B2B Supplier Payments with Instant Transfers

B2B Supplier Payments are the lifeblood of supply chains, yet traditional payment methods often introduce delays and inefficiencies. Over 55% of U.S. B2B invoiced sales are paid late, disrupting cash flow and straining supplier relationships. 

In response, a new era of instant transfers is emerging to modernize B2B payments. Instant payment platforms allow companies to send funds to suppliers within seconds, 24/7, instead of waiting days for checks, ACH, or wire transfers to clear. 

Whether you’re a fintech startup building payment solutions, a CFO managing working capital, or a procurement leader ensuring on-time supplier payments, understanding instant B2B transfers is crucial. 

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain what instant B2B payments are, compare them to traditional methods, explore the latest U.S. instant payment systems (like RTP and FedNow), and outline the benefits, challenges, and steps to adopt instant supplier payments in your organization.

What Are B2B Supplier Payments and Instant Transfers?

B2B Supplier Payments refer to transactions where a business pays its suppliers or vendors for goods and services. These payments can range from small routine invoices to large procurement orders. 

Traditionally, businesses have used methods like paper checks, ACH bank transfers, or wire transfers to pay suppliers. However, these methods often involve processing delays, cutoff times, and manual workflows that can slow down the payment cycle.

Instant Transfers in B2B are a game-changer. An instant transfer (or real-time payment) moves funds from the buyer’s bank account to the supplier’s account within seconds, with immediate confirmation. 

Unlike ACH or wire, instant payments can occur 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, even on weekends and holidays. This means a payment can be initiated and settled at any time, providing continuous availability. 

Instant transfers typically use modern electronic payment rails designed for speed and finality, such as The Clearing House’s RTP network or the Federal Reserve’s new FedNow service. These systems are built on data-rich messaging standards (ISO 20022 in the U.S.), allowing detailed remittance information to accompany the payment.

In short, instant B2B payments enable businesses to send money to suppliers immediately at any time with confirmation of receipt. Funds become available to the supplier right away, which can significantly streamline financial operations. 

Below, we will delve into how this differs from traditional methods and why it matters for businesses.

Traditional B2B Payment Methods and Their Limitations

Despite many advances in fintech, a surprising amount of B2B payments still rely on traditional, slower methods. In fact, roughly 30–40% of U.S. B2B payments are still made with paper checks as of the mid-2020s. 

Traditional methods like checks, ACH transfers, and wire transfers have served businesses for decades, but each comes with limitations in speed, cost, or convenience. Let’s briefly examine these conventional payment methods and their drawbacks:

Paper Checks

Paper checks have long been a staple of B2B payments in the United States. They involve a buyer mailing a physical check that the supplier must deposit and wait to clear. 

This process is slow – mail delivery can take several days, and banks may hold funds for a day or more to ensure the check clears. As a result, check payments often mean suppliers receive funds several days (or even weeks) after invoicing. 

Checks are also labor-intensive (printing, mailing, manual reconciliation) and prone to errors or loss. They carry security risks too – checks can be stolen or altered, contributing to fraud. Yet many businesses still use checks out of habit or due to lacking electronic options, especially in traditional industries. 

This reliance creates friction in B2B transactions, as noted in manufacturing and construction sectors where about one-third of payments remain by check.

In summary, checks are costly and inefficient: processing a single check can cost dollars in labor and postage, and payment timing is unpredictable. These drawbacks motivate the shift to digital and instant payment solutions.

ACH Transfers

The Automated Clearing House (ACH) is an electronic network for batch processing of bank transfers. ACH is widely used for direct deposits, vendor payments, and recurring bills. 

It is cost-effective and reliable – ACH fees are just cents per transaction, making it cheaper than wires or cards. However, ACH payments are not real-time. They typically clear in 1–3 business days, as transactions are processed in batches at set times. 

Even with ACH Same-Day or Next-Day options, there are cutoff times and limits (and higher fees) to expedite transfers. Importantly, ACH does not operate on weekends or holidays, meaning a payment initiated on Friday evening might not settle until Monday or later. 

For a CFO or supplier, this delay can complicate cash flow planning. On the upside, if an error is made (wrong amount or account), ACH transactions can sometimes be reversed within a short window, offering a degree of recourse. 

But overall, ACH lacks the immediacy that modern businesses increasingly need. No funds move after banking hours, which constrains flexibility. While ACH remains a trusted workhorse (processing over $54 trillion in B2B payments in 2024 alone), its slower speed and batch nature make it less ideal for time-sensitive supplier payments.

Wire Transfers

Wire transfers move money bank-to-bank on the same day and are often used for high-value or urgent payments. In the U.S., domestic wires (via Fedwire or CHIPS) can send large amounts that settle within minutes or hours. 

Unlike ACH, wires are processed individually in real time during banking hours, not in batches. This speed comes with a high cost: domestic wire fees typically range from $25–$30 per transfer (and $45–$50 for international wires). 

Wires also require cutoff times – transfers usually must be sent by late afternoon on business days to arrive that day. There is no service on weekends or holidays. Wires are generally considered irrevocable once sent; if money is sent to the wrong account or a fraudster, it is very difficult to recall. 

From a B2B perspective, wires are great for speed and certainty (especially for large payments like commercial real estate closings or M&A deals), but the high fees and limited availability make them impractical for routine supplier payments. Many companies reserve wires for special cases due to the cost. 

Additionally, while fast, a wire transfer still might not credit the recipient instantly in all cases – settlement between banks is near-real-time, but occasionally wires can take a few hours or until the next day to fully finalize. In summary, wires offer faster clearing than ACH but at a significantly higher cost and without 24/7 convenience.

Comparing B2B Payment Methods

To summarize the key differences between traditional payment methods and newer instant payment options, the table below outlines major attributes of checks, ACH, wires, and instant transfer systems:

Payment Method	Type	Speed	Availability	Typical Cost	Remittance Data Support
Paper Check	Traditional	Days (mail + processing)	Business hours (no nights/weekends)	High (postage, processing ~$1–$10 each)	Very limited (paper memo, manual reconciliation)
ACH Transfer	Traditional	1–3 business days (same-day possible)	Business days only (no weekends/holidays)	Low (pennies per transaction)	Limited addenda (basic memo field)
Wire Transfer	Traditional (RTGS)	Same-day (often minutes to hours)	Banking hours only (no weekends)	High ($25–$30 domestic)	Moderate (standard fields; not as rich as modern formats)
RTP (Real-Time Payments)	Instant (Domestic US)	Seconds (instant settlement)	24/7/365 continuous availability	Low (a few cents per transaction)	Rich data (ISO 20022 messaging – extensive remittance info)
FedNow	Instant (Domestic US)	Seconds (instant settlement)	24/7/365 (including holidays)	Low (≈$0.045 paid by sender’s bank per txn)	Rich data (ISO 20022 messaging standard)
SWIFT gpi	Fast (Cross-border)	Minutes to hours (often same-day international)	24/7 globally (dependent on banks’ processing)	Variable (correspondent fees, ~$20–$50+)	Enhanced tracking & transparency (SWIFT messaging with tracking IDs)

Table: Key characteristics of traditional vs. instant payment methods in B2B.

As shown above, instant payment networks (RTP, FedNow) combine the best of both worlds – they are as fast (or faster) than wires and available around the clock, yet cost only cents per payment, similar to ACH.

They also improve on data capabilities by using modern ISO 20022 standards, which let businesses send detailed remittance information (like invoice numbers, references, notes) along with the payment for easier reconciliation. In the next section, we’ll explore these instant payment platforms in detail and how they work.

The Rise of Instant Payment Platforms in the U.S.

The United States has historically been slower to adopt real-time payments than some other countries, but that is rapidly changing. In recent years, major instant payment platforms have launched to bring faster payments to the U.S. financial system. 

The key players enabling instant B2B transfers are The Clearing House’s RTP network and the Federal Reserve’s FedNow service, both of which allow immediate bank-to-bank transfers domestically. 

Additionally, for international supplier payments, initiatives like SWIFT gpi are speeding up cross-border transactions. Below, we outline these platforms and technologies:

Real-Time Payments (RTP) Network

The RTP Network is the first new U.S. payments rail developed specifically for real-time clearing and settlement. Launched in 2017 by The Clearing House (a consortium of large banks), RTP enables instant bank transfers that settle within seconds into the recipient’s account. 

It operates continuously 24x7x365, meaning businesses can initiate payments anytime and the funds move immediately – a stark contrast to ACH batches or wire cutoff times. RTP transactions are processed individually (not in batches), and once processed they are final and irrevocable.

A few key points about RTP for B2B:

• Adoption: Not all banks offer RTP yet, but the network is growing. Initially, many participating banks only offered RTP to their commercial clients who enrolled for the service.
  
  As of mid-2023, over 300 banks were on the RTP network, including many of the largest U.S. banks, and coverage continues to expand to regional and community banks.
  
• Transaction limits: Currently, RTP supports payments up to $1 million per transaction. (Notably, in early 2023 this limit was $1M; by 2025 the cap was increased to $10 million to accommodate larger business payments.) This allows even fairly large supplier invoices to be paid via RTP.
  
• Cost: The cost is very low – typically just a few cents paid by the sending bank. Banks may charge businesses a small fee or include RTP in their treasury management services. Regardless, it is much cheaper than a $25 wire fee.
  
• Features: RTP uses ISO 20022 messaging, enabling rich remittance data. Businesses can send extensive payment details along with the funds (invoice numbers, etc.), helping suppliers reconcile payments faster.
  
  RTP also supports new message types like Request for Payment (RfP), where a supplier can send a payment request that the buyer’s system can then instantly fulfill – this can streamline invoicing and payment approval workflows.
  
• Security: Because RTP payments are irrevocable and instant, banks have instituted strong upfront fraud controls (e.g. multi-factor authentication, customer enrollment).
  
  The limited public access and structured onboarding for RTP have kept fraud cases low so far. Businesses still must be vigilant – once an RTP payment is sent, it cannot be recalled easily if it was sent in error or to a fraudulent account.

Overall, RTP has been a major step forward for U.S. payments. By Q2 2025, RTP was processing over 107 million instant payments per quarter (accounting for ~98% of instant bank payments in the U.S.) and seeing huge growth in value as businesses embrace real-time transfers. 

With the recent increase of the transaction limit to $10 million, RTP saw a surge in high-value business payments, processing $481 billion in Q2 2025 alone. This demonstrates that companies are increasingly using RTP for larger supplier payments that traditionally might have gone via wire.

The FedNow Service

FedNow is the Federal Reserve’s instant payment service, launched in July 2023. It is the first new payment rail introduced by the Fed in over 40 years. 

Much like RTP, FedNow enables any participating bank or credit union in the U.S. to send and receive payments instantly, at any time. The Fed developed FedNow to ensure broad nationwide access to real-time payments, including to smaller banks and regions not served by private networks.

Key characteristics of FedNow:

• Availability: FedNow operates 24/7/365, including nights, weekends, and holidays. This always-on capability is a breakthrough for the U.S. banking system, which previously had no 24/7 interbank settlement outside of cards.
  
  Businesses can make urgent payments outside normal banking hours – for example, funding an emergency order on a Sunday or sending last-minute payroll corrections.
  
• Speed: Payments on FedNow settle in seconds, comparable to RTP. Funds are credited instantly to the recipient’s account (with final settlement between banks occurring in real time through the Federal Reserve’s system).
  
• Transaction limits: Initially, FedNow’s standard transaction limit was $500,000 per payment (with a default lower limit and option for participants to increase up to the max). This covers many typical B2B payments.
  
  The Fed has indicated the limit may be adjusted over time as the system matures. (For context, RTP currently allows higher per-payment amounts, but both networks cover common supplier invoice sizes.)
  
• Cost: The Federal Reserve has priced FedNow affordably – the sending bank pays about $0.045 per credit transfer (4.5 cents), and a nominal fee for requests for payment messages. These low fees mean businesses should ultimately see very little cost to use FedNow, especially compared to wire fees.
  
• Features and Data: FedNow also uses the ISO 20022 standard for messages, allowing rich data with each payment (e.g. invoice details). Like RTP, it supports instant payment requests and other add-on features.
  
  The Fed has emphasized strong fraud management in FedNow’s design, given the irrevocable nature of instant payments. They planned additional anti-fraud tools post-launch to protect participants.
  
• Adoption: Upon launch, many banks joined FedNow’s pilot program. By end of 2023, the Fed predicted 200+ banks would be live on FedNow (on top of 120 pilot institutions).
  
  This number is growing through 2024 and 2025 as more financial institutions come on board. FedNow’s adoption is expected to spread across community banks and credit unions, widening access to instant payments beyond the large banks in RTP.
  
  In Q2 2025, FedNow handled 2.1 million transactions (in that quarter), and the average daily value of FedNow payments surged to $2.7 billion – over 400% growth from earlier in the year.
  
  Such rapid growth indicates pent-up demand for faster payments among businesses and consumers alike.

Notably, FedNow and RTP are separate networks but are working towards interoperability. The Federal Reserve coordinated with The Clearing House to ensure banks can connect to both and possibly route payments between the two systems in the future. 

For now, a business doesn’t need to choose one or the other – many banks will offer both RTP and FedNow options. The main practical difference is that one is run by the Fed and the other by a private entity, but both deliver real-time transfers. 

Other than ownership, and slight differences in transaction limits, FedNow and RTP function very similarly for end-users.

SWIFT GPI and Cross-Border Instant Payments

Domestically-focused instant payment systems like RTP and FedNow address U.S. dollar payments within the country. But what about paying international suppliers? 

Cross-border B2B payments have traditionally been even slower – often taking 3–5 days or more via correspondent banking, with limited visibility into the process. To improve this, the SWIFT global payment innovation (gpi) initiative was launched.

SWIFT GPI isn’t a separate payment network but rather an enhancement to the existing SWIFT system used for international wires. It aims to make cross-border bank transfers faster and more transparent:

• Speed: SWIFT gpi has dramatically sped up international payments. Today, nearly 60% of SWIFT gpi payments reach the end beneficiary within 30 minutes, and almost all (almost 100%) are completed within 24 hours.
  
  This is a huge improvement from the pre-gpi era, where cross-border payments could take several days or even get held up for a week due to time zone differences and manual interventions.
  
• Transparency and Tracking: With GPI, each payment carries a unique tracking reference, and the sender can see exactly where the payment is at any time. Fee deductions and foreign exchange rates are also made transparent to the parties.
  
  Corporates benefit from this end-to-end tracking: they know when a supplier has been paid and what fees were taken, reducing uncertainty and reconciliation issues.
  
• Certainty: SWIFT gpi provides confirmation of credit – the sender is notified when the payment reaches the beneficiary’s account. This confirmation gives businesses confidence that their supplier was paid, which is critical for time-sensitive shipments or to release orders.
  
• Efficiency: By moving to this faster, tracked model, companies can better manage liquidity and supplier relations. They spend less time chasing “where is my wire?” questions.
  
  As SWIFT notes, gpi has helped businesses improve supplier relationships, speed up invoice reconciliation, and achieve better capital efficiency in cross-border trade.

It’s worth mentioning that SWIFT gpi is an evolving solution and part of a broader trend towards instant cross-border payments. 

Other initiatives include regional instant payment systems linking together (for example, Europe’s SEPA Instant, India’s IMPS/UPI, etc.), and networks like Visa B2B Connect aiming to enable near-real-time international transfers. 

However, for U.S. companies, SWIFT gpi via their banks is currently a primary way to send faster payments to foreign suppliers in different currencies.

Benefits of Instant Transfers for B2B Supplier Payments

Switching to instant payment methods offers a range of tangible benefits for businesses and their suppliers. Faster payments can solve many of the pain points that CFOs, accounts payable departments, and procurement teams face with traditional processes. 

Below are key advantages of using instant transfers for B2B supplier payments:

• Speed and Immediate Funds Availability: The most obvious benefit – suppliers receive their money within seconds rather than days.
  
  This immediacy ensures vendors have cash in hand right away to reinvest in inventory, cover expenses, or ship the next order. For the paying company, it means no more waiting on checks to clear or worrying if a wire made it on time.
  
  Instant payments settle instantly and irrevocably, giving businesses precise control over payment timing and cash flow. You can pay exactly when you intend to (for example, on the due date or upon delivery) and be confident the supplier got paid.
  
• 24/7 Flexibility: Because networks like RTP and FedNow operate around the clock, companies are no longer bound by bank cut-off times or business day schedules. Payments can be executed after hours, on weekends, or on holidays if needed.
  
  This is invaluable for urgent or last-minute needs – e.g., sending an emergency parts payment on a Saturday so the supplier ships on Sunday. It gives CFOs and finance teams greater flexibility to move money when it’s optimal for them, not just when banks are open.
  
• Improved Cash Flow and Liquidity Management: Instant payments help optimize working capital. A CFO can hold onto cash longer (since you no longer need to send a payment days in advance to ensure timely arrival) and still pay on the exact due date.
  
  This just-in-time payments capability keeps cash in your account until the last moment, improving liquidity. It also means you can react to business changes in real time – for instance, if a supplier offers a discount for quick payment, you can pay immediately to take advantage.
  
  Conversely, if cash is tight, you can defer payment until the due date and then send instantly, avoiding late fees. Real-time payments thus give finance teams fine-grained control over outflows and the ability to avoid penalties or capture early payment discounts more easily.
  
• Stronger Supplier Relationships: Paying suppliers faster and on time can significantly strengthen your vendor partnerships. Suppliers value prompt payment – it signals trust, reliability, and respect.
  
  When suppliers know they will be paid instantly upon invoice approval, it builds goodwill and can make them more willing to prioritize your orders. Research shows that vendors receiving timely payments are more inclined to offer better terms (e.g. volume discounts or flexible arrangements) to the buyer.
  
  Additionally, removing the uncertainty of “when will I get paid?” fosters a better relationship. Suppliers can count on immediate payment, which may make them more responsive and loyal.
  
  Over time, this reliability can translate into preferential treatment, better pricing, or simply a more collaborative business relationship. In competitive supply chain environments, having a reputation as a company that pays quickly can make you a “customer of choice” for top suppliers.
  
• Reduced Late Payments and Disputes: Instant transfers can virtually eliminate late payment issues (as long as the payer initiates the payment on time).
  
  Many late payments in B2B occur due to process delays – checks stuck in mail, approvals held up, missed cutoff times, etc. With real-time capabilities, you can ensure the supplier is paid on the exact due date or even instantly upon invoice approval, drastically cutting down overdue invoices.
  
  This in turn reduces disputes and dunning communications. Suppliers don’t need to chase you for payment updates, because they get notified (and see funds) immediately.
  
  Fewer late payments also means avoiding late fees and preserving any early-pay discounts. Ultimately, prompt payments foster trust and minimize conflicts over payment timing.
  
• Rich Remittance Information & Easier Reconciliation: One often overlooked benefit is the data that accompanies instant payments. Both RTP and FedNow use ISO 20022, enabling a large amount of remittance information to travel with the payment.
  
  For example, a business can include invoice numbers, purchase order references, and other details directly in the payment message. This makes it much easier for the supplier to automatically reconcile the payment with their receivables.
  
  It also helps the payer’s accounting – the confirmation can be automatically matched to the open invoice. As a result, cash applications are faster and more accurate. This reduces manual work in accounting departments and lowers the chance of errors.
  
  Compared to a check (which might arrive with a paper stub that could get lost) or an ACH (which has limited addenda data), instant payments provide data-rich context for each transaction. That transparency streamlines record-keeping for both parties.
  
• Cost Savings: While adopting any new technology can have upfront costs, using instant transfers can save money in the long run.
  
  For one, transaction fees are low – a few cents per payment is negligible even compared to the cost of printing and mailing checks (not to mention the time staff spend on them).
  
  Also, by potentially replacing some credit card payments to suppliers with instant bank transfers, companies can avoid high merchant processing fees.
  
  (Some businesses pay suppliers via corporate cards for convenience or float, but incur 2-3% fees; instant ACH-based payments can circumvent that fee.) Additionally, reducing late payments can avoid costly late penalties.
  
  Faster settlement can decrease the need for short-term financing – if you get paid faster by your customers and pay your suppliers exactly on time, you can better manage working capital without borrowing.
  
  All told, instant payments can be a more efficient and cost-effective way to pay, particularly as volume scales.
  
• Security and Fraud Reduction: Instant payments have security advantages over paper-based methods. Checks, for example, carry account numbers openly and can be stolen or counterfeited, contributing to fraud (manual checks remain a common fraud vector in B2B).
  
  By moving to electronic real-time payments with secure bank-to-bank channels, you eliminate risks like check fraud and lost checks. The networks themselves (RTP/FedNow) are highly secure and settle through the banking system with strong encryption.
  
  Moreover, immediate confirmation means you quickly know if a payment went to the correct account. However, it’s important to note that while certain fraud types are reduced (no intercepted checks), other fraud risks still exist – like business email compromise scams attempting to make you send money to the wrong account.
  
  The irrevocable nature of instant payments means companies must have solid internal controls (such as verification of supplier banking details and proper approval workflows) to prevent erroneous or fraudulent payments.
  
  On balance, moving away from paper and manual processes improves security, but organizations should implement strong anti-fraud measures in their instant payment processes.
  
  The Federal Reserve has built fraud tools into FedNow and stresses the need for vigilance with faster payments. With good controls, businesses can enjoy fast payments with confidence that funds are going to the right place at the right time.
  
• Better Emergency and Just-in-Time Capabilities: Instant transfers open up use cases that were impractical before.
  
  For example, if a company faces an urgent need – say a critical part broke and a supplier will ship a replacement only upon payment – an instant payment can resolve the issue in minutes, whereas previously one might have to overnight a check or send an expensive wire and hope it’s credited in time.
  
  Likewise, for just-in-time manufacturing processes, companies can schedule payments to trigger exactly when goods are delivered or milestones met, keeping the supply chain moving swiftly.
  
  Off-cycle payments (like a special bonus payroll run or an emergency reimbursement) become easier as well, since you don’t have to wait for the next ACH window. This agility provides a competitive edge in responding to business events.

In summary, instant B2B payments offer speed, precision, and enhanced financial control. They let you pay suppliers quickly and conveniently, strengthening partnerships and optimizing your cash management. Next, we’ll consider some challenges and things to watch out for when implementing instant transfers, because no solution is without its hurdles.

Challenges and Considerations of Instant B2B Payments

While the benefits of instant supplier payments are compelling, companies should be aware of the challenges and practical considerations involved in adopting these new payment methods. Transitioning to real-time payments requires planning and vigilance. Here are key considerations:

• Bank Participation and Network Reach: Not every bank is immediately connected to RTP or FedNow. Both the sending and receiving bank must support the instant payment rail for a transfer to go through in real time.
  
  In 2023–24, hundreds of banks have joined, but it will take time for universal coverage. If your supplier’s bank isn’t on RTP or FedNow yet, you cannot send them an instant payment directly (you’d fall back to ACH/wire).
  
  Thus, one challenge is ensuring your banking partners are enrolled in these networks. CFOs may need to push their banks to adopt FedNow/RTP so that you and your suppliers can fully utilize instant transfers.
  
  Over the next couple of years, network reach is expected to grow significantly – for example, FedNow aims for broad adoption across community banks.
  
  But during this transition, coverage gaps exist. Companies might consider maintaining multiple payment options depending on supplier bank capabilities.
  
• Onboarding and Supplier Readiness: Introducing instant payments into your accounts payable process might require changes in how you collect and store supplier banking information.
  
  You’ll need suppliers’ bank routing and account details (just like ACH), and ideally confirmation that their bank accepts real-time payments. Some suppliers may not be familiar with RTP/FedNow yet, so there could be an education component.
  
  Procurement teams should communicate with suppliers about the new payment method, highlighting the benefits (immediate funds, no paper check hassles). It’s also wise to get confirmation from the supplier’s bank that they can receive RTP/FedNow credits.
  
  In some cases, suppliers might have to explicitly opt-in or give routing details that can receive instant payments (though generally any standard DDA account at a participating bank should work).
  
• Technical Integration and System Updates: To leverage instant payments at scale, businesses may need to update their treasury management systems, ERP software, or accounting systems.
  
  Your payment software must be able to format and send ISO 20022 payment instructions, likely through your bank’s API or online portal. Many banks and fintech providers offer APIs or file formats for RTP/FedNow.
  
  Ensure your accounts payable automation or payment processor supports these new rails. There might be some IT effort to integrate real-time payments into your workflow (for example, programming payment runs to choose RTP for eligible payments).
  
  Testing is crucial – you’ll want to pilot a few payments to verify everything (including remittance data) flows correctly. This is a new process for many, so expect a learning curve and coordinate with your bank’s implementation team.
  
• Process Changes and Training: Internally, the finance team might need to adjust processes. Instant payments can be sent anytime, which is powerful but also means approvals and controls may need to be always available.
  
  Companies might implement new cut-off times for when an instant payment can be initiated (even though the network is 24/7, you may not want approvers waking at 2am!).
  
  Policies should clarify how and when instant payments are used versus ACH or other methods. For instance, you might decide: “Invoices under $X and due within 1 day will be paid via RTP; others via ACH.”
  
  Training staff on the urgency and irrevocability is key – once they click send on an RTP/FedNow payment, it’s done.
  
  So the approval workflow and verification steps must be ironclad. Accounts payable staff and approvers should be educated on double-checking details (amount, payee account) before initiating instant payments.
  
• Transaction Limits and Large Payments: While the transaction limits on RTP and FedNow (now $10M and ~$1M respectively, as of 2025) cover the vast majority of supplier payments, there could be cases where a single payment exceeds the limit.
  
  Very large corporate payments (like paying a major contract milestone of $20 million) might still need to go via wire or another method unless split into multiple instant payments. Businesses need to be mindful of these limits.
  
  The Clearing House and Fed are raising limits over time, but currently if you have exceptionally large payments, you should have a procedure to handle them (e.g. schedule multiple staggered instant payments or use a wire for that particular transaction).
  
  It’s also wise to set your own internal limits for security – e.g., perhaps require two approvers for any instant payment above a certain dollar amount.
  
• Irrevocability and Fraud Risks: With great speed comes less reaction time. In an instant payment environment, there is no float or delay to catch errors.
  
  If you send money to the wrong account or pay the wrong amount, you cannot simply pull it back like an ACH reversal. This puts a premium on getting things right the first time.
  
  Fraudsters might see faster payments as an opportunity – for example, if a scammer tricks an employee into a fraudulent payment, the money could vanish before anyone notices. To mitigate this, companies should enhance their fraud prevention and verification controls.
  
  This includes verifying new supplier bank account details via a known contact , using multi-factor authentication for payment approvals, and possibly leveraging bank-provided tools like positive pay for outbound payments.
  
  Many banks offer real-time fraud monitoring – work with your bank to set up alerts for suspicious activity on instant payments. Essentially, treat instant payments with the same level of security (or higher) as you would for wires, since both are fast and final.
  
  Building in segregation of duties can help catch mistakes. According to experts, implementing robust onboarding checks and ongoing monitoring for anomalies is crucial to stop fraudulent transactions before they send. Companies must remain vigilant, but with proper controls, the risk can be managed.
  
• Liquidity and Funding for 24/7 Operation: Instant payment networks settle in real time, which means your bank (and indirectly your company’s account) needs to have funds available at any time a payment is executed.
  
  Banks participating in RTP and FedNow have to manage liquidity in their Federal Reserve accounts around the clock.
  
  From a business standpoint, this usually isn’t a direct issue (your bank will handle the interbank settlement), but it’s worth noting that funds will leave your account immediately when you send an instant payment. Unlike ACH where you might see a debit the next day, here it’s instantaneous.
  
  Ensure your account has sufficient balance (or credit line) before sending large instant payments, especially if doing so outside normal hours when you can’t easily move money between accounts.
  
  Some companies might keep a dedicated funding account for instant payments. Also, if you operate sweeping or pooling of cash, coordinate with your bank so that those mechanisms account for real-time outflows.
  
• Cost Considerations: We noted that transaction fees for instant payments are low, but there could be other costs. Banks may charge a monthly fee for access to the RTP or FedNow service, or fees for higher-volume usage.
  
  If you use a fintech or payment service provider as an intermediary, they might have their own pricing. These costs are usually modest compared to wire fees or the intangible cost of slow payments, but budget for any new service fees.
  
  Additionally, any internal system upgrades or integration work has a cost in terms of IT resources. Be sure the investment is justified by the efficiency gains (for most, it will be, given the savings from automation and reduced manual work).
  
• Change Management and Adoption Pace: Lastly, recognize that not every supplier or even internal stakeholder will immediately jump on board. There may be inertia – some vendors might say “just send the check like always” until they see the benefit.
  
  Internally, some employees might be hesitant to trust a new system. Change management is important: communicate the why (faster payments, better supplier service, etc.), start with a pilot or phased rollout, and gather feedback.
  
  Perhaps begin by using instant payments for a subset of suppliers (like those who offer early-pay discounts or those who you often pay urgently). As confidence builds, expand usage.
  
  It can also be helpful to have backup plans: for example, if an instant payment fails (maybe the supplier’s bank isn’t ready), have ACH as a backup in your process. Over time, as instant payments prove reliable, more people will embrace them.

In summary, implementing instant B2B payments is not as simple as flipping a switch. Companies must address bank connectivity, process changes, controls, and training. 

By being aware of these challenges upfront, you can develop a strategy to overcome them – resulting in a smooth transition to real-time payments and maximizing the benefits.

How to Implement Instant B2B Payments (Steps for Adoption)

Adopting instant transfers for supplier payments can be approached in a structured way. Here is a step-by-step guide for businesses (CFOs, finance and procurement teams) looking to implement RTP, FedNow, or similar capabilities:

1. Assess Your Current Payment Processes: Begin by understanding how you currently pay suppliers and where the pain points are. Identify the proportion of payments done by check, ACH, wire, etc.
   
   Note any frequent late payments or situations where speed would help (e.g. paying key suppliers, emergency orders). This baseline will help you target where instant payments add the most value.
   
2. Talk to Your Bank(s): Reach out to your company’s banking partners to discuss instant payment options. Confirm whether your banks participate in the RTP network and FedNow service.
   
   Many large banks support RTP already, and an increasing number are joining FedNow. Ask about capabilities, fees, and technical requirements.
   
   For example, does the bank offer a portal or API for initiating RTP/FedNow payments? Do you need to sign up for a specific service or module?
   
   If your primary bank does not support these faster payments yet, consider opening an account at one that does, or encourage your bank to adopt (showing them competitor banks’ offerings might spur action).
   
   The goal is to ensure you have access to at least one instant payment rail through a financial institution.
   
3. Enable and Test the Service: Once you’ve arranged access, work with the bank’s implementation team to enable instant payments. This could involve updating entitlements on your online banking or installing software/plugins for your ERP.
   
   Conduct testing with dummy transactions if possible. Some banks offer testing environments where you can simulate an RTP/FedNow payment.
   
   If not, try sending a very small payment (even $1) to one of your own accounts or to a friendly supplier to see the end-to-end process. Verify that the remittance information you send is correctly received on the other end.
   
   This is also the time to test any internal approval workflows – ensure that when you attempt an instant payment, it goes through the proper authorization steps.
   
4. Internal Process Updates: Update your accounts payable procedures to incorporate instant transfers. Decide guidelines for when to use instant payments versus other methods.
   
   For instance, you might prioritize instant payments for invoices that are due immediately or for suppliers who have requested faster payments. Define approval rules (possibly mirror your wire approval levels since both are irrevocable).
   
   Document the new process and include screenshots or instructions for the AP team on how to initiate an RTP/FedNow payment in your payment system or bank portal.
   
   It may also be wise to adjust cut-off schedules: since you can pay anytime, decide if you will process supplier payments once a day, multiple times a day, or as invoices are approved in real time.
   
   Many companies might stick to a daily payment run but execute it via instant rail so that suppliers are paid same-day.
   
5. Security Measures: Strengthen authentication and verification steps as needed. Ensure that the individuals authorized to send instant payments have proper training and use two-factor authentication to access the system.
   
   If you haven’t already, implement a verification callback for any new supplier banking details (to prevent fraud). Work with your IT or cybersecurity team to confirm that your network and devices used for banking are secure, as real-time payments will heighten the need for preventing unauthorized access.
   
   Your bank may have tools like allowed IP addresses or user tokens – utilize them. Set up alerts with your bank (many can send an email or text for each high-value payment or any RTP/FedNow transaction) so you have immediate visibility of activity.
   
6. Educate and Communicate: Train your finance team on the new payment option. Make sure they understand the do’s and don’ts (e.g., “double-check the beneficiary info because once sent, we can’t undo easily”).
   
   Also, communicate with your suppliers. Let key vendors know you are now capable of paying them via instant transfer. You might collect their bank details if you only had mailing addresses before.
   
   Highlight that if they want faster payment, you can accommodate it. Some suppliers might prefer the old ways initially; others will jump at the chance for immediate funds.
   
   Over time, more will appreciate it. You could even include a note on purchase orders or your vendor portal about your real-time payment capability.
   
7. Pilot and Scale Up: Start by executing a pilot – perhaps pay a small group of suppliers (say, 5-10 vendors) using instant payments for a month. These could be suppliers you have good relationships with or those who have been asking for quicker payments.
   
   Monitor the results: Are payments going through smoothly? Any feedback from suppliers (did they notice the faster payment, did it improve anything for them)? Use the pilot to refine your process.
   
   After a successful pilot, gradually expand to more suppliers and a larger share of your payments. You don’t need to flip everything instantly overnight. It can co-exist with ACH and other methods for a while.
   
   Over time, as confidence and adoption grow, you might aim to handle the majority of supplier payments through real-time rails, reserving ACH for exceptions or certain payroll/tax situations, etc.
   
8. Review and Optimize: Finally, periodically review the impact of instant payments on your operations. Check metrics like: Has the number of late payments dropped? Are you capturing more early payment discounts? How is supplier satisfaction (some may directly express appreciation for faster payments)?
   
   Also review costs and any issues. This retrospective can help build the business case to fully transition and possibly consolidate methods for simplicity.
   
   If the data shows positive outcomes (e.g., fewer supplier complaints about payment timing, or reduced processing time in AP), share that with leadership to demonstrate the value delivered by this payment modernization.

By following these steps, organizations can smoothly implement instant B2B payments while managing risk. The key is collaboration between your finance team, your bank, and your suppliers. With a thoughtful rollout, you’ll quickly start reaping the efficiency gains and goodwill that real-time supplier payments can generate.

Future Outlook: The Evolving Landscape of B2B Payments

The movement toward instant B2B payments is part of a larger transformation in business finance. Looking ahead, we can expect several trends to shape the future of supplier payments:

• Widespread Adoption of Instant Payments: By the latter half of the 2020s, instant payment networks (FedNow, RTP, and others) are likely to become mainstream for everyday B2B transactions in the U.S. Industry projections suggest real-time payments could replace up to $18.9 trillion in ACH and check B2B payments by 2028.
  
  This means a significant shift of volume to instant rails. As more banks join and more businesses integrate their systems, instant transfers will be as common as ACH is today.
  
  The Federal Reserve and other industry groups are actively promoting adoption, so we may see a network effect – once most of your suppliers and customers are on board, using anything slower will seem untenable.
  
• Higher Transaction Limits and Usage of Instant for Large Payments: As noted, The Clearing House already raised RTP transaction limits, and FedNow may follow suit. We can anticipate limits climbing further, potentially removing virtually any cap over time (subject to risk controls).
  
  This will enable even large corporate supplier payments (millions of dollars) to go through instant networks, challenging the dominance of wires for high-value transfers.
  
  In Q2 2025, after increasing the cap, the average RTP payment size jumped from $842 to over $4,000 within months, indicating that businesses started using RTP for larger invoices and not just small-dollar payments.
  
  If this trajectory continues, instant payments will handle both high-volume small payments and large one-off payments.
  
• Integration with Supply Chain and Treasury Tools: Instant payments won’t exist in isolation; they will tie into broader financial workflows. For example, expect more seamless integration of real-time payments in procurement and invoicing platforms.
  
  A purchase order system might automatically trigger an RTP payment upon goods receipt and invoice match (straight-through processing). Treasury management systems will incorporate real-time cash positioning, since outgoing and incoming payments update balances immediately.
  
  This could improve how companies manage liquidity and even enable new strategies like dynamic discounting (where a supplier offers a sliding discount depending on how fast they’re paid – which can be executed optimally with immediate payments).
  
• Global Real-Time Payment Connectivity: Domestically, the U.S. is catching up on faster payments. Internationally, dozens of countries have instant payment systems. A major future development will be linking these networks across borders.
  
  Efforts are underway to connect systems (for instance, linking U.S. FedNow with Europe’s system or Asia’s systems for near-instant cross-currency payments).
  
  SWIFT gpi is also evolving, possibly incorporating central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) or other innovations to further cut down cross-border transaction times. By 2028, instant payments are expected to comprise 42% of cross-border payments by value.
  
  For businesses, this means paying an overseas supplier might become nearly as fast as a domestic payment, breaking down one of the last speed barriers in commerce.
  
• Emerging Technologies: APIs, Blockchain, and Digital Currencies: The B2B payments space will continue to be influenced by technology. Banks are exposing more APIs that allow companies to initiate and reconcile payments in real-time from within their own software.
  
  On another front, blockchain and cryptocurrencies (like stablecoins) are being explored for B2B payments, especially cross-border, to achieve near-instant settlement without traditional intermediaries.
  
  Some large corporations are piloting stablecoin payments to suppliers for 24/7 capability. Additionally, Central Bank Digital Currencies, if implemented (e.g., a digital dollar), could provide a new infrastructure for instant payments with finality guaranteed by central banks.
  
  While these are still nascent, businesses should keep an eye on them as potential tools for specific use cases (e.g., a stablecoin could be used to pay a supplier in a country with less developed banking).
  
  That said, in the near term, bank-led instant payment networks will likely remain the primary channel, given their wide adoption and regulatory backing.
  
• Enhanced Fraud Prevention and Trust Mechanisms: As instant payments become ubiquitous, the industry will likely introduce more sophisticated fraud prevention tools.
  
  We might see things like secure directories (to validate payee account details), AI-based anomaly detection that can stop suspect payments in milliseconds, and possibly more consumer/business protections for certain types of transactions.
  
  Education around scams will ramp up too – both banks and businesses will invest in training to ensure everyone is aware of social engineering risks.
  
  Over time, the ecosystem will adapt to make instant payments as safe as traditional ones, if not safer, through collective efforts on security standards.
  
• Decline of Checks and Legacy Systems: Finally, we can expect the continued decline of paper checks and slower legacy payments. The trend is clearly toward digital.
  
  In 2004, over 80% of the U.S. B2B payments were by check; by 2024 that was down to around one-third, and it will only fall further. Younger finance professionals and Gen Z CFOs will likely have little patience for antiquated processes, accelerating the shift.
  
  We may also see consolidation of payment methods – perhaps ACH will largely pivot to being a backup for real-time rails or used in niche cases, while checks could become truly rare. The operational cost savings and data advantages of digital real-time payments will simply be too strong to ignore.

In essence, the future of B2B supplier payments is fast, data-driven, and customer-centric. Companies that embrace instant transfers now position themselves ahead of the curve, with more agile finances and happier suppliers. 

As real-time payments become the norm, businesses will be able to operate more efficiently, synchronize cash flows with precision, and build more resilient supply chains supported by trust and transparency in payments.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What exactly is an “instant” payment in a B2B context?

A: An instant payment refers to a transfer of funds that is completed in real time – typically within seconds – as opposed to hours or days. In a B2B context, this usually means using modern payment networks (like RTP or FedNow in the U.S.) that allow immediate clearing and settlement between the buyer’s and supplier’s banks. 

Once initiated, the supplier has the funds available almost instantly, and confirmation is received right away. This is different from traditional ACH transfers that might take a day or more, or checks that can take several days to be delivered and processed.

Q: How do instant transfers differ from ACH and wire transfers?

A: The main differences are speed and availability. ACH transfers are batch-processed and take 1–3 business days (though same-day ACH can accelerate to the same day), and they don’t operate nights or weekends. 

Wire transfers are faster (often same-day) but are expensive (around $25–$30 fee per domestic wire) and also constrained to bank business hours. Instant transfers, by contrast, settle within seconds, 24/7, at very low cost. 

Another difference is data: instant payment networks use modern messaging standards that carry more remittance information, which helps with reconciliation. 

Additionally, wires and ACH have some ability to be canceled or recalled (with effort and within time limits) if a mistake is noticed, whereas instant payments are generally irrevocable once sent – placing more importance on accuracy and fraud prevention upfront.

Q: What platforms enable instant B2B payments in the U.S.?

A: The two primary platforms are The Clearing House’s RTP (Real-Time Payments) network and the Federal Reserve’s FedNow service. RTP has been operational since 2017 and is used by many major banks; FedNow launched in July 2023 to broaden access via the Federal Reserve system. 

Both allow banks to offer their customers the ability to send and receive immediate payments. For cross-border payments, SWIFT gpi is an important innovation that speeds up international bank transfers, often to same-day or within minutes. 

Additionally, some fintech solutions and card networks (like Visa Direct or Mastercard Send) offer quasi-instant payment services by pushing funds to debit cards, though those are more common in B2C or P2P scenarios. 

For mainstream B2B supplier payments in the U.S., RTP and FedNow are the key rails. Companies should check with their bank about which of these services are available to them.

Q: Are instant payments secure for business transactions?

A: Yes – instant payment systems are built with bank-level security, but they require sound practices. The networks (RTP, FedNow) themselves are very secure and transactions are encrypted and processed by banks. 

In fact, eliminating paper checks (which can be stolen or altered) and moving to electronic can reduce certain fraud risks like check fraud. However, because instant payments happen so fast and are irreversible, businesses must be diligent. 

This means verifying supplier bank details, having strong internal controls for authorizing payments, and using security features like multi-factor authentication. If a mistaken or fraudulent payment is sent over an instant rail, it’s very difficult to get back, so prevention is key. 

Both banks and businesses are implementing advanced fraud monitoring to mitigate threats in real time. In summary, the infrastructure is secure, but companies should ensure their processes around using it are also secure.

Q: Will instant transfers completely replace checks and ACH in the near future?

A: It’s expected that instant payments will gradually overtake checks and reduce reliance on traditional ACH, but there may be a transition period. Check usage in B2B has been steadily declining (from the majority of payments decades ago to about one-third now), and this trend will continue as more firms go digital. 

ACH will likely continue to exist, especially for recurring or batched transactions and as a backup, but a large portion of ACH volume (especially urgent and invoice-related payments) could migrate to real-time rails in the next few years. 

Industry experts project a significant shift by 2028 toward real-time payments for B2B. That said, completely phasing out older methods will depend on all businesses and banks modernizing. Smaller businesses and some conservative industries might take longer to change habits (some still cling to checks, for example). 

So, in the near future (the next 2–5 years), we’ll likely see a mixed environment where instant payments grow rapidly and coexist with legacy methods. Over the longer term, it’s plausible that instant digital payments will become the standard and checks become very rare. 

ACH might remain for certain use cases but in a much more streamlined role, possibly even settling through the instant infrastructure eventually.

Q: What do I need to do as a business to start using instant payments?

A: First, ensure your bank supports RTP or FedNow (the instant payment networks). If they do, you may need to enroll in the service or update your banking software. 

Next, update your accounts payable processes: gather your suppliers’ banking info (account and routing numbers) if you don’t have them, since you’ll need those to send electronic payments. 

You should also update your payment approval workflows to account for the speed (e.g., who can initiate an instant payment and when). Training your team on the new system is important so they know how to execute an RTP/FedNow payment and what precautions to take. 

If you use an ERP or accounting software, check if it has a module or integration for real-time payments – many modern systems do, or your bank might provide an API/portal. Start with a small test batch to get comfortable. 

Also, communicate with your suppliers: let them know you can pay them this way and confirm their bank details. It can be helpful to work closely with your bank’s implementation support during setup. 

In short, the steps are: (1) Connect to the service (through your bank/fintech), (2) Prepare your data and processes (supplier info, internal approvals), (3) Test it out, and then (4) roll it into routine use once you’re confident everything works correctly.

Q: Do instant payments cost more in fees than traditional methods?

A: Generally, no – instant payments often cost less or about the same as traditional electronic methods. For example, the FedNow service charges about $0.045 (4.5 cents) per transaction to the sending bank, and RTP transactions similarly cost a few cents. 

Banks may pass along a small fee to business customers, but it’s typically low (perhaps a few cents to a few dollars per item, depending on your account package). Many banks might even include a bundle of RTP transactions in their treasury management fees. 

In contrast, wire transfers cost significantly more ($15–$30 or more each). ACH transfers are very cheap (pennies), so instant payments are in the same ballpark on cost as ACH. 

Paper checks have hidden costs – when you factor in printing, postage, and the labor to process, a check can cost anywhere from a couple of dollars up to $10+ in internal cost. By moving to instant digital payments, you save those manual processing costs. 

So while you should check with your bank on the fee schedule, most companies find instant transfers cost-neutral or cost-saving. 

Plus, any nominal fees are often offset by the efficiency gains (for example, if a faster payment lets you capture a 2% early pay discount on an invoice, that saving dwarfs a few cents fee). Overall, cost should not be a barrier to adopting instant payments in most cases.

Q: Can instant payments be used for payroll or other non-supplier payments?

A: Yes. While this article focused on supplier payments, instant payment networks can be used for many purposes. Businesses are exploring instant payroll (sometimes called earned wage access or on-demand pay) to pay employees immediately at the end of a work period instead of waiting for a biweekly cycle. 

FedNow and RTP can facilitate off-cycle payroll payments or rapid expense reimbursements. For example, if a payroll mistake happens and an employee was shorted pay, an instant credit can fix it the same day. 

Companies are also using instant payments for things like customer refunds, insurance claim payouts, or gig economy payments to contractors – any scenario where sending money faster improves service. 

In the B2B realm, apart from paying suppliers, businesses might use instant transfers to move funds between their own accounts (real-time liquidity transfers) or to pay government fees/taxes last-minute (if supported). 

One thing to note is that for mass payroll (hundreds of employees), ACH still works efficiently, but instant options are great for edge cases or offering a competitive benefit of quicker pay. 

Also, some third-party payroll providers are leveraging RTP to credit wages to gig workers instantly after a job is completed, which ties into the trend of using faster payments to attract and retain talent. 

In summary, instant payments are versatile and can complement or enhance various payment workflows beyond just vendor invoices.

Q: What if a supplier’s bank is not on an instant network?

A: If a supplier’s bank isn’t yet a participant in RTP or FedNow, you won’t be able to send a true instant payment directly to them through those networks. In such cases, you have a few options:

• Encourage the supplier to check with their bank about joining the network (some smaller banks and credit unions are still in the process of enrolling). Sometimes hearing demand from business customers can spur a bank to adopt new services.
  
• In the meantime, use the next fastest alternative. Same-day ACH could be used if timing is important (settles the same day if initiated by the deadline) – it’s not instant, but it’s faster than regular ACH and widely available.
  
• Use a wire transfer if the situation warrants the cost and urgency. Wires will reach any bank, although they don’t operate 24/7.
  
• Another creative option: some fintech services can deliver instant payments to individuals via alternative rails (like push to debit card).
  
  If the supplier is a small business or individual, you could explore those (for example, services that send to a debit card can reach many banks instantly via card networks). But those aren’t typical for B2B invoices and often have fees.

In short, if a counterparty is not reachable via RTP/FedNow today, you’ll have to use a traditional method for that transaction. The good news is the network coverage is expanding quickly, and the Federal Reserve’s goal is ubiquity. 

You may find in a year or two that most of your suppliers’ banks are on board. Until then, maintain flexibility in your accounts payable system to route payments through different methods based on vendor preferences and eligibility. 

Many AP software solutions can intelligently choose ACH vs RTP, etc., depending on what information is on file for the supplier. So, dual-routing is a practical interim strategy.

Conclusion

B2B supplier payments are undergoing a significant evolution from the days of mailed checks and deferred settlements to an era of instant gratification. 

Instant transfer systems like RTP and FedNow are enabling U.S. businesses to send and receive payments in real time, bringing speed and efficiency that aligns with the on-demand world we live in. 

For CFOs, procurement teams, and finance professionals, this shift offers an opportunity to streamline operations, improve liquidity, and strengthen supplier relationships through timely payments.

In this article, we explored how traditional methods (checks, ACH, wires) often fall short in today’s fast-paced business environment, causing delays, cash flow challenges, and manual workload. 

Instant payments address these issues head-on by providing immediate, 24/7 transfers with rich remittance data and high reliability. Early adopters are already seeing benefits: fewer late payments, the ability to capitalize on discounts, and vendors that are more satisfied – even willing to offer better terms due to prompt payment.

That said, transitioning to instant B2B payments requires thoughtful implementation. Companies must ensure their banks are connected, update internal processes, and maintain robust controls to manage the “faster clock speed” of real-time transactions. 

By tackling these challenges with proper planning – securing executive buy-in, training staff, and gradually scaling up usage – businesses can mitigate risks and make the most of instant transfers.

In focusing on people-first outcomes, it’s clear that faster payments do more than improve metrics; they alleviate the frustrations of suppliers waiting for funds, reduce stress on accounts payable teams racing against deadlines, and even help employees (in cases like instant payroll). 

These human-centric benefits align with the Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trust (E-E-A-T) principles of good business practice: paying promptly and efficiently demonstrates reliability and builds trust in your professional relationships.

From an SEO perspective and, more importantly, a practical perspective – instant B2B payments are a topic that’s here to stay, as businesses seek every advantage in efficiency and partnership management. 

The U.S. region’s focus on modernizing payments (e.g., FedNow’s introduction after decades) underscores how essential this capability is becoming. Fintech startups are innovating in this space, offering services to connect businesses to real-time rails, while banks are rolling out new features to stay competitive.

In conclusion, B2B supplier payments with instant transfers represent a win-win: suppliers get paid faster and with certainty, and buyers gain flexibility and potential cost savings. Embracing these tools can future-proof your financial operations. 

As you plan your strategy, remember to combine technology with clear policies and education. By doing so, your organization can confidently step into the real-time payments era – improving your supply chain relationships and financial health in one stroke.