B2B Digital Payments: Global Trends, Emerging Risks and New Resilience Strategies

B2B digital payments are transforming processes, technologies, and competitive dynamics globally. Companies, increasingly embedded in interconnected supply chains, are experiencing growing transaction volumes and a wider variety of alternative payment methods to traditional ones.

At the same time, the digitalisation of financial processes is advancing and generating benefits in terms of efficiency, operational speed, and automation of treasury activities, while also introducing new security and resilience requirements. The ability to build resilience in response to these needs is now essential to safeguard the integrity of digital payments and ensure secure management.

In this context, payment management between companies is crucial for the functioning of global supply chains and has a direct impact on liquidity, operational continuity, and competitiveness. This scenario highlights the increasing importance of solutions capable of combining technological innovation, risk control, and adaptability, with a strong focus on operational resilience.

THE EVOLUTION OF THE B2B DIGITAL PAYMENTS MARKET
 

The global payments market is undergoing a phase of evolution driven by the acceleration of digitalisation and the convergence of various technological and regulatory factors. 

According to the McKinsey Global Payments Report, the sector generated $2.5 trillion in revenue in 2024, with an expected annual growth rate of 4%, projected to reach $3 trillion by 2029. These figures highlight a growth trend particularly significant in the corporate segment, where B2B payments represent a major share of global volumes.

The gradual decline in the use of cash, which now accounts for 46% of global transactions, is accompanied by the increasing adoption of digital methods such as wallets, A2A (Account-to-Account) payments, and instant payments. 

The shift towards digital systems is not only about execution speed, but also integration with company management systems, process automation, and enhanced transparency of cash flows. 

These innovations represent an important opportunity but require constant attention to system resilience to ensure that companies can face future challenges without compromising security and operational reliability.

From a geographical perspective, the market shows diverse dynamics: North and Latin America exhibit widespread use of payment cards and revolving credit, typical of mature markets, while the Asia-Pacific region shows a strong inclination towards commercial payments, highlighting the reliance on deposits as a source of income – a feature of rapidly expanding economies. 

Europe, in turn, stands out for the significant diversification between consumer and commercial revenues, with a notable share linked to trade finance, treasury, and savings. It also leads to the adoption of instant payment systems and improved interoperability, supported by European Union-led initiatives. This evolving global landscape thus calls for companies to embrace technological updates and strengthen their resilience frameworks.

EMERGING RISKS IN B2B PAYMENTS: FRAUD, SCAMS, AND REGULATORY COMPLEXITY
 

The growth of B2B digital payments is accompanied by a significant rise in risks. Juniper Research estimates that by 2030, the economic impact of digital fraud on financial institutions will exceed $58 billion, confirming a growing trend both in terms of frequency and sophistication. 

Criminal techniques are evolving rapidly: in addition to traditional phishing attempts, synthetic identities and deepfakes capable of mimicking voices or faces of corporate executives are becoming more common, often leading to fraudulent payment authorisations.

The most widespread threats in the B2B context include:

• Business Email Compromise (BEC): manipulation of communications between companies and suppliers to redirect payments to fraudulent accounts;
• Account Takeover (ATO): unauthorised access to company systems via compromised credentials, enabling seemingly legitimate transactions;
• Credit and finance fraud: alteration of documents or data to obtain undue financial conditions or access credit lines;
• Deepfakes and synthetic identities: advanced AI techniques used to impersonate credible counterparts and obtain payment approvals.

McKinsey’s Guardrails for Growth: Building a Resilient Payments System highlights how the complexity of global supply chains facilitates the spread of these threats. Companies are facing large transaction volumes, an increasing number of counterparties, and operations spread across multiple platforms. 

In some cases, the digitalisation of processes has not been matched by a proportional strengthening of controls, creating a gap between innovation speed and the maturity of security systems. The push to streamline processes may also reduce attention to anomalies or risk signals, particularly in high-frequency transactions.

Alongside fraud and cyber scams, money laundering in B2B transactions is becoming an increasingly pressing issue. Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations require companies to implement stringent controls. The presence of multiple counterparties across different jurisdictions with strategic deficiencies in the fight against money laundering, as tax havens, makes it more difficult to verify the origin of funds and monitor the legitimacy of financial flows. 

Companies are required to adopt structured due diligence procedures, continuously monitor business partners, and document each step with high transparency standards. AML violations now carry record-breaking penalties, with significant financial and reputational consequences.

BUILDING RESILIENCE IN B2B PAYMENT SYSTEMS
  

Resilience is increasingly central to B2B payment management. The evolution of operating models makes it essential to have technological tools, structured processes, and adequate expertise to address an environment marked by growing threats and high interconnection among operators. 

Resilience is not just about reacting to an attack, but also involves prevention, operational continuity, and quality of controls throughout the payment lifecycle.

Financial institutions play a key role in protecting the payment ecosystem, offering companies a solid infrastructure for daily operations, thanks to the integration of advanced technologies, specialist expertise, and procedures that comply with international standards.

Technology: stronger checks and advanced analysis

Technological evolution is a crucial factor in enhancing payment security. Multi-factor authentication, biometric systems, and behavioural analytics are some of security tools that strengthen identity verification and reduce the risk of unauthorised access. 

Corporate banking platforms such as Inbiz are valuable allies in cybersecurity: they allow secure and structured payment management, with features that include advanced authentication, device verification, digital certificates, and real-time transaction monitoring.
 

Processes: more rigorous controls and structured governance
  

Resilience also depends on the quality of internal processes. Extending due diligence and KYC (Know Your Customer) procedures by financial institutions, and KYB (Know Your Business) by companies across the entire supply chain, helps verify counterparty reliability and reduce exposure to irregular practices. 

Clearly defined risk management policies, including operational limits, cross-checks, and escalation procedures, help to contain operational risks and handle critical transactions more effectively. Ongoing training for finance and procurement teams further strengthens their ability to identify warning signs and respond promptly.

Operations: practical tools for daily management

Daily-use tools play a vital role in enhancing resilience. The ability to detect anomalies or fraud attempts promptly is essential for corporate security. This makes cutting-edge control systems, as well as knowledge of threats and defence mechanisms, indispensable.

To counter digital fraud, banks offer multi-level initiatives:

• Training and awareness: dedicated cybersecurity courses for company teams, helping them stay up to date with emerging risks and the most effective data protection practices. Specific initiatives for clients help raise awareness and teach how to protect themselves from digital threats;
• Constantly updated information: dedicated portals and educational content that describe the main threats and offer practical prevention guidelines;
• Advanced transaction security technologies: Corporate banking platforms utilize sophisticated systems to mitigate the risk of fraud and safeguard financial transactions, like beneficiary verification, which checks in real time whether the IBAN matches the provided name, delivering a result before payment authorisation. These systems minimise material errors that could lead to disputes or misdirection.
• Regulatory compliance: procedures and controls aligned with international regulations on payment security and data protection, ensuring high levels of safeguards.

These measures enhance companies' ability to operate securely, improving the monitoring and protection of financial flows. However, vigilance remains essential to avoid falling victim to scams or fraud: avoid acting hastily, be cautious of urgent requests, and always verify the legitimacy of transactions.

Cybersecurity and resilience move forward hand in hand: to protect today means being prepared to respond effectively to future challenges, ensuring business continuity and greater stability in corporate processes.

TOWARDS A MORE RELIABLE, INTEGRATED, AND SUSTAINABLE B2B PAYMENTS ECOSYSTEM
 

The evolution of B2B payments is steering towards an ecosystem where technological innovation, shared standards, and structured risk management converge to offer greater protection and operational continuity. 

Companies operate in a global context marked by diverse payment systems, evolving regulations, and increasing supply chain complexity. For this reason, the ability to integrate advanced digital tools, define clear processes, and strengthen internal governance becomes a decisive factor in ensuring long-term competitiveness and stability.

Collaboration with reliable financial partners and the adoption of advanced solutions enable businesses to improve resilience, reduce exposure to emerging threats, and manage liquidity-related activities more precisely. 

The goal is to build an operating environment where efficiency, security, and sustainability in payment flows can coexist, fostering corporate growth and supporting the continuity of commercial relationships.

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