The transaction value of B2B domestic payments across payment methods is forecast to exceed $54 trillion in 2023; up from $49 trillion in 2021.
This is according to new data from Juniper Research, which predicts a growth of 10%; reflecting a slow recovery in business activity following the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The research identified that while many businesses are now operating at pre-pandemic levels, the longer-term economic consequences of the pandemic are still restricting value growth. As such, leveraging payments automation to reduce manual work and boosting small business cashflow will be critical to recovery.
Domestic Payment Methods Shifting as Digital Takes Hold
The new research found that the need to automate B2B payments at scale is leading to a fundamental shift in the way payments are made. The research forecasts that the volume of B2B domestic cheque payments will fall by 30% globally between 2021 and 2023, with cash payments falling by 11% over the same period. The need to automate payments means a shift towards more easily automated payment types, such as card and instant payments.
Research author Nick Maynard explained: “The pandemic has accelerated the transition away from traditional payment types, with growth focused on instant payments and card payments. This transition will be important for automation, but will take some time, given the established nature of these processes.”
Instant Payments – Fastest-growing B2B Domestic Payment Method
The research found that by 2023, global instant payment transaction volumes in the B2B domestic channel will grow by 56%; the fastest of any single payment method. The research identified the launch of instant payment schemes that can carry additional remittance data as having significant potential for simplifying the complex B2B payments ecosystem. However, the report acknowledged the uneven state of instant payments scheme roll-outs as a critical limiting factor, with Europe moving much faster than North America.
