In era where resilience is the new return on investment (ROI), finance teams are becoming architects of defensive, strategic momentum. They’re designing back offices that not only support growth but accelerate it. In doing so, they’re making the back office a front-line differentiator.

Key trends powering this reinvention include the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in financial operations, the modernization of payment systems, the adoption of zero-trust cybersecurity architectures and the strategic use of data analytics.​

At the same time, given ongoing macro uncertainties, every transformation must tie back to core value creation: faster close cycles, smarter capital allocation and stronger control.

Enterprise AI is Coming to Support Key Business Operations

AI has transitioned from a futuristic concept to a core component of financial management. Companies are leveraging AI to enhance forecasting accuracy, detect fraud and automate complex tasks. For instance, Amazon has integrated generative AI into its finance operations, streamlining processes such as contract review and regulatory interpretation, thereby improving cost efficiency and accuracy.

Moreover, specialized AI models are being developed to address industry-specific challenges. 

Forget static Excel models. Machine learning systems are parsing terabytes of structured and unstructured data — everything from supplier trends to weather forecasts — to generate rolling, adaptive forecasts. AI is handling invoice processing, automating compliance workflows and even suggesting where working capital should be parked or deployed based on macro signals.

Articul8’s launch of domain-specific generative AI models for supply chain operations exemplifies this trend. These models autonomously translate complex technical documentation into actionable insights, enhancing operational efficiency in manufacturing and industrial processes.

Read also: This Week in B2B: Embracing Complexity Is Transforming Back Offices

Embracing the Modernization of Payment Systems and Financial Services

Despite technological advancements, many companies have been slow to adopt digital payment solutions. PYMNTS spoke with Eric Frankovic, president of corporate payments at WEX, about the urgency of modernizing payment systems to maintain a healthy supply chain and control costs.

He noted that increasing concerns about fraud and the operational benefits of virtual cards are prompting a digital shift across B2B payments, noting that virtual cards offer enhanced security, streamlined processes and improved capital management compared to paper-based and other traditional payment mechanisms.

Additionally, partnerships with technology providers are helping in facilitating this transition. Mastercard’s collaboration with Unipaas also aims to embed modern card processing capabilities into vertical SaaS platforms, enabling small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to move from manual invoicing to efficient, secure digital payments. Discover also this week teamed up with Fyorin on a virtual B2B card program.

PYMNTS also covered how, while digitizing B2B payments may look different for every business, the pressures on organizations to innovate are coming from several shared angles that can include fraud concerns, cross-border complexities, real-time expectations, heightened security demands and shifting workforce demographics.

See more: This Week in B2B: Entering an Age of Cross-Border Intelligence

Trust No One, But By Design

With digital acceleration comes digital vulnerability, making enterprise cybersecurity an important concern for leadership.

As back-office functions become increasingly integrated with cloud-based solutions and interconnected platforms, traditional security perimeters are becoming obsolete. This evolution necessitates the adoption of zero-trust architectures, which operate on the principle of “never trust, always verify.” By implementing granular access controls and continuous monitoring, companies can enhance security in a landscape where remote work and mobile devices are prevalent.

Cybersecurity threats are constantly advancing, as detailed in a report this week by U.S. agencies that highlighted the growing risks of cyber tactics such as “fast flux” attacks.

Still, it’s not all bad news. The rise of cloud-native enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, real-time dashboards and low-code analytics tools is empowering CFOs to deliver insights on demand, without waiting on IT or behavioral insight teams. As finance functions become more embedded in strategic decision-making, the ability to tell stories with numbers has never been more critical.

Retailers, for example, are increasingly relying on payment processors and merchant acquirers not only for transaction processing but also for strategic insights. By analyzing transactional data, acquirers can help retailers optimize operations, enhance customer experiences and drive revenue growth. This collaboration enables retailers to personalize customer interactions, improve marketing strategies and streamline checkout experiences.

These analytics can be invaluable in an environment like today’s, where the current economic climate presents significant challenges for small businesses, particularly in light of escalating tariffs.

The April 2025 SMB Growth Report from PYMNTS Intelligence found that one in five SMBs without financing fear they may not survive the impact of the U.S. tariffs.

The post This Week in B2B: Resilience Is the New ROI appeared first on PYMNTS.com.

The paycard is delivered through the Branch App and Card, enables payments to a dedicated bank account and allows employers to provide workers with a path to a complete banking experience, the company said in a Thursday (April 10) press release.

Employers can use the paycard and platform to deliver cashless tips, earned wage access, same-day pay and other payment methods, with no pre-funding required, according to the release.

They can also provide a digital bank account and Mastercard debit card; up to eight free ATM withdrawals per month; over-the-counter withdrawals; international spend and ATM usage in the United Kingdom, Canada and Mexico; and financial wellness offerings like savings, cash flow management tools and cash back rewards, the release said.

These features include no overdraft fees, late fees or minimum usage fees, per the release.

“Our new paycard not only provides businesses with a comprehensive solution for paying their entire workforce but also helps deliver a mobile-first, accessible experience for workers that traditional paycards lack,” Branch founder and CEO Atif Siddiqi said in the release.

Businesses are looking to partnerships to make their payments faster, Branch Chief Financial Officer Brian Whalen told PYMNTS in an interview posted in 2023.

“In business, the trend is clearly toward getting everyone paid as soon as possible,” Whalen said. “The companies that are moving faster in this direction have also created a real competitive advantage. Once upon a time, they might have said they can build it themselves, but they’re reconsidering that and saying, ‘I know what I’m good at. Let’s go look for a partner who can do the digitization of the payments because that’s their expertise.”

Branch partnered with temporary staffing platform Indeed Flex in September to create Same Day Pay, which lets Flex users get up to half their earnings within an hour after finishing a shift.

“Timely and accessible payment solutions are more critical than ever for today’s temporary workforce, as about 3 in 4 contingent workers want to be paid every day,” the companies said at the time.

For all PYMNTS B2B coverage, subscribe to the daily B2B Newsletter.

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Despite technological advancements and increasing calls for modernization, progress in the migration from paper-based payment systems to digital alternatives remains slow. There are still a lot of memos being passed around.

“It’s now an age-old question that we’ve been talking about for so long,” WEX President of Corporate Payments Eric Frankovic told PYMNTS’ Karen Webster.

“COVID was the most recent event that we all would have sworn would drive everybody to digitize their back office and get away from paper altogether,” he said. “And I think it did push us in that direction. But we came out the other side, and what we’re seeing is there are still a lot of companies that are just getting back to doing whatever it is that they do. And digitizing their back office is falling down the priority list.”

But while paper-based payment processes still represent a formidable iceberg of institutional inertia, companies are beginning to see the writing on the wall when it comes to embracing digital payments in earnest as the pressures of fraud, supply chain fragility and generational shifts continue to mount.

To Scale Digital Payments, Look No Further Than Virtual Cards

The reasons for the ongoing inertia across the payments landscape are complex, spanning priorities, infrastructure and entrenched cultural practices.

However, a renewed focus on fraud prevention is finally moving the needle.

“Fraud is now what we’re seeing that’s pushing more and more people to take this seriously and move it back up the priority list,” Frankovic said.

Against today’s operational backdrop, any conversation about payments innovation increasingly revolves around virtual cards, which can offer benefits like enhanced security, streamlined processes and improved working capital management.

“We’re seeing more companies that maybe have been a little resistant in the past now making outreach,” he said. “What’s going to drive adoption not only short term, but over the next five or 10 years, is going to be the sellers of these products — the banks and payment companies getting sharper, making it easier, integrating with their ERP systems, and consulting with them on the best treatment of suppliers.”

The fragility of supply chains has also contributed to a rising interest in digital payment solutions.

“The really progressive companies are getting in front of it,” Frankovic said. “… They have to cut costs, they have to control costs, they have to keep a healthy supply chain. And in order to do that, they have to start those conversations.”

From tokenized virtual cards to mobile wallets, companies are exploring various options to streamline processes. However, the conversation often pivots toward the dichotomy between big suppliers and the so-called “long tail” of smaller suppliers. For smaller suppliers, virtual cards are often the most straightforward solution.

“When you talk about big strategic suppliers as well as the long tail of small suppliers, for the long tail, it may be in everyone’s best interest just to accept a virtual card,” he said. “Maybe the transaction sizes aren’t as big, the volumes aren’t as big, and you don’t really need to rationalize anything other than getting paid as quickly as you can from the buyer.”

Digital Transformation’s Role in Future-Proofing Payments

As payments continue to evolve, Frankovic acknowledged that the adoption of new technologies will be gradual rather than revolutionary.

“I think it’s going to be a slow trickle,” he said. “It’s going to be hand-to-hand. It’s going to be a company at a time. It’s going to be payment companies like WEX differentiating themselves enough so there’s word of mouth. Company A says, ‘Hey, we’re using WEX, it’s working great. Here’s what they’re doing for us.’ And then the next company and the next company follow suit.”

However, while technology solutions are improving, they must contend with entrenched business processes that have been in place for decades.

Still, Frankovic highlighted the fact that younger generations entering the workforce have no familiarity with paper checks and expect instant, digital solutions.

“I had to explain to my 16-year-old daughter recently what a check was,” he recalled with a laugh. “When you’re trying to explain it, it sounds really insane. And she was like, ‘What do you mean, why would you do that? And where does it go?’”

“In a year from now, I think we’ll still be talking about this,” Frankovic said. “We will be talking about exactly this for five more years, and then we’ll start to see the precipitous decline of checks.”

For all PYMNTS B2B coverage, subscribe to the daily B2B Newsletter.

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But that doesn’t mean some firms don’t still need a little push to get the ball rolling.

While digitizing B2B payments may look different for every business, the pressures on organizations to innovate are coming from several shared angles that can include fraud concerns, cross-border complexities, real-time expectations, heightened security demands and shifting workforce demographics.

These factors, as well as many others, are converging to create a new payments paradigm where the agility to adapt is a competitive advantage. The result is that, across certain operational relationships, automating and digitizing B2B payments is no longer a forward-thinking ambition — it’s becoming a necessity. The five reasons below spell out why.

Read more: Can Agentic AI Solutions Help CFOs and Treasurers Unlock Growth?

Automation and AI are Creating an Efficiency Imperative in B2B

Automation has long been a cornerstone of payment innovation, but the infusion of artificial intelligence (AI) is taking it to new heights. Businesses are increasingly deploying AI to enhance invoice processing, manage complex accounts payable (AP) workflows and predict cash flow trends with unprecedented accuracy.

AI-driven systems can help to streamline reconciliation processes, identify discrepancies before they escalate into disputes and offer predictive insights that help firms optimize their cash positions.

“Businesses often adopted payment automation in parts,” Holly Tennent, director, B2B payment solutions and card product management at Bank of America, told PYMNTS. “It’s important to ensure that we’re capturing the different priorities of AP, IT, treasury and procurement stakeholders.”

PYMNTS Intelligence research found that more than one-third of middle-market firms now utilize AI for at least half of their AP processes. Because of this, these businesses are 47% less likely to report high levels of operational uncertainty. This is a critical advantage, as they often operate with tighter margins and have greater sensitivity to cash flow disruptions than larger competitors. 

At the end of the day, PYMNTS has found the question isn’t whether firms will automate and evolve their back offices. It’s how quickly and effectively they can do it.

“For a long time, the industry has offered up paperless alternatives to payments,” including virtual cards, and real-time payments are poised to gain even more traction, Alex Hoffmann, general manager of North America at Edenred Pay, told PYMNTS. “What GenAI adds on top of all this is that beyond the payment, we can automate the invoice-to-pay cycle.”

See also: Fraudsters Love Clerical Errors; Automation Helps Eliminate Them

Fraud Prevention and Security Continue Proving Paper’s Weaknesses

PYMNTS intelligence found that, despite their declining popularity for personal transactions, checks still account for nearly 40% of U.S. B2B payment volume. In fact, 68% of companies relied on checks for B2B payments in 2023, and 70% of businesses stated they have no plans to discontinue their use in the next two years.

“If you have not operationalized your procurement process appropriately, [and] if you don’t have a certain level of maturity, you’re receptive to fraud,” Michael van Keulen, industry principal, procurement at Coupa, told PYMNTS in an interview posted in February. “Fraud prevention isn’t just a finance problem or a procurement problem — it’s a business imperative.”

Many firms can tend to perceive checks to be low-cost or “free,” but manual processing creates hidden expenses. Time, labor and delayed payment cycles add to these costs, and fraud losses only amplify the financial burden.

“A lot of fraud is in the checks. If you cut out checks, you cut 60% of fraud right there,” Ernest Rolfson, founder and CEO of Finexio, told PYMNTS.

More like this: Stablecoins Keep Racking Up Milestones, but Can They Crack B2B Payments?

Instant Payments are Leading to Real-Time Expectations

The consumerization of payments has shaped expectations in the B2B arena. Clients now expect instantaneous transactions, mirroring the ease and speed of P2P platforms like Venmo or Zelle. In response, companies are embracing real-time payment solutions to meet the growing demand for immediacy.

According to PYMNTS intelligence, nearly 65% of companies reported that their clients now expect faster payments, especially when dealing with high-value transactions. Real-time payment infrastructures not only enhance customer satisfaction but also improve cash flow management — a critical factor for firms navigating today’s volatile economic environment.

You may like: Your Business Has Its Payments Data. Now What?

Generational Shifts: Evolving Workforce Expectations

The transformation of B2B payments is also increasingly being driven by changing demographics within the workforce. As millennials and Generation Z professionals take on leadership roles, their preferences and expectations are influencing how companies approach payments.

These digital-native generations prioritize user-friendly platforms, seamless integrations and automated solutions. They’re also more likely to advocate for embedded finance solutions that provide greater transparency and efficiency. As a result, businesses are investing in intuitive, streamlined payment systems that align with the expectations of a younger, tech-savvy workforce.

Related: Know-Your-Business Is Key to Stability as Trump’s Tariffs Shake Up Supply Chains

Cross-Border Innovation is Helping to Bridge Global Markets

The rise of digital-first business models has only amplified the need for seamless cross-border payments. As companies expand internationally, navigating complex regulatory landscapes and mitigating currency fluctuation risks becomes paramount. Innovative FinTech solutions are addressing these challenges through multi-currency accounts, real-time currency conversion and blockchain-powered settlements.

Moreover, collaboration between traditional financial institutions and agile FinTechs has led to more efficient payment rails designed to facilitate cross-border transactions. The demand for streamlined international payment solutions is especially pronounced among mid-market firms seeking to expand their global footprint without incurring prohibitive transaction costs.

For B2B firms, cross-border payments are among the most promising use cases for stablecoins, as PYMNTS has covered.

The convergence of these trends is accelerating the pace of change within the B2B payments ecosystem. While innovation is essential, it must be balanced with security, compliance and user-centric design. As automation and AI continue to advance, cross-border solutions become more robust and generational preferences shape business expectations, companies will need to remain agile to thrive.

Ultimately, those who can harness these trends to create seamless, secure and scalable payment solutions will be best positioned to capitalize on the opportunities ahead. The future of B2B payments is being written now — by those bold enough to embrace the transformation.

The post From Fraud Fears to Gen Z CFOs, 5 Trends Driving B2B’s Digital Shift appeared first on PYMNTS.com.

Artificial intelligence, for example, has become a linchpin of modern financial operations, reshaping processes from fraud detection to credit risk assessment. As companies warm toward harnessing AI-powered algorithms, efficiency and precision are being positioned at the forefront of operational improvement.

At the same time, B2B payments are undergoing a parallel transformation.

Legacy systems, which often relied on manual processes and paper-based invoicing, are being replaced by streamlined, digitized platforms. Businesses are turning to integrated payment solutions that enhance efficiency, security and transparency.

What is the reason for the accelerating digital transformation of back-office technology stacks and payment workflows?

A prominent root cause is the ongoing uncertainty afflicting the business environment. This includes escalating trade tensions marked by the imposition of tariffs, which have introduced a wave of hesitation across various sectors, impacting middle-market companies.

As economic uncertainties persist, financial management has become paramount, and, as the B2B news this week shows, few things support agile decision making and real-time forecasting better than the digitization of previously manual workflows.

Read also: AI Agent Systems Are Here — Will They Transform B2B?

AI Integration in Financial Operations

One of the trends in B2B is the integration of AI-powered solutions to enhance operational efficiency. The adoption of agentic AI solutions is being explored to empower chief financial officers and treasurers by enabling autonomous financial decision making and operational efficiency.

Payments technology firm Transcard announced Tuesday (April 1) that it added agentic AI capabilities to its vendor network management solution. The changes to the company’s SMART Exchange are designed to streamline payment interactions between buyers and suppliers, with agentic AI automating onboarding and know your business (KYB).

Tesorio added an AI agent for supplier portals to its platform for accounts receivable automation, collections and cash flow management Thursday (March 27). The company’s new Supplier Portals Agent autonomously manages portal-based invoicing, from invoice submission to payment tracking, eliminating the need for finance teams to submit and track invoices across portals, a task that Tesorio said has become “one of the most manual, fragmented and error-prone parts of the AR process.”

AI-driven platforms can offer CFOs and treasurers insights and analytical capabilities, helping them navigate complex finances. The collaboration between agentic AI and financial operations is one potentially poised to unlock growth by empowering executives to make data-driven decisions with greater confidence.

See also: How CFOs Can Solve for Resource Bottlenecks in Back-Office Innovation

Innovations in B2B Payment and Risk Management Solutions

Beyond AI, the B2B sector is witnessing innovation in payment systems and risk management. Mastercard, for instance, launched a program Monday (March 31) aimed at encouraging the adoption of virtual cards for commercial payments. The initiative seeks to provide businesses with a more seamless, consumer-like experience, particularly in the realm of digital transactions.

Meanwhile, EasyPost on Tuesday introduced Forge, a B2B shipping solution designed to optimize logistics and reduce costs for enterprise clients. The development highlights the growing demand for specialized solutions that address the unique needs of B2B commerce, where efficiency and cost-effectiveness are paramount.

Risk management remains a concern for businesses operating on a global scale. To address this, Zip, also on Tuesday, rolled out a supplier risk management solution aimed at helping organizations assess and mitigate potential vulnerabilities in their supply chains. As geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions persist, such tools are key for maintaining operational resilience.

See also: What Treasurers Can Learn From How Central Banks Approach Risk

Strategic Financial Management Amid Economic Uncertainties

The ongoing evolution of FinTech is also shaping how businesses manage their assets and navigate economic uncertainties. A growing number of treasurers are turning to unconventional assets like bitcoin and gold as part of broader capital allocation strategies. The trend reflects a desire for diversification and a hedge against currency volatility, particularly as inflationary pressures and geopolitical risks continue to loom.

For CFOs, the challenge of maintaining financial visibility in a volatile environment is ever-present. Enhanced financial visibility tools are proving essential in navigating tariff uncertainties and ensuring liquidity management remains robust. These tools empower executives to forecast potential disruptions and respond proactively rather than reactively.

Supply chain transparency is another area receiving heightened attention. Inspectorio’s partnership with Open Supply Hub aims to promote greater transparency through open data platforms. The collaboration is intended to enhance accountability and ensure that sourcing practices adhere to evolving regulatory and ethical standards.

Looking forward, the question is not whether these technologies will continue to gain traction, but rather how quickly and effectively they will be adopted at scale.

For all PYMNTS B2B and AI coverage, subscribe to the daily B2B and AI Newsletters.

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Despite institutional inertia, innovation remains non-negotiable in the evolving landscape of B2B payments technology.

The latest frontier? Agentic artificial intelligence (AI), an evolution of enterprise AI.

Unlike its predecessor, GenAI, which focused primarily on producing content, agentic AI takes automation a step further by incorporating decision-making capabilities.

“An agentic AI model could actually be looking at the transactional data, proactively identifying trends, checking for data anomalies, reaching out to stakeholders, triggering the right workflows and making sure everything stays on track,” Rinku Sharma, chief technology officer at Boost Payment Solutions, told PYMNTS during a discussion for the most recent edition of the What’s Next in Payments Series, “The Rise of Digital Labor: Exploring Agentic AI in Banking and FinTech.” 

“It’s about intelligently acting on the data, taking decisions and creating those automated workflows that create the scale that is needed,” Sharma said, noting that the technology’s capacity to act autonomously is what sets it apart from standard automation models.

Unlocking the High-Impact Applications of Agentic AI

From loan underwriting to fraud detection and financial advisory services, agentic AI is poised to potentially revolutionize how banks and FinTechs operate.

Sharma, a certified AWS Solutions Architect and AI proponent with over 23 years of experience, is spearheading Boost’s integration of AI-driven solutions across the enterprise. 

The company’s journey with AI began with traditional rule-based automation but has now evolved to embrace the capabilities of large language models and agentic AI. 

“We are in very early stages so far, like everybody else,” Sharma said. “However, we’ve taken some giant strides in terms of embedding AI into our day-to-day operational procedures and whatever we do in terms of parsing the information that’s coming from our payments.”

Boost, a FinTech acquirer exclusively focused on the B2B marketplace, processes payment information from numerous platforms daily, with that volume increasing as their network of issuers, buyers and suppliers grows.

Scaling this system requires more than just incremental improvements. It demands intelligent automation.

One key use case for Boost is reconciliation reporting. Sharma described how GenAI can create reconciliation reports based on settlement data. But with agentic AI, the system can go further, proactively detecting anomalies, alerting stakeholders and initiating workflows to resolve issues.

Through agentic AI, Boost is further automating data validation, triggering workflows and even ensuring compliance criteria like KYB (Know Your Business) are met. Sharma believes this will free operational staff to focus on higher-value work rather than repetitive, time-sensitive tasks.

Boost is also exploring agentic AI for merchant onboarding and dynamic price optimization, two critical areas where streamlined processes can yield substantial benefits.

“Merchant onboarding has historically been one of the more heavy, manual touchpoints,” Sharma said. “It requires a lot of data gathering, setting up merchants and following up for additional information.”

AI can help to change all that. And as it relates to dynamic price optimization, Boost’s existing rules-based systems are evolving through AI to make real-time decisions based on transaction cost, currency, customer preferences and other variables.

“We’re looking to leverage agentic AI to enhance that further and make those decisions in real time,” Sharma said. “It’s about finding the best route for a transaction and continuously improving the process.”

The CTO’s Vision for the Future

Still, agentic AI implementation is only as good as the data it receives. Sharma stressed the importance of data validation and readiness as foundational pillars of Boost’s AI strategy.

“The models are only as good as the data being fed to them,” he said. “Garbage in, garbage out holds true even with agentic AI.”

For its own part, Boost ensures quality data by implementing several layers of validation, enrichment and standardization before feeding it into their AI systems. Once the AI produces results, these are verified against internal data sources for accuracy.

For Sharma, the focus remains on pairing innovation with accountability.

“We want to make sure that these models are not just smart, but they’re accountable as well,” he said. “Validating the model outputs is what we believe in.”

As Boost scales its operations and continues to adopt new platforms and clients, Sharma remains committed to maintaining a balanced approach to AI integration.

“We need automation, but not just automation. We need intelligent automation that can take decisions and help us move faster,” he said. “In the next few years, agentic AI is going to be a foundational part of the B2B payments industry. Here at Boost, we want to be the industry leader.”

The post How Data Quality Is Powering the Future of Intelligent B2B Payments appeared first on PYMNTS.com.

This new offering, announced Wednesday (April 2), is designed to enhance the company’s application programming interface (API) management capabilities.

“The release of API Builder represents a major step forward for Celigo and our customers,” Mark Simon, vice president of strategy at Celigo, said in a news release. “By offering full lifecycle API management, we are empowering businesses to build APIs that they can securely share with partners and customers — all in one platform, maintaining complete visibility and control over their APIs.”

He added that companies are “increasingly looking to offer their B2B customers and suppliers multiple options to connect their data,” which gives “Celigo customers a best-in-class option to publish APIs with the Celigo platform.”

The release adds that API Builder integrates with Celigo’s API management capabilities, which provide tools for securing, socializing and monitoring APIs.

“This release enhances Celigo’s API Management offering, built on a strategic partnership with Gravitee, a leader in API security and management,” the company said.

Writing about APIs last year, PYMNTS noted that they had become one of the most powerful tools in transforming treasury operations.

“APIs have become indispensable in the corporate finance ecosystem, allowing seamless integration and communication between various financial systems, enabling automation, and providing real-time data access,” that report said.

And with APIs becoming more simplified and accessible and collaboration between FinTechs and financial institutions accelerating, treasury teams are enjoying the benefits.

“One of the primary benefits of API integration for treasury teams is the ability to access real-time data from banking and financial systems,” PYMNTS wrote. “Traditionally, treasury teams relied on manual processes and periodic data imports, which often resulted in delays and data discrepancies.”

But with APIs, teams can integrate data streams from banking partners and financial institutions directly into their treasury management systems, giving them an up-to-date view of cash positions across accounts and currencies.

“The most underappreciated part of any one of these finance organizations is the controller’s office and the back end of treasury, where they need to be able to take in reporting at the end of every day, be able to close the books in two or three days at the end of a month,” Cindy Turner, chief product officer at Worldpay, said in an interview with PYMNTS.

For all PYMNTS B2B coverage, subscribe to the daily B2B Newsletter.

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There are few places where efficiency matters more than B2B payments.

The global B2B payments market is valued at over $125 trillion annually. Yet, the sector remains plagued by inefficiencies that include high transaction fees, slow settlement times and cumbersome processes involving intermediaries.

These issues are particularly pronounced in cross-border transactions, where settlement can take days, and stacked fees can eat up chunks of each transaction.

Stablecoins seem to observers like a natural fit for what ails B2B. With near-instant settlement, reduced costs and transparency through blockchain technology, stablecoins could address many of the pain points associated with traditional payment systems.

However, as stablecoins continue to rack up milestones unimaginable just a few years ago, the question remains, will they?

Read also: The Payment Professional’s Guide to Stablecoins

Embracing Blockchain for Business Payments

When it comes to the embrace of stablecoins, B2B payments present a different challenge than consumer-facing applications. Businesses demand not only efficiency but also compliance, integration with legacy systems, and certainty in regulatory frameworks.

“When you think about the needs of every FinTech or payments company, or a bank that wants to enter the [stablecoin] space, they need secure infrastructure, from the creation of assets, such as tokenizing them, to holding them, and of course moving them,” Utila co-founder and CEO Bentzi Rabi told PYMNTS last month.

“Everyone will enter the stablecoin era in the end,” Rabi added.

Still, while companies like Circle, which is preparing an initial public offering (IPO), are working diligently with regulators, the broader stablecoin landscape remains ambiguous. The absence of a cohesive federal framework in the United States makes it difficult for enterprises to embrace stablecoins with confidence. At the same time, inconsistent standards and lack of transparency in some stablecoin projects present counterparty risks that enterprises are hesitant to shoulder.

Separately, for most businesses, integrating stablecoins into existing payment systems is not a plug-and-play affair. It requires technological upgrades, staff training and assurances that such systems will be future-proofed against evolving standards. For adoption to truly scale, payment service providers must continue developing APIs and other tools that simplify the integration of stablecoin transactions into existing enterprise workflows.

“When businesses want to move enterprise-grade money across borders — typically north of $500,000 — they run into three major pain points: limited liquidity for large transactions, long settlement times and complex integrations,” Stable Sea CEO and co-founder Tanner Taddeo told PYMNTS last month.

“Stablecoin adoption will only grow if inefficiencies in usage are solved,” he added.

The marketplace is responding with innovations that paint a promising picture of the utility of stablecoins within the B2B payments ecosystem.

For example, in advance of its IPO, Circle is teaming with Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) to explore the broader use of stablecoins. The partnership, announced Thursday (March 27), will see ICE — operator of the New York Stock Exchange — explore the use of Circle’s USDC stablecoin to develop new products and solutions for its customers.

Elsewhere, asset manager Fidelity Investments is reportedly preparing to launch its own stablecoin. The Boston-based company, which manages more than $5 trillion in assets, is in the advanced stages of testing a stablecoin.

See also: Treasurers Embrace Bitcoin and Gold as Capital Allocation Enters Innovation Era

What Needs to Change for Stablecoins to Gain B2B Traction

To fully unlock the B2B market, crypto stakeholders must navigate the complex interplay of technology, regulation and enterprise demands. At the same time, some easy applications exist across the marketplace, particularly as it relates to global B2B commerce.

Cross-border payments are among the most promising use cases for stablecoins. For the Outlook 2030 B2B event at the end of last year, PYMNTS spoke with Ran Goldi, senior vice president of payments and network at Fireblocks, and Nikola Plecas, Visa Crypto’s head of commercialization, to explore the benefits and myths surrounding blockchain-based payments.

This included a discussion about the concept of the “stablecoin sandwich,” a method of using stablecoins to transfer value between currencies, which helps illustrate blockchain’s efficiency in cross-border transactions.

Enterprise adoption of stablecoins doesn’t need to solely be tied to B2B payments, either. Stablecoins are transforming corporate treasury operations.

Ultimately, there is potential for stablecoins within the B2B space. Whether stablecoins will be capable of meeting it is still an open question.

The post Stablecoins Keep Racking Up Milestones, but Can They Crack B2B Payments? appeared first on PYMNTS.com.

The changes to the company’s SMART Exchange are designed to streamline payment interactions between buyers and suppliers, with agentic artificial intelligence (AI) automating onboarding and know your business (KYB), according to a Tuesday (April 1) press release.

“The new streamlined onboarding process and dedicated portals are set to revolutionize how businesses interact, pay, and manage their vendors,” Transcard CEO Greg Bloh said in the release.

“We crafted these enhancements to address the struggles daunting buyer and supplier payments today and we’re excited to provide our customers with a modern, digital B2B solution powered by AI.”

According to the release, the new SMART Exchange makes it easier for businesses to convert their networks and fully automate enablement.

“Replacing the days of call centers and back-office constraints to onboard and update vendor information, the AI-powered solution delivers the following benefits to buyers and suppliers,” the company said.

Transcard’s announcement arrives at a time when AI agents are taking on more responsibility in the B2B world, as PYMNTS wrote earlier this year, transitioning from assistants to key players in B2B processes.

For instance, these agents are taking over customer service and operations at major companies, as covered here November.

These agents can navigate complex business processes independently and use capabilities beyond basic chatbots, handling things like automating order management, scheduling appointments and loyalty promotion.

“After all, in the B2B space, relationships matter. Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all interactions,” that report said. “Today’s customers expect personalized, high-touch experiences, even from the businesses they engage with. Agentic AI systems are increasingly able to learn about individual customer preferences, anticipate their needs, and offer tailored solutions — without the need for human intervention.”

More recently, PYMNTS examined how AI agents can help chief financial officers (CFOs) and treasurers foster greater growth.

“Within the space of the office of the CFO and accounts payable, that’s where GenAI may be most transformative,” Alex Hoffmann, general manager of North America at Edenred Pay, told PYMNTS in an interview.

“Do I want a central AI tool analyzing all systems? Or do I want AI embedded within key financial platforms like AP and ERP?” Hoffmann posed in a separate discussion. “The answer isn’t obvious, but it’s a crucial decision for CFOs.”

For all PYMNTS B2B coverage, subscribe to the daily B2B Newsletter.

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Forge, announced by the Utah-based company Tuesday (April 1), lets B2B operations quickly launch end-to-end shipping capabilities.

“Businesses today need robust, scalable solutions that can quickly adapt to their growing demands,” Ching Pei, EasyPost’s vice president of product, said in a news release. “With Forge, we are excited to offer our customers a powerful tool that integrates directly into their platforms, providing them with a shipping solution that is not only reliable but also incredibly easy to manage.”

Aimed at helping platforms go to market more quickly and cost-effectively, Forge includes a comprehensive application programming interface (API) suite that covers each key step of the parcel shipping lifecycle — from address validation and label generation to tracking, insurance and claims.

“With low-code sub-account management and built-in analytics, Forge empowers businesses to offer branded, full-service shipping experiences while reducing engineering lift and accelerating time to value,” the release added.

The company adds that current white-label customers of EasyPost can switch over to Forge in under a minute and access an upgraded dashboard.

The launch of Forge comes at a time when companies in the supply chain and logistics landscape are facing a surprising number of single points of failure, as PYMNTS wrote recently.

“Managing chokepoints may require a combination of predictive technologies, strategic sourcing and a mindset oriented toward resilience and flexibility,” that report said. “Failure to adapt can expose deeper enterprise vulnerabilities such as issues in production capacity, logistics and demand forecasting.”

Recent from PYMNTS Intelligence’s March 2025 Certainty Project shows that escalating trade tensions marked by the recent imposition of tariffs have ushered in a wave of uncertainty across various sectors, most notably among mid-sized companies.

These companies, often interacting with intricate global supply chains, now face obstacles that require strategic recalibrations to maintain resilience. Among these challenges: navigating complex global supply chains, digital transformation and market unpredictability, all of which increasingly fall under the purview of the finance chief.

“After all, despite the best-laid plans, disruptions are inevitable,” PYMNTS wrote. “What separates resilient organizations from reactive ones is the ability to quickly pivot. Scenario planning around everything from port blockages to cyberattacks and natural disasters has become a critical tool for businesses seeking to prepare for the worst.”

For all PYMNTS B2B coverage, subscribe to the daily B2B Newsletter.

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