Digital Transactions Authoritative, insightful and timely information for payments professionals
By Steven Velasquez, Senior Vice President and Head of Partner Business Development for Elavon, Inc.
The past two years have brought unprecedented change to both business and consumer behavior. 2020 was the year small businesses needed to find a way to adapt their operations to survive in a changing economy. New challenges brought accelerated shifts in payment methods, including increased adoption in online shopping, contactless payments, and curbside delivery service.
2021 brought its own set of challenges with record-high inflation, a staggering unemployment rate, and ongoing global supply chain issues. The proof is in the numbers. According to a January 2022 publication by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 7 percent in a 12-month period ending December 2021, the largest 12-month increase since June 1982.
Prices are rising across the board. Businesses need to take into consideration not only inflation rates, but increased cost of raw goods, lack of supplies, and the cost of retaining customers. So, how can you help your merchants mitigate increasing pain points brought on by current economic pressures and pandemic-related shifts? Ensuring your merchants have cash on hand to manage any unforeseen challenges is critical to their business operations.
In fact, 66% of small businesses say that funding timing has the largest impact on their cash flow management. [i] Whether it’s paying invoices, applying for microloans, or managing inventory, liquidity is essential for businesses seeking to grow as well as those trying to keep the doors open.
Enter real-time payments (RTP). Now, more than ever, your merchants are looking for solutions such as same-day funding to expedite cash flow and proactively manage their business. Faster funding and alternative payment options are challenging traditional payment methods and reshaping the market. According to some estimates, the real-time payments market is expected to expand at a compound annual growth Rate (CAGR) of 33% from 2021 to 2028.[ii]
In Q4 2021 alone, the RTP network, processed 37.8 million transactions, totaling $5.7 billion and representing 13% growth over the previous quarter.[iii] Offering same-day funding options to your merchants means empowering them to meet business demands while differentiating yourself from your competition. We can help.
Don’t miss out on offering your merchants same-day funding solutions to help them meet, and exceed, their business goals. Backed by the strength and stability of U.S. Bank, we can deliver funds to your merchants within hours of them closing out their batch. They can then access their funds 365 days a year, seven days a week to enable them to quickly adapt their business operations to empower their success.
If you’re interested in offering your merchants some of the fastest funding in the industry, contact us today about our partner programs. Learn how to grow your sales reach with one partner agreement in the U.S. and Canada. Reach out to us here or give us at a call at: 844.983.0994. Let us power your possible.
[i] Payment Journal
[ii] Grand View Research
[iii] Theclearinghouse.org
