A recent study by American Express reveals that businesses in the U.S. are prioritizing payments automation in 2025. According to the Amex Trendex: B2B Payments Edition survey, 91% of business leaders acknowledge that easy, secure, and streamlined payments drive business growth. However, despite this recognition, only 17% of businesses have fully automated their payment processes, while 15% have yet to automate any payments.
The study, which surveyed 1,000 U.S. business decision-makers, highlights how payment delays impact business relationships. About 26% of respondents said payment delays led them to stop working with a supplier or buyer. Additionally, 82% of business leaders emphasized that a single fraud incident could severely damage trust in their business relationships.
The Role of Payments Automation
Payments automation offers several benefits, including enhanced cash flow visibility, greater security, and improved operational efficiency. Widad Chaoui, Senior Vice President at American Express, explains that automated payment methods like virtual cards and digital push payments improve cash flow visibility, security, and supplier relationships. These solutions also give businesses more flexibility with working capital, enabling them to reinvest in growth.
As the study shows, many business leaders understand the advantages of payments automation. Nearly 29% of respondents said they would sleep better at night if they didn’t worry about payment accuracy or timeliness. However, several challenges still hinder full automation adoption.
Barriers to Automation
Despite its clear benefits, cost concerns (45%), lack of perceived value (28%), and security risks (26%) remain significant barriers to automation. R.J. Ancona, Vice President at American Express, points out that the process of shifting from manual to automated payments may seem daunting, but the long-term benefits often outweigh the challenges.
Automation as a Key to Growth
Looking ahead to 2025, the study shows that 95% of business leaders believe streamlined payments create happy customers. For 43% of those planning to change their payment processes, business growth is the primary motivation behind automation. American Express suggests several automated solutions for businesses, including accounts payable (AP) and accounts receivable (AR) software, digital push payments, and straight-through processing for virtual cards.
As businesses aim to strengthen relationships and improve efficiency, payments automation is expected to play a vital role in shaping their strategies. Despite the challenges, the survey indicates that automation could offer significant benefits for businesses in the coming year.
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