Automated Vendor Payments for Stress-Free HOA Management

Earlier this year, the U.S. Postal Service posted a warning about mailing paper checks, citing an alarming rise in mail fraud. While mail theft has doubled, so have reports of check fraud, with 680,000 reports in 2022, up from 300,000 in 2021.

In today’s interconnected world, where digital transactions have become increasingly prevalent in business operations, the importance of robust cybersecurity measures cannot be overstated. As technology advances, so do the tactics of cyberattackers who seek to exploit companies’ vulnerabilities to gain access to sensitive financial information. 

Vendors and suppliers are the lifeblood of any business, playing a pivotal role in its success. They provide the goods and services necessary for companies to operate efficiently and meet customer demands. 

It might (or might not) surprise you that many B2B businesses are still using outdated payment methods like paper checks for their accounts payable (AP) processes. In fact, according to a study from PYMNTS, “25% of B2B payments are made via paper checks.”

Small to medium businesses (SMB) across the U.S. are still feeling the ripple effects of the pandemic with supply chain issues, rising interest rates, growing inflation and uncertain economic conditions. As we approach 2023, inflation is the primary concern. Thirty-seven percent of Main Street SMB decision-makers cite it as their greatest worry, and it doesn’t look to be going away anytime soon.

PCI stands for “Payment Card Industry” and is a set of security standards created by the major credit card brands (Visa®, Mastercard®, Amex®, etc.). The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is the specific set of requirements created to ensure that your business has processed, stored, or transmitted credit card information in a secure environment.

For many businesses, 2022 was a year of digital transformation. Continuing through 2023, we expect more companies to leave behind the days of paper and manual processes and take that first step to digitize processes by automating their payment procedures and ditching paper checks.

Payment fraud has been rising for years as fraud schemes become easier to execute. The increased reliance on digital platforms, processes and payments has given fraudsters more ways to commit crimes. Studies show that in 2023, businesses’ cost of fraud could rise by $7 billion, bringing the total to $48 billion. With such staggering predictions, taking the necessary precautions to mitigate these attempts is essential.

Organizations are under immense pressure to do more with less in today’s economy. After relying on traditional business processes and legacy systems for years, they’re now having to step out of their comfort zones in search of ways to enhance operations and cut costs.