Coupa, Sumitomo Mitsui Card, and Visa Collaborate on Digitalizing B2B Payments; Launching JPY-Supported 'Coupa Virtual Card' in Japan
Coupa, Sumitomo Mitsui Card, and Visa have partnered to launch the "Coupa Virtual Card" in Japan. This JPY-supported B2B virtual card solution automates payment reconciliation and improves cash flow, accelerating the digitalization of corporate transactions ahead of the 2026 abolition of promissory notes.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 14, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 14, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 18:35 (128h 3m after Collected)
Coupa K.K. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Koichiro Sorimachi, hereafter "Coupa"), Sumitomo Mitsui Card Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Koto-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Yukihiko Onishi, hereafter "SMCC"), and Visa Worldwide Japan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Sithan Kitney, hereafter "Visa") announce the launch of the payment solution "Coupa Virtual Card" in Japan.
This initiative is realized by utilizing the "Visa Virtual Card Solution" provided by the Visa Group as the technological foundation, with SMCC handling the credit card issuance operations, and Coupa providing a cutting-edge autonomous spend management platform that optimizes corporate spending using the power of AI.
Furthermore, this is a progressive initiative utilizing a JPY-supported payment scheme in collaboration with a domestic financial institution (SMCC), marking an epoch-making attempt to innovate B2B payments optimized for Japanese business customs.
Through this initiative, the three companies will contribute to streamlining payment operations, strengthening governance, and improving cash flow for Japanese companies.
Coupa is a global leader providing a cutting-edge autonomous spend management platform that optimizes corporate spending with the power of AI, used by over 3,200 companies worldwide. Built on $9.5 trillion in spend data and a network of over 10 million buyers and suppliers, it helps enhance corporate value through spend optimization, risk mitigation, and operational automation.
In recent years, as corporate activities become more complex and the importance of cost management rises, inefficient processes and complicated expense reimbursements have become challenges in traditional manual or multi-system procurement management. Against this backdrop, the implementation of procurement management systems is gaining attention. "Coupa" in particular is chosen by many companies because it enables automation and centralization of the procurement process, expedites approval workflows, and streamlines expense reimbursement, thereby reducing operational burdens, ensuring accurate data management, and even reducing costs. In addition, regulations and initiatives aimed at building a fair trading environment and promoting the digitalization of B2B payments are currently being strengthened in Japan, such as the "abolition of promissory notes targeted for FY2026" promoted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Japanese Bankers Association. Under these circumstances, expectations for the "Coupa Virtual Card" are rising as an alternative to traditional bank transfers and promissory notes.
"Coupa Virtual Card" is part of the "Coupa Pay" portfolio provided by Coupa. It instantly issues "single-use" or "limit-restricted" virtual card numbers for B2B payments. Globally, it supports payments in about 200 countries and over 140 currencies, and has earned a Leader rating in the IDC MarketScape for Worldwide Embedded Payment Applications 2024–2025 Vendor Assessment (doc #US51793524, December 2024).
Through this collaboration between Coupa, SMCC, and Visa, this global standard technology can now be used seamlessly for transactions in Japanese Yen.
The introduction of the Coupa Virtual Card brings business value that goes beyond mere efficiency for both buyers (orderers) and suppliers (receivers).
Benefits for Buyer Companies:
- Operational Streamlining: Automates invoice and payment reconciliation, reducing manual work.
- Governance and Security: Reduces out-of-pocket expenses through pre-approved payments and visualizes spending. Eliminates fraud risk using "single-use" or "limit-restricted" virtual cards.
- Cash Flow Improvement: Optimizes working capital by taking advantage of the payment grace period inherent in card payments.
Benefits for Supplier Companies:
- Shorter Cash Cycle: Enables earlier cash conversion compared to traditional bank transfers.
- Relationship Building with Buyers: Captures buyer needs through diversified payment methods, retains existing customers, and helps acquire new ones.
Coupa, SMCC, and Visa will continue to contribute to strengthening corporate governance and improving convenience through the promotion and widespread adoption of digitalized B2B payments.
This initiative is realized by utilizing the "Visa Virtual Card Solution" provided by the Visa Group as the technological foundation, with SMCC handling the credit card issuance operations, and Coupa providing a cutting-edge autonomous spend management platform that optimizes corporate spending using the power of AI.
Furthermore, this is a progressive initiative utilizing a JPY-supported payment scheme in collaboration with a domestic financial institution (SMCC), marking an epoch-making attempt to innovate B2B payments optimized for Japanese business customs.
Through this initiative, the three companies will contribute to streamlining payment operations, strengthening governance, and improving cash flow for Japanese companies.
Coupa is a global leader providing a cutting-edge autonomous spend management platform that optimizes corporate spending with the power of AI, used by over 3,200 companies worldwide. Built on $9.5 trillion in spend data and a network of over 10 million buyers and suppliers, it helps enhance corporate value through spend optimization, risk mitigation, and operational automation.
In recent years, as corporate activities become more complex and the importance of cost management rises, inefficient processes and complicated expense reimbursements have become challenges in traditional manual or multi-system procurement management. Against this backdrop, the implementation of procurement management systems is gaining attention. "Coupa" in particular is chosen by many companies because it enables automation and centralization of the procurement process, expedites approval workflows, and streamlines expense reimbursement, thereby reducing operational burdens, ensuring accurate data management, and even reducing costs. In addition, regulations and initiatives aimed at building a fair trading environment and promoting the digitalization of B2B payments are currently being strengthened in Japan, such as the "abolition of promissory notes targeted for FY2026" promoted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Japanese Bankers Association. Under these circumstances, expectations for the "Coupa Virtual Card" are rising as an alternative to traditional bank transfers and promissory notes.
"Coupa Virtual Card" is part of the "Coupa Pay" portfolio provided by Coupa. It instantly issues "single-use" or "limit-restricted" virtual card numbers for B2B payments. Globally, it supports payments in about 200 countries and over 140 currencies, and has earned a Leader rating in the IDC MarketScape for Worldwide Embedded Payment Applications 2024–2025 Vendor Assessment (doc #US51793524, December 2024).
Through this collaboration between Coupa, SMCC, and Visa, this global standard technology can now be used seamlessly for transactions in Japanese Yen.
The introduction of the Coupa Virtual Card brings business value that goes beyond mere efficiency for both buyers (orderers) and suppliers (receivers).
Benefits for Buyer Companies:
- Operational Streamlining: Automates invoice and payment reconciliation, reducing manual work.
- Governance and Security: Reduces out-of-pocket expenses through pre-approved payments and visualizes spending. Eliminates fraud risk using "single-use" or "limit-restricted" virtual cards.
- Cash Flow Improvement: Optimizes working capital by taking advantage of the payment grace period inherent in card payments.
Benefits for Supplier Companies:
- Shorter Cash Cycle: Enables earlier cash conversion compared to traditional bank transfers.
- Relationship Building with Buyers: Captures buyer needs through diversified payment methods, retains existing customers, and helps acquire new ones.
Coupa, SMCC, and Visa will continue to contribute to strengthening corporate governance and improving convenience through the promotion and widespread adoption of digitalized B2B payments.