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Payment and Workforce Solutions at HITEC 2025 – Image Credit Unsplash
In my previous blog post (May 23, 2025), I highlighted key features to look for when evaluating vendors in the payment and workforce solutions space. Now, after spending a day and a half speaking with exhibitors on the show floor at HITEC 2025, I’m sharing a few timely insights – especially on the questions you should be asking potential partners before making any decisions.
Modern Payment Systems: Outbound AP Automation
For the sake of brevity, this post focuses specifically on outbound payments via accounts payable (AP). The other side of the coin, customer-facing payment acceptance — deserves its own in-depth review (coming soon!).
Today, automating your invoice payments is easier than ever thanks to a growing roster of vendors. Many partner directly with ERP providers to streamline integration. Their core offering? Automated invoice payments using ghost cards (virtual credit cards), with fallback options like ACH and even live checks for those vendors who don’t or won’t accept card payments.
So where do vendors differ?
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“Free” Automation: Yes, it’s possible to fully automate AP payments at no direct cost, since the transactions are routed through card networks. ACH and check options are still very competitively priced.
Tip: Before diving into a payment provider agreement, check with your ERP/accounting vendor first. Most have preferred AP automation partners — but many payment vendors only require an AP file to get started, giving you flexibility regardless of your system.
Workforce Solutions: Many Features, Few All-in-Ones
After walking about 75 percent of the exhibit hall, I found a wide range of vendors offering tools across every major function of workforce management. These include:
However, integrating all of these features into one seamless solution? That remains a challenge.
Point Solutions Still Dominate
For example, a vendor might offer smart scheduling and time clocks but not handle onboarding or payroll. Similarly, many recruiting platforms streamline hiring and reduce paperwork, but stop short once it’s time to share data with your payroll or HRIS systems.
That said, these platforms do provide powerful capabilities:
Payroll Partners Are Evolving
Most organizations still outsource payroll, but today’s payroll providers are catching up fast. They often include:
Final Thoughts: Prioritize and Ask the Right Questions
Right now, a single vendor capable of fully addressing all workforce management needs remains elusive. My advice? Focus on the core features that matter most to your operation and ask vendors:
A unified workforce tech ecosystem may not be a reality today, but with ongoing development and vendor collaboration, it’s not out of reach.
Stay tuned for my wrap-up blog next week with broader reflections from HITEC 2025.
Ron Strecker
Ron Strecker, CHAE+, CHTP+, is an independent consultant, author, and speaker. He presently serves as chair of the HFTP CHAE Advisory Council, member of the HFTP Academy Advisory Council, and an advisor in the HFTP Certification Advisory Program (CAP). Throughout his career, Strecker has applied his finance and technology skills to improve the organization’s financial and management reporting. His consulting work aids clients in improving their back-office practices and technology. In addition to consulting, Strecker has authored numerous articles related to hospitality finance and technology and spoken at various conferences including HITEC, HFTP Annual Convention, and the FEI Leadership Summit.
This article originally appeared on HFTP.