In conversation with Arvind Kaushal, CTO, and Estefania Najera Abraham, COO, on how PayNways Inc. is redefining global finance through AI-driven innovation and real-time payments to deliver secure, scalable, and regulation-ready solutions for a dynamic financial ecosystem.
Arvind: PayNways is revolutionising how money moves by eliminating delays and creating faster, more transparent financial interactions. On the domestic front, RTP enables instant settlements for both personal and business transactions, which can significantly improve cash flow for smaller enterprises. For instance, SMEs no longer need to wait days for funds to clear, allowing them to manage operations more effectively. Internationally, the impact is even broader. RTP minimises the complications of traditional cross-border payments by reducing settlement times and currency fluctuation risks. As more countries adopt unified standards like ISO 20022, the global payment ecosystem will become more interconnected, fostering growth and innovation.
Estefania: Operationally, real-time payments offer the kind of speed and efficiency that businesses and individuals have long desired. For sectors like retail and eCommerce, the ability to settle payments instantly can streamline supply chains and enhance customer satisfaction. On a global scale, real-time payments breaks down barriers for smaller players, giving them access to international markets without the typical delays or high costs associated with legacy systems. However, this transformation will require careful collaboration among banks, regulators, and FinTechs to ensure the infrastructure supports secure and compliant operations across borders.
Arvind: AI is a game-changer in payments, primarily by automating processes and enhancing security. Take payment routing, for example. AI can analyse millions of data points to determine the fastest, most cost-effective paths for transactions. On the security side, machine learning models are now capable of detecting fraudulent activities in real time by spotting anomalies in transaction patterns. These models adapt quickly, learning from each flagged instance to improve detection accuracy over time. Additionally, AI plays a role in streamlining compliance automating checks that previously required manual intervention.
Estefania: From an operations angle, AI doesn’t just solve problems—it anticipates them. For instance, AI-powered tools can predict system loads and allocate resources accordingly, preventing downtime during peak hours. On the security front, AI goes beyond fraud detection; it provides layered protection, from monitoring login behaviours to verifying transactions. In customer-facing scenarios, AI-driven chatbots enhance the user experience by resolving issues instantly and accurately. As digital payments grow, AI will be the backbone that ensures they remain seamless and secure.
Arvind: The most significant challenge lies in keeping up with constantly changing regulations across different regions. Financial institutions often have to overhaul their systems just to stay compliant, which can be costly and time-consuming. Automation helps by simplifying these processes.
Automated compliance systems can track regulatory updates and adjust workflows dynamically. They also reduce human error by standardising reporting and audit trails, ensuring institutions are always prepared for regulatory reviews. Tools like RPA and AI-driven solutions are instrumental in handling high volumes of compliance tasks efficiently.
Estefania: Compliance is a resource-intensive aspect of financial operations, especially as regulations become more stringent and multifaceted. Manual processes can lead to delays and inconsistencies, which are major pain points during audits. Automation can transform this landscape by taking over repetitive tasks such as customer identity verification or transaction monitoring. With automated systems, financial institutions can also scale their compliance efforts effortlessly, which is critical as they expand into new markets with differing regulatory requirements. The result is a more agile, resilient approach to compliance.
Arvind: PayGlobal360® is built to handle the complexities of global payments with ease. Its API-based architecture ensures seamless integration with a variety of business systems, offering unmatched flexibility. From a technical standpoint, the platform supports multi-currency and multi-region transactions, making it ideal for businesses with a global footprint. Security is baked into the design, with features like end-to-end encryption, tokenisation, and real-time fraud detection powered by AI. Moreover, the platform provides actionable insights through advanced analytics, helping businesses make informed decisions.
Estefania: PayGlobal360® simplifies payment operations while maintaining the highest standards of security and compliance. The platform is designed to handle large transaction volumes with minimal latency, ensuring that businesses can operate smoothly even during peak demand. Its parametric design allows businesses to set custom rules for routing and processing payments, reducing the need for bespoke solutions. Security certifications like PCI-DSS compliance further reassure businesses that their operations are secure. By offering speed, reliability, and flexibility, PayGlobal360® empowers businesses to focus on growth rather than operational challenges.
Arvind: AI enables us to proactively tackle emerging risks by analysing vast datasets in real-time. For example, our fraud detection systems use machine learning to identify unusual transaction patterns and flag them for further review. These models evolve constantly, learning from both successful detections and false positives to enhance accuracy. Beyond fraud, AI assists in managing operational risks by predicting system failures or performance bottlenecks, allowing us to address issues before they impact users. This dynamic approach ensures we stay ahead in an ever-changing risk environment.
Estefania: Operational risks are growing as the financial landscape becomes more digital, and our AI-driven solutions are tailored to address these challenges. By leveraging predictive analytics, we help businesses anticipate and mitigate risks, whether they stem from fraud, system vulnerabilities, or market fluctuations. AI also provides transparency, giving businesses the tools to monitor and manage risks in real time. This proactive stance not only protects businesses but also strengthens their relationships with customers by ensuring reliability and trustworthiness.
Arvind: Our development philosophy revolves around scalability, security, and interoperability. Scalability ensures that our platforms can handle growing transaction volumes without compromising performance. Security is a top priority—we implement rigorous testing and adopt best practices to protect sensitive data. Interoperability is another cornerstone; businesses need solutions that integrate seamlessly with their existing systems while remaining adaptable to future technologies. Lastly, we emphasise user-centric design, creating solutions that are not only powerful but also intuitive to use.
Estefania: When designing solutions, we focus on solving real-world business problems efficiently. This means prioritising reliability and reducing operational complexity. Flexibility is also key—our solutions are designed to adapt to various industries, geographies, and regulatory landscapes. Beyond the technology itself, we invest in customer support and training to ensure businesses can maximise the value of our platforms. In a fast-paced economy, our goal is to empower businesses to stay competitive by delivering solutions that are as dynamic as their needs.
Arvind: Our commitment to innovation and adaptability is what truly sets us apart. We are not just reacting to market trends—we are anticipating them. Our platforms, like PayGlobal360®, are designed with scalability and interoperability at their core, allowing businesses to grow without worrying about outgrowing their payment systems. By integrating AI and leveraging cloud-based technologies, we stay ahead of the curve and provide solutions that are as future-proof as they are robust.
Estefania: We combine cutting-edge technology with a deep understanding of our clients’ needs. What makes us a leader isn’t just our products but our approach to partnership. We work closely with businesses to understand their challenges and craft solutions that deliver real value. From faster onboarding processes to comprehensive support, we ensure that our clients can focus on growth, confident in the reliability and security of our platforms.
Arvind: Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do at PayNways. By engaging with financial institutions and regulators early in the development process, we ensure that our solutions are not only compliant but also practical for real-world implementation. This approach allows us to design features that align with regulatory requirements while providing the flexibility businesses need to operate efficiently. It’s a balance that only comes through open dialogue and mutual understanding.
Estefania: Building trust and collaboration with financial institutions and regulators is essential for driving meaningful innovation. Our focus on maintaining transparent relationships means that we can adapt quickly to changes in the regulatory landscape. This not only helps our clients stay compliant but also ensures that our products remain relevant and effective in an ever-evolving market. By fostering these relationships, we position ourselves as a trusted partner in the payments ecosystem.