Money20/20 Vegas 2026: Payroc's Conn Byrne and Walter Greaney on AI-Native Payments

Quick Summary

The complexity of embedding payments into software platforms often forces developers to choose between their product roadmap and their commercial goals. At Money20/20 Vegas 2026, Conn Byrne and Walter Greaney of Payroc discuss how the company is using AI native tools to remove these barriers, allowing partners to integrate payments and expand into new markets within minutes rather than months.

How has Payroc built its current ecosystem?

The company has undergone significant growth through more than 35 acquisitions over recent years. Conn Byrne explains that the common theme across these acquisitions is the desire to provide a better ecosystem for partners. By acquiring specific technologies, the firm aims to help software companies meet the needs of their own customers more effectively. The focus remains on making the platform a more robust tool for partners to leverage as they scale.

What challenges do software companies face with payment integration?

For many Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), the primary challenge is the internal development roadmap. Most companies have months of prioritised work already scheduled. Adding a complex payment integration can disrupt these plans and delay product improvements. Payroc aims to take the pain out of this journey by making payments a quick decision that does not require a total rearrangement of the developer schedule. The goal is to allow companies to slot payments in and return to their core business activities immediately.

How does Payroc for Developers use AI?

The Payroc for Developers ecosystem has been redeveloped to be AI native. This approach provides several benefits to the developer community:

• Self-service documentation: Developers can interact with documentation through AI tools without needing to wait for human support.
• Reduced timeframes: Partners can work on their own schedule rather than being delayed by the provider's timeline.
• Rapid prototyping: AI allows developers to understand the entire platform in seconds and see production transactions within minutes.
• Proof of concept: The speed of integration allows firms to test new markets, such as the UK or Europe, with a proof of concept before committing to a full-scale project.

How is the company supporting global expansion?

While the firm has a strong footprint in the US market, particularly in card present and unattended payments, many of its partners are now looking to expand internationally. By offering a true omni-channel platform that covers card present, card not present, and in-app payments, the company acts as a single source for global growth. Walter Greaney and Conn Byrne note that the firm often acts as an advisor, helping partners navigate the trust and regulatory requirements of moving into the UK and European markets.

What is the future roadmap for Payroc?

The next phase of the company's journey involves widening its reach to serve a broader range of the market. This includes providing a home for startups and smaller ISVs that may have fewer resources, while still offering a safe space for large enterprise partners. The focus for the next 12 months is on speed and scale, leveraging AI to automate support, manage FAQs, and assist with pricing and interchange qualifications.

FF NEWS TAKE:

The shift toward AI-native developer tools represents a significant change in how payment processors compete for ISV partnerships. By reducing the integration phase from months to minutes, Payroc is effectively removing the opportunity cost that often prevents software firms from switching providers or expanding geographically. In an era where speed to market is the primary currency for fintechs, providing an AI-assisted path to production is no longer just a feature: it is a prerequisite for scale.