There have been significant technology investments made in trade services and trade finance over these last few years. Major investments have been made in:

• Back Office systems
  
• Front Office customer facing applications
  
• Regulatory and Compliance software specific to trade
  
• Supply Chain Finance applications
  
• Cash and Trade integration
  
• Open Account platforms

Many banks are faced with decisions involving older systems, including fundamental (and potentially expensive) decisions about upgrades, conversions, enhancements, white-labeling, outsourcing, and platform migrations. Investing in the trade business, especially in a climate of a declining traditional trade business, presents real challenges for Tier 2/3 banks. For this research, we focus on the following:

Strategic view of trade: for example, how are banks pitching the trade business in order to get scarce capital for discretionary IT projects?
Trade Infrastructure: for example, what are Tier 2/3 banks views on replacing their trade infrastructure?
Open Account Platforms: for example, are banks investing in systems and with whom?
SCF technology deployment: for example, what are Tier 2/3 banks’ actions here?
Outsourcing: for example, what is the collective perspective of Tier 2/3 banks?