Simplify payments – Automate AP & AR with ease

Accounts payable automation software is designed to streamline and secure traditional paper-heavy manual AP processes, such as processing invoices and paying vendors. It often can be integrated with your general ledger, allowing you to pass important data back and forth. If done right, automation allows you to streamline, secure, and simplify core AP processes. Bottomline is a leader in AP automation, earning multiple G2 awards, and has been helping companies improve accounts payable for nearly two decades.

AP Automation is intended to be used by any industry to handle core invoice and payment challenges. AP Automation for Real Estate is a Bottomline solution dedicated to the unique problems and needs of the real estate market.

We work with any company and industry you can think of. We primarily work with medium-to-large enterprise companies that receive a high volume of vendor payments each month, allowing them to automate functions that are overwhelming when handled manually. In addition, we work with a wide range of ERPs and general ledgers.

Because inefficient processes are more frustrating and expensive than ever before, and automation can save considerable time and money. Automation solutions eliminate manual invoice and payment processing work, streamline approvals, and make secure payments easier to execute.  

There's a lengthy list here, but AP automation can help finance teams solve these common issues and others:  

• Manual invoice processing errors, slowdown, and frustration 

• Payments and invoice fraud potential from antiquated processes 

• Vendor data acquisition and management struggles  

• Strained business relationships and extra costs from slow, inefficient payments 

• Staff time wasted on manual process flows instead of valuable activities  

Yes. Regardless of the size of your organization, industry, and team needs, automation can be a difference maker. Because it removes manual work, saves time, trims expenses, and secures key functions, AP automation has an excellent return on investment (ROI) for almost any business.  

The cost will be variable. Typically, invoice automation and payments automation are separate costs that can be bundled into one AP automation purchase. Payments that offer rebates can ensure payments automation is low cost or free with a willing vendor community. Invoice time and cost savings often significantly offset the cost of an automation solution, as well.  

If a solution provider gives you a flat cost without factoring in these savings and rebates, or without knowing your business, take that price point with a grain of salt.  

Depending on your business needs, either one aspect or the entire process flow. We offer separate invoice automation and payment automation solutions, both of which feature fraud prevention and data management capabilities but can also combine the two into one continuous automation workflow. That approach carries significant reductions in time, inefficiency, errors, and risk.  

We offer an implementation guide that covers the basics. Typically, dedicated teams at Bottomline or any other provider should work closely with your Information Technology (IT), finance, and executive sponsor(s) to ensure data transfers smoothly between Bottomline systems and your own. There will also be setup related to payments and vendors, but the entire go-live process can be done in 60-90 days and with limited hours from your team.  

Accounts payable automation solutions can take the human element out of processing and control access to certain approvers, shutting out common fraud avenues. The use of machine learning and advanced automation can also flag and prevent fraud by noticing signs staff might miss, given their busy day-to-day. With a secure payments network like Bottomline’s Paymode, vendor financial data is authenticated and protected behind layers of security, preventing accounts payable fraud and keeping payments safe.  

Secure electronic payments through the Paymode network are synonymous with our payments automation solution. When you purchase the full AP automation solution from Bottomline, you’re gaining access to Paymode’s payments automation and our Bottomline invoice automation, which work seamlessly together.

Glad you asked! The reason our offerings are considered a cut above by industry analysts like Ardent Partners and Javelin is due to our focus on secure and comprehensive vendor enrollment in electronic payments. In addition, Bottomline offers invoice automation that adapts to your changing needs, and considerable rebate potential with our flagship Premium ACH payment offering. We also put our team and technology up against any other provider, but we know we’re a little biased there.