AP Is Evolving but the Gaps Are Costly

Accounts Payable (AP) is evolving from a back-office function into a strategic business asset, with growing influence on supplier relationships, cash flow, efficiency, and risk. Yet, many organizations still face costly gaps in their AP processes. The research highlights that 84% of organizations report that 10–25% of invoices require manual intervention, while integration with existing systems remains the leading barrier to AP automation. At the same time, payment methods are rapidly shifting toward digital options such as ACH and corporate or virtual cards, reflecting a broader move toward faster and more efficient payment processes.

The whitepaper also explores the growing role of AI and the increasing challenge of payment fraud. While 57% of organizations are using AI in selected areas of AP, only 5% have fully implemented it across their operations. Meanwhile, 37% report experiencing attempted or successful payment fraud, and 86% lack strong confidence in their fraud detection capabilities. The report outlines practical priorities for AP leaders, including reducing manual intervention, strengthening supplier data, expanding AI beyond pilot programs, implementing layered fraud prevention, and adopting platforms that unify invoices, payments, controls, and reporting.

Download this whitepaper to learn more.