It’s quick, it’s easy and now it’s free
Key Takeaways
- ACH (Automated Clearing House) payments offer faster, more secure, and cost-effective payment processing compared to traditional methods like checks and wires.
- Businesses can accelerate collections, reduce fees, and improve scalability by making ACH their default payment method.
- Controllers and finance leaders should proactively promote ACH to clients and offer a seamless, user-friendly payer portal.
- ACH processing is now offered for free via Gaviti Pay, removing a key barrier to adoption.
Common Pain Points in Receivables Collection
Accounts receivable teams are no strangers to friction. From delayed check deliveries to reconciling mismatched payments, traditional B2B collection processes are often inefficient and costly. Anyone who works in A/R knows the common issues that always seem to creep up:
- Slow payment cycles: Waiting days or even weeks for checks to arrive and clear can delay cash flow.
- High processing costs: Wire transfers come with hefty fees; credit cards deduct percentage points from every transaction.
- Error-prone processes: Manual data entry, unclear remittance details, and tracking mismatches increase reconciliation challenges.
- Poor customer experience: A clunky payment process can frustrate clients, requires going offline and discourages timely payments.
In an environment where cash flow efficiency and customer satisfaction are paramount, these frictions are more than inconveniences—they’re liabilities.
What Is ACH, and How Does It Work?
ACH, or Automated Clearing House, is an electronic network for processing bank-to-bank payments in the U.S. Instead of physically mailing checks or manually submitting wire transfers, ACH enables funds to move securely between accounts via a batch-based clearing system.
Here’s how it works:
- Authorization: The payer authorizes a payment to the recipient via a bank account and routing number.
- Submission: The transaction is submitted to the ACH network.
- Batch Processing: Payments are processed in batches throughout the day.
- Settlement: Funds are transferred and typically appear within 1–2 business days.
ACH payments are governed by NACHA (National Automated Clearing House Association), ensuring strict standards for security, privacy, and compliance.
Security and Technology Behind ACH
Contrary to the perception that digital payments may be risky, ACH transfers are extremely secure thanks to:
- Encryption: All bank account data is encrypted end-to-end during transmission and storage.
- Authentication: Multi-factor authentication and bank-level identity verification protect against fraud.
- Bank-grade infrastructure: ACH uses institutional protocols to prevent breaches or unauthorized transfers.
- Regulatory compliance: ACH must adhere to U.S. federal regulations including the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and the USA PATRIOT Act.
With robust digital security protocols, ACH stands as a trustworthy choice for finance professionals who prioritize both performance and protection.
ACH vs. Checks, Wires, and Credit Cards
Let’s put the four most common B2B payment methods side-by-side and see how they compare:
| ACH | Checks | Wire Transfers | Credit Cards | |
| Processing Fees | $0.20 – $2.50 $0 with Gaviti |
$1–$5 (printing, postage) | $10–$50 per transfer | 2–4% transaction fee |
| Processing Time | 5 – 7 business days | 5–10 business days | Same-day | 3 Days |
| Error Risk | Low | High (manual entry) | Medium | Medium |
| Scalability | High (batch, automated) | Low | Low | Medium |
ACH Wins On:
- Cost: Especially with Gaviti Pay’s free ACH offering.
- Speed: Faster than checks, nearly as fast as wires (without the fees).
- Accuracy: Less human error compared to manual processes.
- Scalability: Easily managed across hundreds or thousands of payments.
- Data visability: All data needed for reconciliation is available online.
How to Encourage Clients to Use ACH
The shift to ACH starts with how you position it to your clients. Below are proven tactics for boosting ACH adoption:
1. Position ACH as the Default Payment Method
People default to what’s easiest. If your invoicing system highlights ACH as the first and primary option, many clients will follow suit without question. Update invoices, reminder emails, and payment pages to feature ACH prominently.
2. Communicate the Benefits Clearly
Don’t assume your clients understand the value of ACH. Make the benefits obvious:
- “No more checks lost in the mail”
- “No wire fees or credit card surcharges”
- “Faster payment = continued service without interruption”
- “More secure than sending a check”
Highlight these benefits in your onboarding materials, collection emails, and customer support scripts.
3. Offer a Convenient Customer-Facing Payer Portal
Ease of use can be the deciding factor for many clients. A streamlined payer portal allows clients to:
- View invoices
- Set up ACH with just bank account details
- Authorize recurring payments
- Track payment status in real time
Gaviti’s platform provides a frictionless payer portal that makes it easy for clients to submit ACH payments with minimal effort.
4. Use Gaviti’s Free ACH Option
One of the biggest breakthroughs in payment processing is Gaviti’s zero-fee ACH feature:
- No cost to the payer
- No cost to the payee
- Bank-grade security
- Simple account linking
By eliminating financial disincentives, Gaviti makes it a no-brainer for both sides of the transaction to adopt ACH. It’s a game-changer for companies looking to improve DSO without increasing overhead.
It’s Time to Default to Smart Payments
As a controller, your role isn’t just about tracking numbers—it’s about enabling smarter decisions and efficient operations across your financial systems. Transitioning to ACH as your default payment method checks every box:
- It’s cost-effective
- It’s faster
- It’s more secure
- It’s better for client relationships
- And now, it’s free
The future of payment collections is digital, streamlined, and client-friendly. With tools like Gaviti Pay, ACH has evolved from an optional add-on to a strategic imperative.
Ready to make the switch?
Visit https://gaviti.com/no-fee-ach/ to learn more and transform your collections process today.
