When launched, the cloud-based service will combine the applications and insights embedded in the Ariba Network and deliver them through Discover's trusted global payments infrastructure to streamline and enhance settlement and reconciliation of business commerce. The service is expected to be generally available in 2014. The announcement was made at AribaLIVE, the business commerce event of the year, taking place at the Gaylord National Resort and Conference Center in Washington, D.C.

"It's the classic joke: The check is in the mail. But few companies find it funny," said Kevin Costello, president, Ariba. "Buyers are drowning in paper, and sellers have no idea when - or how much - they will be paid. AribaPay will effectively eliminate these issues."

AribaPay will provide a reliable and cost-effective way for buyers to create purchase orders, receive invoices and send payments, while sellers receive more-detailed remittance information - all in a fast, secure, electronic environment.

"Ariba and Discover are seizing the opportunity to digitize a share of the estimated $30 trillion in B2B payments that are still mostly made with paper checks," said Roger Hochschild, president and chief operating officer for Discover. "Discover is broadening its network capabilities and infrastructure and choosing diverse business partners like Ariba to move beyond facilitating payments to enabling and improving business commerce."

For buyers and sellers connected to the Ariba Network, AribaPay will deliver data that shows what payments represent at the invoice and line-item level, fueling faster, more accurate reconciliation on both sides.

Other benefits include:

Lower processing costs
Richer remittance advice
Elimination of paper checks and invoices
Fewer payments lost to escheatment
Ability to track and trace transactions
Faster reconciliation and dispute resolution