‘Sorry, we don’t accept cards.’ In today’s digital world, you rarely hear this – unless you’re in the B2B space, where it’s still surprisingly common. It’s evident that businesses today need smarter, faster, and more flexible payment solutions - and commercial card acceptance is proving to be a powerful tool. Mastercard’s latest research uncovers the tangible benefits of commercial card acceptance: · 1 in 3 say accepting cards has improved customer convenience · Card acceptors are 14 percentage points more likely to report efficiency in maximizing working capital · 94% of businesses agree that making payments more efficient boosts profitability Card acceptance isn’t just about meeting buyer demands, it’s about optimizing cash flow and staying competitive in today’s market. This trend is accelerating, with nearly half of all suppliers expecting buyers to request card payments more often in the next five years. For businesses looking to stay competitive, broadening card acceptance isn’t just an option - it’s an opportunity. For more insights on navigating the trends, challenges, and opportunities in B2B payments, check out the full report here: https://lnkd.in/eaVa3u4F
If the card value proposition truly resonated with B2B suppliers, they’d be asking to accept cards—just like B2C merchants do. But that’s not the case. The fundamental issue? There's no acceleration. Without faster payments, suppliers just see the cost, not the benefit. Virtual cards do not accelerate payments because, unlike in B2C, they are still subject to the Buyer's AP process. That’s exactly what we fixed at Previse with SmartPay—by enabling suppliers to get instant payment on card transactions, with no waiting or chasing, we unlock real value and drive voluntary adoption. When acceleration aligns with card economics, acceptance follows. That's why suppliers LOVE SmartPay. Without SmartPay, they do not love cards. ‘Sorry, we don’t accept cards’ is an entirely reasonable and expected response. And without a new value prop, that will remain the default answer.
Insightful findings Raj Seshadri One important angle I’d add—while MDR and FX costs often deter suppliers from embracing card acceptance, it’s essential not to view these in isolation. When suppliers evaluate the total cost of digitizing payments—including reduced AR costs, faster cash flow, and freeing up working capital—the long-term value becomes clear. Accepting cards can shift businesses from funding their buyers’ payables to investing in their own growth. It’s not just a payment method—it’s a strategic lever for business efficiency and scalability.
We agree! Raistone will provide over $4.5bn of early payment financing to small businesses this year, as early as the day they submit the invoice. 30/60/90+ days early. Submit Invoice -> Accept Card -> Get Paid.
Agree 100%. Streamlined payments aren’t just about tech …they are about agility, efficiency, and trust. Great stats from Mastercard to back this up.
💥 The B2B payments lag is real—and it’s where innovation can drive the biggest leap. Card acceptance isn’t just a convenience play anymore—it’s a strategic lever for liquidity, efficiency, and competitive edge. Having led digital payment transformations across banks and networks, I’ve seen how commercial card adoption can unlock serious working capital advantages. We digitized the consumer side—now it’s B2B’s turn. Powerful insights, Raj Seshadri.
Valuable insights Raj. Just to add, unlike B2C where convenience is imp, B2B space has a very strong economic driver dictating the payment flow. Both end have a business trying to make money. Who is capable and willing to take the burden of the MDR and is this MDR lower than other instruments borrowing rate? Commercial cards unlike consumer cards compete with working capital and othet business lending products. We need to relook at the rates involved to be competitive enough while giving ease and enough value proposition.
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3wGracias por compartir, Raj