# How to Bring Immediacy Back to the Supply Chain With Faster Payments Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-11-22 Category: FINANCE Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/finance Meta Title: Boost Supply Chain Efficiency with Faster Payments Meta Description: Faster payment options provide the digital security of direct bank payments with the immediacy of cash. Businesses can send and receive funds within seconds, URL: https://financedigest.com/how-to-bring-immediacy-back-to-the-supply-chain-with-faster-paymentshtml ![Adam Steenhard](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/adam-steenhard-450x456-1736814834071-compressed.jpg) _By_ **_Adam Steenhard,_** _VP of Corporate Strategy at Dwolla_ Today’s supply chain is in [complete disarray.](https://www.wired.com/story/supply-chain-crisis-data/) As transportation costs rise and warehouses struggle to meet demands, the financial sector is looking for new solutions. Faster payments are here to help! In comparison to other [countries like Europe](https://www.financedigest.com/best-countries-in-europe-to-live-in.html "Best countries in Europe to live in"), the United States is getting caught up with the real-time, account-to-account money movement —those most prevalent in B2B sectors like manufacturing. Financial institutions and B2B companies have trusted the ACH network since its inception in 1972. It is a low-cost [solution to sending large amounts of money via](https://www.financedigest.com/vias-cloud-based-solutions-ensure-painless-office-move-for-insurance-body.html "VIA’S CLOUD-BASED SOLUTIONS ENSURE PAINLESS OFFICE MOVE FOR INSURANCE BODY") direct deposit. Additionally, the recent innovations that have [expanded faster payment capabilities](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/same-day-ach-transaction-limit-increase-to-1-million-unlocks-new-payment-opportunities-across-industries-301547379.html) demonstrate the growing demand for innovation. Communication is at the root of the [supply chain](https://www.financedigest.com/minimising-supply-chain-cyber-risks-by-asking-the-right-questions.html "MINIMISING SUPPLY CHAIN CYBER RISKS BY ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS") crisis, with companies searching for ways to bridge the chasm. The same is true for payments, with transactions taking up to 4 business days to clear, there is a lack of immediacy and responsiveness for all parties involved. Manufacturers are waiting to begin production until they can pay their workers; shippers and carriers are having trouble keeping up with shifting schedules and increased transportation costs. These waiting periods have a negative impact on both cash flow and [supply chain](https://www.financedigest.com/5-steps-to-successful-supply-chain-finance.html "5 Steps to successful supply chain finance") productivity, as consumers are continuing to see in everyday situations. Empty supermarket shelves, computer chip delays, and skyrocketing lumber costs are more than an effect of [supply chain](https://www.financedigest.com/2023-supply-chain-trends-for-businesses-to-ensure-a-more-efficient-supply-chain-strategy.html "2023 supply chain trends for businesses to ensure a more efficient supply chain strategy") challenges: they are a symbol of what will continue to occur if new technologies aren’t thrown into the mix. **Faster Payments: A Modern Financial Solution** [Faster payment options offer the digital](https://www.financedigest.com/you-cant-get-faster-than-that-spring-statement-update-delivered-digitally-as-it-happens-with-app-driven-technology.html "‘You Can’t Get Faster Than That’ – Spring Statement Update Delivered Digitally As It Happens with App-driven technology") security of a direct bank payment with the immediacy of cash; businesses can send and receive funds to each other’s accounts within seconds. With over 54 countries participating in this new movement and the innovations being rolled out with faster ACH processing, it could bring positive changes to both the financial sector and the supply chain. The [supply chain](https://www.financedigest.com/g7-finance-leaders-pledge-financial-stability-supply-chain-diversity.html "G7 finance leaders pledge financial stability, supply chain diversity") benefits from faster payments because of their emphasis on efficiency. Once an invoice is received, companies can instantly transfer large amounts of money to manufacturers. This means that the production process can begin sooner, and those transporting the goods are likely to make their deliveries on time. Faster [payment methods](https://www.financedigest.com/freelancer-payments-methods-what-you-should-know.html "Freelancer Payments Methods: What You Should Know") will move beyond just helping boost timelines and productivity in the supply chain; they will also change how the industry functions by putting pay at the beginning of the work cycle. [Payment needs to be received for the transportation and delivery processes](https://www.financedigest.com/are-your-payment-processes-in-cheque-for-the-new-legislation.html "ARE YOUR PAYMENT PROCESSES IN CHEQUE FOR THE NEW LEGISLATION?"). [Workers do not want to wait or risk a transaction being returned after their hard work](https://www.financedigest.com/1-in-5-uk-workers-believe-there-is-a-gender-divide-with-work-uniforms.html " 1 in 5 UK workers believe there is a gender divide with work uniforms") is done. Real Time Payments are an option that can help ensure that payment is received and in the proper [bank accounts](https://www.financedigest.com/are-banks-ready-for-the-new-accountability-regime-in-2016.html "ARE BANKS READY FOR THE NEW ACCOUNTABILITY REGIME IN 2016?") well before the labor begins, creating a better work environment for all involved. Some may ask why existing companies like Venmo and Zelle, which make immediate deposits, aren’t already being leveraged to help the supply chain. The answer is the supply chain’s reliance on manual processes and ACH. The supply chain’s loyalty to the automated [clearing houses comes](https://www.financedigest.com/whats-coming-next-in-the-clearing-and-settlement-world.html "What’s coming next in the clearing and settlement world?") from cost-effectiveness. Account-holders pay little-to-no fees on all ACH transfers. In contrast, credit card companies often charge fees based on the sum of money being dealt with. For B2Bs transacting with tens of thousands of dollars and then some, a percentage fee for each card transaction quickly becomes exorbitant. Since 2015, Dwolla has been focused on influencing the industry to rethink the speed with which payments can be made. It’s clear that to help the supply chain and other B2B-focused [industries operate efficiently—we need to find a way](https://www.financedigest.com/5-ways-the-fs-industry-can-support-the-recovery.html "5 ways the FS industry can support the recovery") to cut both wait times and additional costs. Our goal is to create account-to-account advantages that allow [customers to increase their control of payments](https://www.financedigest.com/2019-year-customers-take-control-payments.html "2019: The year customers take control of payments") by giving them the ability to both maintain funds and send them immediately. This will allow companies to increase their immediate cash flow and improve business relationships. **The Future of the Supply Chain** Yes, the [supply chain is experiencing challenges](https://www.financedigest.com/ges-investors-seek-solutions-to-renewable-energy-supply-chain-challenges.html "GE’s investors seek solutions to renewable energy, supply chain challenges") independent of payments. The truth is that the [issues our supply](https://www.financedigest.com/uks-j-d-wetherspoon-returns-to-profit-as-supply-issues-ease.html "UK’s J D Wetherspoon returns to profit as supply issues ease") chain faces are complex and multi-faceted. But [enabling faster](https://www.financedigest.com/forescout-and-fireeye-expand-partnership-enabling-faster-response-to-cybersecurity-threats.html "FORESCOUT AND FIREEYE EXPAND PARTNERSHIP, ENABLING FASTER RESPONSE TO CYBERSECURITY THREATS") payments is a critical step in reducing delays. Real-time transfers are genuinely becoming the way of the future, with [data](https://www.pymnts.com/news/payments-innovation/2020/new-data-85-pct-of-us-firms-plan-to-adopt-real-time-payments/) indicating that over 85% of businesses are planning to convert to a type of real-time payment solution by 2023, and 71% of U.S. [firms saying](https://www.financedigest.com/over-a-dozen-chinese-based-firms-say-they-have-minimal-exposure-to-svb.html "Over a dozen Chinese-based firms say they have minimal exposure to SVB") that they are very interested in implementing faster payment strategies. The supply chain is the foundation of the U.S. economy, enabling [businesses to sell](https://www.financedigest.com/reasons-why-you-should-hire-a-business-broker-to-sell-your-business.html "Reasons Why You Should Hire a Business Broker to Sell Your Business") products and serve their customers. Companies and suppliers adopting faster [payments will streamline the supply chain and increase economic](https://www.financedigest.com/combatting-economic-uncertainty-in-2023-with-the-payments-sector-2.html "Combatting economic uncertainty in 2023 with the payments sector") growth. It’s time to [bring immediacy back](https://www.financedigest.com/trump-charges-bring-new-york-zombie-case-back-to-life.html "Trump charges bring New York ‘zombie case’ back to life") to the supply chain, and real-time bank transfers are one step in the right direction. **_Author Bio:_** _Adam Steenhard is the Vice President of Corporate Strategy at_ [_Dwolla_](https://www.dwolla.com/) _. In his role, he cultivates innovation into clearly defined [business strategies and successful](https://www.financedigest.com/why-mobile-apps-are-crucial-for-a-successful-business.html "Why Mobile Apps are Crucial for a Successful Business") implementations. With more than 15 years in [financial services](https://www.financedigest.com/devops-the-secret-tool-thats-transforming-financial-services.html "DevOps: The Secret Tool that’s Transforming Financial Services"), Steenhard has payments innovation experience at the forefront, which is evident in his leadership on Dwolla’s Faster Payment Proposal and contributions to Mojaloop alongside the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Prior to joining Dwolla, Steenhard spent several years leading various product and engineering efforts at Nationwide Insurance. He is a graduate from the University of Northern Iowa and holds a MBA from The University of Iowa._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---