The cost of invisibility: Why merchants can’t see their true payment performance

In the digital commerce ecosystem, payments are more than transactions—they are the pulse of profitability. Yet, many merchants operate with a dangerous blind spot: payment invisibility. This systemic issue distorts revenue recognition, inflates operational costs, and undermines strategic decision-making. In a landscape where margins are thin and competition fierce, the inability to see and understand payment performance is no longer a technical inconvenience—it’s a strategic vulnerability.

The hidden cost of payment blind spots

According to the 2025 Global Payments & Fraud Report, 33% of merchants experience first-party misuse (friendly fraud), and 62% report an increase in disputes. These issues often stem from poor visibility into transaction-level data, making it difficult to detect anomalies, chargebacks, or delayed settlements in real time.

A recent survey revealed that 56% of UK payment firms still rely on spreadsheets for reconciliation, and 94% of those struggle to meet reporting deadlines. Manual reconciliation introduces errors, delays, and inefficiencies that compound over time—especially as transaction volumes scale.

Why PSPs limit transparency

Payment Service Providers (PSPs) typically offer high-level summaries focused on settlement amounts. While this suffices for basic reporting, it lacks the granularity needed to identify mismatches, hidden fees, or failed transactions. A study by Optimus found that businesses lose an estimated 5–10% of revenue due to unclear or excessive fee structures. Without transparent data, merchants are left guessing about the true cost of each transaction.

Spreadsheets: A legacy tool in a Real-Time world

Spreadsheets, once the backbone of financial operations, are now a bottleneck. The survey shows that companies spend over 700 hours annually on data preparation, and 82% struggle to deliver reports on time. Manual processes are not only slow—they’re error-prone. Matching errors, timing differences, and formula misalignments create a distorted view of financial health.

The strategic risk for CFOs

For CFOs, payment invisibility is more than an operational headache—it’s a strategic risk. Inaccurate reconciliation affects:

• Revenue forecasting
• Investor reporting
• Cash flow management
• Fee optimization

Without real-time insights, CFOs risk misallocating capital, overpaying fees, and making decisions based on flawed data.

Optimus: Turning blind spots into strategic insights

Optimus is the intelligence layer that restores visibility, control, and confidence. It reconciles every transaction across PSPs, banks, and internal systems—ensuring 100% accuracy in real time.

Key capabilities:

• Zero Revenue Leakage: Automatically detects billing errors, missing payments, and incorrect fees.
• End-to-End Reconciliation: N-way matching across all payment sources.
• AI-Powered Exception Handling: Resolves issues before they become chargebacks.
• 75% Time Savings: Replaces spreadsheets with automation, freeing teams for strategic work.
• Compliance Simplified: Tailored regulatory solutions for audit-ready reporting.

Optimus empowers finance teams to move from reactive troubleshooting to proactive financial control.

The strategic imperative

In today’s commerce environment, visibility is not optional—it’s essential. Merchants must evolve from fragmented, manual systems to intelligent platforms that offer clarity, speed, and control. Optimus is not just a tool—it’s a strategic partner in unlocking hidden revenue and optimizing financial performance.

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