Explore every episode of the podcast Smarter Payments by Corpay

This episode of Smarter Payments by Corpay highlights a unique opportunity in B2B payments: despite the digital transformation in consumer payments, many U.S. businesses still use paper checks for transactions, leaving a vast market potential for B2B payment innovations. Speaking at the Fintech South conference, Corpay’s Rick Fletcher, Group President of Payables, and Steve Greene, VP of Corporate Development and Strategy, discussed the complexity and inefficiencies in B2B payments.

Rick and Steve point out that, unlike consumers who manage their own finances, businesses have complex processes for spending, given the need for approval and control over funds. These transactions involve various expenditures—from paying suppliers to managing operating costs—often with checks, causing delays, fraud risk, and reconciliation challenges. While consumer payments have advanced with tools for budgeting and real-time tracking, B2B payment systems lag behind, despite B2B being a five-times-larger market than consumer payments.

Fletcher explains that many companies see B2B payments as crucial yet not a core focus, resulting in outdated processes that companies feel are "good enough" despite inherent inefficiencies. Greene adds that many businesses prioritize collecting payments over optimizing their payment processes, contributing to the relative obscurity of B2B payments as an innovation area. However, Corpay aims to change this by offering solutions that streamline and digitize B2B payments, promoting efficiency and control in an often-overlooked sector.

The podcast episode focuses on the challenges IT leaders face during the 2025 budget season, specifically regarding the rising costs of Software as a Service (SaaS) and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI). Brennan Robison, Director of Corporate Communications at Corpay, interviews Scott duFour, Corpay's Chief Information Officer (CIO). They discuss strategies for managing IT expenses while maintaining operational efficiency.

Key takeaways include:

SaaS Costs: As companies migrate more assets to the cloud, SaaS contracts are often consumption-based. Over time, vendors increase prices significantly at contract renewals, posing a challenge for predictable cost management. Scott outlines strategies Corpay employs, such as stricter governance, price increase caps, and market research to negotiate better contracts.

AI Hype vs. Value: AI is a major focus for many organizations in 2025, but companies must assess whether these solutions offer real value. Scott emphasizes the importance of being cautious with AI investments, starting small with proof of concepts (POCs), and scaling only when there is clear evidence of value.

Procurement and Governance: Corpay's federated model complicates IT procurement, but by centralizing visibility and aggregating demand across business units, the company ensures it gets the best terms in SaaS contracts. The CFO plays a key role in balancing costs and managing the transition from CapEx to OpEx.

AI Success Story: Scott shares an example of a successful AI initiative in Brazil that improved customer service efficiency and satisfaction, highlighting how Corpay strategically integrates AI to enhance operational performance.

The episode provides actionable insights for IT leaders on balancing SaaS and AI investments while navigating rising costs and technological hype.

In this episode of "Smarter Payments by Corpay," Brennan Robison, Director of Corporate Communications, interviews Alissa Vickery, Corpay's Chief Accounting Officer, about the company’s preparation for upcoming ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) disclosure regulations. Alissa shares insights on the growing importance of ESG reporting, especially for global companies, as the SEC and other international entities implement stricter guidelines. She emphasizes the complexity of collecting relevant data, such as emissions and diversity metrics, which need to be auditable and consistent across jurisdictions. Vickery also discusses Corpay's use of Workiva, a cloud-based tool for managing and reporting ESG data globally, ensuring accountability, accuracy, and collaboration across teams. Alissa stresses the need for companies to proactively prepare for these regulations to avoid last-minute challenges. The episode concludes with a discussion on the global push for ESG standards and how Corpay is staying ahead of the curve.

In this episode of  "Smarter Payments by Corpay," Tom Rowlands, Managing Director of Global EV Solutions at Corpay, tells host Brennan Robison, Director of Corporate Communications at Corpay, the current state and future of electric vehicle (EV) adoption. Rowlands notes that while EV growth continues, it has slowed compared to previous years and forecasts. He attributes this to several factors, including the saturation of early EV adopters and the challenges of making EVs affordable and accessible to the broader market. Government policies, both push (mandates) and pull (incentives), play a critical role in driving adoption, though recent shifts, like the UK's delay in phasing out combustion vehicles, may have contributed to the slowdown. Rowlands also highlights Corpay's innovations in EV charging and payment solutions, particularly for fleet operators, emphasizing the importance of simplifying the EV experience to encourage wider adoption.

In this episode of the "Smarter Payments" podcast by Corpay, Brennan Robison, Director of Corporate Communications, interviews James Edgar, Corpay's Senior Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer, about cybersecurity strategies for companies. Edgar highlights the increasing frequency and sophistication of ransomware attacks, noting that 40% to 80% of companies pay the ransom. He discusses his extensive career in cybersecurity, spanning over 20 years, and his current role at Corpay.

Edgar explains the growing number of cyber-attacks, often state-sponsored and linked to geopolitical tensions. He emphasizes the importance of strong cyber defenses and compliance with evolving regulations, such as the SEC and PCI standards. AI's role in cybersecurity is also explored, with Edgar describing how it can enhance threat detection and reduce workloads.

The conversation touches on the critical role of employees in cybersecurity, urging vigilance and awareness. Edgar concludes with tips for combating cyber threats, including diligence in email handling, adherence to policies, and flexibility in adopting new controls. The episode underscores the importance of a proactive and comprehensive approach to cybersecurity in today's environment.

In this episode of Smarter Payments, Brennan Robison interviews Mary McCorvey about the crucial role of company culture in attracting and retaining talent. Mary shares insights from her 20-year tenure at Corpay, highlighting how culture shapes the company's success and employee satisfaction.

Key Points:

Definition of Company Culture:

• Culture encompasses the beliefs and values that guide how employees approach their work.
• It is the essence of an individual and plays a pivotal role in creating a productive and engaged workforce.

Importance of Company Culture:

• Company culture is vital for business success, with 88% of employees recognizing its importance.
• A positive culture fosters employee engagement, innovation, and retention.

Challenges in Building Culture:

• Diversity of thought is not seen as a challenge but as an opportunity for innovation.
• Success requires everyone in the organization to contribute to maintaining a positive culture.

Measuring Culture:

• Both qualitative and quantitative methods are used, including employee surveys, focus groups, and retention rates.
• Engagement scores and absenteeism are indicators of cultural health.

Initiatives to Enhance Culture:

• Introduction of "Gratitudes" for peer-to-peer and leader-to-employee recognition.
• This program has seen high adoption and positive feedback from leadership and employees.

Scaling Culture in a Growing Company:

• Maintaining culture in a large, global organization involves creating smaller communities within the company.
• Sustaining growth requires consistent attention to community and culture.

Integrating Acquired Companies:

• Integrating new companies involves blending the best aspects of their cultures with Corpay’s.
• Early evaluation during the acquisition process helps plan for a positive integration.

Balancing Growth and Employee Satisfaction:

• Aligning company goals with individual professional development ensures mutual growth.
• Leadership plays a critical role in driving and maintaining a positive culture.

Future Improvements:

• Mary emphasizes the importance of enhancing transparency and communication.
• Empowering employees to share their voices and aligning their goals with the company's mission fosters a sense of inclusion and value.

Conclusion:

The episode concludes with Mary highlighting the importance of leadership buy-in and consistent communication in fostering a strong company culture. She believes that continued efforts in transparency and employee engagement are key to Corpay's ongoing success.

In this episode, Brennan Robison interviews Tom Pierce to discuss the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the financial services industry. Tom begins by sharing his extensive background in technology and his role as chief enterprise architect at Corpay, where he leads enterprise architecture and shared applications. The conversation then shifts to the public's understanding of AI, with Tom likening our current grasp of AI to the first inning of a baseball game. He explains that while AI, including generative AI tools like chatbots, is becoming more visible and integrated into daily life, many people are just beginning to realize its potential and long-term presence.

The discussion moves to the practical applications of AI in the financial services sector, particularly in fraud detection, customer screening, and onboarding. Tom highlights the significant role AI plays in identifying and preventing fraudulent activities, emphasizing the cat-and-mouse dynamic between defenders and perpetrators who also utilize AI. He notes the efficiencies AI brings to customer onboarding by automating data validation and error correction processes. The challenge of transparency in AI-driven decisions, such as credit approvals, is also addressed, with Tom suggesting that while AI can assist in these decisions, human judgment remains crucial to ensure accountability and understanding of AI's recommendations.

Lastly, the conversation touches on how Corpay is fostering an AI-friendly culture, emphasizing the importance of experimentation and cross-functional collaboration. Tom shares examples of AI applications at Corpay, including a chatbot named Carol used in Brazil to enhance customer service via WhatsApp, and AI tools integrated into developer environments to boost productivity. He stresses the importance of building an AI culture within companies to stay competitive and adapt to the rapidly evolving technological landscape, concluding with insights into the future role of AI in the payment space, particularly in improving customer service interactions.