B2B payment trends continue to point toward a more digital future, but how businesses think about payments is changing, too. Finance teams aren’t simply moving away from paper checks. They’re becoming more intentional about how supplier payments are processed, which payment methods they use, and what they want those choices to accomplish.
New AvidXchange research shows that electronic payments are already widely used, while payment security, processing models, and payment mix are becoming important considerations in broader AP payment strategy. In this article, we’ll look at what the latest B2B and digital payment trends could signal for finance teams heading into 2027.
What are B2B Payments?
B2B payments are transactions between businesses for goods or services, including payments organizations make to suppliers and vendors. These payments can be made using traditional methods such as paper checks or electronic methods such as ACH, virtual cards, and other digital payment options. As businesses adopt more electronic payment methods, finance teams are considering how factors such as processing efficiency, cost, supplier preferences, payment security, and fraud risk shape their payment strategy.
In our latest B2B payment strategy research, we share insights from finance leaders about how organizations are approaching digital payments, payment security, processing models, and payment mix.
What are the Biggest B2B and Digital Payment Trends for 2027?
1. Digital B2B payments continue to gain ground
Electronic payments are already a significant part of how businesses pay suppliers. According to AvidXchange’s 2026 B2B Payment Strategy Survey, 16% of respondents said their organizations exclusively use ePayments for supplier transactions, while 46% said they mostly use ePayments alongside some traditional payment methods. Combined, nearly 63% primarily or exclusively use ePayments.
At the other end of the spectrum, only 1% said their organizations rely exclusively on traditional methods such as paper checks. The findings suggest that digital B2B payments are no longer simply an alternative to traditional payment methods. For many organizations, they have become a central part of the payment mix.
2. Security remains a major driver of B2B payment decisions
Security continues to shape B2B payment decisions, but in more than one way. Finance teams may turn to electronic payments to strengthen payment security and reduce fraud risk. At the same time, concerns about security can make organizations cautious about adopting more ePayments.
AvidXchange’s 2026 B2B Payment Strategy Survey reflects that tension. More than half of respondents said reducing fraud risk and strengthening payment security is one of the strategic outcomes their organizations are actively pursuing through their choice of payment methods.
Yet among respondents who identified barriers to increasing ePayment adoption, 43% cited security or fraud concerns as one of their biggest barriers, and 24% identified it as their primary barrier.
3. Payment processing trends point toward more hybrid models
How businesses execute payments is changing along with the methods they use. AvidXchange’s 2026 B2B Payment Strategy Survey found that 33% of respondents execute payments fully in-house, while 45% primarily handle payments internally but outsource certain payment methods.
Another 17% said their organizations primarily outsource payment execution, while 5% fully outsource it. Together, the findings point to a range of payment processing models rather than a single approach. For many organizations, the question isn’t simply whether to manage payments internally or outsource them. It’s which approach makes the most sense for different parts of the payment process.
4. Payment method selection is becoming more strategic
As electronic payments become more common, finance teams are also taking a more intentional approach to the mix of payment methods they use. AvidXchange’s 2026 B2B Payment Strategy Survey found that 53% of respondents have a formal payment mix strategy designed to optimize across factors such as cost, rebates, and supplier preferences. Another 24% have guidelines for selecting payment methods, even without a formal strategy.
Those decisions can also support broader financial goals. Nearly 30% of respondents reported maximizing rebates or cashback as one of the strategic outcomes their organizations are actively pursuing through their choice of payment methods. The findings suggest that payment modernization is increasingly about more than moving away from checks. It’s also about choosing payment methods more deliberately based on what an organization wants to accomplish.
What Are the Benefits of Digital B2B Payments?
Moving from paper checks toward digital B2B payments can offer multiple potential organizational advantages.
Cost savings
Electronic payments can reduce time spent on manual tasks like making check runs and filing paper receipts. Since electronic payments are processed faster than traditional checks, they can also reduce costly late fees and make the most of early payment discounts and rebate opportunities.
Efficiency
Electronic payments expedite transactions and help organizations reduce time spent on manual processing.
In AvidXchange’s 2026 B2B Payment Strategy Survey, 33% of respondents currently using ePayments identified improving payment processing efficiency as their primary driver for doing so.
Electronic payment platforms can also integrate with accounting and AP software, helping automate reconciliation, and reporting. By reducing paperwork and manual intervention, finance teams can enhance productivity and focus on more strategic work.
Control
Transforming AP processes and payments into digital formats helps provide AP teams with real-time transaction visibility, allowing for proactive oversight and management.
Digital payment processes can also help finance teams manage payments more consistently. With clearer information about payment status, teams can more easily monitor activity and respond when questions arise.
Automated workflows are designed to expedite invoice and payment processing, helping reduce delays, enhance cash flow efficiency, and improve supplier relationships. Customizable approval hierarchies and audit trails help AP teams retain control over their processes. Cloud-based, centralized systems also give AP teams the flexibility to access information anytime, anywhere, and from any device.
Security
Electronic payment methods can help businesses strengthen payment security and reduce fraud risk. Unlike paper payments, digital transactions come with advanced encryption and security measures. Stronger payment safeguards can also help finance teams protect sensitive financial information and maintain greater control over how payments are made.
What is the Future of B2B Payments?
The future of B2B payments is both more digital and more strategic. Businesses are continuing to move spend toward electronic payment methods, but payment modernization increasingly involves more than replacing checks.
Finance teams are also considering how payments are processed, which methods make sense for different transactions, how much payment execution should remain in-house, and when outside providers can add value. Security and financial objectives are also shaping those decisions.
As these B2B payment trends continue, payment strategy is about evaluating not only whether a payment method is digital, but how well it aligns with an organization’s operational, security, and financial priorities.
For more insight into how finance teams are navigating these shifts and setting priorities for 2027, explore findings from AvidXchange’s 2026 B2B payment strategy survey.
FAQ: B2B Payment Trends
What are the biggest B2B payment trends in 2026?
B2B payments continue to become more digital, but the shift goes beyond replacing paper checks. Finance teams are also paying closer attention to payment security, how payments are processed, and which payment methods best fit their needs.
Why are businesses adopting digital B2B payments?
Finance teams may use digital B2B payments to improve processing efficiency, reduce manual work, and strengthen payment security. These priorities can influence both the payment methods organizations choose and how they manage supplier payments.
What are the benefits of digital B2B payments?
Digital B2B payments can help finance teams save time, gain greater visibility into payment activity, and reduce reliance on manual processes. They can also provide additional safeguards for sensitive payment information.
How are businesses approaching B2B payment processing?
There isn’t one model for B2B payment processing. Some businesses keep payment execution in-house, while others outsource certain payment methods or more of the process based on their operational needs.
What is a B2B payment strategy?
A B2B payment strategy considers more than whether payments are digital. It looks at how payments are processed, which methods are used, and how those choices support an organization’s operational, security, and financial priorities.
AvidXchange is a licensed money transmitter for B2B payments in the United States, licensed as a Money Transmitter by the New York State Department of Financial Services, as well as all other states that require AvidXchange to have a license.
The information presented on this page is based on research and intended for educational purposes only. Anyone seeking to follow the information contained herein should consult their own advisors and conduct their own research prior to doing so. AvidXchange, Inc. and its affiliates disclaim any and all liability resulting from reliance on the information contained herein.