Introduction
For small wholesalers and suppliers aiming to protect margins and improve cash flow, modernising how payments are made and received is essential. One of the most powerful methods available today is account-to-account payments. By enabling direct transfers between bank accounts, this payment method offers faster, cheaper, and more efficient transactions—without the fees or delays associated with traditional card-based systems.
The Problem with Traditional Payments
Small wholesalers and suppliers in the UK often grapple with outdated and costly payment processes. Whether it’s card processing fees, long settlement periods, or the administrative burden of payment reconciliation, these issues hinder operational efficiency.
Some common pain points include:
- High transaction fees from card networks and third-party processors
- Slow settlement times, with payments taking days to clear
- Manual reconciliation causing delays and errors in accounting
- Cash flow uncertainty, making it difficult to reinvest in stock or pay suppliers on time
These challenges are amplified for smaller businesses without the financial buffers or dedicated finance teams that larger organisations enjoy. Reducing these frictions is critical for maintaining competitiveness in today’s fast-paced wholesale market.
The Solution: Account-to-Account Payments
Account-to-account payments (often enabled by Open Banking technology) allow money to move directly from a payer’s bank account to a supplier’s bank account. There’s no need for cards, middlemen, or lengthy settlement processes.
Here’s how they work:
- The customer initiates a payment from their bank app or via a secure payment link.
- The funds move directly into the supplier’s bank account, often instantly.
- Payment data can be linked automatically to invoices or sales orders, enabling seamless reconciliation.
Unlike card payments, there are no interchange fees, and settlements are typically same-day or faster.
With Zendr, you can process account-to-account payments instantly and manage your entire wholesale operation from one secure platform. Zendr’s integration of Open Banking with ERP functionality means your payments, stock, invoices, and reporting all work in harmony.
Benefits of Account-to-Account Payments for Small Wholesalers and Suppliers
Account-to-account payments deliver clear advantages, particularly for small wholesalers and suppliers looking to streamline operations and boost profitability:
- Lower costs – Cut out expensive card processing fees (often 1–3% per transaction)
- Faster cash flow – Receive cleared funds instantly or same day
- Simplified reconciliation – Automatically match payments to invoices and orders
- Improved visibility – Real-time insights into payments and outstanding invoices
- Reduced fraud and chargebacks – Direct transfers reduce the risk of disputes
- Better customer experience – Simple, secure payment process with no card entry required
These benefits directly contribute to stronger working capital and more agile business decisions.
Zendr’s Approach to Smarter Payments
Zendr was built for UK wholesalers, importers, and suppliers who need both speed and accuracy in their financial processes.
With Zendr, you can:
- Generate invoices with embedded "Pay by bank" links
- Accept secure, instant account-to-account payments from customers
- Automate reconciliation within your ERP system
- Monitor incoming payments and cash flow in real time
- Reduce the cost of collecting payments and chasing late invoices
By combining payments and ERP into a single, user-friendly platform, Zendr helps you spend less time on admin and more time growing your business.
Conclusion
Account-to-account payments are transforming how small wholesalers and suppliers manage their finances. Faster, cheaper, and more reliable than traditional card-based methods, they offer a clear path to stronger cash flow and reduced overheads. With Zendr, these benefits are built in—giving you end-to-end control of your payments, invoicing, and operations.
Start saving today with Zendr’s free payment app.