What is Accounts Payable automation?
AP automation, or accounts payable automation, is the process whereby accounts payable processes are handled digitally using technology, rather than manually. This can create faster, leaner, more cost-effective AP workflows.
AP automation solutions can intelligently capture and analyse the information that’s on your invoices, speeding up the process and helping reduce errors.
How does Accounts Payable automation work?
AP automation uses optical character recognition (OCR) from scanned images, or full-text conversion from Data PDFs, to extract any relevant information from invoices and purchase orders (POs). OCR translates text from the document into a code that is then used for data processing. The data is then placed into a digital workflow which will then automatically pay suppliers providing all supporting information matches.
How do you calculate ROI on automation?
Substantial time and resource savings are one of the key reasons that businesses are automating their accounts payable process. Have you ever wondered what those savings might look like for your business?
Why not try our free ROI calculator, the results may help you decide whether a project of this nature is worth considering. Just answer a few simple questions and then we can provide you with an estimate of just how much value you could potentially unlock.
What are the benefits of AP automation?
By automating AP you can achieve simplicity, speed, and immeasurable savings. Our mobile-friendly platform ensures you can start processing invoices more efficiently, even whilst working away from the office.
Improve accuracy:
By manually keying in data there is room for human error, accidentally typing in the wrong number, putting something in the wrong place, or deleting something you shouldn’t have. By automating AP, your data will be captured electronically, which not only speeds up the process but also reduces the risk of errors that could cost your business money.
Time efficiency:
Invoice cycle time is often a challenge to stay on top of when done manually. To keep the cash flow liquid your business should pay invoices on time. Automating AP can speed up the process from intake to approval, helping ensure that suppliers are paid on time.
Protect yourself from fraud:
To protect your business from fraud it is crucial that your team follows the correct approval process and only pays legitimate invoices. Automated systems track every action that takes place on an invoice, from who handled it to what steps have been taken.
Improve vendor relationships:
Once your team is spending less time manually keying in data and matching invoices, you may be more likely to make early payments and negotiate vendor discounts. Consistently paying invoices early will improve your relationship with vendors which could benefit you and your business in the future.
Grow your business:
Technology is ever-evolving and the way we run our businesses is changing alongside this. Automation allows your business to grow and change with the times. As technology improves so can your automated processes, allowing your business to grow to its full potential.
Would you like to find out more about how Accounts Payable automation could be a good fit for your business? Why not get in touch, it would be our pleasure to set up a call.
