SEPA payment instruments and systems should offer added value and convenience in several ways:

• You will be able to receive or make euro payments anywhere across Europe in standard formats and on standard terms.
   
• Uniform settlement and simplified processing will reduce your costs and improve your cash flows, while increasing the transparency of fee structures.
   
• As most payment transactions will be automated, the role of paper and cash in payments is likely to decrease.
   
• For large companies, adapting payment and collection processes to SEPA may be an opportunity to achieve further improvements in end-to-end straight-through processing and integration of the supply chain.
   
• Implementing straight-through processing in multi-country operations could result in better liquidity management and greater control over non-domestic payment flows. Companies may be able to gain additional benefits by reducing the number of interfaces and bank accounts within the euro-zone.
   
• SEPA may also bring new sales opportunities, as you will no longer be hampered by a diversity of direct debit schemes in the various SEPA countries. The ability to use a single process and a common standard for direct debits across Europe should enhance your inter-country business. 
   
• Merchants and retailers will be able to accept payment cards from all SEPA countries and to consolidate their acquiring providers across Europe, resulting in simplified back-office processes.

Ultimately, all users of payment services stand to reap the benefits of a Europe-wide unified payments market.