AP Automation in the Cloud….What are the Possibilities?

May 21, 2013 by Leave a comment

Spring was slow to show up here in the Midwest this year.  On a rather cold and overcast day, I went to visit one of my customers.  They had described their “old” process to me as a “paper addiction”.  Esker and this particular Accounts Payable Customer worked together to come up with a program to allow them to recognize their problem, own it, and then overcome it.

Thankfully for the past two years, this company has been in “recovery,” and they have been “live” on a fully automated solution completely in the cloud.  With this automated solution they have had a number of successes. A few feats that they have shared with me include:

  • Staff having 45% more time to focus on value added tasks.
  • Vendor calls that have been reduced by 50% and they can now be resolved on one single call, which reduces the time to resolution significantly.
  • Invoice approvals can occur in a fraction of the time, in comparison to the old method of manually routing and/or manually scanning and emailing them.
  • Visibility for their processes—You cannot actively manage what you are not actually measuring.

All of this is great stuff…But  after talking to their business team, I wanted to see what the IT staff was thinking about the solution after being two years in.  Some of the comments that they made were even more interesting since these costs are difficult to quantify as a KPI within the organization.  Here is a sampling of what they have experienced:

  • IT staff was able to take on two additional projects because they did not have to dedicate time to server maintenance for this process.
  • They anticipated that a typical application would require an upgrade of hardware every three years and an upgrade for the software every 24-36 months.  Normally, the budget for these upgrades would be $50,000 or higher. This is money that they did not have to spend with the implementation of Esker, and those funds were able to be allocated elsewhere.
  • The AP automation project probably would have taken an extra year to implement if it would not have been a cloud application like Esker.

Even though the weather wasn’t the greatest this Spring, I felt like the sun had come out after that discussion! Until next time–Julie Mai

Are you interested in learning more about automating AP and the many benefits it can bring you? Attend our free upcoming AP Webinar at the end of June 2013, “Accounts Payable: Benchmarking Your KPIs against Top Industry Metrics” which will discuss how relying on key performance indicators is essential to improving your overall AP performance.

Along with Accounts Payable Automation comes Accounts Receivable Automation, which Esker has solutions for as well. Our very own Howie Hahn of Esker will be presenting the latest results from a bench-marketing study done by The Institute of Financial Operations (IFO) at Fusion on Tuesday, May 21 at 3:30 pm EST in the Cancun Room. The title of the presentation is “215: Trends in AR Automation: Results of an Annual AR Automation Survey”—Head on over to join the session to optimize your time at Fusion 2013.

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How Finance Professionals Can Optimize Time at Fusion 2013

May 16, 2013 by Leave a comment

IFO-Fusion-LogoNext week, 1,500+ finance professionals from all over the country will gather in Orlando, Florida for the third annual Fusion event put on by The Institute of Financial Operations (IFO). With over 150 educational sessions, various networking events and over 125 exhibitors, IFO’s Fusion event has become a must-attend event for those looking to optimize financial operations around accounts payable, accounts receivable, automation, business process outsourcing and more.

With so many great educational and networking opportunities jam packed into three days, it can be difficult for any attendee to maximize time and efforts. Luckily, IFO has made it incredibly easy to find the exhibitors and educational sessions that can give attendees the most ROI.

Two Ways to Get the Most Out of Fusion 2013

Vendor Tours
With so many exhibitors, finance professionals should be sure to maximize their time wisely in the exhibit hall. This year, IFO put together vendor tours, which ensures registered attendees will visit the exhibitors that best meet their needs. A dedicated guide will lead the groups through the exhibit hall stopping only at the booths that are relevant to them. This year, IFO has five different guided tours including:

  • Emerging Technology in Accounts Payable (Parts 1 and 2)
  • How to Create and Efficient Accounts Payable Automation Operations
  • Document Imaging and Workflow
  • Maximizing Profit Recovery
  • Outsourcing Solutions and Strategies

Register today for one of the guided tours.

Educational Sessions
IFO offers 12 different tracks for over 150 educational sessions making it easier for attendees to determine where they can find the most value. One of the sessions will even feature the latest results from IFO’s 2013 benchmarking study on accounts receivable automation. Session Information:

215: Trends in AR Automation: Results of an Annual AR Automation Survey.
Presented by Howie Hahn, Esker
Tuesday, May 21 at 3:30 pm in the Cancun Room

Learn more about this session and more in the conference agenda.

Visit Esker in Booth #701 at Fusion 2013

Don’t forget to stop at booth #701 (located right by the entrance of the exhibit hall) where Esker will be featuring their best-of-suite solution.

Automate any business process that runs on documents:

Will you be attending Fusion 2013 next week in Orlando? Let us know by commenting below!

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Top-5 Global Implementation Partner helps Global Customer Deploy SAP® and Reduces Project Risk with a Cloud-Based Accounts Payable Solution

May 15, 2013 by Leave a comment

I recently launched an accounts payable automation project for a new customer that also utilizes SAP Solutions. The introduction came through an SAP consulting partner. I wanted to share a few thoughts in regards to this particular challenge and solution that Esker was able to provide.

The Scenario

The business had partnered with one of the usual suspects, in terms of a global SAP implementation and consultancy partner. The customer had operated a manual invoice management process with their legacy system with only basic imaging and archiving, which was provided by a third party.

The Objective

The business’ mission was to implement a best-of-breed invoice imaging and workflow system that would integrate seamlessly with their SAP solution. Their mindset being, “why invest millions of dollars in the world’s best SAP system while maintaining an outmoded, inefficient invoice management process while dealing with vendor invoices?”

The Process

In light of this, the business went out into the market to research and evaluate the top solutions for invoice management that would better help them maximize their investment in SAP. The customer looked at the standard players in the industry who are providing traditional, on premise, license-based solutions. The company also looked at Esker—specializing in cloud-based solutions allowing for no upfront new server or hardware investment.

The Outcome

Very quickly, it became apparent that the customer’s best upfront and long-term alternative was:

  • A cloud-based solution with a web-based workflow functioning outside of SAP, working to supplement the data and information within their SAP system.
  • Finding a way to eliminate the need for installing servers and building out an infrastructure, which would all work to burden an already overloaded IT department.
  • Eliminating the need to invest hundreds of man hours to set up an SAP workflow that would handle the invoice approval process.

What it meant for the Implementation Partner

Let’s be honest – the main goal of any SAP project is to satisfy the client by delivering on time, on budget and minimizing risk. In this case, the AP project was an extra complexity and opting for a cloud model meant less moving parts, a shorter deployment and the ability to deliver the value associated with the P2P initiative without impacting on the timeline of the SAP project.

At the conclusion of these efforts, all fingers pointed to Esker for their cloud-based, SAP certified invoice management system, which was the perfect fit to help this global company to achieve their objectives and maximize their investment made in SAP. 

Interested in learning more about automating AP and the many benefits it can bring you? Attend our free upcoming AP Webinar at the end of June 2013, “Accounts Payable: Benchmarking Your KPIs against Top Industry Metrics” which will discuss how relying on key performance indicators is essential to improving your overall AP performance.

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Esker is booth #1912 at SAPPHIRE NOW !

May 14, 2013 by Leave a comment

Are you at SAPPHIRE NOW and ASUG Annual Conference in Orlando?

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Be sure to stop by Esker’s booth #1912. We have killer giveaways including pens, beach balls, and blinking glasses! Also, don’t forget to “Ride the Esker Wave” on our live, surfing simulator and participate in our interactive Twitter Contest to win a $100 Amazon Giftcard (more details at the booth).

After riding the wave you can learn how Esker can help improve your business performance through document process automation. As any SAP® user knows, manual document processing is no “day at the beach”. Esker offers a carefree, paper-free alternative to paper that unifies all business data and processes into SAP via one SAP-integrated platform.

Don’t miss our Microforum session today at 4:00 pm EST and our in-booth Happy Hour tomorrow from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm. See you all at booth #1912!

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Esker Announces Its Participation in 2013 SAPPHIRE® NOW and the ASUG Annual Conference

May 14, 2013 by Leave a comment

Madison, Wis. and Orlando, Fla. — May 14, 2013 — Esker, a global leader in document process automation solutions, today announced its participation as a diamond-level exhibitor at SAPPHIRE® NOW and the ASUG Annual Conference, being held May 14-16 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.

Esker will present in Booth #1912, showcasing its expertise with helping companies automate business processes — whether it’s accounts payable invoice processing, accounts receivable invoice delivery, order processing, cloud faxing or more — using a single platform.

Quit Paper. Live Easy.

Positioning its booth as a carefree, paperfree alternative to the stressful reality of manual document processing, Esker is sure to stand out. Conference attendees will recognize the booth by its laid-back look, complete with palm trees and surf simulator, as well as Esker’s “Quit Paper. Live Easy.” messaging.

Read full Press Release here.

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Accounts Payable Customer: Connecting the Dots and Selecting Esker as Their Number One Solution

May 13, 2013 by Leave a comment

Recently, I visited with a new accounts payable customer of Esker to see how things were progressing with their implementation. They had chosen Esker as their vendor to automate accounts payable for SAP in February of 2013. I wanted to find out why they had selected Esker versus many of the other options companies have to automate accounts payable. I wasn’t sure if it was: our competitive pricing; the fact that Esker has a cloud-based option for accounts payable; or just my great skills as a sales person!

When I talked to the VP of Information Systems, who had the task of managing the selection process and the project as a whole, the biggest reason he chose Esker was because it was a cloud-based solution (not necessarily my sales skills). In addition to the cloud-based model, the solution gave his organization all of the features they desired including:

Why Cloud-Based Accounts Payable Automation?

Next, I asked, “Why was the Cloud was such a big differentiator?” He responded:

  • Busy IT department. Their IT department is already extremely busy with other projects and applications. They don’t have the time to install new systems and make sure everything is functioning seamlessly.
  • High cost of hardware. They didn’t want to have to buy new servers and hardware. These new operating systems and patches would need to be installed by in-house or outsourced professionals. Also, the vendor’s software would need to be installed on top if it all. After all, time is money!
  • Timely management of servers. Lastly, the company would have had to manage and upkeep those servers for years to come.
  • Immediate deployment. Another good reason was that the business unit wanted to get started right away. They were eager to “quit paper!”

With Esker’s cloud-based accounts payable automation solution, the infrastructure is already set up, and just needs to be tweaked for the company’s specific needs. Esker’s Professional Services team also uses an agile implementation approach, which means the base AP solution is provided to them up front, and then their requirements are identified and addressed. Thanks to the customer’s IT and AP teams, along with Esker’s Professional Services team and Esker AP on Demand solution, go-live is scheduled for the next month!

Subscribe to the blog to learn more about how things go for this AP customer. In the meantime, check out this white paper discussing the benefits and efforts of “Consolidating your Account Payable workflow outside of an SAP® system.”

In addition, Esker sponsors and delivers many free educational webinars each month. Attend our upcoming AP webinar at the end of June 2013, “Accounts Payable: Benchmarking Your KPIs against Top Industry Metrics” which will discuss how relying on key performance indicators is essential to improving your overall AP performance.

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An Accounts Receivable Automation Story PART TWO

May 9, 2013 by Leave a comment

[To read Part One, click here.]

To keep the sales pitch short, the company did their research, came across Esker and identified that the cloud-based Accounts Receivable (AR) solution would allow them to achieve the goals stated in my first post earlier this week. With the help of TrustWeaver, they would enjoy the guidance and the technology solution such that invoices would be signed and stored electronically. Those that were willing for E-invoices would get their way, those not ready would get their invoices in the same fashion. Yet, my customer was able to exit the “print and mail business” and use a global chain of mail centers.

 Finally, I’m getting to the value of the project. Thanks for bearing with me! 

They admitted they were spending millions on their AR process and the new process is on course to save $1 million per annum. Those savings will be realized as part of a phased adoption of electronic invoicing, reduced print and mail costs, reduction of DSO by 3 days and to a certain extent a slight improvement in the working cost of capital.

Much of the success was due to the Order-to-Cash Project Manager, who researched the topic and was able to on-board the sales team by showing it was not a risk. Many customers were interested in this now or in the future, and he did a great job of signing up the Executives to sponsor the company-wide project. They launched internal competitions within AR and Sales to promote the new service, publicly rewarding staff efforts for getting Customers to move to electronic and, in some cases, employed the “we will buy your AR Department a pizza” bribe.

An interesting side note that developed from the project was that the Sales team began to view this capability as a service differentiator. This now means that the ability to get information in the hands of the Customer quickly, and in many cases, the customer can self-serve by getting documents on the Portal. Sales Staff have more time to focus on prospecting and adding value to their customer base. Sure we were a part of the solution – but the real story is one of what can be achieved with a vision, executive Sponsorship and a great project Manager that can “herd cats” like a pro.

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