This session will deliver a strategic overview of the economic, regulatory, and technological forces reshaping B2B payments worldwide. From geopolitical risk to AI disruption, ESG, and inflationary pressures-this opening presentation will explore the major forces shaping the next decade of B2B payments. An economic outlook will help participants reframe risk, opportunity, and digital resilience in a volatile world.

This forward-looking discussion will focus on where growth is actually happening in 2025. Panellists will highlight successful examples, main sectors driving expansion, and the factors encouraging adoption. The session will also explore what’s needed for sustained growth into 2026 and beyond, particularly in challenging or neglected markets.

As digital transformation reshapes the payments and financial ecosystem, regulation is trying to keep up. This session offers a deep dive into the most pressing developments-from the worldwide implementation of ISO 20022 and its implications for payment standards, RTP updates, to the rapidly changing world of AI legislation. The session will offer important insight into how these shifting policies will impact your commercial card and payments operations, and how to remain flexible in an era of regulatory acceleration.

Select one of the following roundtable discussions to attend 

• Security and fraud 

• Data and spend management 

• Virtual cards in T&E

• Virtual cards in B2B

• Real-time payments 

• AP/AR automation 

• Travel and expense management with AI

• Rebate management 

• Stablecoins

Embedding payments directly into corporate systems is transforming efficiency. This session will address how ERP platforms and digital procurement tools are incorporating card rails natively, enabling frictionless transactions. We’ll examine live integrations, what’s working, and how embedded finance bridges buyer-supplier trust while helping corporates manage reconciliation, compliance, and funding efficiency.

Virtual cards remain central to innovation in B2B payments. This session will showcase adoption trends across regions like Latin America and Europe, new verticals such as healthcare and marketing, and the expansion of mobile virtual cards. It will include firsthand issuer perspectives and practical insights into implementation challenges and success-particularly in areas with limited card infrastructure.

Clients want more than transactions-they want intelligence. This session will explore how issuers and networks are transforming payment data into value-added services, including forecasting, benchmarking, and recommendations

As agentic AI evolves, so does its impact on B2B payments. This discussion will explore how AI agents are now capable of booking business travel and making purchases autonomously. With growing reliance on digital assistants, we’ll discuss industry readiness, liability frameworks, tokenisation for secure delegation, and the connection between issuers, merchants and agents. Expect deep dives into market initiatives and implications for authentication, chargebacks, and more.

This session will spotlight emerging fintech companies driving innovation in the commercial payments space. It will also include a competition where participants can present their innovative solutions, with the audience voting to determine the winners.

Part 1: Fireside chat: Tech vision: where is payment tech really going?

Part 2: Innovation Showcase 

Part 3: Innovation awards
Innovation awards announcement voted by the CPI audience