Digitize accounts payable payments: why 2025 is the year to go all in
In 2025, paper checks are not just outdated; they are a liability. With 68.3% of enterprise payments now made electronically through ACH, virtual cards, and supplier payment networks, the momentum is undeniable. Businesses that still rely on checks are exposing themselves to unnecessary costs, fraud risks, and operational inefficiencies at a time when finance leaders are pushing for automation, intelligence, and speed.
The true cost of checks
Industry data makes it clear that checks remain one of the most expensive ways to pay suppliers. From paper, printing, and postage to time lost in reconciliation, organizations waste thousands each month on processes that digital payments can eliminate.
According to Ardent Partners, the average enterprise spends $12.88 per invoice to process payments. Best-in-class AP teams, those leveraging automation and e-payments, have driven that number down to just 2.78 dollars per invoice. Multiply that difference across thousands of invoices, and the savings are substantial.
The benefits of e-payments
The shift to e-payments is not just about cutting costs. It is about transforming AP into a strategic advantage. According to Ardent Partners’ "Metrics that Matter," top-performing enterprises that prioritize core processes and extensively use ePayables solutions achieve invoice processing costs that are up to 80% lower.
Simply put, e-payments offer both financial and operational benefits, helping businesses manage working capital better, build stronger supplier relationships, and stay protected against rising fraud risks.
Automation and AI: powering the next generation of AP
What makes this moment unique is how automation and AI are amplifying the value of e-payments. Today, 61% of AP leaders say AI and machine learning are the most game-changing technologies for their function. Already, best-in-class teams are hitting touchless processing rates of nearly 50%, meaning invoices are received, matched, and paid without human intervention.
By embedding payments into integrated AP automation platforms, organizations gain real-time visibility, streamlined reconciliation, and the ability to scale globally without scaling headcount.
Virtual cards: turning AP into a profit center
Among digital payment methods, virtual cards are gaining the fastest traction. These secure, single-use payment methods not only reduce fraud exposure but also generate rebates, typically around 1 to 1.25 percent of spend. With the global virtual card market projected to reach $14.6 trillion in 2029, this is a revenue stream AP teams can no longer afford to ignore.
For large enterprises, the math adds up quickly. Millions in AP spend redirected through virtual cards can translate into six or seven-figure annual rebates.
AP’s expanding role in finance strategy
The modern AP department is no longer just a back-office function. 65% of AP teams now actively support treasury and cash management, helping to optimize payment timing and working capital. Even more telling, 37% of CFOs directly review and approve AP’s strategic plans, a signal that AP is firmly embedded in enterprise finance strategy.
By adopting e-payments, AP teams position themselves not just as processors of transactions but as strategic partners driving efficiency, intelligence, and value creation.
Time to join the movement
Paper checks have had their day. In 2025, the real opportunity lies in fully integrated e-payments, a foundation for AP departments to cut costs, reduce risk, speed up cycles, and unlock new revenue streams.
For organizations still clinging to checks, the message is clear. It is not just about saving money; it is about keeping pace with a financial landscape that is digital, intelligent, and strategic.
It is time to leave paper behind and transform your AP function with integrated e-payments.
Turn payments into a strategic part of AP with Medius
Accounts payable is more than processing invoices. It’s controlling and optimizing payments. With Medius, your AP team can automate everything from invoice capture to secure payment execution, all in one unified platform. Virtual cards, ACH, and global payment support make it easy to reduce costs, lower fraud risk, and even earn rebates, all while keeping your team focused on strategy, not paperwork.
Download the State of ePayables 2025 Report to explore more benchmarks, insights, and strategies from Ardent Partners and learn how leading AP teams are transforming payments.
Sources: Ardent Partners, Accounts Payable Metrics That Matter in 2025, Ardent Partners & Medius, State of ePayables 2025
Juniper Research
