Visa, Bill, and Billtrust Launch First Live AI Agent B2B Payment Pilot
Visa, a global leader in digital payments technology, in collaboration with US-based financial software and payment management providers Bill and Billtrust, announced the launch of a live operational pilot enabling AI agents to fully automate supplier invoice payments, marking a major milestone in expanding B2B digital commerce.
Overcoming CAPTCHA Obstacles in B2B Payments
The new pilot addresses a major hurdle in supplier portal payment automation: identity verification procedures—such as CAPTCHA challenges—that previously required human intervention. Through trusted protocols, authorized AI agents can bypass these barriers via reliable authentication mechanisms while ensuring suppliers retain full control over payments and maintain compliance with their acceptance policies.
Operational Mechanics and Security Protocols
The automated process operates through integrated technical steps designed to ensure the highest standards of security:
Payment Agent Activation: Bill's payment agent, registered in Visa’s trusted agent directory, initiates transactions on behalf of clients using tokenized payment data based on pre-approved rules.
Seamless Authentication: Billtrust uses Visa’s Trusted Agent Protocol to recognize and authenticate the agent, granting direct access to the supplier portal without additional logins.
Strict Operational Controls: Security controls include binding payment authority to buyer instructions, assigning unique payment pathways per invoice, and providing end-to-end transaction visibility.
Benefits for Buyers and Suppliers
This collaboration delivers tangible value to both sides of the commercial process:
For Buyers (via Bill): Automates the final leg of the payment process and minimizes manual data entry errors.
For Suppliers (via Billtrust): Accelerates cash collection and simplifies accounting reconciliation with transparency and oversight.
Executive Statements
Mark Nelsen (Visa): Emphasized that businesses should not have to choose between automation and control, highlighting that the pilot demonstrates agentic commerce addressing real-world payment challenges.
Archana Prasad (Bill): Stated that the partnership eliminates manual tasks across supplier portals for nearly 500,000 businesses, saving finance teams time and enhancing transaction accuracy.
Kunal Patel (Billtrust): Noted that the growth of agentic commerce requires businesses to trust AI agents to operate across systems with the same visibility and accountability expected from employees.
Live Processing and Future Outlook
The three companies confirmed that the pilot is already live, processing end-to-end transactions between active buyers on Bill and suppliers using Billtrust. Visa, Bill, and Billtrust will continue exploring new opportunities to expand the use of AI agents in commercial payments