Automated accounts payable solutions - six steps to update

Whether you’re looking at just starting your journey to accounts payable automation, or if you’re researching new technology to improve upon your existing automation efforts, it can be a confusing market with a wide variety of solutions, automation software,  and tools. This accounts payable automation software comparison guide was created to help you start researching, evaluating, and selecting the best AP automation software solution for your organization’s needs.

Step #1: define your scope

Defining the scope of the project is the first stop on the journey to implementing automation accounts payable solutions. While the organization’s goals might seem simple, each process and its execution must be evaluated.

Just to set the scene, here’s a quick overview of the critical steps of invoice processing so that you can determine which areas you are looking to improve:

1. Invoice reception and data capture
2. Invoice workflow and approval
3. Supplier payment

Invoice processing is not the same as e-invoicing, nor supplier portals, or complex procurement systems. These types of solutions may help you work more efficiently, in some ways, but do not support the core of the accounts payable process. If accounts payable is your top priority you should focus your efforts on a solution that can handle these three steps:

Invoice reception: paper, pdf, xml… all data in one format

How do you receive supplier invoices today? Paper in mail, pdf via email and/or e-invoices? A good scanning and data capture solution will do the job of consolidating all invoices regardless of format into standardized data to be entered into your AP digital workflow. This service can be outsourced, purchased as part of the AP invoice automation solution, or as a stand-alone system. In the latter case, it is crucial that a solid connection between your capture solution and all other systems in place.

Invoice workflow: accelerate processing by removing manual tasks

The actual processing of an invoice includes different tasks, depending on the type of invoice. Expense, or non-PO, invoices need to be coded, distributed, and approved. Invoices that refer to a purchase order (PO) need to be connected to a PO, have data matched on line level, and any identified deviations distributed for review and approval. With a modern AP invoice automation solution, each of these tasks can be automated to a great extent.

If you’re considering relying solely on the existing workflow capabilities native to your ERP/finance system, be sure to examine if it is suitable for delivering an effective solution for touchless invoice processing. Factor in the IT overhead and ongoing support for configuring and maintaining native workflows in your business case, ROI analysis, and success metrics.

Supplier payment: secure and fast payments for better supplier relationships

Once the invoice has been processed and approved in the AP workflow, iit will be posted in the ERP system for final booking and payment. The best accounts payable automation software solution will help you accelerate invoice processing to enable faster payment to your supplier. If you choose the path of an external AP solution, the processing will happen outside of your ERP, so it is critical that the solution you select has a seamless and solid integration to the ERP to ensure information flows seamlessly and securely between the two systems.

The project scope should be based on your organization’s needs and challenges. The important thing to remember here is to set clearly defined objectives and to stay within the project scope. One of the biggest pitfalls of an AP automation software initiative is adding sub-projects in related areas to the scope, such as dynamic discounting, supplier portals, e-invoicing, etc.  These can be considered as separate additional initiatives, but their success relies on getting your AP house in order first to avoid more complicated AP automation challenges.

Examples of specific and measurable project goals include:

• Reduce invoice processing lead time by X%
• Achieve Y% fully automated – touchless – processing of PO-based invoices
• Reduce hard costs generated by late vendor payments by Z
  
  

Step #2: map the current AP process to identify your needs

The accounts payable process usually consists of two different workflows, depending on the invoice type: processing expense invoices not related to a purchase order and processing direct spend invoices that will be matched with a purchase order and goods receipt note in the ERP and/or the procurement system.

The key here is to look at your current process and focus on where your pain points are so that you ensure the solution you select addresses these crucial areas, rather than less problematic sections that would be “nice to have.” Start this step by identifying the proportion of PO vs. non-PO invoices in your organization. Then, map out how you handle these workflows today – how many people are involved, which steps are manual vs. automated, and what are the main pain points or bottlenecks in each process flow? How do you currently archive your invoices after they are processed? Here’s a list of the most common AP automation challenges in each workflow to help you get started.

Challenges in the direct spend (PO) invoices workflow:

• Matching invoice lines with corresponding data on purchase orders and goods receipts notes when not all data is digital and/or synced up in one system.
  
  
• Managing deviating invoice data is a very time-consuming task, requiring investigation with suppliers and buyers.
  
  
• If an automatic matching process is in place, there is often a challenge when data doesn’t match up perfectly, prompting a manual review.
  
  
• All matching engines are not equal, which can significantly impact touchless invoice processing versus higher than expected levels of intervention.
  
  

Challenges in the indirect spend (non-PO) invoices workflow:

• If there is no central inbox for vendor invoices, these will be sent to different recipients in various formats and are at risk of getting stuck in personal inboxes or on desks in disperse locations before ever being, entered, into the AP process.
  
  
• Manual handling and numerous people involved in the AP process increase the risk of human errors in the coding, approval, and payment of an invoice.
  
  
• Old-fashioned and clunky systems delay the AP process and increase the risk of late - or worse - no payments, to vendors.
  
  
• Without a solution in place, it is nearly impossible to have insight into the status of an invoice, invoices close to due date, actual spend, and invoices that need to be accrued for.
  
  

Once you have your list of the main pain points you wish to remove by implementing or replacing an AP automation solution, you will have a pretty good understanding of what key accounts payable software features you should be looking for when vetting different suppliers and solutions. Now you are ready to make a more educated accounts payable automation software comparison.

Step #3: identify system dependencies

The Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system or financial system is the most important dependency when considering a new AP automation solution. It is crucial that your new AP solution has a powerful, stable, and seamless connection to the ERP to ensure effortless synchronization of your master data – from general ledger accounts and payment terms to purchase orders and tax codes.

When a complete synchronization has been set up, invoice, procurement, and accounting data can be exchanged seamlessly between the business systems to facilitate matching of invoice data with purchase orders, goods receipts, and contracts at line level detail. For your AP department, this means accurate and efficient invoice processing with the highest level of automation.

The key action points in this step are to identify which ERP system(s) your organization uses, as well as any other systems involved in the accounts payable ledger(s) and purchase order processing. Then, find out internally if there are any plans to upgrade or change these systems, which might impact the timeline of your automation project. With this in mind, be sure to fully vet the vendors you’re researching. Can they provide a stable and strong connection to your ERP and integrate with your various systems? This is when AP automation software comparisons are crucial.

Step #4: capture IT requirements

Many companies looking to automate their accounts payable process encounter a challenge when it comes to integrating a system with their existing IT infrastructure, including the ERP in use. If you select to install an on-premise solution - hosted on your own servers and requiring numerous customizations - implementing a new system will quickly become a complex, time-consuming, and costly IT project. 

Good news: there is another way. Today, there are many AP automation solutions available as a standard cloud service. A standardized application means you have access to the full functionality that can be configured to your business needs and processes in a smooth and speedy deployment project. Business Administrators, rather than IT resources, are responsible for ongoing configuration updates as they know how your organization transacts business with suppliers and how those suppliers bill you. Another benefit of a cloud solution is that product upgrades are made available automatically on a regular basis, so there is no need to engage the IT team or bring in external consultants for upgrade projects.

As actionable checkpoints for this step, make sure you involve your IT team to ensure they can support the project with the resources needed. They can also help you make the decision between an on-premise or a more scalable, cloud solution. And, lastly, be sure to ask your IT team for any specific requirements related to system security, hosting, and maintenance. 

Step #5: research, audit and compare solutions

Now that you have a pretty good understanding of what type of solution you need and the challenges you wish to solve, it’s time you start looking for the solution that best matches your identified needs. There is a reason that this step is at the end of the list: if you start researching solutions before you have a clear view of your needs, you may be seduced by something that looks amazing on a fancy website or glossy marketing brochure but, in reality, doesn’t do the job you need.

Just like when you are planning to buy a new car or book your next holiday trip, make sure you do thorough research using different information channels to perform your accounts payable automation software comparison:

• Start with Google to identify potential candidate solutions, browse and bookmark their website.
  
  
• Head to LinkedIn to participate in discussions in relevant groups, ask group members for their experiences when selecting and implementing a new AP automation solution.
  
  
• Ask your peers or friends in similar positions and/or companies for feedback and recommendations on the solution they use.
  
  

Once you find your narrow list of vendors, ask them for case studies and references, as well as live demos. Then cross-reference your top list in a single comparison sheet and evaluate how well each solution matches the requirements you highlighted in steps 1-4. 

Step #6: build your business case

If you have completed the previous steps of this buyer’s guide, then you have already done the majority of the research and data collection needed to build a business case. Now it’s time to summarize your findings and make sure you present the relevant information to the right stakeholders and decision makers to overcome any AP automation challenges they might have..

How to sell to your IT stakeholders

Your IT stakeholders will need to know what impact the new solution will have on their organization both regarding implementation, including integration with existing IT infrastructure, and ongoing maintenance. So, to gain IT’s approval, they will need to know:

• What resources will be required from the IT team during implementation?
  
  
• Will the solution require ongoing support from IT in terms of maintenance and regular upgrades?
  
  
• How will the solution support future changes in business or IT infrastructure?
  
  

As discussed in step 4, if you select a cloud-based solution you will be able to tick many of the IT team’s checkboxes since this will offer you an easy integration, no internal maintenance, and automatic product upgrades. In fact, you will likely be helping your IT manager free up time for core business projects by replacing old, on-premise solutions with a cloud service.

How to sell to your Finance stakeholders

For your finance stakeholders, it is going to be mostly about doing the math and making sure you can present a rapid and credible ROI. But finance managers also want to be reassured that this is going to be a low-risk project, so building trust and presenting a solution with a proven track record is very important. Here, you should make sure to have case studies or reference calls with companies already using the solution at hand to prove the credibility of the vendor and your business case.

Plus, a modern accounts payable automation software solution will help deliver improved visibility into spend and more accurate cash flow and accrual reporting. And the right accounts payable software features, for sure, is something that will put a smile on any CFO’s face.

Do the math - ROI

When it comes to the ROI calculations there are a few data points you need to collect:

Solution cost: it is crucial that you have the full and detailed picture so that you can calculate the total cost of ownership. Ask your vendor:

• Will you pay a license cost or monthly subscription? What is this cost based on – number of invoices, users or something else?
  
  
• What will be the cost for product upgrades in the next few years?
  
  
• What is the implementation cost and how much support will be required from your internal IT staff during implementation?
  
  
• What cost should you expect for ongoing support and maintenance?
  
  

Hard savings, such as:

• Headcount reduction and/or scaling existing organization to manage larger responsibilities.
  
  
• Avoided late payment fees, lost or duplicate payments and savings from early payment discounts.
  
  
• Reduce the cost of handling paper invoices (scanning, mailing, archiving).
  
  
• Removal of internal resources from maintenance of old systems.
  
  

Soft savings, such as:

• Time savings across the organization (i.e. budget holders doing clerical work and AP staff dealing with vendor escalations).
  
  
• Freeing up resources in AP for more value-adding tasks.
  
  
• Improved insights into AP process bringing timely and more accurate support for financial forecasting, cash flow, and accrual reporting.
  
  
• Improved vendor relationships.
  
  
• Better organizational flexibility in case of business changes such as mergers, acquisitions, and international expansions. 
  
  

What is the best accounts payable automation solution?

Ask your vendor to help you gather and benchmark all these numbers and put everything into a spreadsheet to present to your internal stakeholders. A well-presented analysis of your accounts payable automation software comparison with findings helps you overcome any AP automation challenges presented by the C-suite.