Increased document processing scales and streamlined international Accounts Payable automation
About the customer
The Challenge
Siloed business processes
Operating in silos across 25 countries means 25 different IT solutions, 25 different report formats, 25 different monitoring mechanisms. Apart from process costs which were high as a result of these inefficiencies – corporation-wide comparison of the subsidiaries was challenging to clarify.
Regional expectations
A standard process supporting all 25 countries could resolve this. However, country-specific aspects had to be taken into account to ensure the acceptance and satisfaction of employees and customers in many different regions.
Besides a good price/performance ratio, SPS's experiences in international project and service management were a key reason for the telecom company’s decision to work with SPS.
Project Timelines
In spite of the substantial experience of the SPS project team, the project was still ambitious. SPS had seven months to conduct an initial analysis, recommendations, implementation, and ‘go live’ process.
The Solution
Unique AP processes
For each country and subsidiary, it was evaluated whether invoice automation processing was to be handled by:
- the company itself
- a local provider of digitization services
- by one of SPS’ four scan centers
Global Accounts Payable automation process
In the new centralized account payable process, incoming documents are digitized in one of the four scan centers of SPS in Germany, Greece, Romania or Slovakia or are transferred electronically to SPS.
The Benefits
Reduced costs
Economic transaction-based pricing of the country-specific standard process led to a visible reduction of end-to-end process costs – which are still reducing.
As more and more suppliers migrate to electronic billing, digitization is no longer necessary, which leads to reduced transaction prices. There is a significant potential for cost reduction, given less than 4% of the invoices currently come in by email. However, this will change, as the suppliers benefit as well: no mail costs, no paper and less effort.
Faster processing
24-hour turnaround time at SPS ensures the fastest possible process for suppliers. From digitization to data input, quality assurance, up to the transfer of data to the ERP system is an ambitious timeframe and one that is guaranteed by SPS’ excellent quality.
Guaranteed quality
A maximum of 2% errors is allowed on the field level, as well as on-time; very impressive considering 19 languages are involved.
Learn more about Accounts Payable Digitalization solutions by SPS
SPS as an Accounts Payable Partner
Swiss Post Solutions innovate automated accounts payable processes across a range of industries, both as concentrated projects and as part of larger partnerships. We are a global full-service provider of physical and digital document management and business process services.
Our deep and unrivalled experience in Intelligent Automation (IA) technology and core business process experience allows us to design and implement world-class solutions for each stage of the digital journey. For any service needing pioneering solutions for document processing, document scanning or business process automation (BPA), SPS are the preferred vendor for hundreds of fortune 500 companies across the globe.