B2B Payments: Harmonizing Security and User Experience

B2B Payments: Harmonizing Security and User Experience

Amara, CFO of a mid-sized manufacturing firm, reviewed a $2 million invoice from a "new vendor" in Singapore. The email chain appeared legitimate—matching the company’s usual supplier format—and her team had "verified" the vendor’s updated banking details. Unbeknownst to them, the email domain had a subtle typo: “supplier-sg.com” instead of “supplier.sg.com.”

As she approved the payment, her platform flagged a mismatch: the vendor’s Tax ID didn’t align with its registered bank account. An automated alert froze the transaction, citing "suspicious vendor details." Frustrated, Amara dismissed it as a glitch—until two days later, when the authorities confirmed the account was linked to a money-laundering syndicate in another country.

That delay saved her company millions.

This is the tightrope businesses walk every day: How do you protect users without pushing them away?

Here are few ways to do this:

1) Phone Verification That Actually Works
You know the drill: enter your phone number, get a code via text, and you’re in. But here’s the problem—fraudsters know this routine too.

What you can do:

  • Check for SIM swaps or VoIP numbers. Mobile networks can tell you if a number was ported recently or belongs to a disposable VoIP service (like Google Voice). If a user’s number changed hands last week, that’s a red flag.
  • Send codes, but make them matter. Don’t just use one-time passwords (OTPs) for login—use them when someone adds a new payee or changes banking details.

2) Device Fingerprinting
Just like a passport helps identify a person, device fingerprinting uses these characteristics to identify and authenticate devices.

What you can do:

  • Track trusted devices. If an employee always logs in from the same laptop in Chicago, let that device become their “VIP pass.”
  • Scrutinize new devices. When a login comes from a phone in Jakarta 10 minutes after a Chicago session, ask for more proof (like a fingerprint scan and an OTP).

3. Slow Down the Bad Guys (Without Annoying the Good Ones)

Fraudsters love speed. They want to hit multiple banks in a short time. Your job? Make them wait.

What you can do:

  • Delay high-risk transactions. If a new vendor payment comes from an unrecognized device, hold it for 24-48 hours. Notify the CFO: "We’re reviewing this for your protection."
  • Whitelist trusted partners. If Company A pays Company B every Tuesday at 3 PM, let those transactions sail through.

4. Share the Intelligence (Because Fraudsters Don’t Play Fair)

Fraudsters collaborate and share tips on forums and messaging groups. Unfortunately, banks often do not communicate effectively among themselves.

What you can do:

Key Takeaways for Payment Leaders:

  • Verify phones, not just passwords—cross-check numbers with carriers.
  • Treat devices like fingerprints—identify anomalies before transactions occur.
  • Slow down suspicious payments—legitimate users will wait; fraudsters won’t.
  • Share fraud data industry-wide—collective defense is more effective than isolated efforts.
  • Be proactive and committed to always evolving, mixing up, and layering security strategies that keep the process efficient for those you serve.

Conclusion: Stop Choosing Sides

These are a few proven strategies that balance security and user experience. This is by no means a comprehensive list, and none are meant to be used just once. Payment stakeholders must continue to evolve their security and UX practices just as much as fraudsters are studious and constantly looking to exploit the slightest vulnerability.

Don’t allow cumbersome security to cost you customers, and don’t let a polished user experience make you vulnerable. Let’s create systems that achieve both.

Contact us today!

Joseph Solomon

Joseph Solomon

Founder of WDIR and UX Consultant for B2B payment solutions globally. Get in touch today--> joseph@wdir.agency
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