How the DTB EBB Platform Could Digitize East Africa’s Tea Trade
Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) officially launched its DTB EBB platform, a digital solution developed in partnership with the East Africa Tea Trade Association (EATTA) to streamline tea auctions and settlements across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi.
The platform aims to improve efficiency, transparency, and connectivity across the tea value chain, supporting both domestic and cross-border trade.
The DTB EBB system digitizes the entire tea trade cycle, from pre-auction to post-auction, reducing manual processes that previously extended trade cycles to 45–60 days. Automation now allows the process to be completed in under a month, enabling faster payments and quicker release of consignments.
All registered EATTA members, including producers, brokers, buyers, and warehouses, access a single centralized system, which provides real-time updates on auction processes.
Buyers can bid remotely through an automated e-auction system, replacing the traditional in-person floor auctions, while brokers and producers benefit from a transparent digital record of each transaction.
Payment and settlement processes are also digitized. Buyers generate digital payment instructions, or E-Slips, linked to DTB collection accounts. The platform confirms payments in real time and triggers the release of consignments from warehouses.
Brokers use the system to issue invoices and release documentation, creating an end-to-end digital audit trail.
The pre-auction process begins with producers dispatching tea to designated warehouses, which update the platform upon receipt. Brokers then prepare an online sale catalogue and distribute samples for buyer inspection.
During the e-auction, buyers submit bids online, and the system automatically records the highest bids. Post-auction, the platform manages invoicing, payment confirmation, and the release of consignments, ensuring every step is digitally tracked.
DTB EBB also supports cross-border trade by enabling multiple payment methods, including RTGS and telegraphic transfers, and offering related trade finance services for imports and exports.
The platform aligns with East African Community (EAC) initiatives to reduce non-tariff barriers and transaction costs while promoting seamless regional integration.
Jefferson Wachira is a writer at Africa Digest News, specializing in banking and finance trends, and their impact on African economies.
