If your accounts payable team still keys in invoice data, chases approvers by email and fields supplier calls about payment status, you already know where the hours go. The harder part is proving to leadership that AP automation software is worth the investment, then working out what a good solution should actually do once you have the budget.
Produced by Tradeshift, this e-book explains accounts payable automation in plain terms for AP managers, controllers and finance leaders who want to move from manual, paper-heavy invoice handling to a digital process. It works as a primer, a case for change and a buyer's FAQ in one short read.
What AP automation software changes in day-to-day invoice handling
The document traces the path most teams follow, from fully manual invoicing to electronic processing to genuine automation, where tasks disappear rather than just speed up. You'll see how a single shared environment gives you sight of every invoice and payment, why supplier self-service cuts down on status inquiries, and how digital payments compare with paper checks on cost.
It also names the everyday problems that slow AP down, from lost and misrouted invoices to the sheer volume of paper, and connects each one to what invoice automation and e-invoicing fix. A clear section explains how suppliers, cost center owners, purchasers and senior leadership can each get their own view into the same process. That shared visibility is where much of the gain in control comes from.
Building an AP business case leadership will sign off on
Many AP professionals want to modernize but stall at executive buy-in. The e-book addresses this head on. It sets out the top challenges businesses face with their AP processes and the outcomes a solution has to prove before leadership will commit, including the compliance angle that tends to get a CFO's attention.
One practical hook: it breaks down the three ways AP automation reduces invoice processing costs. That structure is useful when you need to put a cost argument in front of finance.
After reading, you'll be able to:
- Explain AP automation benefits in terms leadership cares about
- Tell the difference between "electronic" tools and truly digital, cloud-based ones
- Get clear on goals, bandwidth and budget before starting a vendor search
- Position AP as a strategic partner to procurement, treasury and the CFO
What best-in-class accounts payable teams do differently
The guide profiles four traits that set best-in-class accounts payable teams apart and backs them with figures on how much more likely these leaders are to standardize processes, adopt electronic payments and e-invoices, and partner with procurement and treasury. If you've wondered how your own department measures up, this section gives you a benchmark to hold it against.
It goes on to show how automation moves AP from reactive to proactive. Richer data from invoices, purchase orders and supplier records feeds better reporting, forecasting and planning, and digital connections with suppliers make collaboration across procure-to-pay far easier. The argument is simple: once the menial work is automated, AP earns a seat at the strategy table.
Toward the end, Tradeshift describes how its platform, Tradeshift Pay, is designed as a native digital experience built around control, visibility and lower costs, and notes that buyers at companies such as DHL, Air France-KLM and Volvo use it to settle invoices every day. A closing FAQ answers the questions buyers ask most often, including how to implement AP automation, who benefits and how to select a vendor.
Download the full AP automation guide
Get the complete e-book for the AP challenges, benefits, best-in-class benchmarks and cost-saving breakdown in full detail, plus the buyer's FAQ. It's a quick, practical read if you're preparing an AP business case or starting to evaluate AP automation software. Fill out the form to download your copy.