ACCOUNTS PAYABLE SOFTWARE

Yes, absolutely. Modern AP automation solutions like Emburse can automate everything from invoice capture and data entry to approval workflows and payment processing. This includes automatically capturing invoice data using OCR technology, matching invoices to purchase orders, routing approvals, and processing payments.

Yes. According to our customer surveys, 65% of organizations saw a return on their investment with Emburse within 6 months. Furthermore, 95% of surveyed organizations reported satisfaction with Emburse's ability to reduce their invoice management process time from input to payment. Beyond just saving time, automation also helps organizations gain better visibility into spend, with 96% of organizations reporting improved spend visibility before transactions occur.

Key benefits of using AP automation software include:

• Dramatically reduced processing times (from weeks to hours)
• Lower processing costs per invoice
• Real-time visibility into cash flow
• Fewer errors and duplicate payments
• Better vendor relationships through timely payments
• Ability to capture early payment discounts
• Enhanced fraud prevention
• Easier compliance and audit trails

AP automation software eliminates manual data entry and uses intelligent matching algorithms to validate invoices against purchase orders and receipts. The system automatically flags discrepancies, duplicates, and suspicious activities before they become problems. For example, one of our customers, Educational Alliance, reports they now catch 90% of errors upfront using automation. This significantly reduces payment mistakes and helps maintain compliance while streamlining the entire process.

Accounts payable automation, or AP automation, leverages technology to streamline the traditionally manual process of managing vendor invoices and payments. By digitizing and automating tasks such as invoice receipt, data extraction, invoice approval workflows, and payment processing, AP automation eliminates inefficiencies and reduces errors. The process typically involves scanning invoices using OCR (optical character recognition) to extract data, matching invoices with purchase orders and receipts, routing them for approval, and executing payments electronically. This end-to-end system ensures faster processing, improved accuracy, and enhanced financial visibility.

AP automation improves accuracy by removing the reliance on manual data entry, which is prone to human error. Advanced technologies like OCR and artificial intelligence ensure that invoice data is captured accurately and discrepancies are flagged automatically. Automated three-way matching of invoices, purchase orders, and receipts ensures consistency across documents. Additionally, built-in compliance controls prevent duplicate payments or unauthorized transactions. By standardizing workflows and providing real-time visibility into the AP process, automation minimizes errors while enabling teams to focus on higher-value tasks.

Key features to look out for when choosing accounts payable automation software include:

• OCR technology for automated data capture
• Intelligent matching capabilities
• Customizable approval workflow capabilities
• Integration with your existing ERP system
• Mobile accessibility for remote work
• Real-time reporting and analytics
• Vendor payments portal functionality
• Trusted security and compliance features
• Scalability to grow with your AP department and business

Modern AP automation solutions offer seamless integration with major ERP and accounting systems through pre-built connectors and APIs. They provide bi-directional synchronization, meaning data flows automatically between systems without manual intervention. This ensures your financial data stays consistent across all platforms while eliminating the need for manual data entry or exports.

There are many leading AP software solutions available, each catering to different business needs. Emburse offers a robust AP automation platform that fully automates accounts payable processes while integrating seamlessly with existing ERP systems. Emburse's platform provides features such as automated invoice processing, approval workflows, electronic payments, and analytics dashboards. Finding the right choice depends on factors like company size, industry requirements, and existing financial systems.

Working with an AP automation provider like Emburse offers several advantages:

• Expertise in implementation and best practices
• Ongoing support and training
• Regular updates and new features
• Secure, cloud-based infrastructure
• Proven integration capabilities
• Scalable solutions that grow with your business
• Dedicated customer success teams

An AP automation solution streamlines your entire accounts payable process where:

1. Invoice capture occurs through various methods (email, scan, direct upload)
2. OCR technology automatically extracts and validates invoice data
3. The system matches invoices with PO invoices and receipts
4. Invoice automation through automated workflows route invoices for approval based on your business rules
5. Approved invoices are automatically processed for invoice payment
6. All data syncs with your accounting system
7. Real-time reporting provides visibility into the entire invoice processing