The Green Sheet Online Edition
February 23, 2026 • 26:02:02
B2B payment trends that will define 2026: Working capital, intelligence, interoperability
The B2B payments ecosystem is in the midst of one of the most consequential transformations in its history. What was once defined by paper checks, fragmented data, and slow, batch-based processes is rapidly evolving into a landscape driven by speed, intelligence and interoperability.
As new payment rails mature and automation finally delivers on its promise, expectations across the enterprise are rising. In 2026, payments will no longer be viewed as a back-office necessity, but instead a strategic lever for liquidity, resilience and growth.
Moving toward true interoperability
One of the clearest shifts we see is the move away from one-off payment fixes toward true interoperability. Large suppliers are stepping back and rethinking their entire accounts receivable infrastructure, from data flows to reconciliation. The real value is no longer in adding another payment method, but in delivering a single, clean, standardized file into the ERP.
That mindset change is already underway, and it has direct working capital implications. Clean, structured remittance data shortens application time, accelerates cash posting and improves visibility into receivables, directly supporting lower day sales outstanding (DSO) and more predictable cash flow.
At the same time, embedded payments are evolving from a buzzword into a true operating model. Banks, networks and fintechs are reorganizing around platforms that weave payments directly into accounts payable (AP) and accounts receivable (AR) workflows.
Unlocking working capital
In 2026, embedded payments won't feel innovative; they'll simply be how B2B payments get done. By reducing friction between invoice presentment, approval, payment and reconciliation, embedded models help organizations compress order-to-cash and procure-to-pay cycles, unlocking trapped working capital on both sides of the transaction.
As global supply chains stretch, cross-border payments are also becoming faster, smarter and more specialized. Every company is now a cross-border company, and finance teams expect speed, transparency and compliance without relying on a patchwork of point solutions.
The next generation of cross-border tools will be purpose-built for the realities of B2B complexity, delivering FX transparency, regulatory alignment and predictable settlement timing. For treasury teams managing multi-entity liquidity, this visibility is essential to optimizing global cash positions and reducing idle balances.
optimization, measurable results
After years of experimentation, the office of the CFO is finally seeing automation pay off. Metrics like DSO reduction, error minimization, exception handling and cycle-time improvements are beginning to move meaningfully. CFOs are no longer dabbling, they're operationalizing automation across AR, AP and treasury.
The business challenge has shifted from "Can we automate?" to "Can we measure the working capital impact?" Payments partners that can bridge AP and AR, and translate operational efficiency into liquidity gains, will be critical to delivering measurable results.
Suppliers, meanwhile, are becoming power users of card economics. With growing sophistication around Level 3 data, interchange qualification and acceptance strategies, suppliers are shifting from passive acceptors to active optimization partners.
This evolution is reshaping conversations around pricing, payment choice and long-term value. Strategic card acceptance can provide immediate liquidity benefits and offset margin pressures—but only when aligned with broader working capital goals and cost-to-serve analysis.
AI will also play a growing role, but not as an autonomous decision-maker. In payments, AI will serve as a second set of eyes validating data, identifying anomalies, forecasting cash flow patterns and strengthening controls without replacing human judgment.
It won't push "send," but it will make sure you should. More importantly, AI-driven insights will help finance leaders model payment timing scenarios, assess supplier term strategies and proactively manage liquidity risk.
Choosing forward-looking partnerships
Behind the scenes, data-driven networks are quietly redrawing the B2B payments landscape. Intelligence across rails—who pays whom, how, and on what terms—is becoming the industry's most valuable asset. This data enables smarter routing, optimized payment method selection and more tailored supplier experiences.
It also empowers CFOs with real-time visibility into payables and receivables, turning payments data into a forward-looking liquidity planning tool rather than a backward-looking report.
That complexity is driving another shift: partnerships are becoming the default go-to-market strategy. No single player can cover the full spectrum of B2B needs alone, and coalition-driven innovation is now table stakes. For enterprises, the benefit is clear: integrated ecosystems that reduce operational silos, mitigate risk and align payments strategy with broader treasury and liquidity objectives.
Looking ahead, working capital optimization and security will rise even higher on the executive agenda. In an uncertain macro environment marked by rate volatility, geopolitical risk and supply chain disruption, predictable liquidity is not optional, it is strategic.
Moving toward smarter liquidity
Organizations face mounting pressure to balance extending payables, accelerating receivables and maintaining strong supplier relationships. Payments infrastructure now sits at the center of that balancing act. The companies that modernize it will gain flexibility; those that do not will feel the strain in margin, resilience and growth capacity.
In 2026, the conversation will move beyond faster payments to smarter liquidity. The winners will be finance leaders who treat payments as a source of intelligence, leverage data to actively manage cash conversion cycles, and build ecosystems that align AP, AR, and treasury around shared working capital outcomes.
Payments are no longer simply about moving money; they are about unlocking it. And in a capital-constrained world, that distinction will define competitive advantage. 
Zach Held joined Boost in May of 2023 and is responsible for managing Boost’s product and commercial organization. Zach brings 15 years of product and strategy experience across financial services, with a specific focus on lending and payments. Prior to joining Boost, Zach led Goldman Sachs’ proprietary POS lending business, MarcusPay. He previously held leadership roles in product, partnerships and strategy at various financial institutions, including Bank of America and HSBC. Zach also ran the Product and Design organization for XUP Payments, a merchant acquiring solutions company, where he helped grow the organization and prepare for its eventual acquisition in 2021 by KeyBank. Contact Zack via LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/zheld..
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