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logo Naya and Arc

Scaling at startup speed? Here’s how Arc/Naya kept control with Payhawk

Arc (founded in 2020) and Naya (founded in 2021), two innovative and rapidly scaling companies, were both founded by the same entrepreneurial team in Groningen. While each company manages its finances independently, they share a common challenge: staying in control while scaling fast, super fast. By implementing Payhawk with a native integration to Exact Online, they’ve found a smarter way to manage expenses, control cash flow, and free up time for strategic finance work.

HQ
Groningen (NL)
Industry
Accessories and consumer electronics
Employees
25
Payhawk customer since
June 2023
Features they love
  • Accounts Payable
  • Exact Online integration
  • Virtual cards

Thanks to Payhawk, Arc and Naya were able to:

  • Gain real-time visibility into upcoming payments and company spend
  • Save hours per month by automating manual finance tasks
  • Reduce risk and maintain tighter control with virtual cards and approval workflows
  • Onboard team members faster and collaborate more effectively across finance

Arc made its mark with the Arc Pulse. A sleek, minimalist smartphone case that blends design and durability. The product quickly gained global attention, turning Arc into a standout name in the world of premium tech accessories.

Naya followed soon after, reimagining workplace tools with the launch of Naya Create, a modular, ergonomic keyboard designed for creative professionals. Their shared focus on design, function, and global scale means both companies operate in fast-moving, high-demand environments, where efficiency and clarity in finance aren’t just helpful; they’re essential.

Shuhul Koul, Junior Financial Controller bij Arc/Naya

"With Payhawk’s Accounts Payable, we finally have full visibility into what needs to be paid, allowing us to act proactively rather than regretting mistakes afterwards."

Shuhul Koul, Financial Controller at Arc and Naya

Life before Payhawk

For Shuhul and the finance team, visibility and control were the missing pieces. Before Payhawk, the business often discovered expenses only after they were paid. Now, with a robust Accounts Payable process in place, they get ahead of spend instead of chasing it retroactively.

I open Payhawk, filter for what's due next week, and instantly see what’s moving. That gives me control—real control—over what’s happening on the ground.

Better forecasting with real-time data

With Payhawk, forecasting has become proactive. Cash planning is no longer guesswork, but based on real-time data. Even direct debits, often a blind spot, are now accounted for.

Before, we just paid whatever came in. Now, we ask: Is this subscription still in use? Do we need it? The subscription management feature from Payhawk helps us keep track and make sure we’re not paying for things we don’t use. Payhawk builds in those checks, and that’s a game changer.

Minimising risk with better spend controls

Payhawk doesn't just simplify workflows—it helps mitigate risk. With hundreds of thousands of euros flowing through their accounts, limiting exposure is key. Virtual cards, spend limits, and approval flows mean fewer surprises and tighter controls.

Giving everyone access to our main bank was risky. We have hundreds of thousands—sometimes millions—flowing through that account. With Payhawk, spend is isolated, and exposure is limited to what’s on the platform. That makes a huge difference. It’s a safer, smarter setup.

SPEND CONTROL

Control spend with in-built corporate card controls & limits

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Saving time and building trust

Manual tasks have shrunk dramatically. Payhawk’s intuitive interface and AI-powered features, like OCR scanning and automatic categorisation, reduce errors and increase speed. Plus, thanks to the tool's user-friendly design, it’s easier to onboard junior team members. Shuhul notes that Payhawk has also become a great teaching tool, helping interns and junior team members understand how finance works by clearly visualising how money moves from accounts payable to the balance sheet and P&L. It makes finance more transparent and less intimidating.

It’s not just faster—it’s clearer. I always tell my team: your job isn’t just to do the work. It’s to prove it’s been done right. Payhawk helps us do exactly that.

Built to work with Exact Online

The native integration with Exact Online plays a central role in how Arc and Naya operate. It ensures data flows smoothly between systems, eliminating manual work and reducing room for error.

The way Payhawk connects with Exact now? It’s impressive. The level of integration and automation we’ve seen makes a real difference; it just works.

Automation unlocks strategic work

The goal now is to spend less time on repetitive tasks and more time on strategic work. Features like subscription tracking, virtual card issuance, and auto-reconciliation help the team focus on what really matters.

I want my team to use the analytical part of their brain and not waste time on admin. Payhawk helps us do that.”

Support that doesn’t make you feel like a number

From smart chatbots to fast human help, Payhawk’s support team left a lasting impression. Shuhul highlights how the chatbot consistently recognises the context of his issue (often knowing exactly which expense he’s working on) which makes solving problems quick and painless. For more complex issues, he knows he can get direct help from a real human, fast. Something he admits is rare in the industry.

Customer service is one of the best parts of Payhawk. If something breaks, they fix it. You’re not just a number.

Compared to other platforms the team works with, the difference is clear:

[Other companies] get a few emails from us. With Payhawk, I don’t even need to escalate things—that says a lot.”

For Naya and Arc, Payhawk is more than a finance tool—it’s a strategic enabler. With greater visibility, better controls, and seamless integration into Exact Online, the finance team is no longer chasing transactions. They’re confidently leading the financial future of their business. Curious what Payhawk can do for your business? Book your personalised demo today and discover how to scale without chaos.

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