Why are AI and blockchain considered the "saviors" of cross-border e-commerce?

Pain Point: Why is cross-border trade “slow and difficult” again?

Imagine a small domestic factory receiving an overseas e-commerce order. In the past, the process was like this:

Shipping (Logistics): Goods are loaded onto ships, floating at sea.

Documentation (Information Flow): Bill of lading, invoices, customs declarations… a bunch of paper documents “travel” between different departments. One mistake and everything gets stuck.

Payment (Funds Flow): Banks don’t dare to release funds without accurate documents. Buyers may also delay.

These three major processes (logistics, information flow, funds flow) are disconnected. Banks (funds) cannot see where the goods (logistics) are, nor verify the authenticity of documents (information).

The result is:

Merchants “waiting for money”: Payments may take one or two months, with extremely slow capital turnover.

Funding “skyrocketing”: Merchants want to use these “in-transit” orders for loans, but banks say: “Sorry, how do I know your order is real? Do you have collateral?”

Breakthrough: “New Play” at Hongqiao Forum

On November 6, a sub-forum at the Hongqiao International Economic Forum focused on solving this “disconnection” problem. The speech by China Merchants Bank Chairman Ren Deqi revealed a new solution, simply put: connect the three processes into one, so data can flow freely.

How do they plan to do it? The answer lies in three key initiatives:

Key Initiative 1: “Cross-sector Integration” (Connecting Data)

No longer are banks, shipping companies, and customs operating separately. Instead, they are building a “Shanghai Maritime Trade Digital Platform.”

Plain language: creating a “public group chat.”

How: Government agencies, shipping companies (like COSCO Shipping), trading platforms, and foreign trade enterprises (like you and me) all join this platform. Information on where the goods are, customs clearance status, order signing—all shared in real-time within the group.

Key Initiative 2: “Digital Empowerment” (Let Machines Do the Work)

This is the most critical step, where AI and blockchain shine.

Blockchain (Solving Trust): Many think of blockchain as “cryptocurrency,” but here it acts as a “super notary.” Every action—loading goods, customs stamping—will be recorded on the blockchain, immutable and visible to all. Banks no longer need to worry about forged documents to cheat on loans.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) (Improving Efficiency): AI is like a 24/7 “risk control expert.” It can instantly read all data on the blockchain and automatically determine whether the trade is genuine.

What’s the effect?

Cross-border remittances “instant credit”: Traditional remittances take days; now, with AI verifying data, funds can be credited instantly.

Solving financing difficulties for small and micro enterprises: Previously, banks looked at “collateral” (your house, car); now, AI looks at “credit data” (your real transaction records on platforms). As long as you are genuinely doing business, you can easily get loans based on these “data assets.”

Key Initiative 3: “Ecosystem Co-Construction” (Bringing Everyone Together)

Having only banks and shipping companies is not enough. China Merchants Bank proposes to include insurance companies, logistics firms, e-commerce platforms (like Amazon, Shopee).

Plain language: In the future, you may no longer need to run around to places A, B, C, D for cross-border business.

How: On one platform, you can simultaneously complete financing, payments, insurance, booking space, and customs declaration. This is what Ren Deqi calls “one-stop” financial services.

What does this mean for ordinary people and small to medium enterprises?

This “high-end” transformation will ultimately be reflected in every participant’s “wallet.”

For cross-border e-commerce sellers:

Fast payments. The biggest benefit! “Instant remittance” means your cash flow will be extremely healthy, and you no longer need to worry about “waiting for money.”

No more worries about financing. Your “transaction data” is your best credit proof. Platforms (like the newly launched “Jiaoyin Hangmao Tong” by China Merchants Bank) will proactively offer you purely online “foreign trade quick loans,” giving you more confidence for “Black Friday” and “Double 12.”

For small manufacturing enterprises:

“Data” becomes “assets.” Even if you are a “light-asset” small factory, as long as your orders and logistics info are genuine, AI and blockchain can prove your value and help you secure development funds from banks.

For ordinary consumers (overseas shopping enthusiasts):

Supply chain becomes more stable. The overall efficiency of the chain improves, costs decrease, and our “overseas shopping” delivery speed may be faster, with prices more stable.

Interpreting the signals: What trends does this release?

Discussions at Hongqiao Forum are less about “finance” and more about a brand-new “business trust mechanism.”

In the past, our trust was based on “collateral” and “paper contracts,” which were slow and costly. In the future, our trust will be based on “data” and “algorithms,” guaranteed by AI and blockchain—fast and accurate.

From “waiting for money” to “instant arrival,” this is not only a technological victory but also a true empowerment for thousands of small and micro enterprises. A more efficient, inclusive new era of global trade has already begun.