SAP Concur Podcast: TCG Consulting on AP Automation
The SAP Concur Conversations podcast features Grace Swain, Senior Consultant at TCG Consulting, discussing accounts payable (AP) automation. Only 10% of businesses have fully automated their AP processes, with most still heavily manual. The conversation covers key barriers (upfront cost, process volume, change management), a phased implementation path (supplier portals, OCR, ERP integration), and the value of automation in reducing risk, lowering costs, and improving spend visibility.
Impact and considerations
AP automation directly affects corporate spend control, compliance risk, and supplier relationships. For finance and travel managers, understanding phased implementation and change management helps reduce fraud and compliance risk while controlling costs.
Key points
- Only 10% of businesses have fully automated their AP processes, with most still heavily manual.
- Key barriers include upfront cost, large process volume, and internal and external resistance to change.
- Recommended approach: start with high-risk areas and phase in supplier portals, OCR technology, and ERP integration.
- Automation improves spend visibility, reduces duplicate payments, captures early payment discounts, and lowers fraud risk.
- Change management requires a strong executive sponsor and involving frontline teams in the process.
Sources and time
- Primary source
- SAP Concur
- Other sources
- 0
- First source publication
- 26 Jul 2023, 19:12
- Page published
- 14 Aug 2026, 08:22
- Last updated
- 26 Jul 2023, 19:12
- Original links
- SAP Concur Blog：The Automated Advantage: Unlocking Business Benefits Through AP Automation with TCG Consulting (opens in a new tab)Primary source · en · Published 26 Jul 2023, 19:12