Accounts payable (AP) departments are due for an upgrade. Burdened by cumbersome paper-based systems and incompatible technology stacks in the face of rising business-to-business (B2B) payment volumes, outdated AP processes are becoming a costly sticking point. Now businesses are looking to automation and artificial intelligence (AI) to provide more streamlined, efficient and secure solutions.
The advantages of AP automation are manifold, including fraud reduction, improved cash flow and advanced analytics capabilities. Plus, integrating third-party solutions can ease the transition to digital systems. AP automation not only boosts efficiency but also provides valuable insights for informed decision-making, positioning companies for future success.
AP departments are often outdated, with many still relying on manual systems. Many firms are prioritizing AP automation as B2B payments and invoice volumes increase and as complex, incompatible stacks of technology tools thwart efforts to digitize.
Businesses’ AP departments are often bogged down by costly, inefficient legacy processes, with the average enterprise reporting that half the invoices it receives are on paper and 38% of its payments are made manually. Against this backdrop, 36% of firms cite automating AP as a key priority.
of invoices that the average enterprise receives are still paper documents.
These matters are especially pressing as more and more invoices are sent and received. Nearly eight in 10 businesses expect the number of payments made through their AP systems to grow in the years ahead. Plus, 34% of businesses process more than 5,000 invoices per month.
Another pain point for businesses is the widespread lack of a unified solution for their AP processes. In fact, close to 60% of large businesses — those bringing in $10 billion to $20 billion in revenues per year — utilize five or more different AP systems. This piecemeal digitization of firms’ AP departments can lead to its own problems, including delays and greater risk of human error.
Business leaders are seeking out AI to improve their AP cycles, aiming to boost efficiency, cash flow and savings. Partnerships and third-party integration can streamline firms’ efforts to digitize and simplify AP functions.
78%
of CFOs say having AI in their AP cycle is highly important.
Seventy-eight percent of CFOs state that using AI in their AP cycle is highly important. Moreover, 73% of executives at mid-sized businesses say that automating AP boosts cash flow, augments savings or helps with the firm’s growth. Plus, 85% say AP automation offers more accurate, efficient and streamlined processes.
Procure-to-pay software suites can embed third-party solutions into existing systems, making it easy for companies to integrate AP automation as an extension of their current workflows.
Nevertheless, most businesses still handle these matters the old-fashioned way. Only 17% of enterprise firms run their source-to-pay cycles largely without human involvement.
Expense solutions firm Emburse has partnered with Finexio to enable its customers to move from manual processes to Finexio’s AI-powered digital platform.
“Our customers are increasingly looking for payment options that can help them deliver greater value for their organizations,” Emburse CEO Marne Martin stated. “Finexio’s Payments as a Service will help them do exactly that.”
Automation in B2B payments provides a wide range of benefits, helping with everything from security to revenue. Many firms expect AP automation to improve cash flow, combat check fraud and provide valuable insights that empower them to make better-informed decisions.
AP automation can help reduce scams. More than one-fifth of mid-sized firms expect these innovations will result in fraud prevention.
“If you cut out checks, you cut 60% of fraud right there,” Ernest Rolfson, founder and CEO of Finexio, told PYMNTS Intelligence.
With AI, he noted, Finexio achieves more than 90% accuracy in predicting suppliers’ virtual card acceptance, boosting security and efficiency.
Share of fraud roughly attributable to the use of paper checks
Forty-four percent of mid-sized firms anticipate AP/accounts receivable (AR) automation will yield cost savings and enhanced cash flow. Companies such as Finexio include tools within their AP B2B platforms to monetize payments, such that the technology not only increases efficiency but also generates revenue in its own right.
Enhancing data reporting and analytics is a focus for 53% of AP leaders, and digitization streamlines the process. Plus, 51% of businesses that are planning innovations in automated AP/AR solutions in the next few years cite improved data availability and insights as a key benefit.
The inefficiencies and vulnerabilities of outdated AP systems can no longer be ignored. As businesses evolve, so should their AP processes. Firms that embrace intelligent automation position themselves at the forefront of innovation, ready to tackle the challenges of tomorrow’s business landscape. Integrating up-to-date AP technologies is key to streamlining operations and driving growth as payment volumes rise.
Automated AP systems can do the following:
The transformation of AP through automation is more than a technological upgrade. It is an imperative for businesses aiming to stay competitive in an increasingly digital marketplace. As more firms recognize these benefits, AP automation will increasingly become the norm, paving the way for more innovative, efficient and secure business operations.
Automation in accounts payable isn’t just about cutting costs — it’s about transforming the entire financial operation to unlock new revenue streams, enhance security and provide real-time insights. At Finexio, we see AP automation as a critical driver of business growth, not just a process improvement. The future of accounts payable lies in intelligent automation that does more than streamline workflows. It monetizes payments, reduces fraud and empowers businesses with the data they need to make smarter decisions. Finexio is at the forefront of this transformation, enabling companies not only to optimize their AP processes but also to capitalize on them.”
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