Alternative Payments Buys Delmar Insights in MSP Fintech Push

According to CRN, Alternative Payments has acquired data and analytics vendor Delmar Insights to create an AI-powered payments and intelligence platform specifically for MSPs. The deal comes as Alternative Payments has tripled both its revenue and MSP customer base over the past year, now processing more than $1 billion in payments annually. All three Delmar employees are joining Alternative Payments, with Delmar founder Danny O’Hanley becoming general manager of data and analytics. The integration is scheduled to begin in early 2026, though financial terms weren’t disclosed. This marks Alternative Payments’ first acquisition amid what CEO Baxter Lanius calls “massive white space” in the MSP market, where nearly half of providers still process payments manually.

The Last Frontier

Here’s the thing about MSPs – they’ve become incredibly sophisticated at automating their technical operations, but their financial systems often look like something from the 1990s. Baxter Lanius calls financial operations “one of the last frontiers” for automation, and he’s not wrong. Think about it: most MSPs can deploy complex security solutions across hundreds of endpoints automatically, but they’re still chasing down checks and manually reconciling payments. That disconnect creates massive inefficiency.

The combined platform aims to bridge that gap by merging payments automation with business intelligence. So instead of just processing credit card payments, MSPs get real-time visibility into customer-level margins, cash flow, and operational performance. Basically, they’re trying to do for financial operations what RMM and PSA tools did for technical operations – create a single source of truth.

Why This Matters

Corey Kirkendoll’s Blues Brothers comparison might sound cheesy, but it actually makes sense. When two specialized tools that already work well together formally combine, the integration becomes seamless rather than bolted-on. Delmar was already good at analytics; Alternative Payments was already good at payments. Now they don’t have to worry about API limitations or competing roadmaps.

But here’s the real question: will MSPs actually use these insights? Danny O’Hanley nailed it when he said MSPs are “drowning in data but don’t have the time or resources to turn it into something useful.” The success of this platform won’t be about the quantity of data it provides, but how effectively it surfaces the 2-3 metrics that actually drive business decisions. Things like which clients are actually profitable, where staffing is inefficient, and how you stack up against peers.

What’s Next

Looking ahead to that 2026 integration timeline feels… ambitious. Merging payment systems with analytics platforms while maintaining security and compliance isn’t trivial. And let’s be honest – early 2026 in tech time usually means late 2026 in reality.

Still, the timing is interesting. Alternative Payments is riding serious momentum with that tripled revenue and customer base, and they’re clearly using that growth to accelerate their vision. Lanius isn’t shy about saying more M&A is possible if it helps build “the most complete financial and operational automation platform.” Translation: this probably won’t be their last acquisition.

The bigger picture here is that financial automation is becoming the next competitive battleground for MSPs. As margins get tighter and operations more complex, the MSPs who master their financial data will have a significant advantage. This acquisition positions Alternative Payments to be the company that provides that advantage.