ADDRESSING THE B2B OPPORTUNITY Five ways card issuers can use AI to gain momentum in commercial payments

Picture this: smooth operations and effective marketing campaigns. Low fraud risk. Loyal and satisfied customers. Regulatory compliance requirements are a walk in the park.

Luckily, Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help make this vision a reality. Artificial Intelligence is shaking up the world of commercial payments, and card issuers and other financial institutions have the opportunity to harness its capabilities.

Ben Beery

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While some banks may have already automated their payment tasks, the next big leap is combining the creative brainpower of Generative AI (GenAI) with the can-do muscle of Agentic AI: a dynamic duo that can help make issuing banks smarter and faster.

Meet the AI dream team: GenAI and Agentic AI. GenAI can be seen as the creative genius, generating content, summarizing info, and sorting through data based on existing patterns or prompts from users. Agentic AI, on the other hand, is the action hero, autonomously taking decisive steps through machine learning to reach specific business goals. While all AI applications still require significant human involvement, approvals, and interaction, Agentic AI can help teams more efficiently and effectively perform their roles – as opposed to fully replace them.

While GenAI gets all the headlines, it’s Agentic AI that’s set to steal the show in commercial payments. For commercial card issuers, harnessing both forms of AI doesn’t just mean keeping up; it’s the secret to outshining rivals in an ever-changing market.

Dodging daily disasters

Card issuers face multiple hurdles. Here are just a few:

Winning new customers

The competition is fierce, making standing out a tricky challenge.

Ever-changing regulations

Keeping up with legal rules can be incredibly labor-intensive.

Lack of value-added services

Today’s commercial clients are starting to expect more than just the basics.

Enter Agentic AI, with potential to revolutionize how card issuers tackle these challenges. The sooner issuers tap into this tech, the faster they may be able to leapfrog the competition and snatch up more market share.

Five ways AI is helping issuers

1: Customer acquisition: The AI way

In the quest for new clients, GenAI can help issuers craft clever virtual card strategies for every niche out there: departments, projects, vendors, you name it. It can also analyze spending patterns to tailor offers that make companies say, “Sign us up!” But Agentic AI doesn’t stop at analysis. It looks for new business opportunities across data sources, scoring leads in real time and adapting strategies on the fly.

2: Marketing magic, personalized to perfection

Forget generic email blasts. When GenAI and Agentic AI work together, issuers and other FIs can unlock new capabilities such as whipping up dazzling marketing campaigns that hit the right people, at the right time, on the right channels. Agentic AI maps out the campaign strategy while GenAI creates catchy content, and Agentic AI keeps tweaking the plan based on what’s working. This example shows how the two can work together to create campaigns that are targeted, dynamic, and way more effective than shouting into the void.

3: Fraud detection: AI’s got your back

GenAI spots suspicious behavior at lightning speed, can help flag up potential risks before they become disasters. Agentic AI ups the ante by setting payment rules, monitoring for unusual transactions, and flagging potential suspicious activity – like money laundering or fraud. Extra bonus: it can put smart controls on spending, merchant selection, and card use, so there’s less to worry about.

4: Tackling the regulatory jungle

Regulations can change fast, but Agentic AI can help keep up. For example, it can monitor global databases, alert banks to new rules in real time, and even file reports when needed. Meanwhile, GenAI generates easy-to-read summaries and checklists, making compliance less of a headache and helping to reduce the risk of costly mistakes.

5: Smoother operations, happier teams

GenAI takes over repetitive tasks like data entry and reporting, so employees can focus on more strategic work. Agentic AI can tackle more complex jobs, like onboarding suppliers, validating bank details, and even help with accounts payable and receivable processes. The result? Faster processes, lower costs, and happier staff all around.

Get the most from AI

AI isn’t just a buzzword — it’s a game-changer that may well be opening new doors for commercial payments. Whether it’s acquiring new clients, staying on the right side of regulators, or running operations smoother than ever, GenAI and Agentic AI have the potential to become key to success. But here’s the catch: picking the right tools and the right partner is crucial. With a savvy payment network by your side, your bank can ride the AI wave all the way to the top.

About the author

Ben Beery

Vice President, Emerging Solutions, Visa Commercial Solutions

Here to help

Visa supports issuers in their efforts to promote commercial cards. Contact us to learn more about how we can help.