.
Reliable control over financial operations
We empowered the client's trade & payment solution for businesses and traders in Africa with a secure web admin panel with built-in role-based access control that regulates admins' admission according to their role permissions to customers' data, making all processes fully secure. Digital platform administration streamlines KYC checks, loan request management, and credit terms assignment with full transparency, reducing the time spent on processing financing.
Validated traction with $15M+ in trades financed
We helped the client scale and improve the initial MVP version into a more complex and feature-rich platform, aimed at targeting traders worldwide. As a result, the solution gained strong traction in the market with over $15M in trades financed. Our customer continues to improve their financing platform with our thorough assistance covering functionality updates, system architecture improvements, and further scaling.