Artificial intelligence is transforming business-to-business (B2B) operations by connecting three functions that have traditionally operated in silos: inventory (goods), commercial agreements (contracts), and finance (cash). According to a new PYMNTS Intelligence report, wholesale companies are leading this shift by embedding AI across more business processes than firms in retail or construction. The typical wholesale enterprise now uses AI across 35 of the 75 business tasks tracked by the study, compared with 20 tasks in retail and 22 in construction.
The report argues that AI's biggest value is not simply automating individual tasks but coordinating end-to-end business operations. Before products even leave a warehouse, companies must decide what to purchase, how much inventory to hold, which supplier contracts to accept, how to price goods, and when to release payments. AI can analyze these interconnected decisions simultaneously, helping businesses optimize inventory levels, negotiate better supplier terms, forecast demand, and improve cash flow. By linking procurement, contracting, finance, and distribution, AI creates a more unified operating model rather than isolated automation.
Despite the enthusiasm, businesses are deploying AI cautiously in high-stakes financial workflows. Allowing AI to modify purchase orders, approve invoices, adjust supplier contracts, or authorize payments introduces operational and financial risks. As a result, companies are emphasizing strong governance, including clearly defined permissions, audit trails, approval workflows, and human oversight before AI is given authority over critical business decisions. The report notes that organizations increasingly view AI as core business infrastructure rather than a standalone software tool.
Another notable finding is that companies are taking a long-term view of AI adoption. Around 70% of wholesale firms surveyed expect meaningful returns on their AI investments to take at least five years, indicating that they see AI as a strategic transformation rather than a quick productivity upgrade. The report concludes that the next phase of enterprise AI will be defined not by the number of AI copilots or autonomous agents a company deploys, but by how effectively it uses AI to synchronize the movement of goods, contracts, and cash into a single, intelligent business system.
