Inbound Logistics | March 2022

AUTOMATION [ INSIGHT ]

by Shan Haq Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Development, Transcepta shaq@transcepta.com | 949-382-2853

LogisticsManagers ShouldCare About AP

Regardless of industry, logistics managers are charged with establishing and maintaining strong relationships with their suppliers. Good logistics managers strive to be easy to work with so their supply chain runs smoothly. However, with so much on their plates, developing relationships with suppliers may not be their top priority.

and machine learning, the technology is able to automatically solve invoice exceptions by intelligently conducting three-way matches with zero manual input required. Not only does this help ensure suppli- ers are paid when they should be paid, but it also frees up accounts payable teams to focus on other value-adding areas of operations. Optimizing cash flow. Some sup- pliers count on getting paid early and are happy to give organizations a discount in return. Other suppliers have deeper pockets and are perfectly ne waiting several weeks or even months to get paid. AP automation can help here, too. The technology gives logistics managers complete visibility into invoices and sup- plier preferences so they can keep their ngers on the pulse of accounts payable and pay each supplier at the oppor- tune time. As a result of this operational ef- ciency, organizations can optimize cash ow while making sure their suppliers are paid when they expect it. BECOME A STAND OUT Most logistics teams look the same to suppliers. By making one simple invest- ment in technology, you can make sure that your logistics team stands out among the rest—thereby ensuring suppliers keep your business a top priority. n

As a result, suppliers know they will be paid in a predictable, timely fashion. And let’s face it: That’s the easiest way to keep them happy and make sure they’ll continue doing business with you. As an added bonus, with the right AP automation solution in place, all of the information logistics managers need is readily available. Managing supplier information—including W9s, contact information and banking details— is easier. Eliminating invoice excep- tions. According to recent research, invoice exceptions are the root cause of 32% of late payments and 36% of supplier-related phone calls. When pay- ments are late and suppliers have to take time to track them down, this doesn’t create the best experience. At the same time, no AP team will be thrilled about having to respond to those phone calls and sift through their records. AP automation tools can help organi- zations eliminate invoice exceptions and achieve 100% straight-through invoice processing. Using articial intelligence

In 2020, logistics managers’ jobs became more difcult as pressure from the pandemic forced all organizations to rethink their approach to business. Logistics managers suddenly found themselves dealing with stressed-out sup- pliers who were scrambling to collect payments to keep their doors open. Luckily, there is an easy solution to this problem: By investing in accounts payable (AP) automation powered by AI and machine learning, managers can make suppliers happier by ensuring they’re paid predictably while increas- ing internal productivity and maximizing protability. Here’s how. Giving suppliers visibility into payment status. When logistics man- agers invest in AP automation, they form a direct connection between their busi- ness and their suppliers. By doing so, they give suppliers complete visibility into payment status. Instead of having to deal with vendors calling and ask- ing where payments are, managers know that all of their partners can quickly see where payments stand at a glance.

28 Inbound Logistics • March 2022