B2B Networks: Still Trying to Solve the Paper Problem in Commercial Payments

B2B Networks: Still Trying to Solve the Paper Problem in Commercial Payments

New research from Mercator Advisory Group examines developments in electronic B2B payments technology

Boston, MA - October 23, 2012 Mercator Advisory Group's newest report examines the rapidly growing market for e-invoicing and e-payables applications. Companies around the globe are expressing interest in the ability to convert purchase orders, invoices, and payments to electronic formats and vendors are likewise responding on an equally global basis. This research reviews the companies behind a number of the largest B2B networks and the functionality of each vendor's solution.

Nearly all corporations are faced with the challenge of earning more with less and finance and treasury officers are finding that automating invoice capture, approval, and payment provide several opportunities for reducing costs. There are many B2B networks for a company to choose from, but there are also several barriers that vendors must overcome to make their solution work for both buyers and suppliers.

"The cloud is the new channel for B2B communications and payments. The architectural efficiencies of B2B networks is reducing the costs of financial supply chain automation and provides a compelling business case for implementing procure-to-pay and order-to-cash solutions," comments Michael Misasi, Research Analyst at Mercator Advisory Group and the author of the report.

Highlights of the report include:

- A 10-point feature functionality checklist for B2B networks.

- An overview of 30 of the largest B2B networks including, number of member suppliers, annual revenue, payment volume and ownership structure.

- An analysis of major e-payables vendors and the types of payment supported by each company's solution.

- Mercator Advisory Group's assessment of the progress B2B networks are making toward paperless B2B commerce and interoperability.

One of the five exhibits included in this report:

Figure 1: B2B Networks Link Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable Processes Across Trading Partners

The report is 22 pages long and contains five exhibits.

Companies mentioned in this report include: ADP, Ariba, AvidXchange, B2boost, Basware, B-Pack, Birchstreet, Bottomline Technologies, Certipost, Comarch, Conexa, Coupa, Direct Insite, Elemica, Esker, Evenex, Fundtech, InExchange, Ivalua, JPMorgan Chase, Liaison Technologies OB10, Qlogitek, SciQuest, Sungard, Syncada, Tradeshift, Transcepta, Wallmedien, and Wax Digital.

Members of Mercator Advisory Group's Commercial and Enterprise Payments Advisory Service have access to this report as well as the upcoming research for the year ahead, presentations, analyst access and other membership benefits.

Please visit us online at www.mercatoradvisorygroup.com.

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About Mercator Advisory Group
Mercator Advisory Group is the leading, independent research and advisory services firm exclusively focused on the payments and banking industries. We deliver pragmatic and timely research and advice designed to help our clients uncover the most lucrative opportunities to maximize revenue growth and contain costs. Our clients range from the world's largest payment issuers, acquirers, processors, merchants and associations to leading technology providers and investors. Mercator Advisory Group is also the publisher of the online payments and banking news and information portal PaymentsJournal.com.