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Want To Integrate Your ERP System With AP Automation? Here’s What You Need To Know

  • Want To Integrate Your ERP System With AP Automation? Here’s What You Need To Know

    Want To Integrate Your ERP System With AP Automation? Here’s What You Need To Know

    Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are the repository for all your company’s financial data. This makes them incredibly important as a fundamental part of your accounts payable (AP) process. When you’re upgrading to AP automation, it’s vital that you consider how that will affect your ERPs.

    Figuring out how an AP system will fit into your existing ERP is something you should do before choosing a software. If a software provider can’t give you clear answers to how well their product will integrate with your ERP then they’re probably not for you. You need to find a software provider who understands your needs and can help get your new AP automation working seamlessly with your existing ERPs.

    Integrate-Your-ERP-System-With-AP-Automation

    Ways ERP and AP Software Work Together

    There are two types of AP software that can integrate with ERPs. Purpose-build solutions typically only work with a specific ERP. You configure them to one ERP system and upgrade them each time you upgrade the ERP. The other, more flexible, option is extensible solutions.

    This type of AP software is customized for your business’ needs and can be configured to fit multiple ERP systems. They offer just as many benefits as the purpose-built solutions and add some as well. They’re easy to use, easy to deploy, and easy to customize. And if your company uses more than one ERP system, then extensible solutions like NextProcess are the only practical option.

    Understanding ERP and AP Integration

    If you go with an extensible AP automation solution, then you get to decide how closely you want it connected with your ERP. You can either go for a tightly coupled solution where the ERP and AP software share information directly or for a looser connection between the two.

    The looser system is the least expensive, quickest to set up, and it’ll meet most organizations’ needs. This solution relies on the ERP sending information to a database that AP processes interact with. The other, more closely connected solution takes longer to implement and there’s a higher operating cost. But it does allow for real-time communication between the two software systems. And in some organizations, that’s worth the extra hassle.

    What To Look For In AP Software

    You want to make sure you new AP software is a good match for the ERP(s) you’re already using. They should both have similar levels of security and they should be able to communicate with each other. The AP system must be able to receive information about vendors, purchase orders, etc. from the ERP.

    How well an AP system will work with your ERP varies between software suppliers. Some have limited integration abilities while others are designed to work seamlessly with a wide range of existing systems. NextProcess’s AP software is specifically designed to work with ERPs including SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, Sage, Netsuite, Epicor, and Intuit Quickbooks. And when you choose NextProcess, we’ll work with you directly to make sure the AP solution you purchase integrates with your ERPs the way you need it to. Contact us today to get started.