Nearly half of mid-market businesses surveyed by AvidXchange lack a formal strategy for choosing how to pay suppliers, even as electronic payments become common. The findings highlight a gap between digitizing accounts payable transactions and managing payment decisions around costs, cash flow and supplier preferences.
The accounts payable and payments software provider announced the findings on October 30. Its 2026 B2B Payments Strategy Survey polled more than 500 finance decision-makers in June 2026. The research defines mid-market organizations as businesses with annual revenue between $50 million and $1 billion.
Electronic adoption leaves payment decisions unresolved
According to AvidXchange, 63% of respondents mostly or exclusively use electronic payments, while 47% lack a formal payment mix strategy. Such a strategy weighs transaction costs, available rebates and supplier preferences when determining how payments should be made.
Financial incentives are already part of the picture. In a separate company article discussing the same research, AvidXchange reported that 80% of finance leaders capture rebates or cash back through virtual card or electronic payment programs. That figure measures participation, rather than the amount earned or the net financial benefit.
For AP teams, the practical question extends beyond whether an invoice can be paid electronically. Choosing a payment method also involves assessing supplier acceptance, processing costs and the timing of cash leaving the business. A rebate alone does not establish whether a particular method delivers the best overall outcome.
Visibility and supplier experience shape the strategy
The survey also found a difference in reported visibility. Among businesses with a formal payment strategy, 67% said they had real-time visibility, compared with 33% of those without one. Separately, 46% of respondents described supplier payment experience as having a very significant effect on business relationships.
Access to data does not necessarily mean it influences decisions. AvidXchange’s earlier discussion of the research reported that 51% of finance leaders actively use real-time payment visibility to manage cash flow, while another 34% have access but do not consistently use it for strategic decisions.
These findings suggest that finance teams evaluating AP automation should examine how payment information supports day-to-day cash management and supplier decisions, alongside transaction processing capabilities.
The results are self-reported findings from vendor-led research. The public announcement and report landing page do not disclose the exact sample size, geographic breakdown, recruitment method or margin of error. The association between formal strategies and greater visibility does not establish that adopting a strategy caused the difference.
Although the press announcement appeared in October, AvidXchange had already discussed selected findings from the June survey in a September 18 company article.
Sources
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