The Payments Journey: From Complexity to Clarity

When I first entered the payments space nearly two decades ago, reconciliation was seen as a manual slog filled with pain points. Back then, teams spent countless hours buried in spreadsheets, trying to trace transactions, spot mismatches and make sense of what should be a straightforward process. 

While technology has moved on, the core issues still linger: payments data is chaotic, fragmented and often misunderstood. 

Simplifying the payments journey isn’t just about adding automation or dashboards—it’s about rethinking how we treat data. That means enabling clearer communication, smarter collaboration and systems people can actually trust.

Where it all goes sideways

Payments data rarely arrives in a tidy, consistent format. It comes from banks, processors, schemes and acquirers, each with their own naming conventions and logic. One file says “settled,” another says “cleared,” a third says “posted.” Same action, different words; or worse, different actions described the same way.

And that’s just the start. Multiply this across regions, time zones and partners, and you’re knee-deep in a reconciliation puzzle before you’ve even begun.

It’s not just a nuisance. Poor data clarity poses a material risk, from missed revenue and delays to compliance issues and reputational damage. And with regulators raising the bar and fintechs scaling fast, that risk is only growing.

Matching is easy; sorting data isn’t

There’s a common misconception that reconciliation is just about matching numbers. In reality, the hard work happens long before that. It’s about getting the data into a usable state by cleaning it, structuring it and, crucially, understanding what it’s really telling you.

We’ve worked with companies of all shapes and sizes over the years, and the story’s always the same: messy data is the biggest roadblock. This is why we have dedicated our platform to focus first on transforming data. Once the groundwork’s done properly, then everything else from matching, reporting and analytics all fall into place.

Changing pace and expectations

Today’s environment is very different from the one I started in. Over time we have shifted from batch-based reporting to real-time demands. Customers want instant updates. Regulators expect timely submissions. Internal teams need live visibility to make fast, confident decisions.

Meeting these expectations isn’t just about speed. It’s about using intelligent systems that can adapt in real time, surface anomalies instantly and deliver reliable data without the manual drag.

Regulation as a catalyst

Compliance is tightening, and rightly so! From PSD2 and ISO 20022 to FCA compliance, the list keeps growing. But regulation doesn’t have to be a burden. When embraced properly, it can be a force for good, driving better decisions, greater transparency and long-term resilience.

The key is having the right data foundation. With clean, structured, well-understood data, businesses can stop firefighting and start getting ahead—unlocking faster reporting, sharper insights and tighter governance in the process. Compliance becomes less about ticking boxes, and more about building real trust across customers, partners and regulators alike. 

We’ve moved from monthly reports to real-time expectations. As regulation tightens and fintechs scale faster than ever, the pressure to keep pace is relentless. That’s exactly why I founded Kani: to turn complex data into clarity and make reconciliation effortless for the teams who need it most. 

Made in the Northeast 

People often ask why I chose to found Kani in Newcastle rather than London, New York or another major fintech hub to tackle this mission. 

The answer’s one with many legs: Newcastle might not be your first thought when you hear fintech, but it has a growing fintech hub filled with talent and perspective.  I knew from the beginning of this journey that I wanted to champion business and in innovation in the Northeast of England. And, in fact, as of 2025, Newcastle is home to 45 fintech firms.

Newcastle has deep roots in financial services and tech, pairing this with grounded, driven people made it a no-brainer. Being outside the capital also gives us unique space to think differently… our motto is and always will be “don’t chase the hype” and we won’t.

The big picture

As with any fast moving technology, there is a lot of hype in payments. Rapid evolution is the norm rather than the exception: embedded finance, AI and decentralised systems are reshaping the landscape at pace. With each comes even greater complexity, but also exciting possibilities.

At Kani, we’re investing in smarter anomaly detection, expanding our integrations, and working closely with clients to co-create solutions that genuinely meet their needs, not just the buzz words. 

Throughout it all, our mission stays the same: clarity. Because when your data’s clear, your business flows better. You move faster and make smarter decisions, build the kind of trust that keeps the entire system running as smooth and efficient as possible.

As businesses struggle to make sense of their data, we’ll be here on hand to transform the chaos into insight, making finance flow the way it was always meant to.