Managing finances and bill payments can be a significant challenge for businesses of all sizes. Imagine the effort required to manually process vendor payments, manage customer invoices, and track operational expenses. These inefficiencies can slow business growth and erode profitability. As a solution, the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS)—now known as Bharat Connect for Business—offers a revolutionary solution.
This unified platform simplifies bill payments, reduces operational overheads, and helps businesses scale efficiently. More importantly, it’s poised to become the standard for financial transactions in India, meaning early adoption isn’t just a smart move—it’s essential for future success.
What is BBPS?
The BBPS full form is Bharat Bill Payment System, an interoperable bill payment platform developed and managed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). Initially designed to facilitate recurring bill payments for electricity, water, gas, telecom, and DTH, BBPS has since evolved into a comprehensive system that also caters to businesses.
Its rebranding to Bharat Connect reflects this expanded scope, enabling businesses to streamline their financial operations through seamless integration, automation, and scalability.
Pro Tip: Starting early with Bharat Connect ensures businesses are prepared for its widespread adoption, expected to become a mandatory standard in the near future.
How Bharat Connect for Business (BBPS) Works
At its core, BBPS connects service providers, agents, and consumers on a single platform. For businesses, Bharat Connect offers tools to manage vendor payouts, customer payments, and operational expenses efficiently.
Key features:
- Invoicing: Create and manage invoices in a standardized format.
- Payments: Facilitate bill payments directly through the ERP platform.
- Reconciliation and settlement: Match payments with invoices automatically, ensuring accuracy.
- Real-time updates: Provide instant payment status updates for accurate financial reporting.
- Automation: Reduce manual effort by automating data entry, reconciliation, and tracking.
- Financing: Access financing options based on billing and invoicing activities.
- Democratizing accounting: Standardize accounting functionalities across ERPs, giving all businesses access to advanced tools.
This streamlined approach improves operational workflows, reduces manual effort, and enhances financial transparency. Overall, Bharat Connect for Business acts as a central intermediary that connects various accounting tools and vendors, allowing them to interact safely and efficiently.
Key Features of Bharat Connect for Business
Interoperability
Bharat Connect links businesses with multiple service providers and supports diverse payment methods, including UPI, credit/debit cards, net banking, and wallets.
Real-time payment confirmation
Every transaction is processed instantly, with real-time confirmations shared across the network, fostering trust and transparency.
Automation
Bharat Connect automates invoicing, payment processing, and reconciliation through integration with ERP and accounting software.
Enhanced security
Stringent KYC protocols and secure transaction mechanisms protect businesses from fraud and unauthorized access.
Scalability
Bharat Connect accommodates businesses of all sizes, managing high transaction volumes and complex payment structures with ease.
Economic Impact of Bharat Connect
Bharat Connect is more than a payment platform—it’s a driver of economic stability and inclusion.
Businesses leveraging Bharat Connect would report:
- Improved operational efficiency: Automation reduces manual intervention and errors, saving time and resources.
- Greater transparency: Digital receipts and real-time updates foster trust among stakeholders.
- Increased reach: With a network spanning urban and rural areas, Bharat Connect helps businesses tap into underserved markets, fostering financial inclusion.
Did You Know
Central bill payments platform Bharat Connect processed transactions totaling Rs. 1 trillion in October 2024, recording 239.31 million transactions that month. At present, the platform has 22,097 billers.
Why ERP Systems Should Integrate Bharat Connect
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are central to managing a company’s financials, supply chain, operations, and more. Integrating Bharat Connect with ERP systems can revolutionize how businesses handle bill payments and collections by introducing efficiency, transparency, and scalability.
As businesses increasingly adopt Bharat Connect, ERPs that integrate this platform gain a unique opportunity to enhance their offerings and provide even greater value to users. Here’s why it matters:
- Stay ahead of market trends: Bharat Connect is rapidly becoming the industry standard for payment and invoicing operations. Integrating it now ensures that ERP systems remain aligned with the evolving needs of businesses, helping users stay compliant and competitive in their markets.
- Enable seamless connectivity: By integrating Bharat Connect, ERPs can provide their users with seamless connections to thousands of businesses and service providers already on the Bharat Connect network. This interconnectivity allows users to handle payments, invoicing, and reconciliations across networks effortlessly, regardless of their partners’ systems.
- Retain and grow your customer base: As Bharat Connect adoption grows, businesses will naturally gravitate toward ERPs that support its features, including the interoperability of Bharat Connect IDs (B2B IDs). Offering this capability positions ERPs as forward-thinking partners, ensuring they remain the preferred choice for users looking to future-proof their financial operations.
- Unlock new opportunities: Integrating Bharat Connect doesn’t just enhance user experience—it opens doors to new revenue streams for ERP providers. Supporting a robust payments ecosystem allows ERPs to monetize additional features and build stronger relationships with their customers.
Zwitch Bill Connect: Maximizing the Potential of Bharat Connect for Business
While Bharat Connect provides the infrastructure, businesses need tools to integrate and utilize it effectively. That’s where Zwitch Bill Connect comes in—a solution designed to help businesses unlock the full potential of Bharat Connect.
What is Zwitch Bill Connect?
Zwitch Bill Connect, powered by OPEN, is one of the few approved partners for Bharat Connect. This low-code API solution allows ERPs to integrate Bharat Connect seamlessly into their existing systems/platforms. It simplifies workflows, automates payments, and grants access to Bharat Connect’s extensive network.
Why Choose Zwitch Bill Connect?
- Low-code integration: Simplify Bharat Connect adoption with pre-built templates and APIs, reducing development costs and time-to-market.
- Customizable features: Tailor functionalities like automated payment reminders and dashboards to ERP user needs.
- Sandbox testing: Test integrations in real-world scenarios for a smooth go-live experience.
- Developer-friendly resources: Access comprehensive API documentation, SDKs, and a dedicated support team for seamless implementation and beyond.
- Access to Bharat Connect’s network: Enable ERP users to connect with 1000+ businesses already on Bharat Connect, facilitating seamless B2B transactions.
How Zwitch Bill Connect Benefits ERP Users
- Boosted efficiency: Zwitch Bill Connect automates critical workflows such as payment processing, invoicing, and reconciliation, drastically reducing repetitive manual tasks. This automation not only eliminates errors but also ensures real-time updates, enabling businesses to manage financial operations smoothly and with greater accuracy.
- Significant cost savings: By streamlining payment operations and automating manual processes, Zwitch reduces administrative overheads. The resulting cost savings allow businesses to reallocate resources to more strategic initiatives, driving growth and innovation.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction: With 150+ payment options, Zwitch provides unmatched convenience for end users, catering to a diverse range of payment preferences. Real-time payment confirmations add a layer of transparency, fostering trust and strengthening long-term customer relationships.
- Seamless multi-platform integration: Zwitch Bill Connect effortlessly integrates with your ERP, HRMS, or accounting platform, enabling businesses to leverage the full power of Bharat Connect. This integration allows your users to seamlessly access B2B Bill Payments and connect to Bharat Connect’s vast network of 1000+ businesses, streamlining operations and enhancing collaboration.
Scenario Analysis
Managing finances and bill payments isn’t just a challenge—it’s often a chaotic and error-prone process for businesses of all sizes. Let’s understand this with an example:
Current Scenario Without Bharat Connect Integration
User 1 operates on Zoho and raises invoices for services. User 2, their client, uses Tally to manage accounts. Here’s what typically happens:
- Invoice raised:
User 1 raises an invoice on Zoho and emails it to User 2. To ensure User 2 doesn’t miss it, they follow up on WhatsApp, informing them that the invoice has been sent.
- Invoice received:
User 2 receives the email and WhatsApp message. They open the invoice, manually enter the details into Tally, and prepare for payment.
- Bank details requested:
User 2 then asks User 1 for bank details via email or WhatsApp. Once received, they manually input these details into their payment platform to initiate the transfer.
- Payment processed:
After payment is made, User 2 records the transaction manually in Tally and notifies User 1 via email or WhatsApp that the payment has been completed.
- Reconciliation:
User 1 checks their bank statement to verify the payment, manually updates the Zoho records, and informs User 2 that the payment has been acknowledged.
The problem multiplies with scale!
Now imagine this process happening for hundreds of invoices, and consider cases where:
- Partial payments are made, requiring additional follow-ups and reconciliations.
- Mismatched entries occur, leading to disputes or delays.
- Teams spend hours just tracking and recording payments instead of focusing on growth.
This manual, disconnected process not only wastes time but also increases the risk of errors and strains relationships between businesses.
How Bharat Connect simplifies this workflow
With Bharat Connect and Zwitch Bill Connect integrated into ERP systems like Zoho and Tally, this process transforms:
- Invoice syncing:
User 1 raises an invoice on Zoho, which is automatically synced to User 2’s Tally system through Bharat Connect. There’s no need for emails, WhatsApp messages, or manual entries.
- Real-time updates:
User 2 views the invoice directly in their ERP, along with the payment details already included. They can initiate payment directly from Tally without switching platforms.
- Payment processing:
Payments can be made using UPI, credit/debit cards, net banking, or any of the 150+ payment options supported by Zwitch. Once processed, payments are automatically recorded in both Tally and Zoho, ensuring accuracy and eliminating manual updates.
- Reconciliation simplified:
Partial payments, adjustments, and settlement statuses are updated in real time, ensuring both parties are always on the same page.
- Notifications streamlined:
Notifications for payments, receipts, and updates are handled within the ERP systems, eliminating the need for external communication channels like email or WhatsApp.
The Future of B2B Payments with Bharat Connect and Zwitch
The Bharat Connect (Bharat Bill Payment System) has become an essential tool for businesses, offering secure, scalable, and efficient solutions for managing payments. By integrating with solutions like Zwitch Bill Connect, businesses can amplify these benefits, streamline operations, and gain access to a vast network of partners.
FAQs
What is BBPS, and how does it benefit businesses?
BBPS (Bharat Bill Payment System) is an interoperable bill payment platform developed by NPCI. It enables businesses to manage recurring payments like utility bills, vendor payouts, and customer collections efficiently. For businesses, it provides automation, real-time payment confirmations, and enhanced security, reducing errors and saving time.
What is Bharat Connect, and how is it related to BBPS?
Bharat Connect is the rebranded version of BBPS, reflecting its expanded scope to cater to businesses alongside consumer bill payments. It offers tools to automate financial operations, integrate payments with ERP systems, and access a vast network of service providers.
How does Zwitch Bill Connect help businesses leverage Bharat Connect?
Zwitch Bill Connect, powered by OPEN, is a low-code API solution that integrates Bharat Connect into business systems like ERPs and accounting platforms. It simplifies bill payments, automates processes, and offers access to the Bharat Connect network for seamless Business-to-Business (B2B) transactions.
Why should businesses adopt Bharat Connect now?
Bharat Connect is expected to become a standard for businesses in India, making compliance mandatory in the future. Early adoption ensures that businesses are prepared for this transition while benefiting from streamlined operations, enhanced efficiency, and improved financial transparency.
Is Zwitch Bill Connect suitable for businesses of all sizes?
Yes, Zwitch Bill Connect is scalable and designed for businesses of all sizes. Whether you are a startup or a large enterprise, the APIs adjust to your transaction volumes and operational needs.
