What to Look for in a B2B Payments Platform
Making international payments isn’t just a matter of sending money from A to B. For finance teams, every transfer affects cash flow, supplier relationships, compliance risk, and operational efficiency. If your current provider is slow, opaque, or difficult to work with, it’s more than an inconvenience – it’s a liability.
Whether you’re switching from a traditional bank or outgrowing your current provider, here’s what to look for when choosing a B2B payments platform that actually
works for your business.
1. Transparent, mid-market FX pricing
Exchange rate costs are one of the most overlooked expenses in international finance. Many platforms bury margins in the rate itself, making it hard to calculate the true cost of a transaction.
Look for a provider that uses the mid-market rate as the base, applies a clear and consistent markup, and shows you exactly what your business will pay and what the recipient will receive – before you hit send.
2. Broad currency coverage
A serious B2B payments platform should support a wide range of currency pairs, allowing you to send and convert funds confidently across major and emerging markets.
This kind of flexibility gives your business greater control over international transactions, helps you align payments with counterparties in different regions, and ensures you’re not limited by a narrow list of available currencies – especially if you operate across the UK, UAE, EU, or Australia.
3. FX forwards and payment scheduling
A platform built for business should support forward contracts, so you can lock in favourable rates for future transfers. This allows you to manage currency exposure proactively, rather than reacting to last-minute shifts in the market.
Support for scheduled or bulk payments is equally important, especially for recurring international payrolls, supplier payments, or settlement cycles.
4. Regulatory and compliance coverage
Cross-border payments require strict compliance, including KYC/AML procedures and transaction-level reporting. If your provider isn’t licensed in the regions where you operate – or relies on multiple third parties to process payments – you’re potentially increasing your exposure.
You want a provider that is regulated, transparent, and well-versed in regional compliance requirements, especially in markets like the UAE where local rules can be complex.
5. Real-time visibility and control
Finance teams need full visibility over transactions – not a generic dashboard that leaves you waiting for email confirmations. Look for platforms that offer real-time status updates, clear audit trails, and downloadable reports.
The best solutions integrate clean UI with strong back-office functionality, making life easier for both decision-makers and day-to-day finance users.
6. Dedicated, responsive support
Even the best platforms run into issues from time to time. What matters is how quickly and clearly those issues are resolved. If your provider doesn’t offer access to a real support team who understands your business, it’s going to cost you time – and trust – when things go wrong.
Make sure there’s a dedicated channel for business clients, with account managers or support specialists who can step in fast when needed.
If you’re making international payments regularly, the provider you choose should be more than just a conduit. It should give you control, clarity, and confidence – all without adding operational drag.
ORE is built for growing businesses that demand more from their payments partner. From multi-currency accounts and FX forwards to regional compliance and real-time visibility, we help finance teams stay ahead of the curve.
Interested in seeing how ORE can support your business?
Book a call with our team or open your account today to get started.
