{"id":3170,"date":"2018-05-21T01:35:25","date_gmt":"2018-05-21T05:35:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stagingwww.zycus.com\/from-farm-to-fork-an-end-to-end-guide-on-implementing-an-automation-solution"},"modified":"2026-02-10T10:47:46","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T10:47:46","slug":"from-farm-to-fork-an-end-to-end-guide-on-implementing-an-automation-solution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.zycus.com\/freshz\/blog\/e-invoicing\/from-farm-to-fork-an-end-to-end-guide-on-implementing-an-automation-solution","title":{"rendered":"From Farm To Fork: An End-To-End Guide On Implementing An Automation Solution"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In today\u2019s day and age of technological advancement, organizations all over the globe are looking to automate and streamline their <a href=\"https:\/\/dev.zycus.com\/freshz\/solution\/account-payable-automation-software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Accounts Payable<\/a> and Invoicing processes. Hence adopting an AP Automation Suite with e-Invoicing capabilities seems like a no-brainer with the numerous benefits organizations reap from the initiative, like lower invoice processing costs, optimized working capital, better visibility into the entire invoice cycle, better liquidity management and stronger supplier relations.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Learn More: <a class=\"rebPrimaryCta\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.zycus.com\/freshz\/solution\/account-payable-automation-software\">Merlin for AP Automation Software<\/a><\/strong>;<\/p>\n<p>However, for an organization to derive the maximum value out of this digitization initiative, they need to be mindful of a few factors. These factors become critical in determining the success of an AP Automation initiative:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Benchmarking :<\/strong> The first step here should be performing a baseline analysis against a number of key AP metrics of world class organizations, a few metrics that can be used are mentioned below:<br \/>\n<strong>Performance Area\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Peer Group\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 World Class\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ROI Gap<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Cost per invoice\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 $17.61\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 $2.42\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 86% more savings<br \/>\nEarly Payment Discount\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 0.02%\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 0.16%\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 700% more discount earned<br \/>\n(taken\u00a0 as % of Spend)<br \/>\nInvoices per FTE\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a09091\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 25,047\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 175% more invoices per FTE<br \/>\nInvoice Cycle(PO Days)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 29% faster cycle time<br \/>\nInvoice Cycle(Non-PO Days)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a010\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a07\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 30% faster cycle time<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Conduct a business case analysis:<\/strong> It is likely that your proposal for digitizing your Accounts Payable function will be competing for budget with other projects. To make the benefits of AP Automation justify each dollar invested, it becomes vital to gauge the ROI from this initiative. Listed below are three steps to conducting a thorough business case analysis:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Perform a current state analysis: Start with analyzing and calculating the current state of things like-<\/p>\n<p>Cost Per Invoice =Total AP Cost \/ Annual Invoice Volume<\/p>\n<p>Total A\/P Cost =\u00a0\u00a0 FTEs* Average FTE C&amp;B+ Outsourcing\/Technology Costs<\/p>\n<p>Early Payment Discounts as A % Of Your Total Spend<\/p>\n<p>Annual Invoice Volume<\/p>\n<p>AP Avg. FTE Cost and Benefits<\/p>\n<p>Calculate Potential Benefits : The next step would be to calculate benefits from the AP Automation initiative, this will include:<\/p>\n<p>Early Payment Discounts Captured<\/p>\n<p>Invoice Processing Cost Savings<\/p>\n<p>Improvements in cycle time<\/p>\n<p>Improvements in AP FTE utilization<\/p>\n<p>Analyze e-Invoicing Investment Cost: This step will include, stating the costs the company will incur when they invest in an\u00a0AP\u00a0\u00a0Automation\u00a0\u00a0solution.<\/p>\n<p>These should include both recurring and one-time costs.<br \/>\n<strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Focusing on Adoption: <\/strong>AP Automation is an enterprise system that involves multiple stakeholders including thousands of suppliers and e-Invoicing users. To ensure successful transition and maximum ROI from Automation the suppliers will have to be enabled and on-boarded for e-Invoicing.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Prioritization of Plan:<\/strong> An Automation initiative can only be successful if it is executed well. Smooth glitch-free implementation of the Automation can be ensured by keeping a note of the following:<br \/>\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Commence with technologically sound suppliers: The suppliers should be segmented on the basis of advancement in technology.<br \/>\nThe ones who are strongest in this parameter should be approached first.<br \/>\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 After segmentation, prioritize the supplier with maximum proportion of your invoices and transaction volume<br \/>\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Prioritize the geographies that can easily adapt to this change<br \/>\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Set specific target milestones and timelines for each phase<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Visualizing the Future State:<\/strong> A critical analysis will give the organization an insight into targeted performance levels. But this analysis will also help you identify and leverage future process optimization and digitization opportunities throughout the invoice life cycle.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>An elaborate plan that is built based on the steps that this article spells out while adopting and Automating their invoicing process will ensure the organization reaps maximum benefits and also that their entire transition process is streamlined and smooth.<br \/>\nTo obtain an end-to-end guide on how to build an Automation Suite roll-out strategy read our whitepaper titled \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/dev.zycus.com\/freshz\/knowledge-hub\/whitepapers\/e-invoicing-playbook-how-to-plan-for-ap-transformation-success\">The eInvoicing Playbook How to Plan for eInvoicing and AP Transformation Success<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In today\u2019s day and age of technological advancement, organizations all over the globe are looking to automate and streamline their Accounts Payable and Invoicing processes. Hence adopting an AP Automation Suite with e-Invoicing capabilities seems like a no-brainer with the numerous benefits organizations reap from the initiative, like lower invoice processing costs, optimized working capital, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":99330,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1946],"tags":[1317],"ppma_author":[170],"class_list":["post-3170","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-e-invoicing","tag-einvoicing"],"acf":[],"authors":[{"term_id":170,"user_id":0,"is_guest":1,"slug":"zycus-inc","display_name":"Zycus","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/dev.zycus.com\/freshz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/zycus-author.png","url2x":"https:\/\/dev.zycus.com\/freshz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/zycus-author.png"},"author_category":"0","last_name":"Agentic Procurement Platform","first_name":"Zycus","job_title":"","user_url":"https:\/\/dev.zycus.com\/freshz","description":"Zycus is an Agentic Procurement Platform that is redefining procurement from Source-to-Pay to Intake-to-Outcomes. Its unified platform combines native Intake, agentic AI, and an end-to-end S2P core to help enterprises drive real procurement outcomes \u2014 not just transactions. Recognized by Gartner, Forrester, IDC, and customers worldwide, Zycus is shaping the next generation of procurement with the Merlin Agentic AI Platform."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.zycus.com\/freshz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3170","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.zycus.com\/freshz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.zycus.com\/freshz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.zycus.com\/freshz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.zycus.com\/freshz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3170"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dev.zycus.com\/freshz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3170\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.zycus.com\/freshz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99330"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.zycus.com\/freshz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3170"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.zycus.com\/freshz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3170"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.zycus.com\/freshz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3170"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.zycus.com\/freshz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=3170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}