Research and Markets: the Must-Have Research Report 'Paperless Accounts Payable: The AP Department's Complete Guide to Electronic Invoicing' is Based on 300+ Exclusive Survey Responses

Business Wire, Oct 8, 2008

DUBLIN, Ireland -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/23920f/paperless_accounts) has announced the addition of the "Paperless Accounts Payable: The AP Department's Complete Guide to Electronic Invoicing" report to their offering.

In recent years, there's been significant growth in the number of articles, conferences, and workshops dedicated to the topic of electronic invoice processing.

Unfortunately, there's no single source of independent, unbiased information about the entire range of software, hardware, and Web-based solutions that are designed to meet your invoice-processing needs.

Until now.

Based on 300 exclusive survey responses from AP, accounting, and finance professionals, this must-have Research Report covers the state of the electronic invoicing market, trends in the marketplace, and in-depth information about solution features and functionality.

If you're new to paperless AP, this report will offer you extensive, basic information on how electronic invoicing can improve the way your invoicing process is accomplished. No technical knowledge is assumed. You'll get reliable, straight forward answers to basic, yet key questions like:

- What is electronic invoicing?

- What can an electronic invoicing solution do for me?

- What departmental goals can a solution help me achieve?

- What are the most important choices I have to make?

- What are my peers in other A/P departments doing?

- What do I personally need to do to make it successful?

- What to expect during implementation?

- What are advantages and disadvantages of various technological and pricing options?

- What are the 12 specific decisions that must be made according to my organization's particular needs and requirements?

At the same time, for those who are more comfortable with technology and are now considering an electronic invoicing initiative, the guide gives practical advice on how to choose between the numerous solution alternatives, how to conduct a vendor review and what to expect during and after the implementation process.

In addition, you get profiles of the leading electronic invoicing solution providers representing both in-house and linked solutions for AP automation, including information concerning these companies' target markets, solution alternatives, pricing, and other capabilities.

Key Topics Covered:

I. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Key Conclusions

Recommendations

II. INTRODUCTION

Purpose of the Guide

Methodology

Outline of the Guide

III. THE SEVEN MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ABOUT ELECTRONIC INVOICING

What is electronic invoicing?

What can an electronic invoicing solution do for me?

What is the most important decision I have to make?

Should I run the solution in-house, or should I use a third-party operator?

What happens during implementation?

What are some important trends in the electronic invoicing marketplace?

Case study : Vendor adoption key to e-invoicing at Payless

Case study : Sun uses "on-demand" e-invoicing to handle high growth

IV. OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES IN THE AP DEPARTMENT

Phase 1: Invoice Capture and Data Entry

Phase 2: Quality Assurance

Phase 3: Routing and Circulation

Phase 4: Reporting and Filing

Across All Phases

Case study : Harris Bank uses e-invoicing to corral decentralized, non-PO invoices

Case study : Sandia builds on its ERP system to implement e-invoicing

Case study : E-invoicing as part of an AP overhaul at Hallmark

V. SOLUTION ALTERNATIVES

Solution Alternatives for Phase 1: Invoice Capture and Data Entry

Phase 2: Quality Assurance

Phase 3: Routing and Circulation

Phase 4: Reporting and Filing

Additional Technology Issues

Pricing Plans

Case study : Northeast Utilities uses OCR to extract invoice data

Case study : AIT uses high-speed tools to convert paper invoices to electronic

VI. THE ELECTRONIC INVOICING INITIATIVE

Getting to "e"

Rationale for the electronic invoicing initiative

Case study : WaMu overcomes tough political climate to implement e-invoicing

Case study : BNSF achieves the ultimate: 100% paperless AP

APPENDIX 1: GLOSSARY

APPENDIX 2: VENDOR DIRECTORY

Table of Figures

Figure 1-1: Use of formal cost calculation

Figure 1-2: Manual processing is still the norm

Figure 1-3: Large AP departments continue to lead the way in automation

Figure 3-1: Definitions of electronic invoicing

Figure 3-2: The most important question

Figure 3-3: Considerations in the solution scope decision

Figure 3-4: Stages of an electronic invoicing implementation

Figure 4-1: Invoice processing cycle by size

Figure 4-2: Use of formal cost calculation

Figure 4-3: Estimated processing cost by size

Figure 4-4: Average processing cost by calculation method

Figure 4-5: Elements of processing cost

Figure 4-6: Costs before and after implementing electronic invoicing

Figure 4-7: Paper handling tasks

Figure 4-8: Automation of Phase Two tasks

Figure 4-9: Routing and circulation time

Figure 4-10:Automation of routing and circulation

Figure 5-1: Phases of the invoicing cycle

Figure 5-2: Invoice media received

Figure 5-3: Hazards of comma-delimited files

Figure 5-4: Data interchange in the invoicing process