Digitizing Procure-to-Pay

The procure-to-pay (P2P) process is a critical part of B2B trade, allowing corporate buyers and sellers to efficiently manage the procurement and payment of goods and services. However, this process has traditionally relied on manual, paper-based processes that are time-consuming and prone to errors. Recently, there has been a growing trend towards digitizing the P2P process in the UAE, as businesses seek to improve efficiency and reduce costs. This article discusses the benefits of digitizing the traditional P2P process and how it can help UAE businesses, as well as steps to take as part of that journey.

An end-to-end P2P process involves several steps, including requisition, purchase order (PO) generation, receipt of goods or services, invoice processing, payment and reconciliation. Each of these steps can be time-consuming and prone to errors, particularly if they’re managed using manual, paper-based processes. Manual processing of invoices is costly and can lead to delays in payment, errors in data entry and disputes between buyers and sellers.

Digitization of the P2P process helps businesses overcome these challenges and realize a range of benefits, including:

Increased Efficiency

A digital P2P process helps a business streamline its operations and increase efficiency. According to a report by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, digitizing procurement processes can reduce processing times by up to 60%. This enables businesses to process orders more quickly, reduce lead times and improve customer satisfaction.

Improved Accuracy

Manual processes are prone to errors, particularly when it comes to data entry and processing. Automating the P2P process helps businesses reduce the risk of errors and improves accuracy. According to a report by Ernst & Young, digitizing procurement processes can reduce error rates by up to 80%.

Enhanced Visibility

Digitizing P2P is helping UAE businesses gain greater visibility into their procurement, spends and payment processes. This helps them identify areas of inefficiency, monitor spending, optimize cash management and make more informed business decisions. According to Ardent Partners, businesses that digitize their procurement process achieve an average of 20% improvement in spend visibility.

Reduced Costs

Manual, paper-based processes are costly and time-consuming, particularly if they involve manual data entry and processing. In certain cases, where a high volume of invoices need to be processed, a manual process can have a significant negative impact on supplier relationships, pricing and working capital. A digital P2P process can help a business reduce costs by automating key processes and reducing the need for manual intervention. In addition, automated payment solutions like Swipe2B enable companies to completely eliminate the cost of processing supplier payments (whether bank transfer fees or cheque printing) and strengthen supplier relationships through early payments. A report by McKinsey & Company found that by digitizing supplier payments, companies can reduce their end-to-end processing costs by up to 50%.

New Revenue Creation

Automating the payment process using Swipe2B not only enables companies to pay suppliers early using a credit card (even when suppliers don’t accept cards), but allows companies to capture new additional revenue through cash-back rebates and other rewards that credit cards offer. For the first time, procurement and AP departments are being seen as revenue generating profit centers, rather than just cost centers.

Improved Supplier Relationships

A digital P2P process helps businesses build stronger relationships with their suppliers. Providing suppliers with real-time information about order status, streamlined invoice processing and faster payments builds trust and improves buyer-seller relationships significantly. In their report, Levvel Research found that businesses that digitize their procurement processes improve supplier relationships by up to 60%.

Better Compliance

Digitization of the P2P process helps UAE businesses improve compliance with regulations and internal policies. By automating key processes and reducing the risk of errors and fraud, businesses can reduce the risk of compliance violations and improve their overall compliance posture. Deloitte found that a digitized procurement process can reduce the risk of compliance violations by up to 50%.

While the benefits of an automated P2P process are clear, how can UAE businesses practically go about achieving them? Here are several key steps a business can take:

Use An e-procurement System

An e-procurement system is a software application that automates the P2P process, from requisition to payment. E-procurement systems help businesses streamline their procurement processes, reduce errors and improve visibility. It must be noted that while there are several such systems available, very few of them, such as Swipe2B are able to automate all the steps of a traditional P2P process.

Adopt Electronic Invoicing

Electronic invoicing, or e-invoicing, is the process of sending and receiving invoices electronically. A true e-invoicing system is one that enables suppliers to easily upload invoices that are automatically ‘read’, digitized and matched against POs and requisitions within seconds. This helps businesses reduce processing times, improve accuracy and reduce costs associated with matching and reconciling invoices with POs. According to a report by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, companies that adopt e-invoicing can reduce invoice processing times by up to 70%. No two supplier invoices are the same. When selecting an e-invoicing system, it’s important to ensure the versatility of its user interface (how easy and in how many ways a supplier can submit an invoice) and the technology it uses to ‘read’ the invoice – eg OCR or AI that enable it to accurately read a large variety of invoice formats.

Use Digital Payments

Digital payments, such as credit cards and electronic fund transfers, help businesses streamline their payment processes, reduce costs, improve security and reduce their carbon footprint. Using solutions like Swipe2B enables companies to also capture cash-back incentives on all its payments, representing a potentially significant new revenue stream; and automate reconciliation saving additional time and costs. According to PwC, electronic payment transactions in the MENA region are expected to reach USD 690 billion by 2025.

Embrace Automation

Automation is no longer an opportunity – it’s an inevitability. More and more UAE businesses are reducing manual intervention and improving efficiency of their P2P processes. On the other hand, sellers who are in need working capital and better cash flow are looking for efficient and automated solutions that offer early or on-time payments from B2B clients. Automated PO processing is helping reduce processing times, improving accuracy and reducing costs all round. It’s important for automation to not be seen as a job killer, but rather a tool that allows key personnel to focus on more important and strategic tasks, instead of the repetitive, time-consuming and mundane ones.

Invest In Analytics

Investing in analytics helps businesses gain greater visibility and insight into their procurement and payment processes. By analyzing their data on spending, supplier performance and other key metrics, companies are able to identify areas of inefficiency and make more informed business decisions.

Digitizing the traditional P2P process is helping more and more UAE businesses improve efficiency, reduce costs and build stronger relationships with their suppliers. By adopting e-procurement systems, e-invoicing, digital payments, automation and analytics, these businesses are able to streamline their procurement and payment processes, reduce errors and improve visibility. As the use of digital technologies continues to grow in the region, more and more businesses are leveraging these technologies to stay competitive in today’s marketplace.

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Traditional to Trailblazing – Revolutionizing Treasury with Card Payments

In the ever-evolving landscape of business, where every decision matters and every process counts, treasury management stands as the backbone of financial stability. It’s the heartbeat that keeps an organization pulsating with liquidity and foresight. While traditional methods have long held sway, a new dawn has broken – one that promises to transform treasury management through the untapped potential of B2B card payments.

Uncovering the Game-Changing Potential

In today’s fast-paced global economy, agility is paramount. Businesses across the GCC, and particularly in the UAE, have realized that embracing innovation is the key to thriving in this dynamic environment. Traditional treasury management practices, laden with manual processes, can hinder the fluidity that modern corporations need to navigate complex financial landscapes.

Enter card-based supplier payments, the trailblazing solution that has the power to redefine treasury management as we know it. This modern approach seamlessly integrates the power of working capital and electronic payments with the efficiency of card networks, offering a multitude of benefits that transcend the limitations of conventional methods.

A New Era in B2B Payments

The GCC region has witnessed exponential growth in its B2B payments market, with the UAE leading the charge. According to recent statistics from the UAE Central Bank, B2B payments in the UAE reached $450 billion in 2021, and are projected to reach $1.25 trillion by 2030, signifying not only raw economic growth, but the escalating need for more advanced payment solutions. The UAE’s proactive embrace of innovation has propelled it to the forefront of this transformation, where businesses are recognizing the game-changing potential of card-based supplier payments.

Consider the case of a prominent global technology giant, and their office in the UAE. Faced with the challenge of managing payments to suppliers across a sprawling MENA network, the company turned to Swipe2B’s innovative card-to-bank solution. By making the switch, they streamlined their payment processes, reduced manual errors, enjoyed 55 days of extended credit, began receiving rebates on their monthly spends and gained real-time insights into their cash flow. As a result, the company not only bolstered its treasury management practices but also elevated its supplier relationships through automated, prompt and accurate payments.

Efficiency Meets Security

One of the most compelling aspects of B2B card payments is the fusion of efficiency and security. In traditional methods, the path from purchase order to payment is often riddled with delays, discrepancies and potential for fraud. Card-based solutions counter this by digitizing the entire process, from authorization to settlement, through to reconciliation. This not only accelerates payment cycles but also fortifies security measures, protecting businesses from the financial pitfalls of fraudulent activities.

According to a recent study by McKinsey & Company, companies in the GCC that adopted digital payment solutions like card-based payments reported an average reduction of 30% in payment processing times.

Elevating Treasury Management: The Difference

As the pioneer in card-based supplier payments in the region, Swipe2B is at the forefront of this revolution. With a keen understanding of the evolving needs of businesses across the GCC, Swipe2B offers a transformative solution that empowers organizations to achieve unparalleled treasury management efficiency.

Swipe2B‘s comprehensive solution not only enables suppliers who don’t accept card payments to receive payment automatically into their bank account, but it also integrates seamlessly with existing ERP systems, creating a harmonious synergy between technology and operations. The result? A holistic view of financial flows, enriched with real-time insights and analytics that empower businesses to make better informed decisions.

Seizing the Future

The era of traditional treasury management is fading, giving way to a new age of innovation and efficiency. Card-based supplier payments is the catalyst driving this transformation, providing businesses in the GCC, especially in the UAE, with the tools they need to thrive in an increasingly competitive world.

To unlock the full potential of modern treasury management, it’s time to transcend the constraints of the past and embrace opportunities of the future.

As the region’s B2B payments landscape evolves, Swipe2B offers the expertise and technology needed to elevate your organization’s financial operations to new heights.

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Swipe2B Crosses $2 Billion of B2B Payments in UAE

For Immediate Release

21 September 2023, Dubai – Swipe2B, a leading payment solutions provider headquartered in the UAE, surpasses $2 billion of B2B supplier payments. The solution unlocks liquidity and facilitates early payments for both buyers and suppliers.

As the economic hub of the Middle East, the UAE boasts a thriving business ecosystem and Swipe2B has emerged as a catalyst for growth and efficiency. The company’s innovative payment solution has redefined how businesses pay and get paid, providing an array of benefits for both buyers and suppliers across the UAE.

Amer Qavi, the entrepreneur behind Swipe2B created a holistic solution that addresses the pain points of both parties in a transaction. His mission was to simplify the B2B payment process while helping to boost liquidity and streamline cash management for companies.

With nearly 40 clients including New York University Abu Dhabi, Mastercard and DB Schenker, Swipe2B’s offerings resonate strongly with the UAE’s business community. Buyers in the region enjoy the privilege of extended credit terms, allowing them to optimize their working capital and cash flow. This extended credit period, spanning up to 55 days, enables businesses to allocate their resources more strategically and seize growth opportunities.

Meanwhile, approximately 2,600 suppliers enjoy early payments, boosting their liquidity, enhancing their financial stability and growth potential and eliminating the need to seek financing while they wait to get paid. This mutually beneficial solution also gives suppliers another payment method to offer their other clients. This not only financially strengthens SMEs but also contributes to the overall economic vitality of the UAE.

“At Swipe2B, we take pride in being headquartered in the UAE and serving the dynamic business community of this region. Our journey to the milestone of $2 billion in supplier payments underscores the trust our clients place in our innovative payment solutions,” stated Amer Qavi, CEO and Founder of Swipe2B. “Our success story is not just about numbers; it’s about the positive impact we’ve had on businesses of all sizes.”

In addition to payments, Swipe2B’s unique solution includes supplier enablement services, ensuring that suppliers can receive payments instantly into their bank account without the need for anyone to tap, swipe or enter card details on a screen or terminal. Transactions are then automatically reconciled, freeing up resources to focus on more valuable and strategic tasks.

“In today’s financial landscape of rising interest rates, Swipe2B’s solution is a game-changer,” says Qavi. “We’re not just aligning with the shift towards digital payments; we’re also addressing the critical need for liquidity and working capital.”

Swipe2B is revolutionizing B2B payments, making transactions simpler, more efficient and mutually beneficial for buyers and suppliers alike.

– END –

About Swipe2B: Swipe2B is a B2B payment technology company dedicated to revolutionizing how businesses pay and get paid. Since 2017, Swipe2B has provided innovative payment solutions tailored to the needs of businesses of all sizes. With a commitment to making payments faster, smarter, safer and more rewarding, Swipe2B has emerged as the partner of choice for businesses seeking financial optimization. Headquartered in Dubai, Swipe2B serves businesses across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, streamlining their B2B payments and optimizing their working capital.

Website: www.swipe2b.com

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Automation and the changing role of the CFO

Automation And The Changing Role Of The CFO

The CFO’s role across the globe is undergoing a significant transformation. The Middle East is no different.  CFOs are no longer just chief accountants or financial scorekeepers. They are expected to be key strategic partners for boards, CEOs and other corporate leaders. These executives need their CFOs to help develop strategies that enable their companies to adapt to change, ensure compliance, manage the exponential increase in data volumes and drive revenue growth and profits.

According to a report from McKinsey, CFOs in the Middle East are focusing on driving business performance through digitization and innovation, with more than half seeing digital transformation as a high priority. A significant number of these CFOs plan to invest in technology to help them achieve their goals. A survey conducted by PwC, found that 94% of Middle Eastern businesses believe that technology will play a significant role in the future of their finance function. The same survey also found that 52% of them plan to increase their investments in digital technologies over the next year, with a particular focus on automation and data analytics. This highlights the growing importance of automation in finance in the region and the need for CFOs to embrace it.

One area where CFOs are leveraging technology to drive business performance is in payments. Optimizing payments to suppliers is crucial for achieving strategic objectives such as improving cash management, increasing profitability, reducing the cost of goods sold and mitigating risks. Here are some key ways in which optimizing payments is driving business performance:

Leveraging Electronic Payments To Improve Cash Management

CFOs are optimizing payments by moving away from manual cheques to electronic payments. In the UAE, for example, electronic payments have been on the rise, with the Central Bank of the UAE reporting a 27% increase in the value of electronic payments in the country in 2020. While much of that increase is attributable to the change in consumer payment behavior during the pandemic, this change is here to stay; and not just amongst individual consumers, but payment behavior between corporate buyers and suppliers too. In addition, the decriminalization of bounced cheques over the last few years and initiatives like the UAE Central Bank’s target to increase the share of non-cash transactions to 70% by 2023, have added to that momentum

Increasing Margins By Optimizing Payments

CFOs in the region are implementing payment optimization strategies that help to extend Days Payable Outstanding (DPO), the average amount of time it takes a business to pay its suppliers. By taking a strategic and disciplined approach to paying suppliers electronically, such as by credit card, organizations are able to vary the settlement time for invoices in a way that is beneficial for both the buyer and supplier. Extending DPO is a great way to drive supplier adoption and gain additional float at the same time. This can help support strategic objectives such as paying down debt, making capital investments, increasing research and development and supporting growth initiatives.

Lowering COGS Through Early Payment Discounts

Optimizing payments is helping CFOs capture early payment discounts. A significant number of suppliers in the region, including in the UAE, offer early payment discounts, with some offering discounts of up to 5%. CFOs can help their businesses reduce their cost of goods sold and improve their competitive position by capturing these discounts when paying their suppliers using automated solutions, such as Swipe2B.

Using Automation To Mitigate Risk

More and more CFOs are implementing automated solutions that include workflow engines to digitally route invoices for approval and exceptions handling, based on a buyer’s pre-configured business rules. With automation, there is no chance that invoices will become lost, and alerts, notifications, and escalation procedures keep invoices from becoming ‘stuck’ on someone’s desk. Electronic payments provide businesses with the visibility, tracking, and control they need to mitigate costly fraud and compliance risks. Automation tracks invoice history and approvals, ensures compliance with invoice approval policies, enforces separation of duties, assures chain of custody, makes audit information readily available, applies PCI compliance controls and prevents sensitive documents from being destroyed prematurely.

Conclusion

The role of the CFO in the Middle East is evolving rapidly, with technology and digitization playing an increasingly important role. By embracing digital solutions and optimizing their payments processes, such as adopting a commercial card program for supplier payments, CFOs can position themselves as key strategic partners within their businesses, driving growth, profitability and competitive advantage in an increasingly dynamic and digital marketplace.

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Late Payments – A Concern For UAE Businesses

Late payments in B2B trade have been a persistent issue in the UAE for many years. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which account for nearly 95% of all UAE businesses and represent approximately 60% of GDP, are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of late payments. These effects include disrupted cash flow, financial instability and difficulty in planning for the future. This article explores the impact of late payments on SMEs and the wider economy, as well as provides potential solutions to address this issue.

Scale of the Problem

The issue of late payments is widespread in the UAE. According to a survey conducted by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, over 60% of businesses in the UAE experience late payments. SMEs are the most affected, with 70% of them reporting late payments. This is concerning, given SMEs’ contribution to the overall economy.

A recent survey conducted in the UAE by the trade credit insurer, Atradius, found that 53% of the total value of all B2B payments were delayed, with an additional 8% uncollectable and written off as bad debt. In other words, only 32% of the total value of all B2B invoices was settled on time. The survey included 200 UAE based companies of various sizes across several sectors.

The negative impact of late payments is indisputable and significant. SMEs often rely on a steady cash flow to pay their bills and suppliers, but when payments are delayed, it can lead to a domino effect of financial difficulty. For instance, suppliers may have to borrow to pay their own bills, leading to increased debt, higher interest payments and reduced profitability. This can result in stunted growth and even bankruptcy for SMEs, which in turn impacts the overall health of the economy.

Importance of Early Payment

While buyers need solutions that enable them to pay their bills on time (or even early) with minimal impact on working capital, suppliers also need to consider offering early payment discounts, which are commonplace in markets like North America and Europe. The nuanced and tactile nature of business traditionally conducted in the UAE (and MENA as a whole) does present a hindrance when moving towards a more transactional approach to business. However, a shift towards early payment options as a standard offering on B2B invoices is needed. This approach will offer buyers a clear and visible monetary incentive to pay early, while creating a space for innovative solutions to enter and further streamline the payment process.

To address the issue of late payments (and B2B liquidity in general), commercial credit cards have been seeing a dramatic rise in popularity over the last few years, as they offer a solution that benefits both buyers and suppliers simultaneously. Commercial credit cards allow buyers to pay suppliers early without impacting their own working capital.

Commercial credit cards are particularly relevant in the UAE, where digital payments are on the rise. In fact, the UAE is one of the fastest growing markets for digital payments in the world, with a projected growth rate of 16.8% per year from 2021 to 2025. This trend makes commercial credit cards a compelling option for B2B trade payments in the country.

Benefits of Commercial Credit Cards

Commercial credit cards offer several benefits that make them an attractive option for B2B payments in the UAE. Firstly, they provide interest-free extended credit (typically 55 days), allowing buyers to manage their cash flow and working capital more efficiently. Second, buyers can benefit from rebates and cash back incentives, resulting in improved profitability. Third, card payments are free to make, saving bank transfer fees and the cost of processing cheques. Lastly, but most importantly, suppliers can receive early payment, improving their cash flow and reducing the need for them to borrow to pay their bills. To help streamline the process, solutions like Swipe2B offer an automated card-to-bank mechanism enabling buyers to pay their suppliers by card instantly, securely and without the need to manually enter, transmit or swipe their card details to make payment.

According to Mastercard’s ‘B2B Payments in the UAE: Digital Payment Solutions in the COVID-19 Era’ report, commercial credit cards help reduce payment cycles by up to 60% for suppliers. This reduction in DSO has led to improved cash flow and working capital for suppliers and better cost management and savings for buyers.

Whether it’s buyers paying suppliers early, or suppliers willing to accept card payment to begin with, businesses can demonstrate their reliability and commitment to each other, which in turn leads to increased trust and stronger buyer-supplier relationships.

Other Solutions

In addition to commercial credit cards, other solutions to tackle late payments include invoice financing and trade credit insurance.

Invoice financing (aka invoice factoring or invoice discounting) is a process whereby businesses can borrow against their unpaid invoices (usually from their bank), allowing them to access short-term funding and improve their cash flow. As this facility in the UAE is mostly offered by banks, its availability is reliant on the seller’s relationship with its bank, with the final decision and pricing heavily dependent on the buyer’s credit-worthiness. in the end, the overall process is not automated and the banks’ ad hoc decision and pricing can vary from invoice to invoice, depending on the buyers’ and sellers’ standing.

Trade credit insurance is an insurance policy that a seller can purchase to protect against unpaid invoices. This has the dual benefit of assured collection, and helping to reduce the cost of invoice financing as the lender has the added security of an insurance payout in the event of a late or defaulted payment from a client.

Conclusion

In the UAE, late payments in B2B trade pose a significant challenge that requires urgent attention. It negatively impacts SMEs, their cash flow, and the economy as a whole. However, by implementing solutions such as commercial credit cards, invoice financing and trade credit insurance, it is possible to mitigate the risks associated with late payments and improve the overall health of the economy.

Commercial credit cards are a particularly promising solution, as they offer benefits for both buyers and suppliers simultaneously. By using commercial credit cards, buyers can benefit from extended payment terms, rebates and process automation, while suppliers can receive early payment and improve their cash flow.

As the UAE continues to grow as a market for digital payments, commercial credit cards will become an increasingly popular option for B2B payments. Companies that embrace this solution stand to gain a competitive advantage by improving their cash flow, working capital and cost management.

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Embedded finance powers the economy with SME finance

Embedded Finance – An SME’s Real Need

SMEs being given a faster horse, when they need a car

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) form the backbone of any economy. This is particularly true in the Middle East, where they make up a significant portion of the business landscape. Despite their importance, SMEs often face significant challenges in obtaining the financing they need to grow and succeed. Technology-driven solutions like real-time transfers and electronic payments are great but don’t address their fundamental need: access to credit.

It seems like financial institutions are offering SMEs a faster horse, when what they really need is a car.

In this article, we’ll explore why SMEs in the Middle East, particularly in the retail sector, are in dire need of embedded finance solutions, and how these solutions can help overcome their financial constraints and grow their businesses.

SMEs in the Middle East face a range of financial constraints that limit their ability to grow and succeed. One of the most significant of these is a lack of access to credit. According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), SMEs in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) face some of the highest funding gaps in the world. Just 20% of SMEs receive credit from formal financial institutions; and with the traditional B2B trade market estimated to be $1.8 trillion in 2021 by the World Bank, these two statistics alone point to an enormous gap of SME credit in the region.

In reality, many SMEs end up relying on supplier credit, which can vary depending on a supplier’s capability and appetite for functions such as credit control and collections. The general lack of access to trade credit makes it difficult for SMEs to purchase inventory, hire new employees, or expand their operations. This is particularly prevalent in the retail sector, where an SME’s turnover is often limited by its ability to purchase and hold inventory.

Another major challenge facing some SMEs in the Middle East, particularly those reliant on B2B sales, is long receivable payment cycles from their clients. SMEs often have to wait 60-90 days or more to receive payment for goods or services they’ve delivered. This makes it particularly difficult for them to manage their cash flow, pay their employees and suppliers and invest in new opportunities.

Embedded Finance (EF) is a solution that addresses these financial constraints and can provide SMEs with the funding they need to grow and succeed. EF solutions allow SMEs to access credit and use it to purchase inventory and fund their working capital needs more efficiently than they would have done normally.

SMEs’ access to funding has been limited across MENA, and the GCC in particular. It has been a constant challenge for SMEs, with financial institutions uninterested or unwilling to provide liquidity to a large fragmented book of ‘smaller’ clients.

With the technology underpinning EF solutions, lenders are now able to cost efficiently manage who they lend to: from automated credit decisioning to disbursements. This has enabled the re-packaging of traditional forms of funding, making it easier for SMEs to borrow while making it cost effective for lenders to manage their risk of unsecured lending. This has also had a knock-on effect of democratizing the lending pool to include non-bank financial institutions, but more on that later.

EF solutions provide SMEs with greater visibility into their cash flow, making it easier for them to manage their finances and make savvier decisions in real time, with regards to allocating resources and growing their business.

The benefits of EF solutions for SMEs in the Middle East are clear. By providing SMEs with faster access to financing, EF solutions can help them overcome their financial constraints and grow their businesses. Here are just a few of the benefits that EF solutions can provide:

  • Improved access to credit: EF solutions provide SMEs with access to financing even if they have limited credit history or are unable to obtain credit from traditional lending institutions. This can help SMEs overcome the financial constraints that have limited their growth in the past.
  • Increased visibility into cash flow: With real-time information on their finances and payments, SMEs can have a clearer picture of their cash flow, making it easier for them to manage their finances and invest in new opportunities.
  • Strengthened relationships with suppliers: Closed-loop payment systems with embedded finance are able to shift the burden of credit away from the supplier, thereby ensuring timely payments and a strengthening of buyers’ relationships with their suppliers.

SMEs face significant financial constraints that limit their ability to grow and succeed. While faster electronic payment solutions can certainly help, they don’t address the fundamental need of SMEs: access to credit. Embedded Finance (EF) solutions, on the other hand, provide SMEs with the financing they need to overcome their financial constraints and grow their businesses. By providing faster payment cycles, lower financing costs, improved access to credit, increased visibility into cash flow, and strengthened relationships with buyers, EF solutions can help SMEs overcome their financial challenges and succeed in the long term.

Middle Eastern SMEs need more than just a faster horse – they need a car. They need access to credit, and EF solutions can provide this easily, faster and more cost effectively for both the borrower and lender. By addressing the financial constraints that have limited the growth of SMEs in the past, EF solutions can help SMEs overcome their challenges and succeed in the future.

References:

International Finance Corporation (IFC). (2020). SME Finance in the Middle East and North Africa: Overcoming Challenges to Unlock Potential. https://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/region__ext_content/regions/mena/resources/sme-finance-in-mena-report-2020

Supply Chain Finance Community. (2020). What is Supply Chain Finance (SCF)? https://www.EF-community.com/what-is-EF/

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Embedded Payments – Transforming Accounts Payable

Embedded payments are a revolutionary development in the world of business-to-business (B2B) transactions. In recent years, the adoption of embedded payments in the Middle East has been on the rise, providing numerous benefits for both buyers and suppliers in the B2B market.

Embedded payments refer to the integration of payment functionality directly into a company’s business process or software, such as their ERP or accounting platform. This eliminates the need for manual data entry or payment preparation and allows for seamless, secure transactions from a buyer to its suppliers, without the need to log in and out of different platforms. The result is a more streamlined and efficient payment process, which can help to improve the overall payment experience.

For B2B buyers, the use of embedded payments can help to reduce the time and effort required to make payments. By eliminating manual data entry, buyers can avoid errors and mistakes that can lead to delays and increased costs. Additionally, embedded payments can help to reduce the risk of fraud, as transactions are processed securely from within the buyer’s existing software.

Embedded payments can also help B2B suppliers to receive payments early and efficiently. By automating the payment process, suppliers can reduce the time and effort required to process invoices, and chase and wait for payment; which can help to improve their cash flow. This is particularly beneficial for smaller businesses, which may struggle to manage the financial impact of longer payment cycles and the subsequent strain on their cash flow.

The adoption of embedded payments in the Middle East is being driven by a number of factors.

Firstly, the rise of digital transformation in the region has led to increased demand for innovative payment solutions. This is particularly relevant in the B2B sector, where companies are looking for ways to streamline their payment processes and improve the overall customer experience. This began with the introduction of electronic real-time payments functionality, now offered by most banks. However, the continued need for innovation has led to a rapid increase in the use of credit card payments in the B2B space. Using a credit card to pay suppliers has obvious benefits for the buyer (55 days interest-free credit, rebates/cash back, etc); and now with solutions like Swipe2B, those card payments can be made automatically (but more importantly) to suppliers who do not accept cards.

A rapidly growing B2B e-commerce market is driving demand for more efficient and secure payment solutions. According to a report by PayFort (Amazon Payment Services), the B2B e-commerce market in the Middle East is set to reach $7.8 billion by 2023, which represents a significant growth opportunity for companies operating in the region. This rapid growth is making embedded payments a highly relevant topic for B2B transactions in the Middle East. In a recent Mastercard survey of Middle Eastern businesses, it was found that 74% of companies believe that the adoption of digital payment solutions is essential to their future success. This highlights the importance of embedded payments in the region, as they offer a way to streamline payment processes and improve the overall customer experience.

The adoption of embedded payments in the Middle East is also being driven by the need for improved data security. With cyber threats on the rise, companies are looking for solutions that can help to protect their sensitive financial information. Embedded payments provide a secure and efficient way to process transactions, which can help reduce the risk of fraud and data breaches.

Embedded payments offer numerous benefits for both buyers and suppliers in the B2B market in the Middle East. From improved efficiency and security to increased customer satisfaction, the use of embedded payments is set to become an increasingly important part of the business landscape in the region. Companies that are looking to stay ahead of the curve in the B2B market should consider incorporating embedded payments into their business processes, in order to take advantage of these benefits and stay ahead of the competition.

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Doosan chooses Swipe2B to streamline supplier payments

For Immediate Release

Doosan-Babcock Signs with Swipe2B to Digitize its Supplier Payments

London and Dubai, August 05, 2019 – Swipe2B the world leader in B2B payment solutions, today announced that its BatchPay solution has been chosen by construction and engineering conglomerate Doosan-Babcock to streamline and automate its Accounts Payable (AP) and supplier payments processes.

Swipe2B’s technology has enabled Doosan-Babcock to instantly transform a traditional paper-based payment process, make early payments and unlock much needed liquidity for its suppliers. Swipe2B’s BatchPay solution automates workflow and enables early payments via commercial credit card to all suppliers. Doosan-Babcock’s payments are processed within seconds, with cleared funds credited into their suppliers’ bank accounts within hours. Being a cloud solution, Doosan-Babcock was able to implement and go live with Swipe2B within 72 hours, from start to finish.

As with most conglomerates, supplier payments are a significant portion of the vendor management process and can needlessly consume valuable resources due to manual workflows. With Swipe2B, Doosan-Babcock is able to better manage its working capital, enjoy extended credit terms and provide its suppliers with liquidity through early payments. Swipe2B has a portfolio of corporate clients across various industries, however, Doosan-Babcock is its first implementation within the engineering and construction sector.

While ubiquitous across the US, parts of Europe and Asia Pacific, paying B2B suppliers by card is a relatively new concept in the Middle East. The recent surge in commercial card programs offered by banks in the region has shone a spotlight on this new method of supplier payments available to corporates of all sizes.

Swipe2B has provided us with an alternative financing option, where we can pay our suppliers early and benefit from a generous extended credit period at the same time,” said Jane Sutherland, Finance Director for Doosan MENA. “Moving from bank transfers to automated card payments has transformed our AP department. Swipe2B’s customer support makes it easy and seamless, every step of the way. We look forward to expanding our use of Swipe2B in other markets over the coming months.” “The traditional tug-of-war between a buyer’s need for extended credit and suppliers requiring payment as early as possible needn’t be a conundrum anymore,” said Amer Qavi, Founder and CEO of Swipe2B’s parent company, SwipeZoom. “By moving supplier payments onto a commercial credit card, Swipe2B provides a win-win solution for both buyers and suppliers. We’re excited to be working with a client like Doosan-Babcock. They have proven that their reputation as a world leader, with the vision and ability to solve complex engineering problems, also extends to their everyday back-office operations.”

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Marriott selects Swipe2B to automate vendor payments in MENA

For Immediate Release

Marriott International Joins Swipe2B’s Growing List of Customers

Dubai, September 02, 2019 – Swipe2B the world leader in B2B payment solutions, today announced that its BatchPay solution has been implemented by global hospitality behemoth Marriott International, to automate its supplier payments process via commercial card.

Swipe2B’s ‘card-to-bank’ technology enables companies to pay their suppliers using a commercial credit card. As a result, companies enjoy the benefits of card payments, such as extended credit terms, rebate and security; while improving suppliers’ cash flow through early payments. Payments are processed automatically within seconds, with funds credited directly into suppliers’ bank accounts within hours.

Following a 7 week pilot with Swipe2B, Marriott has implemented the new supplier payment solution across its properties in the UAE.

Making payments to suppliers is mainly a paper-based manual process involving receiving invoices, checking, reconciling, preparing and authorizing payments. Swipe2B not only automates the existing Accounts Payable (AP) workflow, but provides the ability for companies and their suppliers to unlock liquidity and better manage their working capital.

“We had been looking for a solution to help us leverage our commercial card program, by making payments to regular suppliers – even those that didn’t have the ability to accept cards,” said Mahrukh Ahmad, Senior Director Finance for Marriott International. “With Swipe2B, in addition to benefiting from extended credit terms, we were also able to automate our reconciliation process; freeing up working capital and valuable human resource at the same time.”

While ubiquitous across the US, parts of Europe and Asia Pacific, paying B2B suppliers by card is a relatively new concept in the Middle East. A recent surge in commercial card programs offered by banks in the region has shone a spotlight on this new method of supplier payments available to corporates of all sizes. In addition to its own clients, Swipe2B works with over 20 local and international banks offering the solution to their corporate clients across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. “Win-win solutions are a rarity when it comes to the timing of payments, given the differing needs of payers and payees,” said Amer Qavi, Founder and CEO of Swipe2B. “With Swipe2B, a supplier payment no longer needs to be a zero-sum game, where one party benefits at the cost of the other. We’re excited to be working with Marriott International, and look forward to being part of the automation powering their rapid global expansion.”

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