New service reduces merchant service charges and increases security in remote payments acceptance
The shift toward digital payments has accelerated across the B2B sector, creating demand for faster, more secure alternatives to traditional payment methods. While many businesses still rely on mail order and telephone order processes, these approaches can create inefficiencies, increase compliance burdens, and contribute to payment delays. As organizations look to improve working capital and streamline accounts receivable operations, B2B payment links are emerging as a practical solution.
By allowing buyers to settle invoices through secure links delivered via email or SMS, suppliers can simplify payment acceptance while reducing friction in the payment process. The approach also supports stronger security, improved compliance, and faster reconciliation, helping businesses address longstanding challenges associated with late payments and manual payment collection.
07 December 2020 – B2B payments specialist, Adflex, today announces the launch of its Payment Links service designed to enable supply chain merchants to simplify and accelerate payment acceptance from corporate buyers. The solution enables suppliers connected to Adflex’s payment platform to send a payment link via email or SMS through which buyers can settle invoices quickly and securely from any geography, encouraging timely reconciliation and reducing cashflow problems caused by late payments.
Unlike legacy mail order and telephone order (MOTO) transactions, both of which are still widely used in the B2B payments space, Payment Links are a fast and efficient eCommerce solution. By following the received link, buyers are directed to Adflex’s secure, hosted payment page through which they can pay for orders and outstanding invoices by debit, credit or commercial purchasing card.
Using the Payment Links service, the merchant’s PCI compliance burden is substantially reduced because the card entry is passed to the cardholder and details can be tokenized. For established trading partners, the payments experience is streamlined further since Adflex is authorised to securely store Cards on File (CoF). Together these features save time and money for both parties by simplifying the ongoing job of managing their transaction processes.
The Payment Links service validates cardholders using 3D Secure 2.0, further reducing the merchant service charges while reducing risk of fraud and ensuring that the merchant is compliant with upcoming Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) regulations when accepting a payment. Individual links are deactivated once a payment is authorised.
“Adflex is providing a vital tool for B2B merchants looking to simplify and secure the payment process for their buyers,” comments Pat Bermingham, CEO, Adflex. “Serving as a streamlined alternative to legacy, mail and telephone order transactions, Payment Links offer B2B suppliers a tangible reduction in merchant service fees and PCI scope.”
“Business demand for remote payment options rose quickly over lockdown, as more firms reshaped their operations to enable a dispersed workforce,” adds Bermingham. “This level of payments efficiency has long been available to B2C eCommerce merchants but due to the more complicated nature of business payments, development and adoption in the B2B arena has lagged. With Payment Links Adflex has redressed the balance.”
The Payment Links service can seamlessly integrate into a merchant’s existing system using Adflex’s enterprise card payment API. Alternatively, links can be generated through an online payment portal in seconds. They are fully customisable, enabling merchants to include their own branding, and their buyers can benefit from enhanced B2B invoice data due to Adflex’s Level 3 processing capabilities.
Digital payment technologies are helping modernize B2B transactions by making invoice payments faster, safer, and more convenient for both buyers and suppliers. Solutions such as payment links, tokenization, and secure authentication can reduce administrative overhead while improving cash flow and customer experience. As businesses continue to embrace digital transformation, tools that streamline invoice payment processing and strengthen payment security are likely to play an increasingly important role in B2B commerce.
Visit the Adflex website to learn more about Payment Links.
