Recently, I’ve been working on a whitepaper about automating the accounts payable (AP) process. As an automation advocate and process enthusiast, I’ve leaned towards making it more process-led rather than marketing-focused. I believe this strikes the right tone for a true whitepaper.
In my view, a whitepaper should:
- Demonstrate a deep understanding of the subject matter.
- Present a problem.
- Offer a solution.
- Argue why that solution is the best.
- Address both the strengths and weaknesses of the solution.
- Compare alternative solutions, highlighting their pros and cons.
I’ve aimed to incorporate all these elements into the document. Additionally, I’ve been reflecting on the potential applications for this whitepaper:
- To help colleagues gain a deeper understanding of the AP process.
- To educate partners on the value of automating accounts payable.
- To guide potential new clients through their decision-making process.
- As a resource to support implementation efforts.
The table of contents includes:
- About the Author
- Executive Summary
- Introduction
- Context / Background
- Purpose
- The Accounts Payable Process
- Key Process Steps
- Purchasing
- Delivery
- Goods-In
- Invoicing
- Credit Notes
- Debit Notes
- Introducing Automation
- Types of System
- The Role of ERP Data
- Capturing Data from Documents
- Validating and Correcting Data
- Matching Methods
- Workflow, Exception Handling & Approvals
- Nominal Coding
- Systems Integration
- Other Automation Opportunities
- Supplier Statement Reconciliation
- Credit Card Statement Reconciliation
- Beyond the Purchase Ledger
- Sales Order Processing
- Remittance Processing
- In Conclusion
Its currently in internal review but I hope to start making it available in the coming weeks.