A brand new examine from American Categorical reveals that almost all of companies want to enhance their funds processes in 2025, with automation rising as a key focus. The Amex Trendex: B2B Funds Version survey, which polled 1,000 U.S. enterprise decision-makers, highlights the position of streamlined funds in enterprise progress, provider relationships, and operational effectivity.
Key Findings
Based on the examine, 91% of enterprise decision-makers acknowledge that “straightforward, streamlined and safe funds drive enterprise progress.” Nevertheless, regardless of this acknowledgment, solely 17% of companies surveyed have absolutely automated their funds processes, whereas 15% haven’t automated any funds in any respect.
Late or sluggish funds have additionally had a tangible influence on enterprise relationships, with 26% of respondents citing fee delays as a cause they’ve stopped working with a purchaser or provider. Moreover, 4 in 5 enterprise leaders (82%) indicated {that a} single fraud incident might considerably influence belief of their enterprise relationships.
The Advantages of Funds Automation
Automation in funds processing provides companies a number of benefits, together with enhanced money circulate visibility, safer transactions, and elevated operational effectivity.
“Funds optimization isn’t at all times appreciated for its constructive influence on relationships between patrons and suppliers and total enterprise success,” mentioned Widad Chaoui, Senior Vice President, Company and B2B Options Product Administration, World Business Providers, at American Categorical. “Automated fee strategies like digital playing cards or digital push funds drive additional cash circulate visibility, safer transactions, and higher relationships. In addition they give companies better working capital flexibility, enabling them to put money into transferring their enterprise ahead.”
Enterprise leaders acknowledge these benefits, with 29% of survey respondents stating they might “sleep higher at night time” if they didn’t have to fret about fee accuracy and timeliness. Nevertheless, perceived limitations proceed to forestall many corporations from absolutely embracing automation.
Challenges to Automation Adoption
Regardless of its advantages, the survey discovered that considerations round value (45%), lack of perceived profit (28%), and safety dangers (26%) are among the many important causes companies have but to implement full funds automation.
“Typically, it could possibly really feel like a frightening activity for enterprise leaders to vary their fee processes from guide to automated, even when the present guide method presents challenges, is inadequate, and poses dangers,” mentioned R.J. Ancona, Vice President and Normal Supervisor, B2B Product, Partnerships and Shopper Administration, Service provider Providers at American Categorical. “However the actuality is that the time and value related to automation will be simpler to implement than anticipated, and might profit companies in each the brief and future.”
Automation as a Development Technique
The examine discovered that 95% of enterprise decision-makers consider “straightforward, streamlined, and safe funds create pleased clients.” In 2025, 43% of these planning to vary their funds processes cite enterprise progress as their main motivation.
American Categorical identifies a number of key automated options that companies can undertake to enhance their funds processes:
- Automated AP (Accounts Payable) and AR (Accounts Receivable) software program options – Cut back errors, save money and time, and improve money circulate effectivity.
- Straight-through processing for static and digital playing cards – Totally digital processing with out guide steps.
- EIPP (Digital Bill Presentment and Fee) – Streamlined digital invoicing and fee acceptance.
- Digital Push Funds – Transactions initiated by the payer for better management over fee timing and vacation spot.
As companies look to enhance effectivity and strengthen relationships with suppliers and patrons, automation is anticipated to play an important position in shaping funds methods. The survey means that whereas challenges stay, the shift towards automated funds might drive important advantages for companies within the coming yr.
The Amex Trendex B2B Funds Version survey was performed on-line by Opinium Analysis on behalf of American Categorical between December 9, 2024, and January 2, 2025. The survey included 1,000 enterprise decision-makers throughout varied industries, chosen primarily based on their accountability for monetary companies, accounting, banking, or enterprise credit score services inside their organizations.
Picture: American Categorical