A brand new examine from American Categorical reveals that almost all of companies need 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 function of streamlined funds in enterprise progress, provider relationships, and operational effectivity.
Key Findings
In line with the study, 91% of enterprise decision-makers acknowledge that “simple, streamlined and safe funds drive enterprise progress.” Nevertheless, 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 sluggish funds have additionally had a tangible impression on enterprise relationships, with 26% of respondents citing cost delays as a motive they’ve stopped working with a purchaser or provider. Moreover, 4 in 5 enterprise leaders (82%) indicated {that a} single fraud incident might considerably impression belief of their enterprise relationships.
The Advantages of Funds Automation
Automation in funds processing affords companies a number of benefits, together with enhanced money circulation visibility, safer transactions, and elevated operational effectivity.
“Funds optimization is just not all the time appreciated for its constructive impression on relationships between consumers and suppliers and total enterprise success,” mentioned Widad Chaoui, Senior Vice President, Company and B2B Options Product Administration, International Business Providers, at American Categorical. “Automated cost strategies like digital playing cards or digital push funds drive additional cash circulation visibility, safer transactions, and higher relationships. In addition they give companies higher 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 might “sleep higher at night time” if they didn’t have to fret about cost accuracy and timeliness. Nevertheless, perceived boundaries proceed to stop many firms from totally embracing automation.
Challenges to Automation Adoption
Regardless of its advantages, the survey discovered that considerations round price (45%), lack of perceived profit (28%), and safety dangers (26%) are among the many principal causes companies have but to implement full funds automation.
“Typically, it might probably really feel like a frightening process for enterprise leaders to vary their cost processes from handbook to automated, even when the present handbook method presents challenges, is inadequate, and poses dangers,” mentioned R.J. Ancona, Vice President and Basic Supervisor, B2B Product, Partnerships and Consumer Administration, Service provider Providers 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 brief and future.”
Automation as a Progress Technique
The examine discovered that 95% of enterprise decision-makers consider “simple, streamlined, and safe funds create pleased prospects.” In 2025, 43% of these planning to vary their funds processes cite enterprise progress as their major 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 circulation 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 cost acceptance.
- Digital Push Funds – Transactions initiated by the payer for higher management over cost timing and vacation spot.
As companies look to enhance effectivity and strengthen relationships with suppliers and consumers, automation is anticipated to play a vital function 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
