Mastercard’s Big Move: Making Business Payments as Easy as a Tap
2 min read
Mastercard has announced two new upgrades to its commercial payment platform aimed at simplifying how businesses make and manage payments. The company is introducing the Commercial Connect API and a new clearing controls feature to make business-to-business transactions more efficient, secure, and easier to control.
According to Mastercard, 69 percent of companies struggle to integrate payment systems with their business tools, while 77 percent of chief financial officers plan to increase technology spending in 2025. The company’s latest move is designed to address these gaps and improve the overall experience of corporate payments.
The Commercial Connect API provides a single connection point to Mastercard’s issuer network and commercial payment capabilities. It allows B2B platforms to embed virtual cards directly into their existing systems without complex integration. The feature will launch in 2025, starting with Mastercard’s virtual card platform, and will enable businesses to use their commercial card credit lines seamlessly within the tools they already rely on.
Pay4You will be the first company to use the new API to enhance spend management for corporations across Europe. Mastercard also plans to expand its B2B payment capabilities in the coming year.
Marc Pettican, Global Head of Corporate Solutions at Mastercard, said the new features are part of a broader effort to make payments effortless and secure so that organizations can focus on growth and innovation rather than administrative tasks.
In addition, Mastercard introduced clearing controls, a tool that extends oversight across the entire transaction process. This feature allows card issuers to apply rules such as spending limits and merchant category restrictions at the clearing stage. It helps block non-compliant transactions before they settle, reducing chargebacks and improving reconciliation. The global rollout for this capability is planned for 2026.
The new tools build on Mastercard’s existing embedded virtual card number program launched in early 2025. The company is also expanding its collaborations with SAP Concur, SAP Taulia, Pay4You, Grasp Technologies, and Kresus to offer features such as real-time transaction alerts, detailed spending controls, and better reconciliation tools.
With these updates, Mastercard aims to bring the ease of consumer payments to the business world, creating a future where B2B transactions are smarter, faster, and more secure.
About The Author
