B2Bpay has added Velocity points and Qatar Avios to its business payments platform, expanding the rewards options available to Australian business users alongside Qantas Frequent Flyer points.
Businesses can use the Sydney-based platform to pay expenses by credit card, including rent, tax, supplier invoices, utilities and insurance, even when the recipient does not usually accept card payments.
That model lets users earn reward points from their credit card provider as well as from B2Bpay on the same transaction. Customers can also earn a further set of points when they use their bank account through the platform to pay off their credit card, which B2Bpay describes as a "triple dip".
Qantas and Velocity rewards accrue on a one-to-one basis. Users can choose between Qantas points, Velocity points and Qatar Airways Avios, depending on which programme they want to collect.
The business is targeting small and medium-sized enterprises seeking more flexibility in how they manage outgoing payments. The ability to put large bills on a credit card can give companies extra time to manage working capital through interest-free periods offered by card issuers.
How it works
The platform sits between a business and its payees, allowing the business to settle bills with a credit card while the recipient is paid through other means. This lets firms route spending that would usually fall outside standard card acceptance into a rewards-earning payment flow.
B2Bpay also links with Xero, MYOB and QuickBooks to help with reconciliation and administrative tasks. There are no sign-up or monthly fees, while different reward tiers are available for users who want to increase earnings.
Jane Grant, Chief of B2Bpay, said the service was built around routine business spending.
"Business owners are already paying rent, tax bills, suppliers and operating expenses every month," Grant said.
"With B2Bpay, those payments can now work harder for the business. You can use your credit card to manage cash flow more effectively, taking advantage of interest-free periods, while also earning points twice - once from your card provider and again through B2Bpay.
"B2Bpay turbocharges your ability to accumulate Qantas Frequent Flyer or Velocity points with no monthly or sign-up fees.
"And every point you earn through B2Bpay translates to one Qantas or Velocity point, so there's no need for mental gymnastics to work out how many points you'll get."
SME pressure
The launch comes as smaller businesses continue to look for ways to manage tighter margins and rising operating costs. Payment timing and access to short-term liquidity have become bigger issues for many operators, particularly those with regular overheads such as rent, tax and supplier bills.
By framing everyday payments as a source of travel rewards, B2Bpay is entering a niche where business cash-flow tools overlap with loyalty programmes. The addition of Velocity and Qatar Avios broadens its appeal beyond companies and owners focused only on Qantas-linked benefits.
B2Bpay is Australian-owned and operated from Sydney through Zenith Payments. Payment processing and merchant acquiring facilities are provided by Westpac, American Express and other financial institutions, according to the business.
Grant said the broader aim was to change how business owners think about outgoing payments.
"Every dollar a business spends is an opportunity," Grant said.
"The question is whether those payments are simply going out the door or delivering something back in return.
"With B2Bpay, businesses gain flexibility, visibility and rewards from the payments they are already making.
"It's a smarter way to pay and a more rewarding way to run a business."