Latest news with #BrandonSpear
Forbes
08-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Trust As A Superpower: Why Financial Relationships Define B2B Success
Brandon Spear | CEO of TreviPay, a global B2B payments and invoicing network that believes loyalty begins at the payment. Trust often gets overshadowed by metrics like growth, efficiency and innovation, especially in today's competitive business environment. It's rarely listed on balance sheets or discussed in quarterly earnings calls. But behind every long-term client relationship, every successful partnership and every market expansion, trust is quietly doing the heavy lifting. Too often, trust is viewed as intangible. While important, it's not easily measured or managed, but trust is one of the most powerful performance drivers in the business-to-business (B2B) world. According to Deloitte, companies with high trust scores can outperform their peers by up to 400%. That's not a coincidence. It's a reflection of how trust enables faster decisions, deeper collaboration and more resilient partnerships. The Vulnerability Behind Every Financial Transaction Nowhere is trust more critical, or more tested, than in financial relationships. When a business chooses a vendor to handle payments, process sensitive data or support global expansion, it's handing over control of vital operations that directly impact revenue, customer experience and compliance. These are not casual decisions. They are calculated risks. And in B2B, those risks are magnified. Unlike business-to-consumer (B2C) transactions, which are largely standardized and individual, B2B payments involve complex processes, multiple decision-makers and often larger transaction sizes. A single transaction might involve a procurement team, finance leaders, a legal department and the end user—each with unique priorities and preferences. In this environment, trust isn't just about feeling confident. It's about enabling action. It's the glue that holds together complex decision-making and high-stakes execution. Trust Fuels Speed, Innovation And Loyalty Through my experience working with global B2B enterprises, I've seen how trust transforms business dynamics. High-trust relationships with a vendor are typically distinguished through shortened decision cycles, clearer and more open communication, as well as better collaboration. This can create significant advantages in fast-moving markets and often better service. A PwC study also found that 93% of business executives agree that the ability to build and maintain trust improves the bottom line. When clients trust their vendors, they're more likely to embrace new programs, experiment with innovative solutions and expand into new markets. Consider a merchant looking to enter a new country. The financial implications are daunting: different regulations, tax rules, foreign exchange volatility and cultural nuances. Without trust, this move may feel too risky. But with a trusted partner who has a proven track record, the same challenge becomes an opportunity. The merchant can focus on growth, knowing the financial complexity is in capable hands. Buyer Behavior And Business Trust Even the most data-driven B2B buyer is influenced by emotion, especially when making financial decisions. Forrester's Business Trust Survey found 43% of business buyers admit they make defensive purchase decisions more than 70% of the time. That means they choose what feels safest, not necessarily what's most innovative or cost-effective. This defensive posture is a direct result of low trust. When buyers don't feel confident that a vendor has their best interests in mind, they fall back on risk avoidance. But the upside of trust is equally powerful. The same Forrester research revealed that buyers who trust their suppliers are nearly twice as likely to recommend them, or even pay a premium to work with them, compared to those who don't. That's the power of trust. It's not just a way to maintain business. It's a path to becoming a preferred partner. How To Build And Measure Your 'Trust Quotient' So, how can companies assess and improve their trustworthiness? Start by looking at how your teams respond when things go wrong. This could include payment delays, reconciliation errors, security incidents or other pressure points where trust is either reinforced or eroded. High-trust organizations don't deflect blame or delay communication. They show up early, speak transparently and take ownership of solutions. Next, examine how you handle client data. Are you doing the minimum to stay compliant, or are you actively using that data to help your clients succeed? For example, if your platform sees a pattern in a buyer's behavior, are you proactively offering insights that could help them plan? That's the difference between being a service provider and a strategic advisor. Data stewardship marks the boundary between service providers and trusted advisors, helping to create a better customer experience. From my experience, this goes a long way to cementing a merchant or supplier as a long-time partner. Trust As An Operational Discipline Every part of the financial ecosystem is in the business of trust. It's an operational discipline that, when cultivated, delivers long-term client loyalty. By treating financial relationships as opportunities to demonstrate trustworthiness rather than just process transactions, vendors create sustainable competitive advantages that technology alone cannot replicate. In an economy where products and services can feel similar, trust remains the ultimate differentiator. It's a strategic asset. And when treated as such, it becomes the superpower that propels your business forward. The companies that recognize this—and build systematic approaches to earning and maintaining trust—will foster long-term relationships that place your business in rare company. The information provided here is not investment, tax or financial advice. You should consult with a licensed professional for advice concerning your specific situation. Forbes Finance Council is an invitation-only organization for executives in successful accounting, financial planning and wealth management firms. Do I qualify?
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
TreviPay CEO fears fraud ‘AI arms race'
This story was originally published on Payments Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Payments Dive newsletter. Commercial digital transactions, across the globe, don't foster many in-person relationships. They can, however, spur fraud attempts as bad actors impersonate legitimate businesses and wreak havoc among global companies' invoices and receivables. TreviPay, a business-to-business payments firm based in Overland Park, Kansas, offers companies — typically those with $100 million or more in yearly sales — software solutions to onboard new customers, and prepare and submit invoices. The company also battles fraud for customers, TreviPay CEO Brandon Spear said in an interview. TreviPay focuses on extending trade credits to buyers, typically in the form of extended payment terms that TreviPay's seller customers may not wish to fund themselves. TreviPay operates in 32 countries and industries that include manufacturing, retail, lodging and transportation. Spear spoke with Payments Dive on June 16. This conversation has been edited for clarity and brevity. BRANDON SPEAR: What we're all about is helping sellers offer trade credits or payment terms to their business customers. And the reason that's a complicated undertaking is that, firstly, when you offer trade credit, there's a lot of business processes that are not necessarily well-accommodated inside your ERP (enterprise resource planning) software or inside your accounting software. So a lot of this is done manually today and done outside of those types of systems. Secondly, as we've seen more of a demand for global commerce, as we've seen the rise of things like AI, there's been a significant rise in attempted fraud. As you acquire customers online and you don't necessarily know who they are, there's a lot more risk these days and trying to confirm that a business is who they say they are. Trade credit is really one of the loyalty tools that a seller has with their buyer base. You buy something from me, and I give you 30 days to pay, or 60 days to pay, or 45 days. It's essentially purchasing on credit. The reason this is interesting is that it's one of the most powerful tools that a seller has to try to get their customers to spend more money with them. Obviously, you have to have a good product and a good service, and do all those sort of foundational things. But at the end of the day, one of the ways to compete with your competition is to offer trade credit terms to your buyer base. And if you do that, then hopefully they will spend more money with you. So, it's kind of the original loyalty program, if you will, for businesses. This whole business process is called an order-to-cash business process. And if you look at where players like banks typically play today, they only play in one very narrow portion of it, which is, do you want to get paid early? They offer funding where they if you're a merchant and you want to offer 30-day terms, but you don't have the working capital, you can go to a bank and they can essentially advance you money against your invoices, but you still have to do all of the hard work that's required to onboard a new customer, construct the correct invoice, deliver it to them, deal with disputes, and then do the application of cash at the end of the business cycle. You still have to do all of that work yourself. A big part of our value proposition is simplifying their business, allowing them to focus on what they do and take costs out. Another big part of the value proposition is increasing the share of wallet with their customer. What we've found is that if you do these integrations with your buyers, if you present the invoices in a manner that they want to receive them, then those customers ultimately spend more money with you because you're easier to do business with than your competition. What probably scares us the most is … that there's quite a lot of business identity theft. Nobody really writes about it. And what has held back the bad actors for a very long time is, how do they scale that activity? And I think AI is going to be transformational for fraud. It is going to allow the number of fraud scams and the sophistication of the fraud scams to just leapfrog the capabilities that many people have. And so there is going to be an AI arms race on the fraud front. And we're watching that really carefully. And I think the dilemma here is, unless we can figure out good answers to this, it runs the risk of basically freezing new client acquisition through e-commerce channels. When you physically meet somebody and you do business with them in person, it's really hard for a fraudster to scale that. They can't do that. But you can set up bots that can pretend to be people and be answering emails and filling in forms. If we don't get this right, the e-commerce channel for new client acquisition is going to get frozen, because there's going to be so much fraud. So we're watching that really closely. It's definitely one of the things that keeps us awake at night. It hopefully will be. I'll give you an example: The fraudsters today will go and create a fake website that's one or two layers deep. And if you run a scan against it, you can see that the first layer, the first two sets of links within the website look reasonable, but then below that it's quite junk. You can imagine, with an AI bot, you can maybe make that 10 or 15 layers deep, and it looks reasonable. So, I think there's going to be an arms race. Hopefully, it will be symmetrical. But where it will be asymmetrical is for merchants. If you think about the average merchant, we deal with somebody that's, say, a $500 million a year business. How much are you thinking about this? How much are you thinking about the potential for fraud and fraud escalation from AI for business customers that you might get down the road through an e-commerce channel? There's not a lot of mind share that's going into that yet, and so I think that's where the asymmetry is likely to come from. We have seen a lot of unusual behavior is probably the best way to say it, where people have been stocking up on some of the parts before the price increases occur. And so we've seen some seasonality that I would describe as atypical. For us, big seasonal months actually happen towards the end of the summer. In the (trucking) space, people take a lot of their fleets and maintain them in the summer in anticipation of the run-up to Thanksgiving and to Christmas. They don't want the trucks being serviced during those months because they're super busy. We've seen some weird seasonality with some of what would probably happen in August, we think has actually happened in May because they brought these things forward. Recommended Reading AI increases fraud risk, fintechs say Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Newsweek
19-06-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Social Security Makes Major Change to Payments: What to Know
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Paper Social Security checks will no longer be issued as of fall 2025. Why It Matters Nearly 500,000 recipients still receive their monthly benefits this way. The White House said the transition to all-digital payments follows large-scale mail theft and increasing fraud involving paper checks during the COVID-19 pandemic. The order outlines that Treasury Department checks "are 16 times more likely to be reported lost or stolen, returned undeliverable, or altered than an electronic funds transfer." This includes Social Security payments, a small number of which are still issued via paper checks. Critics of the policy have said it could have negative impacts on vulnerable recipients, while supporters have said the change is long overdue. What To Know The move to a fully digital payment system for all federal payments was announced in an executive order by President Donald Trump's administration—Modernizing Payments To and From America's Bank Account—on March 25. As mandated by the executive order "Modernizing Payments To and From America's Bank Account", all federal disbursements—including Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), vendor payments, and tax refunds—will be distributed electronically after September 30, 2025. Acceptable digital methods include direct deposit, debit and prepaid cards, digital wallets, and real-time payment systems. Newsweek has contacted the Social Security Administration (SSA) via email outside of regular working hours for clarification on whether it will be meeting this deadline. According to the SSA, 493,775 remittances were and still are being made via physical check this month, across the 50 states and U.S. territories—some 8.7 percent of all payments. Certain individuals may continue to receive non-digital payments under specific circumstances, including a lack of access to banking or electronic services, emergencies creating undue hardship, or special law enforcement and national security needs. Requests for exceptions can be initiated with the Department of the Treasury or the SSA, which evaluates on a case-by-case basis. Qualified individuals will be provided with alternative options. "Digitizing Social Security and all government payments promises significant cost savings and efficiency gains," Brandon Spear, CEO of payment services firm TreviPay, told Newsweek. "However, the September timeline presents logistical challenges—this will not be a fast thing to do as government agencies must navigate this complex transition while ensuring security and accessibility." Spear said outreach to recipients is absolutely necessary to ensure Americans who have not yet adopted digital payments keep receiving their benefits. "The government will need to contact with each individual Social Security recipient, receive bank deposit information, confirm that information is collected securely to prevent fraud, as well as communicate this oncoming change effectively to a demographic who may be skeptical about providing banking information this way," he said. Stock image/file photo: A U.S. Treasury check being opened by a recipient. Stock image/file photo: A U.S. Treasury check being opened by a recipient. GETTY Funding Cuts It could also be a burden for recipients who may struggle with modern technology, particularly as recent funding opportunities to help Americans get to grips with the digital world have been axed. "This abrupt shift away from paper Social Security checks will disproportionately harm seniors who lack digital access or confidence navigating online banking," Matt Watkins, founder of Watkins Public Affairs, a firm that helps companies get federal and state grants, told Newsweek. "The timing is especially troubling given that the Trump administration is simultaneously cutting National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) digital equity funding. These resources directly support seniors, low-income households, and others facing barriers to digital adoption." Watkins said it is "deeply ironic to demand full digital compliance" while "dismantling the very infrastructure designed to make that transition possible," and could lead to beneficiaries missing out on payments and customer service issues, particularly for vulnerable Americans. "This isn't efficiency; it is exclusion. Without expanded navigator programs, multilingual outreach, and phased implementation, we will see a spike in missed payments, call center backlogs, and preventable financial crises for some of our most vulnerable citizens," he said. "Families can help, but not every senior has someone to rely on. This is a costly and avoidable policy failure." How Recipients Should Prepare There are several ways beneficiaries who still get physical checks can prepare for the change: Using My Social Security: Beneficiaries can enroll for direct deposit and check payment status online. advises keeping personal information up to date, including addresses and payment details. Beneficiaries can enroll for direct deposit and check payment status online. advises keeping personal information up to date, including addresses and payment details. Fraud Awareness: The SSA issued guidance urging Americans to remain alert for fraudulent communications about payment changes. Officials highlighted that neither the SSA nor the Treasury will ever request payment to set up or expedite benefits. The SSA issued guidance urging Americans to remain alert for fraudulent communications about payment changes. Officials highlighted that neither the SSA nor the Treasury will ever request payment to set up or expedite benefits. Reporting Hardship: Those facing undue barriers to digital payment can contact SSA or the Electronic Payment Solution Center to discuss alternatives or apply for an exemption. What Happens Next The SSA is scheduled to complete the digital payment transition for all federal benefit programs by September 30, 2025. Beneficiaries are encouraged to keep their information updated and to monitor official communications for further updates, guidance, and possible exceptions as the rollout progresses.
Business Wire
07-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Northern Tool + Equipment Selects TreviPay to Power Pay by Invoice Net Terms Program
OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- TreviPay, the most-trusted B2B payments and invoicing network, today announced its Pay by Invoice program with Northern Tool + Equipment, a major supplier of tools and equipment. The partnership powers the new Northern Tool Commercial Account program designed exclusively for businesses to provide greater flexibility and convenience in managing payments. The net terms program enables businesses net 30 payment terms and flexible invoicing options to better meet the payment preferences of B2B buyers across America. Through the new Commercial Account net terms program, businesses served by Northern Tool + Equipment will be able to complete purchases easily across all sales channels. Additional functionality will allow business owners to make purchases and assign other employees to safely pick-up products in-store – an important program customization for Northern Tool's customers who seek this convenience. McKinsey's recent B2B Pulse Survey underscores this omnichannel payments expectation, as B2B decision makers are equally seeking in-person interactions, remote communications and digital self-serve options across all geographies, industries and company sizes. More than half of the survey respondents would also switch suppliers if they don't have a smooth experience across channels. 'Payment experiences serve as critical, but often overlooked opportunities to build B2B customer loyalty,' said Brandon Spear, CEO of TreviPay. 'Without thoughtful management of payment touchpoints, including seamless payment processes and offering preferred purchase options like net terms, today's retailers risk losing ground to those that prioritize customer experience at check-out.' By offering net terms to its business buyers through TreviPay, Northern Tool + Equipment can streamline its accounts receivable processes with automated application decisioning, quick buyer onboarding and a reduction in manual, back-office demands. TreviPay's technology and managed services enable the retailer to focus on growth and customer care, rather than collections. 'For over 40 years, the folks who tackle the toughest jobs have counted on us to deliver more than just tools—we deliver the kind of service that gets the job done right,' said Lisa Cordes, Director of Finance Shared Services at Northern Tool + Equipment. 'Teaming up with TreviPay lets us bring that same no-nonsense, get-it-done attitude to checkout. Because when it comes to payment options, our customers deserve tools that work as hard as they do.' To apply for the Northern Tool + Equipment Commercial Account, U.S. customers can visit the sign-up page, or visit to learn more about how TreviPay supports B2B invoicing and payments. About TreviPay At TreviPay, we believe loyalty begins at the payment. By understanding the diverse and unique requirements of B2B sellers, TreviPay's global B2B payments and invoicing network enables enterprises to provide payments choice and convenience, open new markets and automate accounts receivables. Powering more than $8 Billion in global trade, TreviPay was named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape for Worldwide Embedded Payment Applications 2024-2025 Vendor Assessment (#US51793524, Dec. 2024). With more than four decades of experience, TreviPay serves leaders looking to build loyalty while driving efficiency and embracing new digital channels, especially in industries with large distribution networks such as manufacturing, retail and transportation. For more information, visit About Northern Tool Northern Tool + Equipment is a family-owned company serving both DIYers and trades professionals tackling the tough projects. A leading supplier of more than 100,000 high-quality tools and equipment for over 40 years, the company's highly-trained team has an immense breadth of knowledge to help customers in-person at more than 130 retail stores, online and over the phone through their fully-staffed contact center. From helping customers get the right tool for the job to assisting with parts and repairs that keep tools running at peak performance, customer service is at the foundation of Northern Tool's mission. Learn more about Northern Tool + Equipment at and stay connected through social media: Facebook (@northerntool), Instagram (@northern_tool), TikTok (@northerntool), X (Twitter) (@northerntool), YouTube and Pinterest.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UATP Announces Launch of Latest Issuer, TreviPay
New Solution to Offer Customizable, Global Support Tailored to Local Market Needs WASHINGTON, March 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- UATP, the global network that enables organizations to simplify payment processes and expand their payment capabilities, announced today the launch of its newest Issuer, TreviPay, designed to provide fully outsourced issuing capabilities for intermediaries and airlines globally. This cutting-edge solution aims to streamline operations, enhance customer service, and deliver tailored solutions for partners worldwide. "At TreviPay, we're dedicated to delivering innovative solutions that help our partners succeed," said Brandon Spear, CEO of TreviPay. "The launch of our Issuer platform is a significant step in helping airlines and intermediaries worldwide streamline their operations while offering highly customizable solutions that meet both global standards and local market needs." TreviPay empowers airlines and intermediaries with a seamless, all-in-one solution for managing and issuing digital and physical products. It allows clients to fully outsource their issuing capabilities, minimizing operational costs and reducing the complexity of managing their own systems. "TreviPay will be able to work with the UATP Network and offer unique, comprehensive solutions, and further presence in the travel industry," says Ralph Kaiser, president and CEO, UATP. "We're excited about this mutually beneficial partnership and to be able to offer more options to UATP's growing Network." TreviPay offers a wide range of solutions for the airline industry, including payment and accounts receivable management and credit risk outsourcing. It is a powerful tool for airlines to drive sales and strengthen corporate relationships. TreviPay helps take the risk by extending credit and guaranteeing corporate payment while eliminating time-consuming manual billing and invoicing. For more information about the UATP and the partnership with TreviPay or to speak with a UATP company executive, please contact Wendy Ward at About UATP Accepted as a form of payment for corporate business travel worldwide by airlines, travel agencies and Amtrak®; UATP accounts are issued by Aeromexico; Air Canada (TSE: AC); Air China; Air New Zealand ( Air Niugini; AirPlus International a wholly owned subsidiary of SEB Kort; American Airlines (NASDAQ: AAL); APG Airlines; Austrian Airlines; Avianca Airlines; BCD Travel; China Eastern Airlines (NYSE: CEA); Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL); EL AL Israel Airlines; Etihad Airways; EVA Air; Fareportal; Frontier Airlines; GOL Linhas Aereas inteligentes S.A. (NYSE: GOL and Bovespa: GOLL4); Hahn Air; High Point Travel; Japan Airlines (9201:JP); JetBlue Airways; LATAM Airlines; Link Airways; Qantas Airways ( Shandong Airlines; Sichuan Airlines; Southwest Airlines; Sun Country Airlines; TUIfly GmbH; Turkish Airlines (ISE: THYAO); United Airlines (NASDQAQ: UAL) and WestJet. About TreviPay At TreviPay, we believe loyalty begins at the payment. By understanding the diverse and unique requirements of B2B sellers, TreviPay's global B2B payments and invoicing network enables enterprises to provide payments choice and convenience, open new markets and automate accounts receivables. Powering more than $8 Billion in global trade, TreviPay was named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape for Worldwide Embedded Payment Applications 2024-2025 Vendor Assessment (#US51793524, Dec. 2024). With more than four decades of experience, TreviPay serves leaders looking to build loyalty while driving efficiency and embracing new digital channels, especially in industries with large distribution networks such as manufacturing, retail and transportation. For more information, visit Media Contact UATP:Wendy WardCMOUATPwward@ 202 250 4665 Media Contract TreviPayAlissa Clayton, The Fletcher Group647.390.9085, alissa@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE UATP
