Latest news with #A2A
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
APIs used to connect systems digitally, now AI agents will
For decades, the humble API has been the plumbing that lets far-flung digital services speak to one another. A clean endpoint, a crisp schema, and the world's software snapped together like Lego. It's how your Whatsapp account connects to your Gmail service, and how most websites and applications talk to each other. Now that tidy requestresponse universe is being rattled by autonomous AI agents—programmes that do not merely answer a call but decide, reason and negotiate on our behalf. As the old choreography frays, software engineers now need to update their skills to help these agentic systems communicate effectively with each other. 'We're already seeing this shift building software at Katalon. Instead of rigid API contracts, we're designing how AI agents negotiate with each other—how they handle failures, share context, and maintain consistency across workflows,' says Coty Rosenblath, chief technology officer at the low-code testing specialist. 'Traditional APIs assume you control both endpoints, but with AI agents making independent decisions, protocols need to handle that uncertainty.' Microsoft's India innovation hub CTO Sandeep Alur agrees that APIs are ceding the stage. 'As AI agents become the new building blocks of software, the future of engineering is shifting from designing APIs to orchestrating intelligent agents,' he remarks, pointing to emerging standards such as Model Context Protocol (MCP) and Agent-to-Agent (A2A) communication that redefine how systems communicate, collaborate and scale. 'MCP provides a standardised way for AI models to interact with external tools, enabling real-time data access, tool integration, and reasoning across services. A2A enables structured collaboration between agents across platforms, clouds, and organisations, using shared goals, secure state management, and observable actions.' Essentially, A2A allows agents to talk to each other while MCP allows agents to talk to other software. Prompt engineering, once the darling skill of the ChatGPT boom, is already becoming passé. 'Prompt engineering was just the start,' observes Rosenblath. 'The challenge now is getting multiple AI agents to work together reliably.' Santosh Singh, president & global head of marketing & business excellence at Tata Technologies, puts it more lyrically: 'Prompt engineering is the spark—but agent orchestration is the symphony. The engineer of tomorrow will design conversations between intelligent collaborators.' From the vantage point of big tech companies, orchestrating an endless multitude of AI agents hinges on secure, multi-protocol integration, something software developers of all stripes should keep in mind during their next job interview. 'Future engineers must excel in designing multi-protocol integrations that are secure and adhere to boundaries or frameworks, preventing information leakage,' says Vishal Chahal, vice-president at IBM India Software Labs. He expects prompt templates, formulated by small language models, to direct agents towards task completion, shifting the engineer's craft from writing prompts to fine-tuning specialist models and weaving them into enterprise architecture. CHANGING SKILL SETS If the tools are changing, so too is the tool-box. Rosenblath believes success will belong to those who can break complex objectives into smaller tasks that agents can pursue independently but still align with an overall objective, designing how they share context, remember past interactions, and evaluate each other's outputs. Validation steps and feedback loops—long the preserve of quality assurance—become central to day-to-day engineering. IBM's Chahal unfurls a similar skills list: 'A solid understanding of how to automate tasks and processes, an understanding of machine-learning algorithms, the ability to craft effective prompts for AI models and APIs are crucial. Also, familiarity with integration tools is necessary for seamlessly combining AI capabilities with existing systems.' Vision, too, matters. 'Intuitive or imaginative skills to envision how the agent will respond in various scenarios is important.' Pavan Gurazada, adjunct lecturer at Northwestern University and senior faculty at Great Learning, divides tomorrow's workforce into tool builders and agent builders. The former will expose services as tools using standardised protocols like MCP. The latter will compose and orchestrate these tools to create agents that automate end-to-end workflows. Engineers, he predicts, will need to map complex business processes into agentbased workflows and ensure they align with evolving corporate goals. Sameer Goyal, head of engineering at Acuity Knowledge Partners, thinks systems thinking will be essential to understand how local interactions can produce emergent, sophisticated behaviors at scale. 'All things considered, organising agents is a confluence of distributed computing, cognitive science, and systems design rather than just an extension of current AI activities. Engineers who master this intersection will be highly sought after in the years to come.' And as much as this is still an evolving field, companies are already looking for these skills today. PaySprint's founder and CEO S Anand says they are actively on the lookout for these skill sets in potential hires for the company. 'We're looking for individuals that can function across evolving fronts — from AI logic and machine learning to business-aligned strategy and orchestration.' AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Finextra
09-06-2025
- Business
- Finextra
Tietoevry Banking outlines seismic shift in European digital commerce by 2035
Results from a new report commissioned by Tietoevry Banking and written by leading research and advisory firm Celent predict continued strong growth in digital commerce to 2035, with the value of digital transactions set to hit €1.090 trillion in five key European markets by the middle of the next decade. 0 The report, 'A Future of European Payments' also highlights the rise of Account-to-Account (A2A) services and the development of smart AI agents that drive automated transactions as key areas of opportunity for banks and payment providers in the next 10 years. The report investigates consumer e-commerce payments volumes in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and the UK - five of the most significant digital commerce markets in Europe. The model used for studying these markets considers three main areas: • The battle between payment rails - while card payments will continue to grow, they will lose market share to A2A services, which are expected to grow from 24% of all transactions in 2025 to nearly 40% by 2035. Wallets will continue to play a key role, but innovations will make it more difficult to identify them as standalone payment methods. Digital assets will become prominent, especially if a digital Euro is introduced during this period, but they will remain a small segment of the market. • Pay now/pay later options - the scope of options to pay instantly (debit and instant payment) or pay later (credit, Buy Now Pay Later, and others) will expand. The demand for pay later/credit products will remain robust and will provide banks and wallet providers with opportunities to develop new credit options for A2A and wallet products. The report expects credit on A2A transactions to grow to €35.7 billion (just over 7% of total pay later value) by 2035. • AI agents - the biggest change, according to Celent analysts, will come in the way e-commerce is conducted, i.e. not in how consumers pay, but how they buy. The report predicts customers will deploy 'AI agents' to initiate transactions on their behalf. While still in its early stages, Celent expects the value of agent-initiated digital commerce to reach €191 billion across the five markets analyzed (17.5% of total e-commerce volume). The report suggests that the impact of agent-initiated commerce will be greatest in areas such as travel, food and drink, digital content, DIY/gardening, financial services, and entertainment. 'The opportunity for European banks over the next 10 years is enormous,' explains Natalija Dmitrijeva, Head of Instant, Retail Payments and Cards at Tietoevry Banking. 'This report - while not attempting to provide an accurate prediction for the future - does highlight clear areas for development and growth. To play a leadership role in an expanding and changing payment landscape, banks and fintechs must be clear on the way one wants to play in e-commerce, digital wallets, and the development of digital identity infrastructure.' 'Succeeding in this future landscape will mean more than outstanding technology solutions. It will also mean working with external partners on the gradual removal of siloed payment operations that are already acting as barriers to growth. At the same time, banks should be working with external partners to modernize their payment systems in preparation for an instant Account-to-Account future, as well as adopting a flexible strategy that allows them to maintain a profitable payment business and adapt to the huge changes that are coming.'
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Visa launches pay by bank solution in UK
Visa has introduced its new 'pay by bank' solution, Visa A2A, in the UK, designed to make bank transfer payments 'safer and smarter'. Visa A2A aims to provide a more secure method for managing bill and subscription payments through consumers' banking applications. It introduces Visa's consumer protection guidelines for bank transfer transactions, ensuring users can reclaim funds in the event of transaction errors. The service facilitates businesses with 'near real-time' transaction settlements and providing enhanced data for payment reconciliation. Additionally, businesses will receive notifications regarding changes or cancellations in payment authorisations. The open model of Visa A2A seeks to encourage collaboration among banks and industry partners, thereby promoting the expansion of open banking-enabled payment solutions for businesses. Following the initial rollout focused on bills and subscriptions, Visa plans to incrementally introduce A2A for ecommerce payments in the UK. The upcoming ecommerce solution will allow customers to authorise payments directly from their bank accounts, streamlining the checkout process with a one-click purchase experience. Visa UK and Ireland managing director Mandy Lamb said: 'The UK has spearheaded innovation in financial services for many years, and in light of increasing fraud and international competition, we must continue to lead the way. 'We are proud to be working with our partners to deliver a state-of-the-art pay by bank experience, coupled with Visa's best-in-class consumer protections. 'Visa A2A is a game-changer – it means for the first time UK consumers and businesses using pay by bank will benefit from a similar level of protection typically associated with card payments.' Last month, the payments firm announced the availability of Visa AR Manager in the US, a solution aimed at automating the virtual card transaction process to support and preserve existing card transaction volumes. "Visa launches pay by bank solution in UK " was originally created and published by Electronic Payments International, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
FF News
02-06-2025
- Business
- FF News
Visa Brings Smarter Pay-by-Bank with Built-In Consumer Protections to the UK Market
Visa, a global leader in digital payments, is today announcing that its new pay-by-bank solution is ready for market in the UK. Built on Visa's decades of payments expertise, Visa A2A gives consumers greater choice, control and protection over how they pay via bank transfers. It is designed to make pay-by-bank transactions — including bill and subscription payments— safer and smarter. Visa A2A introduces an easy and intuitive experience for consumers, allowing them to easily manage their bills and subscriptions through their bank app. For the first time in the UK, it also introduces Visa's best-in-class consumer protections to bank transfer transactions, including clear guidelines for consumers, businesses and banks on rights and responsibilities should things go wrong. This will effectively provide a similar level of protection typically associated with card payments, so consumers can get their money back if there is an error. Visa A2A also benefits businesses, as near real-time settlement through Faster Payment System gives them greater visibility over payments and makes cash flow management simpler. Businesses can take advantage of the digital nature of Visa A2A, including notifications if a consumer changes or cancels payment permissions, and it also provides them with the ability to include more transaction data for reconciliation. Visa A2A is based on an open model that will enable banks and other industry partners to join and extend open banking-enabled payments to businesses. With a commercial model designed to work for all participants in the ecosystem and to boost the UK fintech community, Visa A2A will help to unlock the full potential of open banking in the UK. Research from Innovate Finance indicates that advancing the UK's FinTech ecosystem – a key partner in the development and delivery of Visa A2A – could unlock £328 billion over the next five years1. Safer e-commerce With an operational technology platform ready to process bills and subscriptions, Visa plans to expand Visa A2A, including e-commerce payments in the UK with a phased approach. This expansion means consumers choosing to use pay-by-bank across a variety of use cases, could benefit from similar levels of protection to those currently offered by card payments. Visa A2A for e-commerce will offer a secure, hassle-free way to pay directly through bank accounts. Customers will be able to authorise this payment method once, then simply choose pay-by-bank at checkout for a one-click purchase experience that is fast, seamless and secure. Mandy Lamb, Managing Director, Visa UK and Ireland, said: 'The UK has spearheaded innovation in financial services for many years, and in light of increasing fraud and international competition, we must continue to lead the way. 'We are proud to be working with our partners to deliver a state-of-the-art pay-by-bank experience, coupled with Visa's best-in-class consumer protections. 'Visa A2A is a game-changer – it means for the first time UK consumers and businesses using pay-by-bank will benefit from a similar level of protection typically associated with card payments.' Isabel Pitt, Deputy Director of Payments, Nationwide Building Society, said: 'A2A payments are rapidly gaining traction across UK businesses and consumers, offering a seamless and efficient way to transact. However, for these payments to reach their full potential, the right framework – rules, capabilities, and protections – must be in place. That's why we're excited to collaborate with Visa and our industry partners to bring Visa A2A to the UK. This milestone innovation will enhance payment experiences and deliver greater security and convenience to Nationwide members.' Delphine Emenyonu, Head of Unsecured Lending & Open Banking, TSB, said: 'We welcome the opportunity to collaborate on Visa A2A in the UK alongside Visa and other industry participants. As interest in A2A payments continues to grow among UK consumers and businesses, ensuring the right infrastructure, standards, and protections are in place will be key to supporting their future development. We look forward to seeing how this innovation can benefit TSB's customers.' Matthieu Barral, VP, Global Partnerships, said: 'Visa is changing how money moves with A2A payments, and is proud to be one of the first to bring this solution to merchants in the UK.' 'Together, we are giving merchants the latest option in market innovation, setting a new standard for speed, security, and payment performance.' Ian Burgess, Managing Director, Utilita, said: 'We're excited to continue our long-standing relationship with Visa as we embark on the A2A journey. We are keen to provide choice for our customers and the evolution to A2A only reinforces our continued leadership in the prepayment energy sector. The reassurance that Visa A2A provides in terms of card-like protection to both the merchant and the consumer was a key factor in our decision to partner with Visa on this initiative and we can't wait to adopt this within both our credit and prepay payment journeys.' Zak Lambert, Head of Product for Plaid Europe, said: 'This partnership brings together Visa's trusted rails and Plaid's open banking network to make paybybank as simple and secure as card on file. It's a new standard for how consumers and businesses move money—fast, protected, and ready to scale.' Alexey Gabsatarov, Chief Technology Officer, Kroo, said: 'Kroo Bank welcomes Visa's new A2A solution, an important step forward for both open banking and account-to-account payments. We view it as an inclusive, industry-led model that prioritises consumer protection, confidence and usability. Visa has already demonstrated the benefits of applying its card scheme expertise to A2A payments, and we look forward to deepening our partnership to increase choice and strengthen trust for consumers, businesses and the wider banking community.' Eline Blomme, Chief Product & Strategy Officer, said: 'We are incredibly enthusiastic about the future of A2A payments with Visa and discussing this with our industry peers. The collective expertise in this space is instrumental as we work to bring Variable Recurring Payments (VRPs) to the forefront of the UK market.' 'As a payments agnostic provider, powering recurring payments is at the heart of our business. Partnering with Visa A2A for VRPs represents a pivotal step forward in this area, unlocking unprecedented levels of security, flexibility and transparency for customers and offering a seamless alternative to traditional Direct Debit.' Colin Swain, Head of Product, Corporate Solutions, Bottomline, said: 'As a global leader in business payments, Bottomline is excited to explore new opportunities that help shape the future of how businesses pay and get paid. With a strong track record of simplifying the collection of both single and recurring payments, Visa A2A complements the growing shift toward real-time and instant payment methods for recurring use cases.' Myles Stephenson, CEO & Founder, Modulr, said: 'We're delighted to be part of the launch group of Visa A2A, working closely with Visa and other participants to drive forward the next phase of innovation in A2A payments. This is a significant step forward in implementing a sustainable, industry-leading solution, aligning with Modulr's commitment to provide seamless and secure payment experiences for customers.' Ian Morrin, Head of Payments, Tink, said: 'There is clear momentum behind pay by bank solutions in the UK market, so it's fantastic to see Visa spearheading innovation and industry collaboration with the development of Visa A2A.' 'This is a pivotal moment for fintech companies, like Tink, and banks to work together to provide enhanced account-to-account experiences for consumers and businesses alike.'
Finextra
01-06-2025
- Business
- Finextra
Visa A2A payments land in the UK
Card giant Visa is taking aim at the UK's burgeoning account-to-account market through its new pay-by-bank offering. 0 Visa A2A promises to give Brits greater choice, control and protection over how they pay via bank transfers. The firm says it will let people easily manage their bills and subscriptions through their bank app while effectively providing a similar level of protection typically associated with card payments. For businesses, Visa A2A takes advantage of real-time settlement through Faster Payment System to offer greater visibility over payments and simpler cash flow management. Firms can take advantage of the digital nature of the service to get notifications if a consumer changes or cancels payment permissions, and it also provides them with the ability to include more transaction data for reconciliation. With an operational technology platform ready to process bills and subscriptions, Visa plans to expand Visa A2A to include ecommerce payments in the UK with a phased approach. The firm is also working with an open model that will enable banks and other industry partners to join and extend open banking-enabled payments to businesses. Mandy Lamb, MD, Visa UK and Ireland, says: "Visa A2A is a game-changer - it means for the first time UK consumers and businesses using pay by bank will benefit from a similar level of protection typically associated with card payments." Isabel Pitt, deputy director of payments, Nationwide, adds: "A2A payments are rapidly gaining traction across UK businesses and consumers, offering a seamless and efficient way to transact. However, for these payments to reach their full potential, the right framework - rules, capabilities, and protections - must be in place. That's why we're excited to collaborate with Visa and our industry partners to bring Visa A2A to the UK."
