Supply chain management is a broad term encompassing the planning, sourcing, manufacturing and delivery of goods. Ultimately, it enables companies to fulfill orders from customers promptly and accurately.
The digital era has impacted the supply chain industry in many ways. It has facilitated new business models and technologies, changing customer expectations and increasing disruptions.
Speed
As businesses struggle with a competitive marketplace, cost increases and rising customer expectations, they constantly seek ways to boost their financial performance. Embracing technology that enables digital supplier payments can help them do just that.
B2B digital payments are a growing trend as business leaders realize how streamlined and reliable electronic payments can be. These solutions can improve how you process payments, reduce time spent on manual reconciliation and provide a better customer experience.
Another trend gathering momentum is real-time payments. These instant payments enable businesses to transfer money instantly from one bank account to another, accelerating cash flow and liquidity and boosting operational efficiency and flexibility.
Automated Clearing House, or ACH, payment options are another type of digital payment that can be an excellent choice for B2B recurring payments. These transactions move electronically through financial institutions using routing numbers and bank accounts, which makes them convenient and secure for business customers.
Convenience
B2B businesses have been moving towards digital payment solutions because of their convenience. These solutions allow companies to transfer funds directly from one account to another in a secure manner.
Business-to-business payments can be credit cards, ACH, or wire transfers. While each of these options offers benefits to both parties, it is essential to choose the proper method for your company’s needs.
As more and more companies migrate to digital payments, suppliers are forced to adapt too. Some suppliers still use dated methods for accepting payments, such as mail orders/telephone orders (MOTO).
These methods are insecure and pose PCI-DSS compliance challenges. Also, they can take days to process payments, a significant issue when businesses are trying to meet demand.
To minimize cash flow problems, businesses must move away from manual processes and adopt automated systems. These systems not only help with the speed and efficiency of invoice processing, but they also offer better visibility and actionable data.
Security
The security of B2B digital payments has to be a top priority, particularly regarding high-value remittances and sensitive business data. As a result, more and more businesses are turning to electronic payment processing solutions to increase speed, efficiency and security.
Several electronic payment solutions are available, including credit cards, ACH (automated clearing house) and wire transfers. These can be more secure than paper checks but require careful attention to detail.
Choosing the right payment solution for your business can take time and effort, especially when a supplier has long-standing processes based on paper invoices and records. But if you can identify where these processes are limiting your efficiency and putting you at risk, a move to digital is worth the effort.
The best B2B digital payment solutions offer many benefits, from the speed and convenience of electronic payment processing to the security and accuracy of paperless invoices. However, to reap the full benefits, your business should take a comprehensive approach to digital payment management.
Flexibility
B2B digital payments are an essential part of supply chain management. They can make a huge difference in a company’s growth and profitability.
While most businesses are moving to electronic payment systems, many still use paper checks. This is a common mistake that could be costing your company a lot of money.
Checks are also a hassle to process, which can add up quickly. Moreover, they can lead to late fees and other problems.
To combat these issues, you can opt for an automated business payment system that offers invoice approval workflows. That way, you can control your account payable processes and get paid on time.
You can also opt for ACH, or Automated Clearing House, which allows you to move funds electronically from one company to another using routing numbers and bank accounts. These are a popular choice for B2B recurring payments, and they’re often much faster than other electronic transactions.
Efficiency
B2B digital payments are crucial in supply chain management as they improve a company’s cash flow and reduce DSO. They also eliminate the need for costly checks and save time by eliminating manual reconciliation, decreasing costs and increasing efficiency.
COVID-19, a pandemic in early 2016, dramatically changed how people and businesses operate and accelerated the adoption of electronic payments for B2B transactions. The pandemic prompted suppliers and buyers to decentralize financial systems, automate processes and reduce the need for physical interaction.
As a result, COVID-19 spawned the emergence of a slew of innovative startups that disrupted the B2B payments space. These companies are rapidly emerging to capture a slice of the $120 trillion global B2B payment market.
The growth of these networks may showcase how the challenges and uncertainty of COVID-19 are triggering AR teams to finally take control of their payment processes, which have long been plagued by a lack of interoperability and inefficiencies, as well as high costs and late payments.