While automation can save time and money, reduce errors, and improve efficiency and cash flow, new research indicates that many business leaders aren’t taking advantage of its benefits, even as they look to drive business growth this year

 

As businesses look to drive growth in 2025 amid a dynamic environment, relationships between buyers and suppliers are extremely important. The new Amex Trendex: B2B Payments Edition, a survey of 1,000 U.S. business decision makers, reveals that there is an opportunity to enhance the payments experience on both sides of the transaction, which can in turn, enhance relationships and help businesses grow.

 

Top Findings:    

• The vast majority (91%) of business decisionmakers say that easy, streamlined and secure payments drive business growth
• One quarter (26%) of business decisionmakers cite late or slow payments as a common reason for why they have stopped working with a buyer or supplier  

• Yet only 17% of businesses surveyed have fully automated their payments processes

 

Business leaders recognize that automated payments are key to strong relationships, thus to business success – though many have yet to embrace automation

A quarter of business decisionmakers surveyed cite late or slow payments as a common reason they have stopped working with a buyer or supplier, and four in five say that a single fraud incident relating to payments could significantly impact trust in their relationships with buyers (82%) and suppliers (82%).

Yet, even as business decision makers recognize the positive impact of payments automation, the survey data also indicates that it has not yet been fully embraced.

 

The benefits of automated payments have a direct impact on business growth and efficiency

“Payments optimization is not always appreciated for its positive impact on relationships between buyers and suppliers and overall business success,” said Widad Chaoui, Senior Vice President, Corporate and B2B Solutions Product Management, Global Commercial Services, at American Express. “Automated payment methods like virtual cards or digital push payments drive more cash flow visibility, more secure transactions, and better relationships. They also give businesses greater working capital flexibility, enabling them to invest in moving their business forward.”

Automation can save businesses time and money when compared to manual processing; it also supports on-time payments, and streamlines processes, helping them run more efficiently and securely. These are attractive benefits, as 29% of business decision makers say they would sleep better at night if they did not have to worry about their payments being on time and accurate, and nearly one third admit they are spending too much time managing payments.

 

Yet, perceived challenges about automation are holding business leaders back

While business decision makers do acknowledge the benefits of automation -- including faster payments and reduced errors, many businesses have yet to fully automate their payments processes. Only 17% of businesses surveyed have fully automated their payments processes, and a similar number (15%) have not automated any payments processes at all.

For those that have not fully automated payments processes, among the leading concerns are: cost (45%), not believing it would benefit their business (28%) and security (26%).

“Often, it can feel like a daunting task for business leaders to change their payment processes from manual to automated, even if the current manual approach presents challenges, is insufficient and poses risks,” said R.J. Ancona, Vice President and General Manager, B2B Product, Partnerships and Client Management, Merchant Services at American Express. “But the reality is that the time and cost associated with automation can be easier to implement than expected, and can benefit businesses in both the short and long run.”

 

The right payments solutions can help businesses make the most of automation

95% of business decision makers say easy, streamlined, and secure payments create happy customers. And in 2025, of those business decision makers planning to make changes to their payments process, driving business growth was the leading response (43%).

 

Businesses can benefit from automated payment solutions such as:

• Automated AP (accounts payable) and AR (accounts receivable) software solutions – automated solutions help businesses save time and money, reduce errors, and improve efficiency and cash flow

• Straight-through-processing of static and Virtual Cards – automated systems that allow card details to be processed electronically from start to finish without any manual stepsEIPP (Electronic Invoice Presentment and Payment) – automated systems through which AR teams can send invoices to and accept payments from electronically from customers 

• Digital Push Payments – transactions through which a payer initiates a transfer of funds to a payee, and the payer controls the transaction, including the amount and destination of the funds

Payments automation can have positive impact that goes beyond just streamlining processes. It can enhance the payments experience for both buyers and suppliers, which improves business relationships -- which helps business grow.

 

ABOUT THE RESEARCH

The Amex Trendex B2B Payments Edition survey was conducted online by Opinium research on behalf of American Express between 9th December 2024 and 2nd January 2025. In the U.S., the sample was comprised of 1000 business decision makers across businesses of varying size and industries. Business decision makers were selected based on being either solely or jointly responsible for 3 or more areas in their business, including one or more of ‘accounting / tax services’, ‘banking / business credit facilities’, or ‘financial services’.

AMERICAN EXPRESS  
Meg Martin
meg.martin@aexp.com

 

ABOUT AMERICAN EXPRESS

American Express is a globally integrated payments company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. For more information about American Express, visit americanexpress.com, americanexpress.com/en-us/newsroom/, and ir.americanexpress.com.