Business-to-business payments are different than paying an individual, which is why there are different challenges and benefits involved with them. This blog will discuss everything about the different types of payment methods available for modern businesses along with the challenges and benefits associated with them.
Owing to the ease-of-use, convenience, and availability of modern technology, financial management has become quite easy for the modern businesses these days. While many businesses, still, use the traditional cash payments for their Business to Business payments transactions, there has been a rise of companies which have adopted electronic B2B payment methods.
When opting for a payment mode for your modern business, there are many factors that must be considered, such as security, processing time, etc. While one payment mode can work for a business and not for another one, choosing the right business to business payments methods can be quite challenging. This is why we bring to you this detailed guide on different types of methods available along with the challenges associated.
The different kinds of B2B payment mediums
Cash
This is the traditional method that has been used by most businesses for a long time, but this seems to be gradually obsolete. These days, especially when it comes to business-to-business payments, it seems weird to come and pay a supplier a briefcase full of bills.
Checks
In addition to cash, accepting checks is also another commonly used traditional payment method. After all, it is relatively easy and there is also a trust factor associated with this payment mode. This category includes traditional paper checks and electronic checks issued by a purchaser to a seller. Once the check is deposited in the bank, the payment request from the buyer’s bank will be sent to the seller’s bank.
Wire transfers
In this modern-day, when more and more businesses are working with clients who may be located in other cities or countries, using wire transfer has gained popularity. Introduced over 150 years ago by Western Union, the payment is electronically routed through a financial network like SWIFT and Fedwire. While it can be expensive, many businesses rely on this method to accept payment from international clients.
Credit cards
Almost everyone, these days, owns a credit card and it can be accepted for business-to-business payments. However, it is not accepted by many businesses, especially the ones operating on a small scale because of the processing fee involved.
Payment gateways
If you have been working with international clients for a long, you would be aware of the different types of payment gateways such as Paypal, Stripe, Square, and Bill. The best part about using these payment gateways for payments is that the buyer can make the payment to the seller, which is received instantly. The process is quite easy, allowing the buyers to pay for goods and services online during the checkout process.
The Obstacles to B2B Payments
- Payment mediums variety – While there is a large range of payment methods available for business transactions, they also have their own drawbacks. The reason here is that not all businesses are the same, which means not all the payment methods will work for all of them. For example, one business may find accepting checks for payments, while others may like to receive online payments for quick and easy payments.
- Security issues – We are living in this age where online transactions are very common. While the scenario has made things easy, it also poses security threats for businesses as well as their buyers as online hackers are always looking for vulnerable platforms. When it comes to accepting online payments, things can be quite tricky as the data is exposed to hackers who know how to get access to financial details. According to a study conducted by Deloitte, over 22% of the middle market business have been attacked by payment fraud in recent years. To ensure safety, it is important to ensure having a secure payment method and gateway that is encrypted with advanced technology.
- Transparency – Almost every business, that received payment, would like to know about the status of the payments being made. The goal is to control the cash flow of a business. In case a particular payment method is not offering transparency, things can be quite challenging and hectic for the business.
- Cost – When you are accepting payments, you need to keep in mind various costs such as fees for transactions and account maintenance that you need to bear. For example, if you are accepting payments through wire transfer, you have to be willing to pay significant fees for payment services. While there is a certain fee involved with online payments as well, you can opt for a business-to-business payments partner that offers the best price for your transactions so that you can save more on every payment being received.
- Time – Following the complex process involved with business-to-business payments processing, it can take days for the payments to be received. So we can say that it is time-consuming to get all the payments made as expected. According to the experts, it takes over 40 days to process a B2B payment, especially when receiving through the traditional payment methods.
Benefits of B2B Payments
When you integrate suitable payment methods to receive payments for the sales of goods or services, you are likely to enjoy a range of different benefits associated with it. Some of them include:
- Improved cash flow – For a business, ineffective cash flow management can be a challenge and cause business failure. With automated or online payment transactions, it is possible for businesses to see the patterns in their incoming and outgoing cash flow via reports. This all helps minimize any unwanted results from financial management failure.
- Save time and resources – Why hire a professional dedicated to processing the payments, while you can have them all processed automatically online? This is the power of online payment transactions. This gives your team members more time to focus on other vital areas of operation or product development.
Final Thoughts
Technology has made life easier. And payment transactions are no exception here. Today, modern business transactions are a lot more complicated than in the past, which makes it important to choose the right and smart business payment method with a reliable partner. Choosing the right payment platform for your B2B business is like choosing the right boat for your journey.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sandeep Sandhu
