SA Industries, a manufacturing business in rural West Bengal, specializes in producing oil products. To maintain production, they regularly import essential machinery and tools from suppliers in China and Germany. We had a discussion with Abir Bhattacharjee, the owner of SA Industry, to understand the struggles of managing international payments and how switching to Karbon has helped in handling forex transactions.
How SA Industries' Import Process Looks Like…
The tools SA Industries imports account for 60% of their production capacity. Without them, the manufacturing line stops, orders get delayed, and customer trust takes a hit.
For each order, Abir sent an advance payment, waited for the shipment, checked the quality, and only then paid the remaining balance once everything met the standards.
Like any importer in India, he faced the struggle of sending payments abroad, navigating the complex RBI regulations on cross-border transactions.
Machinery from Abroad …In Processing
The operational aspect of importing machinery wasn’t easy, but Abir figured it out. However, paying foreign suppliers was a whole different challenge.
First, opening a bank account capable of handling international transactions was a struggle—rural banks didn’t have the infrastructure to handle forex.
“Our company is mainly situated in rural areas, so it’s very difficult to do forex transactions from my native.”
After finally getting an account, Abir still faced constant uncertainty. He had no clear timeline for when payments would go through.
Every time he visited the bank, the answer was the same: “It’s in processing. We can’t say for sure.”
When suppliers asked, “When will the payment arrive?”, Abir had no answer.
Without receiving advance, exporters help shipments. Orders got delayed.
Things worsened when the RBI introduced stricter regulations for outward remittances. What was already tough became an absolute nightmare. Banks demanded endless documents, placed payments on hold, and rejected transactions with vague reasons like
“Payment doesn’t meet regulatory guidelines” or “Documents incomplete.”
The back-and-forth drained his time and energy, and switching banks didn’t help. The delays were unpredictable, the process slow, and the fees remained the same.
Borders and Boundaries…
Abir knew SA Industries needed a better solution to manage international payments—faster, more dependable than the banks' slow, inefficient processes.
A quick Google search led him to Karbon. He hesitated at first, concerned about the security of using an online platform for large-scale international transactions.
Banks, despite their inefficiencies, were still seen as the “safe and reliable” option. And that label carried weight.
But Abir knew he couldn’t keep wasting his and his team’s time and energy. He decided to give it a try. Instead of jumping in right away, he chatted with a Karbon expert first.
Pending -> Paid and Received
When Abir spoke to a Karbon expert, he was reassured that Karbon was certified with the highest security protocols. It was as safe as any traditional bank—if not more. Transactions were faster, with instant updates and a trackable dashboard.
“Karbon has made a big difference for our business. Being in a rural area, handling forex was always a challenge, but their quick support and smooth transfers have made things so much easier. We really hope to see Karbon grow and open more branches soon.”
But what Abir didn’t expect was what Karbon offered beyond this. While onboarding Abir, Karbon reviewed his current transaction structure, which included the markup fees, foreign transaction charges, service fees, and currency conversion costs. While saving money wasn’t his priority, he had always thought about lowering his fees. However, he didn’t believe he had options. All banks charged the same.
With Karbon, that changed. Abir saw his transaction costs drop by over 20%.
Direct Q&A Snapshot:
What challenges did you face before using Karbon?
It was a constant struggle. Managing international payments in rural areas through traditional banks was slow, unpredictable, and frustrating.
Why did you choose Karbon over other options?
I explored a few platforms, but the charges were high, and transfer speeds were the same. Karbon stood out with lower fees, faster transfers, and a quick response call that clearly explained everything.
What measurable improvements have you seen since switching to Karbon?
Since switching, I’ve experienced faster transactions, immediate support, and a dedicated account manager who’s always there to assist.
How SA Industries' Import Process Looks Like…
The tools SA Industries imports account for 60% of their production capacity. Without them, the manufacturing line stops, orders get delayed, and customer trust takes a hit.
For each order, Abir sent an advance payment, waited for the shipment, checked the quality, and only then paid the remaining balance once everything met the standards.
Like any importer in India, he faced the struggle of sending payments abroad, navigating the complex RBI regulations on cross-border transactions.
Machinery from Abroad …In Processing
The operational aspect of importing machinery wasn’t easy, but Abir figured it out. However, paying foreign suppliers was a whole different challenge.
First, opening a bank account capable of handling international transactions was a struggle—rural banks didn’t have the infrastructure to handle forex.
“Our company is mainly situated in rural areas, so it’s very difficult to do forex transactions from my native.”
After finally getting an account, Abir still faced constant uncertainty. He had no clear timeline for when payments would go through.
Every time he visited the bank, the answer was the same: “It’s in processing. We can’t say for sure.”
When suppliers asked, “When will the payment arrive?”, Abir had no answer.
Without receiving advance, exporters help shipments. Orders got delayed.
Things worsened when the RBI introduced stricter regulations for outward remittances. What was already tough became an absolute nightmare. Banks demanded endless documents, placed payments on hold, and rejected transactions with vague reasons like
“Payment doesn’t meet regulatory guidelines” or “Documents incomplete.”
The back-and-forth drained his time and energy, and switching banks didn’t help. The delays were unpredictable, the process slow, and the fees remained the same.
Borders and Boundaries…
Abir knew SA Industries needed a better solution to manage international payments—faster, more dependable than the banks' slow, inefficient processes.
A quick Google search led him to Karbon. He hesitated at first, concerned about the security of using an online platform for large-scale international transactions.
Banks, despite their inefficiencies, were still seen as the “safe and reliable” option. And that label carried weight.
But Abir knew he couldn’t keep wasting his and his team’s time and energy. He decided to give it a try. Instead of jumping in right away, he chatted with a Karbon expert first.
Pending -> Paid and Received
When Abir spoke to a Karbon expert, he was reassured that Karbon was certified with the highest security protocols. It was as safe as any traditional bank—if not more. Transactions were faster, with instant updates and a trackable dashboard.
“Karbon has made a big difference for our business. Being in a rural area, handling forex was always a challenge, but their quick support and smooth transfers have made things so much easier. We really hope to see Karbon grow and open more branches soon.”
But what Abir didn’t expect was what Karbon offered beyond this. While onboarding Abir, Karbon reviewed his current transaction structure, which included the markup fees, foreign transaction charges, service fees, and currency conversion costs. While saving money wasn’t his priority, he had always thought about lowering his fees. However, he didn’t believe he had options. All banks charged the same.
With Karbon, that changed. Abir saw his transaction costs drop by over 20%.
Direct Q&A Snapshot:
What challenges did you face before using Karbon?
It was a constant struggle. Managing international payments in rural areas through traditional banks was slow, unpredictable, and frustrating.
Why did you choose Karbon over other options?
I explored a few platforms, but the charges were high, and transfer speeds were the same. Karbon stood out with lower fees, faster transfers, and a quick response call that clearly explained everything.
What measurable improvements have you seen since switching to Karbon?
Since switching, I’ve experienced faster transactions, immediate support, and a dedicated account manager who’s always there to assist.