In 2024, Ant International made headlines by reshaping the payment landscape with the upgraded Antom Copilot. As a serial entrepreneur constantly working with digital infrastructures for scaling startups, I found this development particularly relevant. Many of us, as business owners, wrestle with operational inefficiencies or tech limitations, but advanced tools like these are leveling the playing field, and more significantly, helping SMEs thrive. So, let's unpack what this innovation entails and how it might benefit businesses of all sizes.
What’s New with Antom Copilot?
First introduced in mid-2024, Antom Copilot positions itself as an “agentic AI” platform for merchant payments. This essentially means it actively learns from a merchant’s operations, making it interactive rather than passive. Ant International announced that 72% of its merchants transitioned to the Copilot within its first year of launch, significantly reducing time spent on payment integrations and dispute resolutions.
Its key updates include features like AI-assisted onboarding, chargeback management powered by predictive analytics, and customized insights based on each merchant's transaction behaviors. Copilot also integrates learnings from real-world use cases to refine suggestions, making it adaptable even in complex scenarios.
For merchants, the pitch is simple: streamline all payment processes while reducing costs. That resonates particularly with smaller businesses and startups that typically lack access to cutting-edge solutions some larger competitors can afford.
The Numbers Speak
Antom’s platform isn’t just about hype; it delivers tangible results:
- Integration time reductions: By automating parts of the payment process, integration time was slashed by 90%.
- Efficiency boosts: Upgraded tools accelerated dispute handling by 46%, a critical metric for merchant cash flow.
- Operational reach: Supporting 300+ payment methods, Antom makes cross-border transactions far easier for businesses entering new markets.
This can be transformative for startups trying to scale globally. Imagine onboarding customers in new regions with minimal issues, thanks to seamless integration support from Antom. It’s the kind of flexibility most growing companies dream of.
A Closer Look at the Features
To break things down, here are the standout features that caught my attention:
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Chargeback AI Assistant
Chargebacks (customer refund disputes) can drain resources, especially for e-commerce startups. With Antom’s AI, merchants receive tailored recommendations to resolve disputes proactively and minimize associated costs. -
Risk Configuration Assistance
For any business navigating global payments, staying compliant with local regulations while managing risks is daunting. Antom simplifies this by using data-driven recommendations to configure safe, regulatory-friendly transactions. -
Smart Payment Method Suggestions
Merchants can now receive optimized recommendations for payment methods based on user demographics and trends. It’s a handy addition for those trying to improve customer acquisition abroad. -
Learning Adaptability
This feature feels game-changing. By adapting to a merchant’s operational patterns, from peak sales hours to customer disputes, the system acts as an intelligent consultant. This helps SMEs without access to dedicated finance departments deliver efficient results at a fraction of the cost.
Why It Matters for Entrepreneurs
Having transitioned between several startups over the years, I’ve seen firsthand how much time and stress poor payment infrastructure can create. Antom Copilot is particularly appealing because it democratizes tools previously accessible only to large enterprises. Need something like a full finance department but can’t afford one? These merchant tools let smaller business owners punch well above their weight.
In a broader sense, these upgrades reflect a critical trend. Payment systems are becoming gateways for end-to-end business management, not just mere tech platforms. Entrepreneurs would be wise to stay alert to tools like this as we face the rising tide of globalized commerce.
Get Started: A Simple Guide for Businesses
For those considering Copilot as part of their operations, here’s how to tap into these capabilities:
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Assess Your Payment Gaps: Work out what sections of your business, whether dispute management, cross-border payments, or transaction processing, consume the most energy. Copilot might have a dedicated feature to fix exactly that.
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Trial the System: Start with a sandbox or test environment. Antom offers demos that can show how their tools adapt to your unique workflows.
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Leverage the AI-Coach: Invest time in understanding how the platform learns from your data. Tailoring its recommendations will yield longer-term success.
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Monitor Metrics: Post-deployment, keep an eye on reductions in integration timelines, dispute resolutions, and payment error rates. These numbers tell if the system delivers measurable ROI for you.
Mistakes to Avoid
A few things trip businesses up when adopting agent-enabled platforms:
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Ignoring Scalability Needs
Some startups hesitate to adopt such tech early, thinking they’ll "wait until they’re bigger.” But payment complexities grow exponentially the moment you add new markets. Systems like Copilot will ease those growing pains immediately. -
Over-Relying on AI Outputs
Tech like this doesn’t mean you switch off your brain. Balancing automated insights with strategic human oversight ensures you get even better results. -
Skipping Staff Training
Don’t underestimate your team’s learning curve. Spend time ensuring anyone involved in operations knows how to input, monitor, and adjust payment settings properly.
The Fintech Trends at Play Here
What we’re seeing with Antom Copilot is part of a bigger shift toward “autonomous business operations”, a trend where data drives decisions across every layer of companies, automatically resolving everyday friction points. It’s showing up in adjacent tools too, like predictive inventory platforms or even customer service bots that handle ticket prioritization.
For entrepreneurs, this is exciting news. These tools are breaking down traditional barriers to scaling, whether it's high costs, manpower issues, or inefficiencies. Antom's leap into agent-driven AI feels like the next logical step in this journey, and one perfectly timed as smaller businesses adopt global-first strategies.
Conclusion
Ant International’s reimagined Antom Copilot represents something bigger than upgrades; it’s a signal of how accessible technology is reshaping global competition for businesses of every size. By blending adaptability with automation, even micro-entrepreneurs now have access to the kind of operational sophistication that could help them outgrow older, less reactive systems.
If this resonates with you as a business owner, it’s worth considering how these tools fit your broader payment roadmap. Don’t wait for inefficiencies to stifle your momentum. AI-based tools like this are ready to give you an edge today. Learn more about the platform on Antom’s official page and get involved early.
FAQ
1. What is Antom Copilot, and why is it important for businesses?
Antom Copilot is an "agentic AI" platform by Ant International designed to simplify merchant payment processes. It automates onboarding, chargeback resolutions, and risk management to save time and costs for businesses. Learn about Antom Copilot's launch and features
2. How has Antom Copilot improved merchant payment integration?
Antom Copilot reduced merchant payment integration time by 90% using advanced automation tools and agent-driven technologies. Read about Copilot's impact and efficiency
3. What features make Antom Copilot stand out?
Key features include an AI-powered Chargeback Assistant, risk configuration tools, smart payment method suggestions, and adaptive learning based on merchant operations. Discover Copilot's standout features
4. How widely adopted is Antom Copilot among merchants?
Within the first year of its launch in mid-2024, 72% of Antom merchants transitioned to using Antom Copilot.
5. Why is Antom Copilot particularly beneficial for SMEs?
Antom Copilot democratizes payment and operational tools, offering SMEs the same efficiency-driving capabilities that larger enterprises use, but at a lower cost. Read about Antom's benefits for smaller businesses
6. What payment methods does Antom Copilot support?
The platform supports over 300 payment methods, enabling seamless cross-border and multi-regional transactions for businesses.
7. How does the Chargeback AI Assistant benefit businesses?
It helps streamline customer refund disputes by offering proactive recommendations, thus reducing operational costs and resolving issues more efficiently.
8. What businesses can benefit from smart payment method suggestions?
Businesses expanding into new markets or targeting international customer bases can optimize conversions by tailoring payment options to user trends and demographics.
9. What is the technology behind Antom Copilot?
Built on a retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) architecture, the system continuously learns from real-world data to refine merchant advice and automate payments. Understand Copilot's tech foundation
10. What are the risks or common mistakes when adopting agentic AI platforms like Antom Copilot?
Avoid over-relying on AI without human oversight, skipping team training, or delaying adoption as scalability needs grow with business expansion.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
