Balancing Global Expansion and Local B2B Payments – The European Financial Review

By Inez Berkhof-Hollander

Global growth in B2B funds now collides with fragmented regulation digital currencies and rising purchaser expectations. On this article Inez Berkhof-Hollander explains how finance leaders can navigate e-invoicing mandates native fee norms forex volatility and rising applied sciences to scale internationally with out shedding management of danger money move or compliance pressures.

As we enter 2026, B2B organisations discover themselves navigating a interval of profound change in funds. Europe’s B2B funds panorama is being reworked by EU-broad, but in follow nation-particular, e-invoicing mandates, designed to fight fraud, scale back tax shortfalls, and tackle compliance gaps. On the similar time, the European Council has endorsed the European Central Financial institution’s plans to introduce a digital euro within the close to time period, signalling a probably basic shift in how worth is exchanged. Layered on prime of this regulatory and financial transformation is synthetic intelligence (AI). AI guarantees so as to add lots of efficiencies right here, but it surely additionally introduces new complexity as organisations work out how finest to deploy it safely and successfully.

What can the B2B Finance chief do right here to remain forward and develop past their very own borders?

e-invoicing laws and the rising significance of Peppol-licensed companions

The first to-do merchandise for any worldwide growth will be summed up in two phrases: go digital. Each the European Union and the UK are present process main regulatory and market shifts that can reshape finance and B2B gross sales. On the centre of Europe’s transition is necessary e-invoicing. Whereas lengthy-time period harmonisation is the purpose, close to-time period implementation is fragmented. Between now by means of 2027–2028, member states are rolling out nation-particular E-Invoicing Directive variations, with additional convergence anticipated by 2030.

Companies buying and selling within the EU, UK, US, MENA, or past should now give attention to two priorities: complying with present guidelines and staying agile for future modifications. Within the UK, necessary e-invoicing for VAT has now been confirmed to start in 2029 (as introduced within the UK’s November 2025 Finances).

E-invoicing isn’t merely about reducing purple tape, welcome although that at all times is. It’s designed to handle actual challenges like fraud and VAT income gaps. Standardised e-invoices enhance accuracy, compliance, and tax safety. For reliability, we advocate organisations get set for this shift by working with Peppol-licensed companions, because it’s a sensible approach to make sure international compliance and seamless integration with consumers and sellers worldwide.

It’s additionally price noting that the development to digital funds is hardly solely an EU phenomenon: even the US, lengthy reliant on paper, is beginning to tackle requirements and interoperability, with energetic help from the Federal Reserve. In consequence that is changing into a problem for any US or EU firm seeking to develop in both course.

Local expectations round funds

In Europe, 2B transactions sometimes comply with a ‘pay by bill’ mannequin, however time period lengths differ. Extending phrases from 30 to 60 days can heighten danger and pressure money move, particularly when addressing unfamiliar consumers or navigating native credit score practices, and might, in some circumstances, now not be well worth the danger.

Latest analysis we commissioned confirms B2B consumers worth alternative: 86% say most popular fee strategies matter, and 83% recognize having a number of choices. For companies working internationally, or seeking to develop throughout borders, this provides complexity, as fee preferences differ broadly by area. Checks or playing cards dominate in some markets, direct debit or digital wallets in others. Cost phrases additionally differ on the nation stage: Southern Europe expects 45–60 days, Nordics favor shorter phrases, and Germany enforces 30 days. EU and UK laws might additional standardize phrases (a most of 45 days), however within the meantime providing prolonged phrases and larger limits can enhance gross sales. In our survey, 45% of consumers stated they’d buy extra if such flexibility have been obtainable.

Cultural and regulatory variations additionally form funds. In France and Southern Europe, relationships drive enterprise; in Central and Japanese Europe, transactions are extra impersonal. European sellers should navigate late funds and native guidelines, whereas North American corporations focus extra closely on fraud and cybersecurity.

These distinctions replicate not solely variations in regulation but additionally native market practices and expectations. It’s important to remain on prime of those when working throughout borders.

Cross-border funds and the Digital Euro

Past regulatory shifts and fee behaviors, forex volatility stays a big problem for worldwide B2B transactions. Whereas the euro has simplified funds throughout Europe—and the ECB’s plans to introduce an digital equal of money some see as rivalling methods like VISA and Mastercard will hopefully be an excellent additional step alongside this line—a number of currencies are nonetheless in use, significantly in commerce involving Europe, the US, and the UK.

The broad variation amongst Europe’s 27 tax regimes provides additional operational complexity for cross-border sellers. To compete successfully on a world scale, companies should proactively handle cross-border funds. Profitable worldwide operations depend on dynamic credit score phrases, localised invoicing, actual-time international change capabilities, a broad vary of fee choices, and, ideally, automated reconciliation to streamline processes.

Implementing these measures helps rising B2B manufacturers to mitigate volatility, construct resilience, and strengthen monetary stability, with improved money move safety as a central profit.

Open banking and SEPA

Threat administration sits on the coronary heart of the CFO’s duties. Minimising publicity is a key goal, however whereas some commentators recommend open banking could possibly be an answer, its position in B2B funds in Q1 2026 stays unsure. Whereas open banking has proven advantages in B2C, adoption in B2B is restricted, as many consumers are reluctant to grant entry to delicate monetary information, reflecting the sometimes cautious European strategy to transparency and e-invoicing.

In consequence, many companies query the need of open banking in B2B, significantly when various danger administration options exist. For example, outsourcing fee danger to suppliers that assure settlement removes the necessity for direct entry to purchaser information.

European B2B corporations already profit from superior fee infrastructure comparable to SEPA, which ensures subsequent-day settlement and improves effectivity and transparency in contrast with conventional banking practices.

Expertise and worldwide buying and selling complexity

In the case of getting the foundations of worldwide growth in place, it’s the organisations which have prioritised compliance, localisation, and monetary stability which can be finest positioned for worldwide growth.

By adopting international requirements and expertise-pushed options, companies can handle volatility, meet various purchaser expectations, and keep lengthy-time period stability. On the horizon, AI and machine studying can optimise operations, predict dangers, and enhance choice-making. Whereas there may be nonetheless a lot to work out, so for now, and with international commerce slowing, a strong, tech-enabled worldwide growth framework ensures easy operations and continued enterprise-as-typical buying and selling.

In regards to the Creator

Inez Berkhof-Hollander works for TreviPay, a world B2B funds and invoicing community that believes loyalty begins on the fee, the place she is Vice President EMEA.