Should business prioritise payment integration in 2025? 

This year there is likely to be a growing demand from businesses seeking to streamline their financial processes. As payments technology continues to evolve, accounts payable (AP) providers are increasingly recognising the need to integrate payment capabilities into their offering. Traditionally, AP professionals have relied on multiple tools and manual processes to execute payments, a fragmented approach that often leads to inefficiencies, errors, and delays. These issues can significantly impact a company’s financial operations, affecting cash flow, supplier relationships, and overall financial accuracy. 

By incorporating payment capabilities directly into AP software many of these critical challenges can be addressed, providing a more unified, streamlined approach to managing international invoice payments. This shift isn’t only a practical response to common operational difficulties but also an opportunity for AP providers in 2025 to offer greater value to their clients.  

Clients are demanding more 

There’s an increasing demand from businesses that AP platforms provide comprehensive payment functionalities. More and more businesses are realising the value of having a single, unified system that manages the entire AP process, from invoice capture and approval to payment execution. This demand mirrors a broader trend in financial management, where automation and integration are being prioritised to improve efficiency, accuracy, and security. 

AP professionals have shown a clear preference for solutions that allow them to handle payments without leaving their AP system, and many are willing to invest in software that provides this functionality. For AP providers, this trend presents an opportunity to meet the evolving needs of their customers and differentiate their offerings in a competitive market. 

Offering integrated payment capabilities also allows AP providers to position themselves as comprehensive financial management platforms, rather than merely AP processing tools. This broader scope not only increases the value they provide to their clients but also strengthens customer loyalty, as businesses are less likely to switch providers when their AP solution can handle everything from invoice processing to payment execution. 

Financial security risks are growing 

As fraudsters become more adapt at utilising technology and AI to target payments and financial services, security is a critical concern. Integrating payment capabilities within AP software enhances both security and compliance. When payments are processed through multiple systems, each system represents a potential security vulnerability. By consolidating payments into a single, secure platform, businesses can reduce their exposure to these risks. 

Advanced encryption is often included in integrated payment solutions as well as security protocols to protect sensitive payment information, such as bank account numbers and transaction details. Furthermore, these systems help businesses comply with regulations by providing audit trails and ensuring payments are processed in accordance with legal and financial requirements. 

This level of security is especially important for businesses that operate internationally, as cross-border payments involve complex regulations and currency conversions. Integrated payment systems can handle these complexities automatically, ensuring compliance with local and international laws while reducing the administrative burden on AP teams. 

Reducing workload 

The number of hours AP providers and their teams spending managing payee data and reconciling payments is huge, especially if manual processes are used ahead of automation. One of the greatest advantages of integrating payment capabilities into AP software is the streamlining of the entire payment process. Traditionally, AP professionals have been required to manage multiple platforms such as AP management software, bank portals, and spreadsheets to execute payments. This fragmented process requires manual data transfers between systems, which not only consumes time but also increases the risk of human error. 

By consolidating payment functions within a single platform, AP software removes the need to switch between systems. AP professionals can prepare, approve, and execute payments directly from their AP software, creating a seamless workflow from invoice approval to payment. This reduces the administrative burden on AP teams, allowing them to process payments more quickly and accurately. As a result, businesses are able to meet payment deadlines more consistently, maintain better relationships with suppliers, and optimise their cash flow. 

Minimising errors 

As AP providers find the market getting more competitive in 2025 mistakes need to be kept at an absolute minimum to ensure clients remain happy. Manual data entry is one of the most common sources of errors in payments. Mistakes in payment data can lead to numerous issues, from duplicate payments to overpayments, underpayments, or failed transactions due to incorrect banking information. These errors not only waste time but also strain supplier relationships and create financial discrepancies that can take considerable time to resolve. 

By choosing integrated payment solutions risks can be minimised and much of the data handling automated. Payment information, such as bank account details, amounts, and currencies, can be automatically extracted from the invoice approval process, reducing the chances of errors. Integrated payment systems often feature built-in validation checks, which verify payment details before execution. These checks add an extra layer of security, ensuring that the correct payment reaches the right recipient. 

If you would like to learn more about how we can help facilitate payments on your AP platform in 2025, our expert team are on hand to talk through your requirements. Reach out to our team here.