The value of business-to-business (B2B) card payments is projected to rise significantly over the next five years, reaching $10.9 trillion globally by 2030, according to a new report by Juniper Research.
The report estimates that B2B card payments will grow from $5.9 trillion in 2026, representing an 85 percent increase over the period. This growth far outpaces the projected 17 percent expansion of the broader global B2B payments market, highlighting a shift in how businesses manage and execute transactions.
According to the report, the rising adoption of corporate payment cards is being driven by companies seeking stronger oversight of employee spending. In areas such as travel and expense management, payment cards provide finance teams with tools to impose strict spending limits, monitor transactions in real time, and reduce exposure to fraud or misuse.
The study identifies enhanced controls and transaction visibility as key factors distinguishing leading card solutions in the market. Features that allow organisations to pre-approve transactions, track spending patterns, and prevent unauthorised use are increasingly becoming essential components of modern financial management systems.
While these capabilities are already widely adopted among large corporations, small and medium-sized enterprises are showing growing interest in card-based payment processes, creating new opportunities for issuers and fintech providers.
However, adoption trends vary across regions. In markets such as the United States and Europe, payment cards are deeply entrenched in both consumer and business transactions, resulting in high acceptance rates and widespread familiarity. In contrast, markets such as China have lower levels of card adoption among consumers, which in turn limits their use in business payments due to lower merchant acceptance.
Despite these regional differences, the report notes that corporate card usage continues to expand globally, as alternative payment methods often lack the same level of control and oversight required by businesses.
Michael Greenwood, author of the report, noted that advanced controls and improved visibility are expanding the role of cards across a wider range of use cases, including recurring payments.
“Advanced controls and increased visibility are making cards the preferred payment method in a broadening range of use cases, such as in recurring payments. Here, virtual cards issued by spend management platforms are being used for specific subscriptions; offering additional controls,” Greenwood stated.
The report recommends that issuers focus on developing modular card solutions that integrate seamlessly with key business systems such as procurement and accounting platforms, enabling greater efficiency and automation in corporate financial operations.
