Autotoll solution supports Hong Kong’s smart city ambitions
Published: Feb 2025
Best Emerging Technology Solution
Highly Commended Winner
Autotoll International
Photo of Patrick Zhu, HSBC and Owen Leung, Autotoll International.
Owen Leung
General Manager
Founded in 1998, Autotoll is a Hong Kong-based company that provides smart solutions for transportation, logistics, living and the environment.
in partnership with
The challenge
Autotoll International Limited (Autotoll) had been pioneering intelligent solutions for more than 25 years in Hong Kong, initially with its electronic toll collection (ETC) for tunnels and bridges.
To realise the strategic goal of developing Hong Kong into a smart city equipped with a cashless economy, Autotoll entered a groundbreaking partnership with PayCargo, a leading international logistics payment platform, to develop an innovative payment system and align with the Hong Kong government’s drive towards transforming the intelligent logistics sector.
This partnership aims to enhance payment processing efficiency and expedite the clearance of imported goods with the following goals to:
Reduce cash and cheque use by digitising cash collections from logistics customers.
Automate data feed from logistics players to streamline document validation (at docks, ports and airports).
The solution
Autotoll worked with PayCargo to launch Hong Kong’s first large-scale logistics settlement e-platform, enabling digital business-to-business (B2B) transactions within the logistics industry.
Autotoll utilises the following solutions to digitise the end-to-end payment process with HSBC as the sole operating bank of the new e-platform which provides:
An all-in-one logistics payment platform for faster release of cargo which enables instant settlement of payments.
Real-time direct debit authorisation via API connectivity with the bank to automatically pull funds from customers’ accounts for settlement of payments.
Host-to-host (H2H) connectivity with PayCargo to automate transmission of data (eg bill of lading, airway bill) for instant document validation of each transaction.
e-payslips to digitise payment records which are made available on the e-platform for payers to access and retain.
The company is in the process of introducing an e-wallet solution specifically for logistics players to further digitalise the payment process.
The digital proposition is set to transform the city’s logistics sector, reducing reliance on physical cash and cheques to speed up shipment and cargo release. This bespoke solution has quickly been adopted by some major air cargo providers. Integration is currently underway with Cathay’s cargo terminal for import cargo collection which will help drive digital adoption among other logistics players and drive behavioural changes from within the sector.
Best practice and innovation
This solution has introduced real-time direct debit and H2H and API technologies to obtain visibility into vendor data and payment transactions. The solutions automate customer collections and map payments against underlying documentation to streamline the reconciliation processes for Autotoll, enabling the company to offer a fully digitised payment process and enhanced customer experience.
For customers and the logistics industry as a whole, the new service, which is expected to go live by the end of 2024, will eliminate cash and cheques and reduce manual effort associated with traditional paper-based trade transactions, speeding up cargo release times. The all-in-one payment platform also delivers cost efficiencies by alleviating the need for customers to build out their own in-house logistics systems which often bear large development and maintenance costs.
Key benefits
Cost savings.
Headcount savings.
Number of banking partners/bank accounts reduced.
Process efficiencies.
Improved key performance indicator (KPI) metrics.
Return on investment (ROI).
Increased automation.
Risk mitigated.
Improved visibility.
Errors reduced.
Manual intervention reduced.
Future-proof solution.
This critical transformation will help Autotoll contribute to Hong Kong’s trade growth and power the city’s ambition to become a leading international maritime and logistics hub.
“The smart payment platform is expected to be a game-changer for Hong Kong’s logistics players as we combine faster payments with automated data transmission to speed up the end-to-end cargo release process. We are thrilled to pioneer the first-of-its-kind solution and play an instrumental part in digitalising Hong Kong’s logistics sector to accelerate the government’s smart city ambitions,” says Owen Leung, General Manager.
Violet Yung
Head of Global Banking Corporate Sales, Hong Kong, Global Payments Solutions, HSBC
We are incredibly proud to be able to partner with Autotoll in revolutionising Hong Kong’s logistics sector through the launch of the first large-scale smart e-platform for digital payments. By leveraging API and host-to-host technologies, we streamlined cash flow processes, significantly reducing reliance on cash and cheques.
With a shared vision for a cashless economy, the partnership between Autotoll and HSBC will not only enhance operational efficiency for logistics players but also help position Hong Kong as a leading logistics hub that drives economic growth and digital transformation across the region.
in partnership with
The Adam Smith Awards Asia are the industry benchmark for best practice and innovation in corporate treasury. The 2024 awards attracted 406 nominations. To find out more please visit treasurytoday.com/adam-smith-awards-asia
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