search icon

Use effective accounts payable software to master AP automation

Still struggling with your accounts payable processes? Discover how AP automation software simplifies accounts payable. Keep track of invoices, eliminate manual work, and prevent fraud, double payment, or late payments, to suppliers and vendors.

Benefits of accounts payable automation software

Accounts payable (AP) processes are important for managing both your cash flow and your relationship with vendors and suppliers. They are one of the most cumbersome and time-consuming tasks in accounting.

This is why so many businesses are already automating their processes using effective accounts payable software.

Simplifies accounts payable

AP automation software helps organisations stay on top of their cash flow and invoicing in an organised, timely manner to minimise cost, human error, and risk. Organisations can free up time and resources, while speeding up their processes with smart accounts payable automation software.

Boosts productivity

From keeping track of every supplier agreement to processing hundreds of invoices a day accurately, manual AP processing puts a strain on accounting teams. AP automation software eliminates thousands of hours of manual data entry from your teams' to-do lists, so they can focus on more strategic and cost-saving initiatives.

Improves cash flow control

Always know where your cash flow stands. Efficient accounts payable software gives you accurate, real-time fund visibility and reporting, so you can stay on top of your supplier agreements and your cash flow management. The clear, easy-to-understand reporting offered by AP automation, can enhance business decision-making, while improving relationships with your vendors and suppliers.

Streamlines approval process

A manual approval process can bring on late fees, unauthorised purchases, missing invoices, and a too-busy, overworked accounting team. Accounts payable software helps businesses of all sizes standardise a secure and seamless process of routing approvals, notifying stakeholders to review and approve, and preventing fraud with built-in permissions.

AP automation software key features

When it comes to accounts payable automation software, choose a solution that takes the hard work out of cash flow management. Consider these features when it's time to automate your accounts payable processes.

Automated invoice capture

Capture receipts, invoices and expenses with intuitive technology

Vendor management

Stay on top of vendor agreements to pay on time and accurately

Real-time reporting

Get easy access to AP data and improve efficacy and agility

Integrations

Seamlessly connect to your bank, tools, and other systems to save time

Workflow automation

Track, route and approve with an automated, seamless workflow

Explore our accounts payable software

Our AP automation solutions are designed to help you become a smarter business and take your organisation to the next level.

Sage Accounting

Flexible online accounting software for small businesses. Unlock potential, gain clarity, and save time.

Cloud accounting for freelancers, sole traders, and small businesses :

  • Customise, send and track invoices, quotes and estimates
  • Manage purchase invoices and suppliers
  • Forecast and control cashflow
  • Track performance with advanced reports

Sage 50 Accounts

Desktop accounting software with cloud connectivity, giving you a complete view of your business finances and inventory.

Desktop accounting with cloud connectivity for small businesses with advanced needs:

  • Manage cashflow to stay in control and grow your business
  • Accept payments easily and get paid faster
  • Full visibility and control of your payments from anywhere
  • Automate the admin and save yourself hours of work
  • Make complex accounting simple with advanced stock management

Sage Intacct

The leader in cloud accounting and financial management software. Perfect for scale-ups to global enterprises. Bespoke pricing, tailored to your business.
  • Track multiple accounts in real-time
  • Consolidate multiple entities and more in minutes
  • Collaborate from a single source of truth
  • Make strategic decisions with dimensional reporting and analytics
  • Open APIs allow multiple, stable, secure integrations

Michelle Pyle

Director of Finance, Johnny's Selected Seeds

Uploading that bill and having the system recognize, 'oh, that's this vendor', and it knows exactly where to pull that information. So, all we're doing is a review of the information that's in the system and then once it's approved, it's done. It's a wonderful thing.

AP automation software FAQs

AP automation software helps streamline and automate the accounts payable processes such as receiving and processing invoices, data entry, approval and payment.

Accounts payable is how a business processes accounts in the accounting cycle. You may choose to pay bills as soon as they land, but it’s more likely that you'll have a number of bills to pay at different times. By adding them to accounts payable, you can pay them at a date that suits you and your supplier or vendor. Sage accounts payable automation software helps businesses streamline their accounts payable processes through invoice automation, payment remittance, tax calculation and supplier management for small business accounts payable.

Accounts payable automation software improves the accuracy of your reports. Automating accounts payable will help you improve the accuracy of financial information, save time on business processes, and free up team members to work on other activities. It can help you keep track of your business spending across multiple companies and stay up-to-date on your bills, ensuring suppliers remain on your side.

Accounts payable software adapts to businesses of all sizes and industries, from freelancers to global enterprises with complex structures. Many accounting and financial planning solutions offer AP automation functionality, streamlining financial operations and reporting. This reduces the need for reconciliations between solutions.

The cost of automated accounts payable software scales with your business needs and varies depending on which solution is selected. This makes AP automation accessible for small businesses, allowing them to find a plan that fits their budget and requirements.

Get practical accounting and AP automation advice

How to survive a Revenue audit: Top tips to help your business

How to survive a Revenue audit : Top tips to help your business

Discover practical tips and advice on surviving a Revenue audit, including examples of common errors typically uncovered during the audit.

Read More
Read More
Preliminary tax: What self-employed taxpayers need to know

Preliminary tax : What self-employed taxpayers need to know

Self-employed small business owners, discover how preliminary tax works, how it's calculated, when it's due and how to submit payment.

Read More
Read More
10 top tips for filing your self-assessment tax return

10 top tips for filing your self-assessment tax return

Here are top tips on filing your self-assessment tax return, including which expenses are tax deductible and advice on pension contributions.

Read More
Read More
10 ways accountants can make the self-assessment process easier

10 ways accountants can make the self-assessment process easier

Follow these tips to help your clients prepare for self-assessment and make this busy time of year smoother for your accountancy practice.

Read More
Read More
Self-assessment expenses you can claim on your tax return

Self-assessment expenses you can claim on your tax return

Want to know how you can reduce your company's tax bill ? Here's a guide to the self-assessment expenses you can claim against your profits.

Read More
Read More
Self-assessment FAQs: 7 answers to help you when filing your tax return

Self-assessment FAQs : 7 answers to help you when filing your tax return

Discover answers to frequently asked questions on self-assessment tax returns and learn what you need to do, so you can file on time.

Read More
Read More
Want to get paid on time: Here’s 9 things you need to do now

Want to get paid on time : Here’s 9 things you need to do now

Part of mastering your business admin involves getting paid on time. Here are some top tips to help you take control of this key requirement.

Read More
Read More
Can your finance operating model scale with you?

Can your finance operating model scale with you ?

Is it time to upgrade your finance operating model to keep pace with growth ? We’ve got some expert tips to help you.

Read More
Read More

Have questions about our accounts payable software?

Expert advice

Want to find out more about our accounts payable automation software? We'd be happy to help you explore which solution is the best fit for your business.