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Unlocking Best-in-Class AP Performance: Automation Strategies and Metrics

SAP Concur published an article on AP automation strategies, metrics, and solutions. It notes AP has shifted from a back-office function to a strategic powerhouse, recommending tracking metrics such as invoice processing cycle time, cost per invoice, exception rate, touchless processing rate, and staff time on supplier inquiries. According to industry benchmarks, top performers achieve invoice processing time of 3.1 days, cost per invoice of $2.78, exception rate of 9%, touchless processing for nearly half (49.2%) of invoices, and 13.4% of time (5.36 hours weekly) on inquiries. The article also covers Concur Invoice's end-to-end automation and a roadmap from manual to touchless AP.

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Impact and considerations

AP automation benchmark data can help corporate finance teams assess their performance and set improvement targets, offering reference value for optimizing cash flow and reducing administrative costs.

Key points

  • AP has shifted from a back-office function to a strategic powerhouse driving efficiency, cost reduction, and business agility.
  • Key AP metrics include invoice processing cycle time, cost per invoice, exception rate, touchless processing rate, and staff time on supplier inquiries.
  • According to industry benchmarks, top performers achieve invoice processing time of 3.1 days, cost per invoice of $2.78, and exception rate of 9%.
  • Top performers achieve touchless processing for nearly half (49.2%) of invoices and spend 13.4% of time (5.36 hours weekly) on inquiries.
  • Concur Invoice offers end-to-end AP automation, integrating with ERP and accounting systems, with automated notifications, two- or three-way matching, and real-time reporting.
  • The roadmap from manual to touchless AP includes assessing processes, setting goals, investing in automation technology, training teams, and continuous monitoring and optimization.

Sources and time

Primary source
SAP Concur
Other sources
0
First source publication
29 Sept 2025, 18:20
Page published
13 Aug 2026, 08:30
Last updated
29 Sept 2025, 18:20
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