“Invisible Payments, Dynamic Terms and AI-Driven Finance: What 2026 Holds for B2B”
The finance function is on the edge of a quiet revolution. By 2026, payments won’t only be faster, they’ll be invisible. Credit decisions will happen automatically. And AI will help finance move from the back office to the center of growth.
To understand what’s coming, TreviPay spoke with Kevin Permenter, Research Director at IDC, to have a glimpse into the next wave of change in B2B finance.
“The most profound shift by 2026 will be the disappearance of payments as a separate, visible step,” said Permenter. “Payments will simply become an invisible utility deeply embedded within the core applications businesses already use every day.”
Imagine a purchase order that triggers payment automatically when approved, or a project milestone that releases funds instantly. That’s the future of embedded payments. It is more than faster cash flow, it’s frictionless business.
Dynamic, Personalized and Customer-Centric
B2B buyers expect more flexibility than ever. Static payment terms like Net 30 are giving way to dynamic models that adapt to each customer’s situation in real time.
“Buyers will increasingly expect suppliers to proactively offer flexible terms like dynamic discounting for early payment, extended terms during a slow period or even usage-based payment models,” said Permenter.
For suppliers, that means smarter risk tools, seamless integrations and a mindset shift. Finance becomes a driver of loyalty instead of the department of compliance.
AI Takes the Lead
AI will touch every part of the order-to-cash cycle. Permenter describes a future where credit limits are optimized automatically, invoices are accurate from the start and collections teams are guided by predictive insights.
“AI will move beyond just dunning automation to prescriptive intervention and customer retention. It empowers collections teams to engage with a focus on problem-solving and relationship preservation.”
— Kevin Permenter, Research Director, IDC
Turning Friction into Flow
Today’s biggest bottleneck, the last mile of cash application, is ripe for reinvention. In 2026, “hyper-intelligent, self-learning AI” will interpret payment intent, classify deductions and even resolve disputes before they escalate.
Finance 2026: Augmented, Predictive and Resilient
For A/R teams, the next few years will be about building Augmented Finance Intelligence and stronger collaboration. Tools for customer 360 views and automated compliance will become standard.
And as economic uncertainty continues, resilience will be the ultimate advantage. Businesses will rely on economic sensing, AI-driven working capital optimization and cloud-based fintech ecosystems to stay ahead.
“It’s about being ahead of the curve, not just reacting to it,” Permenter notes.
The future of finance is intelligent, invisible and interconnected.
To see the full picture of what’s ahead, download TreviPay’s 2026 Predictions report, featuring insights from IDC, Mastercard, Lenovo and other global leaders, and learn how your finance team can lead the change.
