[Member News] How EQUO is Transforming Cross-Border Payments for Canadian Businesses

Canadian businesses are losing significant money on cross-border payments—and most don't realize the true scope of the problem. Traditional banks extract what amounts to a 2-4% “tax” on every international transfer through fees, spreads, and delays that have long been accepted as simply the cost of global business.

EQUO's approach addresses this head-on: members report up to 90% cost reductions, same-day settlement, and API integration that takes days rather than months to implement.

Through our partnership with EQUO, a Canadian-founded fintech platform with ties to Vietnam, CanCham members now have access to a solution that's changing that equation entirely.

Understanding the Real Cost

The impact on our business community is substantial. A Toronto consultant processing $15,000 monthly in USD payments typically loses $300-600 per month to banking friction—funds that could support business expansion instead. At enterprise scale, logistics companies moving $50 million annually can see $200,000 drain from their bottom line through unnecessary transfer costs.

With cross-border B2B payments expected to exceed US$40 trillion globally this year, according to Juniper Research, Canadian businesses represent a significant portion of that volume. The collective cost of inefficient payment infrastructure creates a genuine drag on our members' competitiveness.

Why This Partnership Matters for Members

What makes EQUO particularly valuable to our community is their infrastructure-as-a-service approach. Rather than simply competing with traditional banks, they enable Canadian businesses to integrate payment capabilities that serve their specific needs.

For our SaaS company members in construction, logistics, or contractor management, this means offering international payment features under their own brand—without the complexity of building banking relationships across multiple jurisdictions. Companies that previously lost clients to expensive international transfers can now offer competitive rates while generating additional revenue streams.

The platform approach creates something economists call network effects. As more CanCham members and other businesses join the platform, higher transaction volumes enable better exchange rates and more efficient settlement—a virtuous cycle that benefits everyone in the network.

The Global Connection Advantage

EQUO's global market expertise brings a unique perspective to cross-border payments. The company's global outlook, shaped by experience in rapidly evolving Asian, Americas, African, and Europeans fintech markets, has informed infrastructure designed for efficiency rather than legacy compatibility.

This international perspective matters for our members who increasingly operate across multiple markets. The platform serves businesses from individual contractors to enterprise clients, with each participant strengthening the network for everyone else.

Regulatory Confidence

For our enterprise members particularly concerned about compliance, EQUO operates within existing financial frameworks rather than challenging regulatory boundaries like some cryptocurrency alternatives. The platform maintains proper licensing in each jurisdiction while delivering modern functionality with banking-grade compliance.

This positioning provides the regulatory confidence that CanCham members require while delivering the innovation benefits that drive competitive advantage.

The Strategic View

Our partnership with EQUO represents more than access to better payment processing—it's about positioning our members for success in an increasingly global marketplace. When businesses can move money as efficiently as information, it enables new forms of international collaboration and competitive advantage.

The 90% savings our members report aren't just about lower fees—they represent improved capital efficiency that enables Canadian businesses to compete more effectively on the global stage. For a trading nation where cross-border commerce drives economic growth, such infrastructure improvements have broader economic implications.

The strategic implications are clear: In an era where competitive advantages are measured in basis points, making money movement as frictionless as information transfer isn't just an improvement—it's a business necessity.

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