That conclusion anchors “Buy, Don’t Build: The Next Wave of Embedded Finance,” the November 2025 Business Payments Tracker Series report from PYMNTS Intelligence in collaboration with WEX.
The report finds that as embedded finance shifts from experimentation to expectation, enterprises are favoring white-label platforms that allow them to embed payments under their own brands while relying on proven infrastructure. Speed, security and customer control are no longer trade-offs. They are table stakes.
The report argues that embedded finance has matured into a strategic decision rather than a technical one. Businesses operating in digital-first markets face pressure to simplify how customers and suppliers move money while maintaining trust and compliance.
White-label platforms meet that need by handling the back-end complexity of payments, fraud prevention and regulatory oversight, allowing companies to focus on growth and experience design. This approach also reflects a shift in mindset.
Payments are no longer viewed as plumbing. They are part of the brand.
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Several data points illustrate why the “buy” approach is gaining momentum:
- 79% of organizations experienced payments fraud in 2024, underscoring how difficult it has become for in-house teams to keep pace with evolving threats across decentralized payment environments.
- 72% of B2B buyers say they are more loyal to suppliers that offer their preferred payment methods, a statistic that links embedded payments directly to retention rather than back-office efficiency.
- 90% of payment executives report friction when paying suppliers, highlighting how outdated workflows can strain commercial relationships even when demand is strong.
Beyond these figures, the report places embedded finance within a broader operational shift. As remote and hybrid work models spread, payment functions have become more fragmented.
That fragmentation expands attack surfaces and increases compliance risk, particularly in B2B sectors that still rely heavily on checks and manual reconciliation, which drains time and energy. White-label providers address this by consolidating payment data into centralized dashboards that offer real-time visibility, fraud monitoring and audit readiness.
The research also emphasizes that outsourcing payment infrastructure does not mean surrendering control. In practice, companies gain more insight into transaction flows when they rely on platforms purpose-built for scale and security. The report highlights partnerships such as WEX’s integration of advanced identity verification tools, which replace manual onboarding with automated checks designed to detect fraud while reducing friction for legitimate users.
Perhaps the most forward-looking element of the report is its focus on loyalty. Embedded payments shape how buyers perceive reliability. When transactions are seamless, predictable and aligned with preferred methods, trust deepens. When they are slow or error-prone, relationships weaken and can in fact be severed. The data suggests that payment experience influences supplier choice, average order value and long-term retention.
The report concludes that the build-versus-buy debate is narrowing. White-label embedded finance offers a faster path to market, stronger safeguards and greater flexibility than most organizations can achieve alone.
For enterprises navigating rising transaction volumes and tighter margins, the strategic advantage lies in treating payments as a branded experience supported by specialized partners. Build less. Buy smarter. Focus on growth.
At PYMNTS Intelligence, we work with businesses to uncover insights that fuel intelligent, data-driven discussions on changing customer expectations, a more connected economy and the strategic shifts necessary to achieve outcomes. With rigorous research methodologies and unwavering commitment to objective quality, we offer trusted data to grow your business. As our partner, you’ll have access to our diverse team of PhDs, researchers, data analysts, number crunchers, subject matter veterans and editorial experts.
