Vision

Commodity trading is continuously striving to modernize and integrate new technologies searching for ever faster and more secure international exchanges. With Argos Inspection and Technologies, SCCF go further by providing all entities involved in the commodities segment with a wider spectrum of services including data enrichment and blockchain technology.

Argos Inspection and Technologies enables the creation of unique digitalized documents and guarantees the authenticity of each file generated on its platform. An open verification service is available to our partners to validate the authenticity of any file created. Additionally, Argos Inspection and Technologies extracts the data during document generation in order to improve the knowledge partners have of the underlying commodity, enabling real time monitoring of the supply chain. The file owner may share documents for download with any partners, including forwarders, warehouse companies, insurance companies and banks. Finally, Argos Inspection and Technologies enriches the data in the documents with external datastores with a view of enhancing the risk assessment thanks a more robust knowledge. Whilst all of these indicators have been developed for letters of credit, the basic principles applied can be mirrored for other transactional documentation, including (non-exhaustively) Invoices, Warehouse Receipts, Bills of Lading, FCRs, Quantity and Quality certificates..

As with most of the leading websites around the world, anyone can sign up on the platform freely in a few seconds. Identity verification (KYC) is undertaken by our partner SwissCom and once this item has been addressed, all services are activated, including the letter of credit and electronic documents generation. Each file can be downloaded after receipt of an email invitation by a partner of the drafting agent. Additionally, an authenticity confirmation of the file can be printed in the Liquid blockchain. In order to optimize interaction with the multiple IT departments of companies, including insurance companies and banks, Argos Inspection and Technologies proposes a data standard and schedule opening an API service.

Target

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Our Argos Inspection and Technologies platform is designed to ease monitoring at all levels for the increased amount of transactions financed by SCCF. We enter 2019 secure in the knowledge we will see a rise of our KPI’s (number of users, files generated, blockchain files, …), an enhanced development of new features on the platform and a wider geographical spread of our customer base.

How does it work?

Technologically speaking, Argos Inspection and Technologies is composed of a web platform (PHP) enabling PDF generation through a JavaScript lib. JSON data are stored in databases while the files remain in a specific file storage location. Each blockchain record of the Proof of Existences and file verification is made via a web wallet plugin on the user browser and some specific Argos Inspection and Technologies web pages. Once proof of existence is published, anyone can access and verify the file however amendment and deletion are restricted to the owner. The data enrichment is made via JavaScript Web Service by OpenData API, in order to always show real time information.

What is the process?

  1. Create the document online
  2. Print and sign the orinigal document
  3. Scan and upload the final file
  4. (optionnal) Record the "digital fingerprint" in a blockchain in order to certify the authenticity
  5. Share the document with your partners (bank, insurrance, funds, ...)

Team

Dimitri RUSCA - CEO

Dimitri, the CEO and Founder of SCCF and Argos Inspection and Technologies SA, has 30 years of experience in Commodity Trading and Trade Finance. Before founding SCCF in 2004, and Argos in 2018 Dimitri was Vice President at BNP Paribas (Suisse) SA. Prior to joining BNP Paribas, Dimitri worked in other Swiss banks and at Finco division of André & Cie SA, a Swiss major commodities trading company.

François GILARDONI, PhD - Chief Technical Officer (CTO)

François is a VC and award-winning scientist with 25+ years of global experience in high-tech industries (EU/ USA/ MENAT/ E. Asia/ S. Africa). He has led high-impact, strategic and multi-stakeholder R&D industrial projects in AI/ML, computing, aerospace, automotive, IoT, CTF and pharma. Prior to joining SCCF, he was Special Advisor at Swiss boutique VC firm, FSI, board member at e-GTSA SA, Geneva (ACQ: Komgo SA), Director of Industrial Applications at InforSense Ltd., London (ACQ: IDBS), and Head of Modeling at Avantium, Amsterdam, a spin-off of Shell BV. He holds a Ph.D. (summa cum laude) in physical chemistry and an M.A. in environmental science (specialization in computing) from the University of Geneva. He completed postdoctoral research at UC Berkeley. François speaks English, French, Italian and Spanish.

Ioannis KOUKOVINIS - IT Development Manager

With a background in Electrical and Computer Engineering and having worked at companies such as CERN, Schneider Electric, Festo Microtechnology and IDQ on subjects as diverse as web development, software development, measurements and electronics, Ioannis Koukovinis joined Argos Inspection and Technologies in 2021 to participate in and promote the rapid expansion of its services and products.

Mikhail POPOVYCH

Mikhail Popovych has 15 years in Sales experience in financial and inspection services. He previously worked for Cotecna for 2 years and 3 years for Intertek. Mikhail Popovych is now in charge, at Argos Inspeciton, of the inspections of goods. Based in Kyiv, he is an expert in the commodity trading in Ukraine.

Nelya POPOVA

Nelya Popova previously graduated a Master of Economy of the Kyiv National Linguistic University. After 4 years working for Cotecna as a Regional Manager, Nelya joined Argos Inspections as a Senior coordinator in the beginning of 2020.

Orkun GUR

Orkun Gür graduated from Anadolu University in Foreign Trade and worked for 8 years at SGS Turkey as Senior Operations Coordinator. He was in charge of organizing the of inspection operations. Currently based in Istanbul, Orkun joined Argos as an inspection specialist.

Gennadiy SHULGA

Gennadiy Shulga has over 30 years of experience in global inspection, testing and certification business, he was Vice President, Global Business Development with SGS Group in Geneva from 2010 till 2022. In this role he was developing new projects and digital initiatives in Natural Resources department of SGS group. Gennadiy has started his working carrier in 1988 as a deputy manager of Ilyichevsk container terminal. From 1990 till 2010 Gennadiy was holding different positions within SGS starting from a senior inspector, a project manager and a business development manager, Managing Director of SGS Ukraine. At the same time Mr. Shulga was a Board Member of Ukraine Grain Association and GAFTA Ukraine Trade Committee. He has great experience in commodity trade and grains in particular, acting for 5 years as Global Grain Product Manager with SGS Group. From 2018 till 2022 Gennadiy was a Board member of AgFlow company. Gennadiy has a Bachelor's degree from Odessa State University and a Master in Management of Marine Transport from Odessa Marine Engineering University.

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