Under the combined weight of ongoing tariff-driven uncertainty, macroeconomic disruptions and cash flow volatility, B2B suppliers and buyers are taking a fresh look at the rules of engagement. This renewed attention on accounts receivable (AR) and accounts payable (AP) points to a new era of trust-building in B2B payments may be emerging, powered by technology, alternative financing tools and an openness to collaboration. The integration of suppliers—through digital means, as their billing systems are linked to the buyers’ payment operations—can improve cash flow for both parties, and by extension, create B2B ecosystems that are efficient. Virtual card platforms are also being adapted for B2B trade. By issuing single-use cards with pre-approved amounts and automatic reconciliation, companies can guarantee payment upon delivery while maintaining tight spend controls. Visa and B2B payment orchestration platform Bluechain, for example, partnered to enable digital transformation of B2B payments in the U.K. The trust-building era in B2B isn’t just a mindset change; it’s also being engineered into the payment process itself. Cloud-based procurement platforms now integrate payment scheduling, financing options and tariff tracking in real time. Both buyer and supplier can see where money is, when it will arrive and how external cost factors might change the plan. This transparency is a departure from legacy systems, where payment status was opaque and disputes were resolved by phone or email chains. Of course, the move toward mutual benefit doesn’t eliminate risk, and there’s also the challenge of ensuring digital tools integrate cleanly with enterprise resource planning systems and comply with local regulations. The B2B trust-building trend may only continue to accelerate as generative AI and predictive analytics enhance B2B payment platforms. In this vision, payment terms cease to be static clauses and become living agreements that adapt in real time to economic signals. That adaptability could turn payment practices from a source of friction into a driver of resilience.