Cash flow management

Putting embedded payment capabilities to work for your business starts with understanding your current workflows and what operational efficiencies you’re hoping to achieve.

“I like to ask clients, ‘What would your finance team stop doing if it were automated?’” says Senuta. “That typically reveals what processes are slowing them down and why they’re looking at more API-enabled or modern payment technology in their company.”

With many potential ways to design and combine APIs to fit your business’s objectives, Senuta says it’s important to work with a banking partner who understands your business and what you’re trying to accomplish. That includes accounting for your business lifecycle stage and industry dynamics.

“A growth stage software company is not going to need the same embedded finance configuration as a mid-market manufacturer,” says Senuta. “Likewise, the needs of an insurance company that’s making hundreds of thousands of payments are going to be different from a company with a lower transaction volume.”

Laine Donlan, head of enterprise payments technology at Truist, agrees that selecting the right mix of embedded finance tools for your business often goes beyond facilitating payments. He explains that Truist’s API-led digital channel for enterprise payments, Truist One View Connect, enables the bank to help companies do more than just move money.

“It’s collaborative,” he says. “We don’t just offer APIs. We focus on how we can enable you to run your business better. That means identifying the right workflows, controls, integration model, and strategy for your business.”

Historically, a lack of IT resources has kept companies from implementing API-enabled workflows.

“Many companies viewed bank integrations as expensive, complex projects,” says Senuta. “Modern integration patterns may make it easier to connect banking capabilities directly into the systems businesses already use.”

Depending on the selected solution and level of customization, certain embedded-finance integrations may use prebuilt applications or limited coding. Implementation requirements vary based on configuration, testing, security, third-party platforms, and client readiness, Donlan says. Where implementation demands are reduced, companies may be able to focus on the organizational and operational changes that go along with treasury modernization.

“Simplifying and standardizing the integration allows companies to work more effectively,” says Donlan. “Modern APIs and prebuilt integrations may shorten certain implementation activities, depending on configuration, testing, security, and client readiness.”

Knowing who holds the deposits and who owns the regulatory obligations in your embedded finance model can also ease the path to integration. Truist One View Connect is designed to help provide information about the parties and banking services supporting the applicable payment arrangement. This information may support your company’s risk-management and oversight activities as you evaluate integrated treasury tools.

“It uses Truist banking infrastructure to support applicable accounts, payment rails, and controls associated with the selected solution,” says Senuta.

Senuta sees a future where real-time payments aren’t a premium feature but a standard resource. He also expects AI’s role to continue to expand.

“Over time, AI agents will likely initiate more routine payment activity and support approval decisions within defined policies and controls,” says Senuta. “People will remain essential for exceptions, oversight, and higher-risk decisions, but I believe there will be a significant shift in how payments are originated and processed.”

Supporting your company’s payments-technology objectives starts with clear goals and a financial partner that can help evaluate appropriate solutions, implementation considerations, and risk-management needs.