Primer unveils AI tool to boost efficiency for payments teams

Primer has introduced an artificial intelligence-based companion designed specifically for payments teams. The new feature, called Primer Companion, integrates directly into the payment infrastructure to provide real-time recommendations and to automate certain functions, aiming to address resource constraints within payment operations.

AI support

Primer Companion is an agentic AI system developed to work within a merchant's payment environment. The tool analyses over 400 data points for each transaction and is capable of making contextual recommendations. Payment professionals are able to interact with the system through a conversational interface which allows them to query insights and receive suggested actions in real time.

Primer states that the AI is able to act on approved recommendations, automating changes while keeping the human payment team in control. Safety features, such as security protocols, reversibility, and data privacy, are central to the design of the product.

"Most merchants have one or two people managing millions in payments. Primer Companion gives them the equivalent of a hundred teammates," said Gabriel Le Roux, Co-founder and CEO, Primer.

Data-driven approach

The platform draws on a substantial data set for each payment processed, using the insights gathered to help merchants optimise authorisation rates, reduce transaction costs, and support new rollout strategies. By offering these advanced analytics capabilities, Primer aims to give payments teams information and options previously unavailable in real time.

Broader rollout

According to Primer, the launch of Primer Companion is part of a planned series of product developments. The company will continue to expand the AI's functionality across further aspects of the payment lifecycle in the future.

Le Roux said that the goal is to provide payment and finance leaders with new tools to manage increasingly complex payment ecosystems. He explained that Primer Companion represents a significant change in how payments teams can operate and respond to business needs.

"Primer Companion represents a paradigm shift for payment and finance leaders - as it rolls out across the Primer platform to cover more of the payment lifecycle, its potential to transform how teams operate is enormous. This marks the next step towards our vision to provide a connected view across the entire money movement journey - creating intelligent, end-to-end infrastructure for the next era of commerce," said Le Roux.