GoCardless has published research indicating that most UK recurring-revenue businesses view commercial Variable Recurring Payments as their preferred alternative to legacy payment methods. The findings indicate strong interest among businesses in sectors expected to be included in the initial rollout.

The study surveyed 489 UK business leaders at companies that accept recurring payments and found broad frustration with existing systems, especially cards. Nearly three-quarters, or 73%, reported ongoing pain points with card payments, while 42% said they spend more than three hours each week dealing with related issues.

According to the research, card-related administration, fraud and other overheads cost merchants an average of 3.5% of monthly revenue. GoCardless presents commercial VRPs that use open banking infrastructure for recurring payments as a possible solution for industries such as utilities, financial services, and telecommunications.

Card friction

The figures highlight the operational burden on businesses that rely on recurring billing. Time spent resolving failed payments, handling card expiry and managing fraud checks can affect revenue collection and customer retention, particularly in sectors where regular billing is central to the business model.

Among decision-makers in the first phase of the commercial VRP rollout, 89% said the technology would significantly improve cash flow. Another 91% expected it to reduce operational costs.

The initial phase is focused on regulated and lower-risk sectors, including utilities, financial services, insurance, government, charities, and rail and travel. A later phase is expected to extend to broader eCommerce, retail and digital subscription markets.

The survey also found that 49% intend to be early adopters of commercial VRPs. This suggests many companies are willing to move quickly if the product is available through familiar payment channels and supported by banks.

Adoption conditions

The findings also point to practical concerns around execution. When asked what would encourage adoption or greater use of open banking payments, 41% of businesses cited access through their existing payment provider, while the same share pointed to wider consumer bank coverage.

This suggests demand may depend less on awareness than on delivery. Businesses appear to want a route into commercial VRPs that does not require major changes to their payment operations, along with confidence that enough banks will support the payment method.

A separate survey of 2,000 UK adults suggested there is also consumer interest, particularly among younger users. Overall, 38% of respondents said they were open to using the technology, rising to 60% among Gen Z.

Interest was strongest for essential household services. Some 46% said they would be willing to use commercial VRPs for energy bills, while 35% said the same for telecoms payments.

Industry shift

The research comes as regulators and industry participants work through a phased introduction of commercial VRPs in the UK. Supporters see the model as a way for consumers to authorise recurring bank-to-bank payments with more flexibility than traditional direct debit arrangements, although the rollout remains limited to selected sectors at this stage.

For providers of recurring services, the appeal lies in reducing failed collections and reliance on card networks. For consumers, the pitch is direct account-based payments for regular bills and subscriptions, though broad uptake will depend on trust, bank participation and ease of use.

Shaun Puckrin outlined GoCardless’s view of the market in a statement accompanying the findings.

“The numbers don’t lie: the era of settling for high-friction, legacy payment methods is over. We’re seeing openness and demand from both sides of the checkout for a more intelligent, bank-led alternative. As a company that has specialised in bank payments for 15 years, it’s incredibly exciting to see the industry catching up and working together in the live testing phase to prove out commercial VRPs and we’re confident that our solution, Recurring Pay by Bank, makes adoption viable and highly effective today,” said Shaun Puckrin, Chief Product Officer, GoCardless.

Alteryx has appointed Julie Irish as Chief Information Officer, adding a new technology leader to the data and analytics company’s senior ranks.

Irish joins from Couchbase, where she held the same role. At Alteryx, she will lead the global IT organisation and oversee technology strategy, systems and processes as the company continues its broader digital transformation.

Her remit includes internal AI use across the business, with a focus on connecting data, analytics and AI more closely across operations as Alteryx develops its analytics products and expands internationally.

Alteryx serves more than 8,000 customers worldwide, including UK brands such as BT, Kingfisher and London Northeastern Railway.

Career background

Before joining Alteryx, Irish held senior technology roles at New Relic and Harvard Business Publishing. At Couchbase, she oversaw IT, data, business technology and security.

That breadth of experience appears to have been a factor in her appointment, particularly as businesses increase spending on AI tools and look to embed data-led decision-making into routine operations. The role puts Irish at the centre of how Alteryx manages its internal systems while supporting the company’s wider direction.

Her appointment also reflects how the Chief Information Officer role has broadened across software companies. Once focused largely on internal infrastructure, it now often spans data governance, automation, security and the use of AI in finance, sales, support and product operations.

As a result, technology leadership appointments have become more significant for software companies trying to streamline internal processes while keeping pace with customer demand for AI-related products. At Alteryx, internal IT is being positioned as a driver of operational change as well as day-to-day systems management.

Irish outlined that view in her first public comments after taking the role.

“We’re at a moment where AI is fundamentally reshaping how businesses operate. What energizes me about Alteryx is not just the pace of innovation, but its unique approach to enabling AI through governed, analyst-driven workflows-equipping lines of business to own their logic while scaling across the enterprise. Internally, we have an opportunity to apply that same philosophy to how we build and operate, advancing our technology capabilities to better scale and support the business. By strengthening how we connect data, analytics, and AI across our operations, we can move faster, operate more intelligently, and continue delivering impact for our customers,” said Irish.

Wider push

The appointment comes as Alteryx continues to emphasise AI in its business strategy. Organisations are increasingly turning to AI and analytics in pursuit of competitive advantage, and Alteryx has been investing in what it describes as agentic analytics alongside trusted tools for larger organisations.

In the enterprise software market, that trend has increased the importance of internal technology leadership. CIOs are being asked not only to maintain stable systems but also to show how AI can be adopted responsibly inside the business before similar ideas are taken to customers.

Chief Executive Officer Andy MacMillan said Irish brings both strategic planning and delivery experience to the role.

“Julie has an incredible ability to balance strategic vision with execution. She is a thoughtful, results-oriented leader who builds strong partnerships and delivers meaningful impact. I’m eager to see the impact she will have across the Alteryx organization and for our global community,” said MacMillan.

Irish’s background in pricing model change and the end-to-end revenue lifecycle may also prove relevant as software companies refine subscription structures, sales operations and customer retention. Combined with her oversight of data and security functions in previous roles, that experience gives her a remit that extends beyond back-office IT.

The move follows a broader pattern across the software industry, where companies are recruiting senior technology executives with experience in data platforms, internal automation and AI adoption. In many cases, the goal is to tighten links between corporate systems and commercial strategy, especially as software groups face pressure to show practical returns on AI investment.

At Alteryx, that responsibility now falls to Irish as she takes charge of the company’s global IT organisation after previous leadership roles at Couchbase, New Relic and Harvard Business Publishing.

Openreach, who act on behalf of British Telecommunications (BT), wants to install two fixed line broadband electronic communications apparatus (poles) in Ambrosden, a village near Bicester.

It notified Cherwell District Council, the planning authority, of its intention to install one 9m light wooden pole in Church Walk and one 10m light wooden police opposite South View, approximately three miles from Bicester.

The planning authority has until Monday, April 13, to give the operator written notice of any reasonable conditions which it wishes the operator to consider regarding the installation.

Openreach maintain telecommunications network infrastructure that connect nearly all homes and businesses in the UK to various national broadband and telephone networks.