The AP Inflection Point: Automation, AI, and Fraud

Accounts payable is under increasing pressure. Rising fraud attempts, stricter compliance requirements, pressure to reduce operational costs, and the need for real-time data inside ERP systems are forcing finance leaders to rethink how AP processes operate. At the same time, organisations are striving for greater agility in financial decision-making and stronger control over cash flow. Many organisations believe their AP processes are largely automated - yet manual intervention and fragmented workflows remain widespread.

Based on insights from a global survey of finance professionals across North America, Europe, and APAC, this report examines the current state of AP automation and the barriers organisations face when trying to achieve fully automated finance operations.

The research highlights a critical gap between perception and reality. While many organisations believe their AP processes are largely automated, manual intervention, fragmented workflows, and disconnected systems remain widespread. These inefficiencies increase fraud risk, create compliance challenges, and drive unnecessary operational costs.

At the same time, finance leaders are increasingly exploring artificial intelligence (AI) to improve efficiency, strengthen fraud detection, and support smarter financial decision-making. However, AI initiatives can only succeed when organisations first address the underlying challenges within their AP processes and data foundations.

Download the report to learn:

• Why many organisations still struggle with automation adoption
• The gap between perceived and actual AP automation maturity
• The key barriers preventing end-to-end automation
• Where AI is expected to deliver the most impact in finance
• What finance leaders should prioritise next