Are We Approaching the B2B BNPL Era? | Ratepay | Nexi Roadshow: MPE Berlin

On the Nexi Roadshow, we’re interviewing a number of payments experts to get their thoughts on what’s happening in the DACH region.

Stop one was the excellent, pan-european and positively wunderbar MPE in Berlin, Germany.

Alongside our conference highlights and DACH e-commerce quiz, we also wanted to have some in depth conversations with those at the heart of the ecosystem.

Our first interview from MPE, which you can watch above, is with Charlotte Paauwe from Ratepay, who tells us all about changing European payment habits and the explosion of Buy Now Pay Later technology.

This topic is right up Paauwe’s street as Ratepay is principally a provider of BNPL white label technology. There’s no doubt this is coming at a time when BNPL is growing in popularity. BNPL payments in Europe are expected to grow by 15.2% on an annual basis and reach $219.2 billion in 2024. The EU also passed legislation last year, meaning the likes of Klarna and others can operate within certain boundaries and provide cutting edge tools to consumers.

It’s certainly got plenty of consumer appeal and attention but, as Paauwe indicates it could provide options for businesses too. When discussing trends in the DACH region, she discusses the huge uptick in businesses wanting to provide credit to other businesses and that this is an area where Ratepay could come in.

Paauwe also delves deeper into the evolving payment landscape, noting how important customer experience and checkout optimization is for merchants to thrive in the competitive e-commerce space.

We get her thoughts on the role of AI in enhancing risk management and customer service, pointing out its increasing integration into payment processes across industries. This technological advancement not only streamlines operations but also improves decision-making accuracy, ultimately benefiting both merchants and consumers.

That’s not all. Expanding on the BNPL trend, Paauwe highlights its expansion beyond traditional sectors like fashion and furniture into diverse industries such as travel, pharmacy, and groceries. This broader acceptance of BNPL reflects changing consumer habits and the growing demand for flexible payment options, particularly in light of economic fluctuations.

In terms of partnerships, Paauwe underscores the symbiotic relationship between fintech providers like Ratepay and traditional institutions like Nexi. By collaborating with established players in the payment ecosystem, fintechs gain access to a wider merchant base and streamlined integration processes, facilitating their growth and market penetration.

It’s a great conversation, with some insights from Paauwe on this important and ever developing area.