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Frequently Asked Questions

About AP Automation

Accounts payable (AP) automation helps reduce the manual tasks and paper commonly required to process invoices and pay bills. Typically, AP automation solution or service providers use software that helps enable users to process invoices and pay them electronically over the Internet. The combination of software and services converts invoices into digital formats, organizes the invoices within the system, routes them for approvals and issues payments to suppliers once authorized. Automating AP not only helps eliminate paper; it streamlines the process and provides 24/7 visibility into the status of invoices, approvals and payments.

Accounts payable (AP) automation streamlines the entire invoice-to-pay process, allowing companies to pay bills faster with less work while cutting processing costs and reducing fraud and security risks. AP automation technology liberates anyone involved in the processing and payments of invoices, including your AP manager, controller and CFO, from the pains of paper-based processing.听听

Here are five benefits AP automation can provide both you and your company:听

  1. Improves Visibility听into听Invoices
    Automating AP improves visibility by providing remote, 24/7 access to听up-to-the minute invoice and payment data听in a centralized, cloud-based hub.听You don鈥檛 need to be in听the听office to access听information听about听your business.听听
  2. More Efficient Processing听
    With AP automation, your staff听won鈥檛听need to open and sort paper invoices,听wait for mail or overnight couriers听or physically chase down colleagues听for approvals.听Accounts payable automation听also makes audits easier, keeping detailed records on every invoice and payment and allowing听those with granted access听to review audit trails or processing steps and create听reports on a moment鈥檚 notice.听听听听
  3. Reduced Costs听
    An automated听accounts payable听solution reduces听many听manual听invoice and payment听processing听steps, as well as the costs associated with 鈥減aper pushing鈥澨齭uch as听opening and sorting invoices, physically moving them to the desk of each approver, filing processed invoices听and checks听and finding those invoices again when they are needed for audits听and research.听Automated AP allows your company to reduce printing or mailing stations, file cabinets and听remote storage听鈥 which means you can reallocate valuable office space听or reduce the need for offsite storage facilities.听Automating payments听provides听opportunities to earn rebates from paying suppliers听electronically instead of by check,听opening up听a听new听revenue source from AP spend in addition to听cutting processing costs.听听
  4. Scalability for Growth听
    Growth is a top priority for most companies, but it鈥檚 hard to keep up with听goals when you鈥檙e strained by limited resources and a steadily growing work volume. AP听automation helps drive growth. Consider what would happen if you doubled the number of invoices and payments you process听today. Handling this growth manually听could听take nearly twice the resources, but听by automating your AP process,听you could free up resources to stay focused on more strategic听initiatives.听听
  5. More Secure Invoices and Payments
    By automating accounts payable, you reduce the risk of fraudsters stealing your corporate information.

An accounts payable (AP) automation software platform will assist you with processing your invoices and payments. It will display all invoices posted to the platform, control the routing of invoices for approvals on a workflow, create an audit trail of the steps performed in processing your invoices and enable users to work efficiently and effectively.听

The invoice processing platform should provide a central repository for all your invoices and integrate with your accounting system. It should also facilitate bill payments to your suppliers and track all payment processing stages in an electronic payment system.听

Here鈥檚 one conceptual way to help you better understand how this software works. It functions a bit like the GPS application on your smartphone. You type in where you want to go and the software instructs and guides you on how to get there including every stop, turn and reroute. The best part? You鈥檙e in control 鈥 but guided to get you there faster. In a similar conceptual fashion, you load AP automation software, set it up to handle your specific AP processes, and the software guides you through the steps and along the path to your destination: paying your company鈥檚 bills. Step by step, the AP management software helps lead you through this smooth process.听

Automating AP can be pivotal to your business because it limits data entry and paper invoices, drives consistency in payment processes, securely pays suppliers and controls cash flow while minimizing spending on AP.

An accounts payable (AP) automation system manages an organization鈥檚 AP process from receiving the invoice all the way to paying suppliers while maintaining its existing banking relationships and workflows. By automating the invoice and payment process, customers have 24/7 visibility into payment and approvals while a dedicated service team with the software provider manages the suppliers and executes payments on their behalf.听听

Sequentially, some of the key features of AP software from the user鈥檚 perspective include:听

  1. Visibility into all invoices posted to the system;听
  2. access to the invoices from any device connected to the Internet;听
  3. visibility into the processing stages of each invoice;听
  4. ability to specify which invoices customers want to pay or payments they want to send; and听
  5. the ability to听send payments in听vendors鈥櫶齛nd听suppliers鈥櫶齪referred method, whether听by electronic payment or听secure paper听checks.听听

To automate invoice processing, you can use invoice management software with a set of rules and conditions. If you receive an invoice on paper, start by converting that invoice into a digital format. From there you can begin automating the invoice process. The software automatically codes and categorizes the invoice, assigns it to the appropriate workflow, then routes it to corporate leaders for approvals. Rules and alerts are applied to invoices to make the software and service work best for your AP processes and limit manual participation. Once fully approved by your accounting department, invoices are sent directly into your accounting system and bill payments are automatically sent to suppliers and vendors. This automated process can mirror existing invoice approval processes while allowing companies to cut processing time.听

A company can automate invoice approval with accounts payable automation software. The software automatically converts a paper invoice, for example, into a digital electronic format. From there the software determines which corporate leaders should approve which invoices and automatically sends the invoices to the appropriate leaders based the company鈥檚 rules and workflow restrictions.听

These rules and restrictions help eliminate the hassle of reaching out to an approver every month about the same dollar amount threshold.听听

All approval amounts can be set during implementation for a smooth, streamlined process. Approvals can also be rerouted in the absence of the approver to keep business running as usual.听

Customers who use invoice automation software can track the status of any invoice at any time. They can analyze critical metrics like approval cycle times and month-end accruals. And with one-click accrual, these customers can see what invoices still need approval, how they鈥檙e coded and the dollars outstanding.听

91成人海角社区鈥檚 invoice automation software can mirror your current approval processes and workflows, helping reduce paper, duplicate payments and security risks. By automating the invoice management process, companies can track invoices electronically, streamline workflows, and access a central repository for anytime, anywhere access to invoice and payment data.

Your businesses could save about 60 percent in payment processing costs by using accounts payable (AP) automation rather than manual processes, according to Aberdeen Research. Aberdeen notes it costs up to $22 to manage the process manually from the time an invoice is received until the payment gets made, compared to about $10 per invoice in an automated accounts payable system.

91成人海角社区 helps maximize cost-savings by reducing manual efforts associated with invoice receipt and capture. Hours of employee time that used to be spent managing those manual processes can be put to more strategic work.

The exact timeline for accounts payable (AP) automation implementation will depend on the specific offerings of each service provider and how their solution integrates with your existing accounting systems.听听

At鈥91成人海角社区,鈥痠mplementation can be completed in as little as 45 days.

How 91成人海角社区 Works

It looks just like the paper invoice you receive but digitized in an electronic format so you can see it online. Once your invoice is entered into the invoice automation system, simply log in to see an actual image of the digital invoice along with all the data that we鈥檝e pulled from it, such as the invoice amount, vendor and due date.

We notify your suppliers to send their paper invoices to a PO Box set up on your behalf, as well as submit their invoices to an email address established for you. Our invoice ingestion service will take the invoice, convert any paper invoices to an electronic format and post them to the system.

Anyone involved in the invoice review and approval process that has appropriate permissions can dispute听an invoice. And the Internal System Administrator or anyone听with proper authority on听your internal team can void an invoice.

Workflows are built according to the business practices you have in place now. Our team will work with yours to understand how your approval process works then build as many workflows needed to accommodate your process.

Your accounting system is always the system of record. 91成人海角社区 doesn鈥檛 replace your accounting system; it augments it with software and services. 91成人海角社区 integrates with your accounting system as a complementary platform, connecting directly with the accounting system so you can automate the entire AP process without giving up control.

91成人海角社区 supports hundreds of听ERP and accounting system integrations. These systems increasingly use application programming interfaces (APIs). With an API, we听help听enable the AP software to 鈥減lug into鈥 and 鈥渢alk to鈥 the accounting software.

91成人海角社区 helps reduce the manual, paper-based effort required for processing invoices and payments and allows companies to pay bills with a few simple clicks or keystrokes 鈥 anytime, from anywhere.

To accept payments a supplier does not need to do any extra work. Our supplier services teams proactively and continually enroll new suppliers into the AvidPay Network.听

For reporting purposes, 91成人海角社区 allows access to invoices for up to seven years.

If your company wants to get back up copies of invoice images, you can ask us for a data extraction that we can store on a universal serial bus (USB) or compact disk (CD). Depending on access in your 91成人海角社区 portal, at any time you can create searches, run reports and export your invoice data history in Excel, PDF, or view the data in HTML. With most accounting systems we already send a URL link of the invoice image into your system with the integration giving you access to the image.

Paper invoices are converted to an electronic format. As a result, paper invoices get reduced from your process. 91成人海角社区 becomes the central repository of all your invoices stored online and easily accessible. For paper invoices, we designate a P.O. Box where suppliers can mail their invoices directly. From the P.O. Box, our services will scan and index the invoice, ending the task of opening the mail and manual data entry that could be occurring today.

91成人海角社区 can provide your organization with a read-only access to the portal at your request. Prior to cancelation of services, we can also provide all invoice data captured from the portal. Invoices that have been integrated from the portal to your accounting system will still remain as records in your accounting system.

Yes, we recommend that you are live in your accounting system prior to beginning the implementation process with 91成人海角社区. After your accounting system gets configured, we鈥榣l set up your 91成人海角社区 portal with data from your accounting system.

91成人海角社区 improves your approval process by building automated approval workflows for both invoice and payment reviews that are faster, more efficient and more secure than manual workflows.

The best part is these automated approval workflows won鈥檛 change your approval process because the workflow in your 91成人海角社区 AP automation platform will be configured to mirror your current approval scenarios.

The workflow engine will be configured and defaulted based on pre-determined rules and conditions applied to the workflow. If you鈥檙e a part of the invoice and or payment review process, 91成人海角社区 helps make it easier for you to review your invoices. In this process, the AP software system will automatically route invoices needing approvals to your queue and send notifications and reminders. Your team will also gain visibility into what stage the invoice is in the review process and where it will go next.

Unlike many providers, we offer two different electronic methods that generate rebates for you: AvidPay Direct 鈥 an enhanced direct deposit option 鈥 and virtual Mastercard payments.

91成人海角社区 sends the payments to your suppliers and vendors, but you remain in complete control of approving the payments to be issued and have full visibility to track these transactions.听听

We make payments to vendors based on their preferences using Mastercard, AvidPay Direct payment or a paper check.听

You select payments from your accounting system just like you do today, but instead of selecting them for print, you select them to pay. Payments then get transmitted to the e-payment software application and your payment process begins. Based on your company鈥檚 current payment approval processes, payment files can be routed to approvers for final approval before they鈥檙e sent to vendors.

Your company鈥檚 accounting system remains your system of record, and you鈥檒l receive files with all the automated payment information your company needs for reconciliation of your B2B bill payments.

AP and Payment Automation Implementation

As a new 91成人海角社区 customer, you鈥檒l have a dedicated听project听team to鈥痜ully听support and鈥痠mplement your鈥痵olutions听during the implementation cycle.听Typically, over the course of several weeks our team will work with yours through an implementation听consisting of:听听

  1. Kickoff and data collection
  2. Process and technical scoping
  3. Configuration and change management planning
  4. Testing and end-user training
  5. Going live听

Once you鈥檙e live on our automated accounts payable solutions, we鈥檒l still be here supporting you with educational resources and different customer-focused teams constantly working to help ensure you have a pain-free, paperless AP experience.

In addition to the implementation support from your provider, here are a few helpful steps to take once you have an accounts payable (AP) automation provider onboard鈥痶o help ensure you get off on the right foot.

  1. Strengthen听Communication听Around the听Upgrade听Project
    Unless everyone impacted by the project is included, you may find some resistance and鈥痯ush-back from internal teams. As your business plans and executes this accounts payable workflow automation upgrade, you鈥檒l need strong and upbeat communications to generate enthusiasm among your employees about the benefits.鈥疐or your employees most directly affected by the transition, it can be helpful to send frequent communications. For example, you could share recent victories and planned implementations to boost support for the AP automation project. If you鈥檙e not sure where to begin, consider creating a monthly schedule.
  2. Turn听Suppliers鈥痠nto鈥疨artners
    AP automation can lead to accepting e-invoices from your suppliers, but that won鈥檛 happen unless those suppliers collaborate in the upgrade process.听Here鈥檚听an idea: Remind your vendors that the upgrades will help them too. 鈥疊ut remember: Your automated system won鈥檛 save as much time and money if your vendors keep sending you multiple copies of invoices and sending paper invoices in the mail. The economies of scale come from getting鈥痚ach supplier on board and participating with your new AP system.鈥疌reate an onboarding plan you can use for each supplier once your new听AP听system is live. That way you can efficiently integrate them into the process.
  3. Assess Successes and Areas for Improvement
    Through testing, data and evaluations, you can keep a constant cycle of upgrades and improvements for the future.鈥疞ook at key metrics and consider creating a monthly 鈥渟corecard鈥 that tells leaders and team members how they鈥檙e doing. Create benchmark goals that you expect to surpass with the new system and investigate any failures and opportunities for improvement. Be specific and concrete with your numbers. Make the business case based on real financial metrics.

Yes. A benefit of implementing an automated accounts payable (AP) system is scalable growth. What does that mean? It means two things:

  1. Companies may not need to hire new AP managers to keep up with growing invoice and payment volume because the AP automation software helps handles all of that.
  2. And it means these AP managers can be re-assigned to other value-added and professionally fulfilling projects within your finance department.

Depending on the size of the organization and solution to be configured, implementation timelines may vary, but typically we can implement our entire invoice-to-pay solution in as little as 45 days. During implementation, you鈥檒l have a dedicated project team from 91成人海角社区 supporting you the entire way.

91成人海角社区 Support

Yes. We have hundreds of teammates on four distinct teams dedicated entirely to your success:听

  1. Customer Success:鈥疢anages the relationship and helps drive engagement, adoption, retention and satisfaction through strategic business reviews, regular health checks and managing escalations.
  2. Customer Education:鈥疌reates tools and content to help you and your team best use 91成人海角社区. Tools include micro learning videos, educational webinars with Q&A, and our user community, 91成人海角社区 Advantage.
  3. Customer Care:Our frontline support team provides personal, timely and complete issue resolution.
  4. Customer Advocacy:鈥疌ontinuously works with customers to collect product feedback and enhancements.

Yes, our Customer Knowledge Center is full of free articles,鈥痸ideos,鈥痑nd other resources鈥痶o help you become an AP automation master. You can even earn CPE credits by completing 91成人海角社区 certification courses through our 91成人海角社区 Academy.

You can reach our Customer Care team through any of the following methods:

  1. Emailing us at鈥[email protected]
  2. Calling us at 704-971-8170

Our Supplier Customer Care team can assist with questions or issues related to:

  • Payment status
  • Information updates such as email address and phone number
  • Updated bank information
  • Check verifications
  • Virtual card verifications
  • Applying payments
  • Validation of Virtual Card email template change

Contact us by phone at 704-971-8170.

Your customer should be contacted with questions or issues related to:

  • Invoice status
  • Change of address
  • Change to payment terms

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