Across B2B payments and technology, artificial intelligence is emerging as more than just another transformative technology.
It’s becoming a compass for the future.
For decades, the B2B ecosystem has operated under the confines of a traditionally reactive framework, where processes like payments, compliance and risk management were structured to respond to challenges after they occurred.
But with recent examples, such as the news Tuesday (Nov. 26) that AI-powered business solutions provider Esker now enables real-time integration of its Esker Accounts Payable with two Microsoft cloud-enabled enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, it is becoming clear that AI is increasingly shifting legacy B2B paradigms by enabling businesses to anticipate issues, seize opportunities and recalibrate traditional buyer-supplier dynamics.
As businesses grapple with the challenges of a volatile global economy, AI is helping turn clunky, manual-heavy processes into streamlined and automated ones. The result is faster transactions, fewer headaches and more control over cash flow.
Read also: AI in Commerce: 5 Essential Use Cases for B2B Operations
Risk is a focal point of B2B operations, but the sophistication of today’s challenges — ranging from geopolitical instability to cyber threats — demands an advanced response. AI is redefining how businesses identify, assess and mitigate risks.
“Technology, especially AI, has accelerated the success of finance teams by providing real-time access to data and insights,” Brian Unruh, chief financial officer of global AI company ABBYY, told PYMNTS in June. “This allows us to proactively address issues before they become significant problems, rather than just reporting on them after the fact.”
The shift from reactionary to anticipatory risk management is most evident in cybersecurity. Traditional defenses are designed to detect and respond to attacks, but AI allows for a preemptive approach. By analyzing datasets — including network traffic, user behavior and past incidents — AI can identify anomalies and predict potential breaches before they occur. This not only protects sensitive financial data but also ensures business continuity amid escalating cyber threats.
AI’s ability to synthesize information in real time transforms risk management from a static process into a dynamic, forward-looking strategy.
Regulatory environments vary by region, making compliance a perennial headache for multinational firms. AI systems equipped with machine learning algorithms can monitor regulatory updates, flag potential risks and automate reporting to ensure businesses remain compliant across jurisdictions.
See also: AI Makes Impact in Supplier Enablement and Predictive Analytics
Accounts payable (AP) and accounts receivable (AR) have long been the cornerstone of B2B payments, yet their traditional processes often lack the fluidity needed to support modern business demands. AI’s integration into these workflows is turning routine automation into a differentiator.
AI helps enable businesses to go beyond simple task automation by making payment workflows adaptive and intelligent. For instance, machine learning models can analyze vendor payment histories and cash flow data to recommend optimal payment terms, balancing liquidity needs with supplier satisfaction.
“AI has the potential to really move the needle for so much of the industry in terms of their ability to better understand what’s going on within their payments environments and the ability to be more proactive with their buyers or suppliers,” Nick Izquierdo, executive vice president of payments at Billtrust, told PYMNTS last year. “And alongside that, the productivity AI brings is really driving more success satisfaction out of both sides of the equation.”
By analyzing payment trends, supply chain data and market conditions, AI can offer insights that help suppliers tailor their offerings to buyers’ needs, creating a more collaborative and mutually beneficial ecosystem.
“To truly unlock the power of AI, especially in a B2B world, you really need to have tremendous amounts of real-world business data to train the AI,” Rajiv Ramachandran, senior vice president of product strategy and management at Coupa, told PYMNTS this month.
Read also: AI in the Chat: Generative AI’s Growing Role in Customer Service
The globalization of B2B commerce has introduced complexities that demand more than traditional workflows may be able to deliver. International expansion often involves managing currency fluctuations, reconciling cross-border transactions, and navigating language barriers in contracts and procurement processes.
The PYMNTS Intelligence report “Cross-Border Sales and the Challenge of Failed Payments” found that faulty cross-border payments cost U.S. merchants at least $3.8 billion in sales last year. Increasingly, these once-daunting challenges are being reimagined through AI.
AI-driven tools now enable businesses to manage currency exchange rates in real time, reducing exposure to unfavorable fluctuations and ensuring seamless cross-border reconciliations. For example, by analyzing historical data and market trends, AI can predict optimal times for currency conversion, safeguarding revenue streams and maintaining predictability in cash flow.
On the cutting-edge of AI applications, advanced natural language processing models are breaking down language barriers, ensuring that buyer-supplier agreements are understood and adhered to on both sides of the table. AI-powered localization not only helps enhance transparency but also can support the speeding up of procurement cycles, allowing businesses to scale globally while avoiding historical bottlenecks.
Ultimately, whether through streamlining global expansion, fortifying risk management or transforming payment workflows, AI is reshaping the future of B2B commerce.
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We get a lot of press releases here at PYMNTS. We consider all of them, and some are more newsworthy than others. But this one really got our attention. This past week, Diebold Nixdorf made headlines with its announcement of successfully installing two new automated teller machines (ATMs) at the U.S. National Science Foundation’s McMurdo Station in Antarctica. This achievement marks a significant milestone in banking accessibility, to be sure. We would like to meet the crew that installed them. We’d also like to know why they needed two. Was there a line at the first one? More to come on that.
According to Diebold, McMurdo Station is Antarctica’s largest research and logistics hub, supporting a fluctuating population that ranges from fewer than 200 residents during the winter months to up to 1,100 individuals during the summer (October through February). The presence of these ATMs is crucial, it says, as the next closest banking facilities are thousands of miles away, making them the only ATMs on the entire continent. How’s that for a value proposition?
The DN Series ATMs are designed for always-on availability. And why do they need two? One ATM is actively in use, while the second serves as a backup for spare parts, ensuring uninterrupted service in this isolated area. These machines are connected to the DN AllConnect Data Engine, which leverages Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor their performance. A dedicated team continuously aggregates and analyzes technical data to identify potential issues, enabling remote diagnostics and repairs. The ATM can be maintained by trained staff at NSF McMurdo Station, or the Diebold Nixdorf service team can remotely guide them through the repair process.
Anyway, it got us thinking. Are there other surprising ATMs in extreme locations? Well, of course, there are. Here’s a sampling of what we found.
At an altitude of about 5,364 meters (17,600 feet), the Mount Everest Base Camp in Nepal is another unexpected place to find an ATM. Although it’s not a permanent fixture and is often set up seasonally, it caters to climbers and trekkers who need cash for local transactions. This temporary ATM service underscores the adaptability of banking services in extreme environments.
In some parts of the Amazon rainforest, particularly in Brazil and Peru, ATMs can be found in small villages and towns. These machines are vital for local communities, providing access to cash in areas where digital payment options might be limited. The presence of ATMs here demonstrates how banking services can reach even the most remote communities.
Located in the Tibet Autonomous Region, Nagqu is home to one of the highest ATMs in the world. This region is very remote, with limited infrastructure, making the presence of an ATM a notable example of banking accessibility in extreme environments.
In the Thousand Islands (Kepulauan Seribu) off the coast of Jakarta, Indonesia, there’s a floating ATM. This unique ATM serves the local community and tourists on the islands, demonstrating how banking services can adapt to isolated marine environments.
Longyearbyen, the administrative center of the Svalbard archipelago in Norway, boasts the most northerly ATM. This location is one of the most remote inhabited places on Earth, with limited access to mainland Norway, making the ATM a vital service for residents and visitors.
On a more serious note, the installation of ATMs in places like Antarctica and other remote locations highlights the evolving nature of banking technology. With advancements in IoT, AI and remote diagnostics, it’s becoming increasingly feasible to provide banking services in areas previously considered inaccessible. As we look to the future, it will be interesting to see where else ATMs might appear. Whether it’s on a remote island, at the top of a mountain or even in space, the ability to access cash is becoming more universal than ever. And who knows? Maybe one day, we’ll see an ATM on Mars, serving the first interplanetary travelers.
For now, the presence of ATMs in unexpected places reminds us that banking is not just about transactions; it’s about connecting people and communities across the globe, no matter how remote they might be.
