Today In B2B: SBA Releases New PPP Loan Guidance; xSuite Secures Peppol Certification

Today in B2B payments, the SBA releases guidance for the next round of PPP loans, while xSuite secures Peppol invoice certification. Plus, TripActions announces ERP integrations, FortisPay acquires Swype and Goldiam launches a B2B eCommerce platform in the U.S.

SBA Unveils Guidance for Second Round of PPP Loans

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has released guidance on applying for the second round of loans being offered under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which has been a lifeline for many small businesses during the pandemic recession. This time around, the SBA is prioritizing underserved groups such as minority-owned businesses and will only accept applications from community financial institutions during the first two days after its loan portal opens, said Lendio CEO Brock Blake in an article for Forbes. The last day to apply for a PPP loan is March 31, 2021, according to the SBA guidelines.

Singapore Grants eDoc Firm xSuite Peppol Certification for Invoices

xSuite, a German provider of electronic document handling services, especially those integrating with SAP software, has won a key government certification in Singapore, according to a press release. The country’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has listed xSuite among companies whose electronic invoicing products are suitable for use with the Peppol system. Peppol is not a platform, but describes itself as “a set of technical specifications that can be implemented in existing eProcurement solutions and eBusiness exchange services to make them interoperable between disparate systems across Europe.”

TripActions Adds Integrations for Microsoft, SAP and Others

Corporate travel management platform TripActions said in a press release that its TripActions Liquid payments and expense system now integrates with leading corporate finance systems. Among the enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems with which TripActions Liquid now communicates are NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics, Sage Intacct, SAP and Xero, according to the release. “This integration automates and integrates [travel and entertainment (T&E)] and ERP data to help finance teams experience an entirely new level of visibility over financial data,” Michael Sindicich, general manager of TripActions Liquid, said in the release. “An automated link with ERP systems will improve analytical capabilities and provide executives with true spending intelligence across the greater organization.”

FortisPay Buys Swype to Expand AP, ERP Capabilities

Fortis Payment Systems (FortisPay), which works in payment technologies for businesses and developers, announced that it had bought Swype at Work and also entered into a partnership with that company’s affiliate, Net at Work, an IT service management company, a press release says. With the new agreement, the companies will expand more in North America’s B2B market and offer new customized solutions for customers. FortisPay boasts its commerce platform, Zeamster, which can help deliver multichannel experiences, cloud EMV with point-to-point encryption, a full recurring commerce functionality, integrated invoicing and cost optimization.

Goldiam International Debuts B2B Website for US Retail Jewelry

India-based Goldiam International has completed the soft launch of its B2B website after the acquisition of Eco-Friendly Diamonds, a successful CVD diamond growing company, according to a report from Business Standard. After the acquisition, Goldiam was able to successfully beta-test and complete a soft launch for the site, which plans to cater to a new market segment for the U.S. retail jewelry industry. Goldiam now hopes to make new avenues in its digital push, securing more business on better payment terms and a better margin profile, the report says.

Read More On B2B Payments:

Amex Acquires Hyper to Boost AI and Expense Management Offerings

BofA’s Q1 Shows the US Consumer Won’t Flinch, Card Volumes Up 7%

US Treasury Ramps Up Private Credit Oversight Efforts

IMF Says AI Can Win Fraud Fight if Banks Start Sharing Data