Pushpendra Mehta, Executive Writer at CTMfile.com and host of the OpenTreasury Podcast, interviewed Rene Stynen, SVP of Business Development (EMEA) at Boost Payment Solutions, Inc.*

The interview has been lightly edited for clarity and length.

The European B2B payments landscape is evolving as organizations look beyond the mechanics of moving money and focus more closely on the processes that surround payments. While Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) has streamlined cross-border transfers across the region, finance leaders are increasingly prioritizing automation, working capital optimization, and more integrated payment experiences. In this interview, Rene Stynen shares his perspective on the trends shaping the market and how organizations can reduce operational friction while improving payment efficiency for both buyers and suppliers.

Rene Stynen joined Boost Payment Solutions back in 2006 to help build its business in EMEA, APAC and LAC, and currently as Head of Business Development for EMEA. 25+ years of experience in commercial payments, starting out initially with Diners Club International, and prior to Boost having served in various roles at Citibank, as Head of Large Market & Public Sector Products at Mastercard Europe, and as Senior Consultant at Paytech Group.      

Mr. Stynen, what are the key developments shaping the B2B payments landscape across Europe today?

One of the defining characteristics of the European payments landscape is the strength of SEPA bank transfers. They have created an efficient environment for moving money across markets, making the payment itself relatively frictionless compared to other regions.

Because of that, the real focus of innovation in Europe is shifting away from the movement of money itself and toward everything that surrounds the payment. Buyers and suppliers increasingly expect more digital, integrated payment experiences that reduce operational complexity. That includes automation, better reconciliation capabilities, and more seamless integration into procurement, accounts payable and accounts receivable processes.

We are also seeing growing openness to new payment technologies, including cloud-based solutions and commercial card programmes, particularly outside of traditionally receptive markets like the UK.

 

Working capital and liquidity management remain major priorities for finance teams. How are those pressures affecting the dynamic between buyers and suppliers in Europe?

Cash flow management has become a priority on both sides of the transaction.

Suppliers often face delayed payments, which can create real liquidity challenges. At the same time, buyers are increasingly focused on optimizing working capital and extending payment terms where possible.

This naturally creates tension between the two sides. What organizations are looking for now are solutions that can help balance those priorities rather than favouring one side over the other.

Commercial cards can play an important role here. They allow buyers to extend payment timing through access to credit while still enabling suppliers to receive payment on time, or in some cases earlier. When combined with tools such as early payment discounts, it becomes possible to structure payment models that create benefits for both parties.

 

While SEPA has streamlined money movement across Europe, where do organizations still encounter friction in their B2B payment processes?

In many cases, the inefficiencies are not within the payment itself but within the operational processes around it.

Areas such as supplier onboarding, reconciliation, data management, and fraud mitigation can still introduce significant friction. Regulatory complexity across multiple jurisdictions can also make onboarding and enablement processes more challenging for both buyers and suppliers.

Another important factor is the relatively limited footprint of commercial card acceptance in the European B2B market. While cards are widely used in consumer payments, supplier acceptance in B2B transactions remains relatively limited. Historically, much of the industry focus has been on optimizing transactions among existing card acceptors rather than expanding the supplier acceptance base.

Addressing that acceptance gap represents a significant opportunity for improving payment efficiency.

 

As organizations look to modernize their payment operations, what role are fintech innovation and new technologies playing in that evolution?

Fintech innovation has played a significant role in accelerating change in the European payments ecosystem.

Many fintech platforms have focused heavily on automation across the payment lifecycle, not just in moving money but also in the operational steps surrounding the payment. That includes onboarding, data management, reconciliation, and reporting.

Another major trend is the rise of embedded payments, where payment functionality is integrated directly into procurement or enterprise software workflows. This allows payments to become a seamless part of the procure-to-pay process rather than a separate manual step.

Virtual commercial cards are also gaining traction because they support many of these goals. They provide flexibility, enhance security, and are particularly well suited to automated straight-through processing environments.

 

From Boost’s perspective, how are you helping better connect buyers and suppliers around the world as payment ecosystems continue to evolve?

At Boost, our focus is on helping bridge the gap between buyers and suppliers while reducing the operational friction that exists in B2B payments.

For suppliers, our Boost Intercept® platform enables straight-through processing of commercial card payments. It automates the end-to-end workflow, from payment intake to reconciliation, significantly reducing manual effort and minimizing the risk of errors.

For buyers, we allow them to use their locally-issued commercial card to pay any supplier within our extensive global network through buyer-funded and shared processing models that expand card acceptance across their supplier base.

The goal is to enable organizations to reach as much of their supplier base as possible while providing flexibility in payment methods and commercial models.

 

Cross-border payments continue to be an area of complexity for many businesses. What changes are you seeing in how organizations approach international B2B payments?

Cross-border B2B payments have historically been expensive and operationally complex, particularly when using traditional card-based payment methods. Organizations often face higher transaction costs and inconsistent supplier acceptance across different regions, which can make scaling international payment programmes difficult.

As companies expand their global supplier networks, there is growing interest in finding ways to simplify those processes and create more consistency in how payments are managed across markets. Many finance teams are looking for ways to extend the payment tools they already use domestically into their international payment workflows, rather than maintaining separate systems and processes for cross-border transactions.

For our U.S. buyers, solutions like Boost 100XB® help address that challenge by allowing them to use their domestic commercial card programmes to pay suppliers globally, like here in Europe, while significantly reducing the cost and complexity traditionally associated with cross-border card transactions.

This approach combines the benefits of card-based payments with a more efficient cross-border payment structure, enabling buyers to maintain consistency in their payment processes while expanding their global supplier reach.

 

Looking ahead, where do you see the greatest opportunity to improve the efficiency of B2B payments across Europe?

One of the biggest opportunities lies in creating more balanced payment ecosystems that deliver value for both buyers and suppliers.

Historically, many payment solutions have been designed primarily around buyer priorities. Today, there is increasing recognition that sustainable payment ecosystems require solutions that also address supplier needs, particularly around payment visibility, operational efficiency, and cash flow predictability.

Technologies that enable automation, flexible payment models, and broader supplier enablement will be critical to achieving that balance.

 

Rene, thank you for your time and for sharing your valuable insights with our audience.

 

*About Boost Payment Solutions

Boost Payment Solutions is the global leader in B2B payments with a technology platform that seamlessly serves the needs of today’s commercial trading partners. Our proprietary solutions eliminate friction and deliver process efficiency, data insights and revenue optimization. Boost was founded in 2009 and operates in 180+ countries.