From Manual Chaos to Automated Control in Accounts Payable
The customer is a global IT solutions provider, delivering end-to-end technology services, software solutions, and IT infrastructure support to enterprises across multiple industries. With a large vendor network and high transaction volumes, the company operates across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific, managing hundreds of suppliers and tens of thousands of transactions annually. They provide services including managed IT solutions, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and digital transformation consulting, helping businesses innovate and operate efficiently at a global scale. The company’s size, operational complexity, and geographic reach have made it a trusted partner for organizations seeking reliable technology and digital services.
As the business grew, the company’s accounts payable operations struggled to keep pace. Manual invoice handling, email-based approvals, and fragmented storage limited visibility and compliance, while exceptions and disputes consumed valuable time. Recognizing the need for a streamlined, compliant, and efficient approach, the company sought a solution that could transform accounts payable into a highly automated, digitally enabled function
Challenge:
Strengthening Governance and Efficiency Through Better Integration
The company’s accounts payable operations faced growing complexity as transaction volumes surged across multiple business units. Invoices came in various formats—PDFs, emails, and paper—and had to be manually entered into separate, unconnected systems. The absence of integration between the company’s ERP and invoice management tools created data silos, making it difficult for finance teams to maintain visibility and control over invoice status and payment cycles.
Manual handling, email-based approvals, and decentralized storage further compounded the challenge, slowing processing times and increasing the likelihood
of errors, missed validations, and delayed payments. These disconnected systems and manual dependencies also led to governance and compliance concerns, as audit trails were inconsistent and adherence to internal policies could not always be guaranteed. From a business standpoint, the company needed a centralized, integrated, and automated solution capable of unifying its accounts payable operations, ensuring end-to-end visibility, enforcing compliance, and driving both efficiency and scalability.
To overcome these challenges, implemented Cherrywork Accounts Payable Automation, a fully integrated digital solution designed to streamline invoice processing and strengthen financial governance. By integrating seamlessly with SAP S/4HANA, the solution enabled automated invoice posting, validation, and approval workflows within a single unified platform—eliminating the need for manual data entry and reconciling information from multiple systems. This integration not only centralized invoice management but also ensured consistent adherence to internal policies, tax regulations, and audit requirements across all business units.
Accounts payable operations were transformed from a fragmented, reactive function into a proactive, insight-driven process through the introduction of automation.
Real-time dashboards were implemented to provide end-to-end visibility into invoice status, exceptions, and cash flow, enabling finance teams to make timely and informed decisions. Email-based approvals and manual verifications were replaced with rule-based workflows, significantly reducing human error and processing time. By establishing an integrated, compliant, and scalable ecosystem, governance frameworks were strengthened, operational transparency improved, and a foundation was laid for sustainable financial efficiency and growth.
The solution delivered measurable transformation across the company’s accounts payable operations. By integrating directly with SAP S/4HANA, invoice processing became seamless and audit-ready—eliminating redundant data entry and reducing manual interventions by nearly 80%. Processing times, which once stretched over several days, were cut by 65%, allowing faster invoice approvals and improved payment cycles. Finance teams gained real-time visibility into exceptions, approvals, and cash flow, enabling data-driven decisions that enhanced both accuracy and agility.
The improved governance framework ensured that every transaction was tracked, validated, and compliant with internal controls and external regulations. Automated workflows and centralized storage simplified audits and minimized compliance risks, while supplier relationships strengthened through timely and transparent communication. With increased throughput and a more efficient approval process, the company achieved three times more invoices processed daily, transforming accounts payable into a fully governed, high-performing, and scalable function that supports business growth and operational excellence.
