Resources / FAQs
About AP Automation
What is accounts payable 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.
Why should a company use accounts payable automation?
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.
Here are five benefits AP automation can provide both you and your company:
- Improves VisibilityintoInvoices
Automating AP improves visibility by providing remote, 24/7 access toup-to-the minute invoice and payment datain a centralized, cloud-based hub.You don’t need to be intheoffice to accessinformationaboutyour business. - More Efficient Processing
With AP automation, your staffwon’tneed to open and sort paper invoices,wait for mail or overnight couriersor physically chase down colleaguesfor approvals.Accounts payable automationalso makes audits easier, keeping detailed records on every invoice and payment and allowingthose with granted accessto review audit trails or processing steps and createreports on a moment’s notice. - Reduced Costs
An automatedaccounts payablesolution reducesmanymanualinvoice and paymentprocessingsteps, as well as the costs associated with “paper pushing”such asopening and sorting invoices, physically moving them to the desk of each approver, filing processed invoicesand checksand finding those invoices again when they are needed for auditsand research.Automated AP allows your company to reduce printing or mailing stations, file cabinets andremote storage— which means you can reallocate valuable office spaceor reduce the need for offsite storage facilities.Automating paymentsprovidesopportunities to earn rebates from paying supplierselectronically instead of by check,opening upanewrevenue source from AP spend in addition tocutting processing costs. - Scalability for Growth
Growth is a top priority for most companies, but it’s hard to keep up withgoals when you’re strained by limited resources and a steadily growing work volume. APautomation helps drive growth. Consider what would happen if you doubled the number of invoices and payments you processtoday. Handling this growth manuallycouldtake nearly twice the resources, butby automating your AP process,you could free up resources to stay focused on more strategicinitiatives. - More Secure Invoices and Payments
By automating accounts payable, you reduce the risk of fraudsters stealing your corporate information.
What is accounts payable automation software?
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.
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.
Here’s 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’re in control — 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’s bills. Step by step, the AP management software helps lead you through this smooth process.
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.
What does accounts payable software do?
An accounts payable (AP) automation system manages an organization’s 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.
Sequentially, some of the key features of AP software from the user’s perspective include:
- Visibility into all invoices posted to the system;
- access to the invoices from any device connected to the Internet;
- visibility into the processing stages of each invoice;
- ability to specify which invoices customers want to pay or payments they want to send; and
- the ability tosend payments invendors’andsuppliers’preferred method, whetherby electronic payment orsecure paperchecks.
How can companies automate invoice processing?
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.
How can companies automate invoice approval?
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’s rules and workflow restrictions.
These rules and restrictions help eliminate the hassle of reaching out to an approver every month about the same dollar amount threshold.
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.
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’re coded and the dollars outstanding.
AvidXchange’s 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.
How does accounts payable automation reduce invoice processing costs?
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.
AvidXchange 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.
How long does accounts payable automation implementation take?
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.
At AvidXchange, implementation can be completed in as little as 45 days.
How AvidXchange Works
What does my invoice look like once it’s in the AvidXchange system?
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’ve pulled from it, such as the invoice amount, vendor and due date.
How do invoices get into the AvidXchange software?
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.
In disputing an invoice with AvidXchange, how is that handled?
Anyone involved in the invoice review and approval process that has appropriate permissions can disputean invoice. And the Internal System Administrator or anyonewith proper authority onyour internal team can void an invoice.
How can approval workflows be configured in AvidXchange?
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.
Does AvidXchange replace my accounting system?
Your accounting system is always the system of record. AvidXchange doesn’t replace your accounting system; it augments it with software and services. AvidXchange 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.
How does AvidXchange integrate with my accounting system?
AvidXchange supports hundreds ofERP and accounting system integrations. These systems increasingly use application programming interfaces (APIs). With an API, wehelpenable the AP software to “plug into” and “talk to” the accounting software.
AvidXchange 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 – anytime, from anywhere.
Does our supplier already need to be enrolled in the AvidPay Network for us to send you our payment?
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.
How long does AvidXchange retain our invoices?
For reporting purposes, AvidXchange 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 AvidXchange 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.
How does AvidXchange help eliminate the need for us to handle paper invoices?
Paper invoices are converted to an electronic format. As a result, paper invoices get reduced from your process. AvidXchange 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.
What if I decide to leave AvidXchange?
AvidXchange 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.
Do we need to be live in our accounting system to begin implementation with AvidXchange?
Yes, we recommend that you are live in your accounting system prior to beginning the implementation process with AvidXchange. After your accounting system gets configured, we‘ll set up your AvidXchange portal with data from your accounting system.
How will AvidXchange impact our current accounts payable approval process?
AvidXchange 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’t change your approval process because the workflow in your AvidXchange 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’re a part of the invoice and or payment review process, AvidXchange 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.
How many payment methods does AvidXchange offer with rebate-generating incentives?
Unlike many providers, we offer two different electronic methods that generate rebates for you: AvidPay Direct – an enhanced direct deposit option – and virtual Mastercard payments.
How do my suppliers/vendors get paid?
AvidXchange 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.
We make payments to vendors based on their preferences using Mastercard, AvidPay Direct payment or a paper check.
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’s current payment approval processes, payment files can be routed to approvers for final approval before they’re sent to vendors.
Your company’s accounting system remains your system of record, and you’ll receive files with all the automated payment information your company needs for reconciliation of your B2B bill payments.
AP and Payment Automation Implementation
What support does AvidXchange offer during implementation?
As a new AvidXchange customer, you’ll have a dedicatedprojectteam to fullysupport and implement your solutionsduring the implementation cycle.Typically, over the course of several weeks our team will work with yours through an implementationconsisting of:
- Kickoff and data collection
- Process and technical scoping
- Configuration and change management planning
- Testing and end-user training
- Going live
Once you’re live on our automated accounts payable solutions, we’ll 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.
What should a company do to help ensure successful launch of accounts payable automation software?
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 to help ensure you get off on the right foot.
- StrengthenCommunicationAround theUpgradeProject
Unless everyone impacted by the project is included, you may find some resistance and push-back from internal teams. As your business plans and executes this accounts payable workflow automation upgrade, you’ll need strong and upbeat communications to generate enthusiasm among your employees about the benefits. For 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’re not sure where to begin, consider creating a monthly schedule. - TurnSuppliers into Partners
AP automation can lead to accepting e-invoices from your suppliers, but that won’t happen unless those suppliers collaborate in the upgrade process.Here’san idea: Remind your vendors that the upgrades will help them too. But remember: Your automated system won’t 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 each supplier on board and participating with your new AP system. Create an onboarding plan you can use for each supplier once your newAPsystem is live. That way you can efficiently integrate them into the process. - Assess Successes and Areas for Improvement
Through testing, data and evaluations, you can keep a constant cycle of upgrades and improvements for the future. Look at key metrics and consider creating a monthly “scorecard” that tells leaders and team members how they’re 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.
Can accounts payable automation software help us avoid adding new accounts payable staff?
Yes. A benefit of implementing an automated accounts payable (AP) system is scalable growth. What does that mean? It means two things:
- 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.
- And it means these AP managers can be re-assigned to other value-added and professionally fulfilling projects within your finance department.
How long does it take to implement AvidXchange?
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’ll have a dedicated project team from AvidXchange supporting you the entire way.
AvidXchange Support
Does AvidXchange offer ongoing customer support?
Yes. We have hundreds of teammates on four distinct teams dedicated entirely to your success:
- Customer Success: Manages the relationship and helps drive engagement, adoption, retention and satisfaction through strategic business reviews, regular health checks and managing escalations.
- Customer Education: Creates tools and content to help you and your team best use AvidXchange. Tools include micro learning videos, educational webinars with Q&A, and our user community, AvidXchange Advantage.
- Customer Care:Our frontline support team provides personal, timely and complete issue resolution.
- Customer Advocacy: Continuously works with customers to collect product feedback and enhancements.
Does AvidXchange offer ongoing education and training resources?
Yes, our Customer Knowledge Center is full of free articles, videos, and other resources to help you become an AP automation master. You can even earn CPE credits by completing AvidXchange certification courses through our AvidXchange Academy.
How can current AvidXchange customers contact customer service?
You can reach our Customer Care team through any of the following methods:
- Case Submission Form
- Emailing us at [emailprotected]
- Calling us at 704-971-8170
I’m a supplier/vendor of an AvidXchange AP automation customer. Who should I contact for help, AvidXchange or my customer?
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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