New SAP Taulia research reveals accelerating adoption of virtual cards

Procurement teams across the globe are rapidly turning to virtual cards to manage spend, improve efficiency, and reduce risk, according to new research* conducted by SAP Taulia**, a global fintech leader of working capital solutions.

Findings show that over 90 per cent of procurement leaders are using, planning to use, or interested in virtual cards — a clear sign that digital payments are gaining momentum. Among the global sample of procurement professionals, data found that:

– 45 per cent already use virtual cards

– 28 per cent plan to adopt virtual cards within the next 6-18 months

– 20 per cent are interested in further implementation of virtual cards

As appetite grows, so does ambition
Nearly nine in 10 (87 per cent) of those who are using, or are planning to use virtual cards, intend to allocate more than 10 per cent of their company’s overall spend to them in the next two years. In EMEA, 85 per cent of respondents say they’ll assign over a quarter of spend to virtual cards, while 54 per cent in the Americas plan to spend the same.

Pain points
The data highlights that there are significant pain points in onboarding new suppliers – challenges which virtual cards can help address.

Seventy-eight per cent of respondents say it takes more than a month to authorise a new supplier and, for four in ten (40 per cent), the process exceeds three months. The biggest hurdles to onboarding include managing risk and compliance (61 per cent), quickly followed by gathering supplier information (58 per cent). As such, two fifths (41 per cent) of procurement leaders say that they are extremely likely to use virtual cards for one-time supplier payments.

Danielle Weinblatt, Chief Product Officer, at SAP Taulia comments: “Procurement leaders are under increasing pressure to move faster, reduce friction, and make better use of working capital. Virtual cards are emerging as a practical, scalable solution to help achieve that. What we’re seeing in this research reflects the conversations we’re having with customers every day – there’s a real desire to simplify processes, particularly when it comes to one-time supplier payments and onboarding.”

About SAP Taulia
SAP Taulia, a global fintech leader, delivers AI-powered working capital solutions that unlock liquidity and drive supply chain resilience. With a global network of 40+ funding partners and over $800 billion in annual transaction volumes, SAP Taulia offers the most comprehensive set of working capital management tools in the industry – seamlessly embedded into SAP’s Business Suite. Trusted by global leaders like Airbus, Red Bull, T-Mobile, and Bridgestone, SAP Taulia’s reliable and innovative platform empowers businesses to accelerate cash flow and unlock growth opportunities at scale.

*Research conducted by SAP Taulia with responses from 170 Procurement leaders from as many as 19 countries globally from businesses revenue that range from US$1bn to US$10bn.

**Taulia rebranded to SAP Taulia in May 2025, following the SAP acquisition in 2022. The brand remains part of the SAP group.