Time to Get Up to Speed with Instant Payments

Believe it or not, real-time payments are already changing the face of treasury. They offer an opportunity to rethink legacy payments, collections and liquidity management processes, glean valuable data, and add strategic value to the business. Instant payments are also a huge enabler of real-time treasury. But the rewards can only be reaped if treasurers embrace the possibilities that instant payments offer, and if regulators and banks continue to push towards global, not just local, real-time payments capabilities.

The era of real-time payments is upon us. Over 30 real-time payments schemes are now operational worldwide, with more on the cusp of going live, or in the development pipeline. As Craig Ramsey, Head of Real-Time Payments, ACI Worldwide, explains: “Real-time payments (RTPs) are happening all across the globe, with many countries either having a defined strategy or closing in on one. And it’s not just the developed markets that are doing this, all economies are pushing ahead with RTPs, with some of the best initiatives coming from developing or less mature markets.” 

Regardless of geography, instant payments (the terms ‘real-time’ and ‘instant’ payments are used interchangeably in the market) present a new way to do business for everyone. They have the potential to change the way that businesses interact with their customers, but also how businesses interact with each other, says Ramsey. So, the benefits are by no means limited to B2C companies.

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