A brand new examine from American Categorical reveals that almost all of companies wish 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 development, provider relationships, and operational effectivity.
Key Findings
In accordance with the examine, 91% of enterprise decision-makers acknowledge that “straightforward, streamlined and safe funds drive enterprise development.” Nonetheless, regardless of this acknowledgment, solely 17% of companies surveyed have totally automated their funds processes, whereas 15% haven’t automated any funds in any respect.
Late or gradual funds have additionally had a tangible affect 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 affect belief of their enterprise relationships.
The Advantages of Funds Automation
Automation in funds processing affords companies a number of benefits, together with enhanced money move visibility, safer transactions, and elevated operational effectivity.
“Funds optimization will not be all the time appreciated for its constructive affect on relationships between consumers and suppliers and total enterprise success,” stated Widad Chaoui, Senior Vice President, Company and B2B Options Product Administration, World Business Companies, at American Categorical. “Automated fee strategies like digital playing cards or digital push funds drive extra cash move visibility, safer transactions, and higher relationships. Additionally they give companies larger working capital flexibility, enabling them to spend money on transferring their enterprise ahead.”
Enterprise leaders acknowledge these benefits, with 29% of survey respondents stating they’d “sleep higher at evening” if they didn’t have to fret about fee accuracy and timeliness. Nonetheless, perceived obstacles proceed to forestall many corporations from totally embracing automation.
Challenges to Automation Adoption
Regardless of its advantages, the survey discovered that issues round value (45%), lack of perceived profit (28%), and safety dangers (26%) are among the many major causes companies have but to implement full funds automation.
“Usually, it may really feel like a frightening process for enterprise leaders to alter their fee processes from handbook to automated, even when the present handbook strategy presents challenges, is inadequate, and poses dangers,” stated R.J. Ancona, Vice President and Basic Supervisor, B2B Product, Partnerships and Consumer Administration, Service provider Companies at American Categorical. “However the actuality is that the time and price related to automation will be simpler to implement than anticipated, and may profit companies in each the quick and long term.”
Automation as a Progress Technique
The examine discovered that 95% of enterprise decision-makers consider “straightforward, streamlined, and safe funds create joyful clients.” In 2025, 43% of these planning to alter their funds processes cite enterprise development 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 – Scale back errors, save money and time, and improve money move effectivity.
- Straight-through processing for static and digital playing cards – Totally digital processing with out handbook steps.
- EIPP (Digital Bill Presentment and Fee) – Streamlined digital invoicing and fee acceptance.
- Digital Push Funds – Transactions initiated by the payer for larger management over fee timing and vacation spot.
As companies look to enhance effectivity and strengthen relationships with suppliers and consumers, 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 12 months.
The Amex Trendex B2B Funds Version survey was carried out 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
