Aevi x Silverflow: How modular architecture is reshaping payments

Join Aevi CRO Victor Padee in conversation with Silverflow CCO Nigel Thacker as they explore how modular architecture is reshaping the payments landscape. In this interview, they discuss the shift away from legacy, end‑to‑end payment stacks, the growing importance of orchestration and data, and why flexibility and best‑of‑breed components are now critical for retailers, banks, and platforms. Together, they share their perspectives on how customer expectations, speed to market, and software‑driven payments are defining the future of in‑person payments.

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What has caused the shift from third‑party payments to building custom stacks?

Victor explains that businesses now have a much deeper understanding of how payments work and are no longer willing to accept rigid, end‑to‑end solutions. As customer expectations rise and payment methods and channels multiply, legacy stacks have struggled to keep up. Nigel adds that innovation in payments has accelerated dramatically, with more change in recent years than in the previous decade, pushing businesses to take greater control over how their payments infrastructure is designed and evolved.

When companies seek more control, where does modularity deliver the strongest benefits?

Victor says modularity delivers immediate value through speed and flexibility. Businesses can move faster, adapt their stack as needs change, and replace individual components without rebuilding everything. Orchestration makes it possible to combine specialist partners rather than owning the entire stack. He also stresses that strong architectural planning is essential, as modular systems without a clear orchestration layer can quickly become complex and difficult to manage over time.

How is the processor’s role evolving as payments unbundle?

Nigel explains that processors are moving away from monolithic, legacy systems toward cloud‑native platforms designed to operate as part of a modular ecosystem. Instead of trying to provide every capability, processors now focus on being best in class within a specific part of the stack. Access to richer data is a key shift, helping businesses improve authorization rates, reduce costs, and gain greater transparency and control over their payments.

What does the next generation of payments look like?

Victor sees payments becoming increasingly software‑driven, where the transaction itself is just one event within a broader customer experience. Hardware becomes less important, while data, orchestration, and flexibility take center stage. Nigel adds that modular stacks allow businesses to adapt continuously as new technologies, regulations, and behaviors emerge, including agent‑led commerce. Both agree that future‑ready businesses will be those that can evolve their payments stack without having to start again each time change occurs.

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