In this engaging episode of Crosstalks: Conversations that Drive Innovation, we take a comprehensive journey through the evolution of remittances, tracking the transformation from fax-based transfers to today's digital era with payment expert, Hugo Cuevas-Mohr. Unravel fascinating stories from his 2023 book, "Sending Money, Forex, Remittances, Migration, and the Fintech Revolution".

Hugo brilliantly recalls his trip to the Computer History Museum in California, and the parallels he drew between the progression of technology and the money transfer industry. He speaks about the operational challenges: the use of faxes, adapting technology, logistics, etc. as the delivery of family remittances adpated to the growth and needs of the customers.

Dive into the origins of message fields in money transfers and their consequent impact on close-knit emotional and practical communication among migrant families. Hugo draws attention to the evolution in communication technology from the 1980s to 2000s, highlighting its transformational role the remittance industry played and the importance to the financial inclusion of senders and beneficiaries..

This episode also explores the intricacies of understanding both the sender and receiver in remittances. Hugo emphasizes on migration-related occupations, like sailors and deep-sea fishermen, discussing the associated challenges and high-priority nature of their remittances.

Discover the unique remittance service designed for incarcerated migrants in U.S. prisons with Rapid-o-Giros back in 1992. Learn about the geographical migrations of beneficiaries turned remittance senders through the historical lens and get a closer look at a system that sustained the remittance services despite the odds.

The episode also reveals insights into remittance groups the and evolving problem-solving strategies amid compliance concerns, intertwined with confronting social issues like human trafficking and smuggling.