Designing the source to-pay process of the futureGareth Stone
The shift towards innovation and value creation for procurement functions requires procurement leaders to reimagine how work gets done across the source-to-pay value stream. In a post-COVID-19 world, procurement leaders will need to transform the procurement function and source-to-pay processes to become strategic enablers who improve competitive advantage.
Emerging technologies such as RPA and AI mean that over 50% of the source-to-pay process could be automated. Combined with other improvement levers such as process simplification, standardisation and outsourcing, a significant amount of time can be saved to free buyers to work on strategic category management, managing supplier relationships and managing spend.
Supply Chain as a core differentiator: What does digitalization mean to the c...Christian Neumann
With the current speed of performance and capability increase from technology already certain industries have been disrupted. The presentation takes a look at how this might impact chemicals and esp. the supply chain of the industry
We examine the impact of new technologies and challenges for procurement professionals. Artificial intelligence, robotics, machine learning, big data, quantum computing and the Internet of Things will literally rewrite the future of humankind in code and revolutionise the roles of government, business and human communications.
www.supplychange.me
RPA - Business Continuity & Automation Success StoriesTangentia
In this slide, we have talked about our 4P delivery model that is People, Projects, Platforms & Partners. Also, we have explained how we can automate manual processes effectively using RPA and Digital Workforce.
Tangentia's automation success stories will give you an idea of how we can effectively automate your business processes and the good impact it will have on your business.
Get in touch with us - https://www.tangentia.com/contact-us/
Digital transformation: 5 CFO Priorities When Choosing An ERP SolutionVIENNA Advantage
Digital transformation and the 4th Industrial Revolution are substantially changing the CFO role within an organization.
In the past, the key role of a CFO was to be a protector of financial integrity, but today this role is evolving to include driving operational performance and efficiency, actively engaging in internal and external strategy, and more.
CFOs know that their enterprises must become digital organizations. The question is not whether, but where and how much their firms should spend to compete in an increasingly complex digitalized marketplace.
The backbone of every midsize to large organization in the world is its ERP software solution. As the finance function evolves to take a larger role withing an organization, the CFO’s priorities change too.
Here are the top 5 CFO priorities when choosing an ERP solution:
1. Advanced analytics and business intelligence
2. Solve operational problem of finance and accounting users
3. Maximize ROI from ERP investment
4. Shorter implementation time
5. On-premises vs cloud ERP (SaaS) solution
Designing the source to-pay process of the futureGareth Stone
The shift towards innovation and value creation for procurement functions requires procurement leaders to reimagine how work gets done across the source-to-pay value stream. In a post-COVID-19 world, procurement leaders will need to transform the procurement function and source-to-pay processes to become strategic enablers who improve competitive advantage.
Emerging technologies such as RPA and AI mean that over 50% of the source-to-pay process could be automated. Combined with other improvement levers such as process simplification, standardisation and outsourcing, a significant amount of time can be saved to free buyers to work on strategic category management, managing supplier relationships and managing spend.
Supply Chain as a core differentiator: What does digitalization mean to the c...Christian Neumann
With the current speed of performance and capability increase from technology already certain industries have been disrupted. The presentation takes a look at how this might impact chemicals and esp. the supply chain of the industry
We examine the impact of new technologies and challenges for procurement professionals. Artificial intelligence, robotics, machine learning, big data, quantum computing and the Internet of Things will literally rewrite the future of humankind in code and revolutionise the roles of government, business and human communications.
www.supplychange.me
RPA - Business Continuity & Automation Success StoriesTangentia
In this slide, we have talked about our 4P delivery model that is People, Projects, Platforms & Partners. Also, we have explained how we can automate manual processes effectively using RPA and Digital Workforce.
Tangentia's automation success stories will give you an idea of how we can effectively automate your business processes and the good impact it will have on your business.
Get in touch with us - https://www.tangentia.com/contact-us/
Digital transformation: 5 CFO Priorities When Choosing An ERP SolutionVIENNA Advantage
Digital transformation and the 4th Industrial Revolution are substantially changing the CFO role within an organization.
In the past, the key role of a CFO was to be a protector of financial integrity, but today this role is evolving to include driving operational performance and efficiency, actively engaging in internal and external strategy, and more.
CFOs know that their enterprises must become digital organizations. The question is not whether, but where and how much their firms should spend to compete in an increasingly complex digitalized marketplace.
The backbone of every midsize to large organization in the world is its ERP software solution. As the finance function evolves to take a larger role withing an organization, the CFO’s priorities change too.
Here are the top 5 CFO priorities when choosing an ERP solution:
1. Advanced analytics and business intelligence
2. Solve operational problem of finance and accounting users
3. Maximize ROI from ERP investment
4. Shorter implementation time
5. On-premises vs cloud ERP (SaaS) solution
Introduction to Robotic Process Automation_EMK_1st ClassRedwan Ferdous
Date: 17th May 2020.
This is the content slide for 1st day of total 05 days session of Introduction to RPA, organized by EMK Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Contents took from internet is been mentioned with due respect in the bibliography part.
RoboBuyer: Procurement and Demand Management RPAMahendra Chauhan
Manage Procurement or Purchasing and Demand Robotically with RoboBuyer. This is using Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and RPA to manage end to end process robotically
Reduce "Process Waste" in Manufacturing ProcessTangentia
Manufacturers are always seeking to cut waste in production. Now, with intelligent Robotic Process Automation (RPA), they can eliminate waste from business processes as well. Here’s how intelligent automation works for manufacturing supply-chain activities.
Start Your RPA Journey Today - https://www.tangentia.com/automation/rpa/
This presentation provides an overview of why B2B integration to ERP systems is important for companies. In many cases ERP can be considered to be incomplete without integration to a B2B platform that allows companies to then seamlessly connect to external trading partners. B2B Managed Services can provide the people, skills and resources to integrate ERP and B2B systems together. Updated May 2014
PayStream Advisor’s latest global survey shows that a large number of companies lag behind in their goals to adopt electronic invoicing. Supplier resistance to pay for electronic invoicing ranked as one of the primary reason organizations are unable to use electronic invoicing.
With highest supplier onboarding rates in the industry, Tradeshift’s free online invoicing solutions for suppliers is revolutionizing global e-invoicing adoption. Join Tradeshift Head of Sales – EU, Alasdair McKenzie to discuss how Tradeshift can help your department lower operational costs and increase ROI by instantly onboarding your suppliers.
If you work in Finance, AP or Shared Services you won’t want to miss this webinar!
Learn:
- How to maximize AP, finance and Shared Services efficiency
- Lower operating costs
- Be a part of a highly interactive Q&A
- Get answers to all of your questions
What is Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
Evolution of RPA
Benefits of RPA
Application of RPA
6 Step RPA
Robotic Spectrum
Differences between RPA and regular automation
Top RPA vendors
What to look for in RPA software
C-level decision-making around RPA
Where the robotic process automation market is heading
Integrated E-Governance System - Vienna AdvantageVIENNA Advantage
With the growing influence of technologies and the internet in our lives, people expect things to happen at a much higher speed and with more transparency.
More than any corporation, the government needs to optimize its operations using technologies to serve its people better than ever before. Increasing the people’s satisfaction in this way becomes a success factor for better government.
More and more governments have identified the possibilities of serving people with the help of digitization, automation, information systems and intelligent decision support systems.
VIENNA Advantage Integrated E-Governance System assists Government Ministries and Departments in reaching out to the citizens, convey enhanced services, provide better accountability, ensure transparency and drive & employ advantageous policies.
Webinar presentation featuring Clickability CEO John Girard and Vice President of Technical Operations Tom Cignarella.
Details the cost benefits of a web-based web management system versus installed software and home-grown, open source solutions.
Presentation from State of Iowa's Cost Transparency Journey at ITFM Week 2014Apptio
IT Cost Transparency is not about what does IT cost? It’s about why does IT cost what it does and how can they use their money and other resources to create more value.
Pitching VC’s? Here’s the deck we used to raise $145MTrevor Shih
We’re excited to announce a new milestone. Rippling has raised $145 million in Series B funding led by Founders Fund. Participants in the round included Greenoaks Capital, Coatue Management, and Bedrock Capital, as well as existing investors including Kleiner Perkins, Initialized Capital, and Y Combinator.
We know there’s never been a more difficult time to run a business, let alone raise venture funding. Feel free to use this deck as a template for your next fundraise.
Procurement software provider in islamabadfatimaesolpk
ESOLPK offers Enterprise Solution Services, Microsoft Dynamics ERP and business solutions, Microsoft Dynamics GP, Microsoft SharePoint and Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
Introduction to Robotic Process Automation_EMK_1st ClassRedwan Ferdous
Date: 17th May 2020.
This is the content slide for 1st day of total 05 days session of Introduction to RPA, organized by EMK Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Contents took from internet is been mentioned with due respect in the bibliography part.
RoboBuyer: Procurement and Demand Management RPAMahendra Chauhan
Manage Procurement or Purchasing and Demand Robotically with RoboBuyer. This is using Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and RPA to manage end to end process robotically
Reduce "Process Waste" in Manufacturing ProcessTangentia
Manufacturers are always seeking to cut waste in production. Now, with intelligent Robotic Process Automation (RPA), they can eliminate waste from business processes as well. Here’s how intelligent automation works for manufacturing supply-chain activities.
Start Your RPA Journey Today - https://www.tangentia.com/automation/rpa/
This presentation provides an overview of why B2B integration to ERP systems is important for companies. In many cases ERP can be considered to be incomplete without integration to a B2B platform that allows companies to then seamlessly connect to external trading partners. B2B Managed Services can provide the people, skills and resources to integrate ERP and B2B systems together. Updated May 2014
PayStream Advisor’s latest global survey shows that a large number of companies lag behind in their goals to adopt electronic invoicing. Supplier resistance to pay for electronic invoicing ranked as one of the primary reason organizations are unable to use electronic invoicing.
With highest supplier onboarding rates in the industry, Tradeshift’s free online invoicing solutions for suppliers is revolutionizing global e-invoicing adoption. Join Tradeshift Head of Sales – EU, Alasdair McKenzie to discuss how Tradeshift can help your department lower operational costs and increase ROI by instantly onboarding your suppliers.
If you work in Finance, AP or Shared Services you won’t want to miss this webinar!
Learn:
- How to maximize AP, finance and Shared Services efficiency
- Lower operating costs
- Be a part of a highly interactive Q&A
- Get answers to all of your questions
What is Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
Evolution of RPA
Benefits of RPA
Application of RPA
6 Step RPA
Robotic Spectrum
Differences between RPA and regular automation
Top RPA vendors
What to look for in RPA software
C-level decision-making around RPA
Where the robotic process automation market is heading
Integrated E-Governance System - Vienna AdvantageVIENNA Advantage
With the growing influence of technologies and the internet in our lives, people expect things to happen at a much higher speed and with more transparency.
More than any corporation, the government needs to optimize its operations using technologies to serve its people better than ever before. Increasing the people’s satisfaction in this way becomes a success factor for better government.
More and more governments have identified the possibilities of serving people with the help of digitization, automation, information systems and intelligent decision support systems.
VIENNA Advantage Integrated E-Governance System assists Government Ministries and Departments in reaching out to the citizens, convey enhanced services, provide better accountability, ensure transparency and drive & employ advantageous policies.
Webinar presentation featuring Clickability CEO John Girard and Vice President of Technical Operations Tom Cignarella.
Details the cost benefits of a web-based web management system versus installed software and home-grown, open source solutions.
Presentation from State of Iowa's Cost Transparency Journey at ITFM Week 2014Apptio
IT Cost Transparency is not about what does IT cost? It’s about why does IT cost what it does and how can they use their money and other resources to create more value.
Pitching VC’s? Here’s the deck we used to raise $145MTrevor Shih
We’re excited to announce a new milestone. Rippling has raised $145 million in Series B funding led by Founders Fund. Participants in the round included Greenoaks Capital, Coatue Management, and Bedrock Capital, as well as existing investors including Kleiner Perkins, Initialized Capital, and Y Combinator.
We know there’s never been a more difficult time to run a business, let alone raise venture funding. Feel free to use this deck as a template for your next fundraise.
Procurement software provider in islamabadfatimaesolpk
ESOLPK offers Enterprise Solution Services, Microsoft Dynamics ERP and business solutions, Microsoft Dynamics GP, Microsoft SharePoint and Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
As with many industries, the essential tools required by most accountants vary depending on the needs of their clients. This makes having computer software versatile enough to fit the needs of both small businesses as well as larger corporations crucial for any certified public accountant.
An ERP software has turned into an indispensable tool for businesses as it caters to all business needs and functions. An ERP scales across the different business from Manufacturing to Sales, Accounting to Human Resource, Customer Relations to Trading and many more. For example in the manufacturing industry, the absence of ERP forces the business to deploy multiple applications to handle the internal business communication, which turns out to be costlier and chaotic.
A powerful integrated ERP can ensure a comprehensive and structured business run for no doubt. It enables with every kind of interactions like marketing, sales, accounting, quality control, processing, and human resourcing to a single database eliminating the occasional loss of information like before. An ERP software also automates the business processes by placing them into a useful format that is standardized and common for the whole business industry.
Robotic Process Automation for Financial ServicesAppian
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is emerging as a cost-effective technique to get work done in Financial Services Institutions (FSIs).
With the advent of RPA, executives should reconsider how they manage organizational business processes and support information technology.
Learn more about robotic process automation and the transformation continuum in this executive perspective: http://ap.pn/2jYWrMG
s e-commerce continues to expand, enterprise resource planning (ERP) ecommerce features have grown more vital as traditional brick and mortar stores have declined in popularity. If your firm uses an e-commerce platform, integrating it with an ERP ecommerce system may help you improve efficiency, keep more of your customers, and earn more money.
White paper achieving the most economically advantageous applications solutio...Newton Day Uploads
This is a White Paper that I produced in 2010 on the subject of how organizations have the potential to always achieve the most economically advantageous application solution for their business by insourcing IT thanks to the evolution of near-real-time applications authoring.
Software Modernization Is Essential for Businesses: Assessing the Cost of Ina...Velan Apps
Discover assessing the cost of inaction in software modernization and why updating your software is important for your business success!
Software Modernization has become an inescapable component of the smart digital transformation that is underway in all enterprises across the world. Businesses must modernize their legacy programs as they grow increasingly vulnerable to the harmful consequences of obsolete software.
Given the aforementioned circumstances, it is critical for all businesses to address the legacy modernization phase, which presents clear obstacles such as evaluating the cost of inaction and risk reduction. In this post, we will explain how to decrease expenses and assessing the cost of inaction in software modernization.
Why Organizations Stay With Old Software Systems for Longer than they Should.
There are various reasons why organizations continue to pay high maintenance expenses for older software. Executives at an older, lucrative software firm may be pleased to maintain the clients and products they have instead of pursuing new chances. Executives at a big corporation or government institution may have initiated a legacy system update, only for it to fail or create more interruptions. In another example, management may be paying extravagant sums to maintain a legacy system without fully understanding how much it is costing the firm.
In any case, it’s prudent to take a step back and evaluate your personal expenses. Knowing how much your legacy program truly costs might help you put the expense of a software modernization project into perspective.
The Three Ways to Modernize Software and Applications
Before we discuss the costs of modernization, we’d want to explain mastering software modernization and how it’s done. Once you’ve decided to update your legacy application, you must choose one of the approaches outlined below.
Rewrite.
First, you can rebuild the application’s code using a contemporary and dependable programming language. This strategy frequently results in overestimated costs and time periods, so thoroughly review your project before deciding to change the code.
Replace.
This solution requires you to replace the entire system with a newly developed application. However, key components and functionalities from the previous program will be needed in a different form for the new application to function properly. When replacing an app, the amount of complexity might increase until you reach a final version.
Reuse.
The third option is to reuse the old legacy program while updating it for improved functionality. This strategy will comprise a step-by-step process, with testing conducted after each phase.
https://velanapps.com/blog/assessing-the-cost-of-inaction-in-software-modernization/
Experience, Excellence & Commitment are the characteristics that describe FlamingosTech which is located at the heart of the Kolkata, India.
Flamingostech is a synthesis of functional and technical experts with extensive knowledge and profound industrial experience. It has a team of highly skilled young professionals with the passion and expertise in latest technologies. The team is guided by very senior resources, who are in the industry for more than 30 years. Deploying these experts, FlamingosTech design, develop and deliver feasibly advanced software applications to make the business of its client grow at a rapid and consistent pace.
Flamingostech ventured into the field with a mission to deliver robust effective Business Solutions in terms of development and implementation of customized Software Applications to the clients giving value for their money with guaranteed quality assurances.
Since the beginning, Flamingostech have been working with several clients belonging to the different segments of businesses providing them the uncompromising quality services which put their businesses on high pedestal of growth.
Flamingostech has reached in 3 continents to cater its clients along with a substantial number of domestic clients across India.
Experience, Excellence & Commitment are the characteristics that describe FlamingosTech which is located at the heart of the Kolkata, India.
Flamingostech is a synthesis of functional and technical experts with extensive knowledge and profound industrial experience. It has a team of highly skilled young professionals with the passion and expertise in latest technologies. The team is guided by very senior resources, who are in the industry for more than 30 years. Deploying these experts, FlamingosTech design, develop and deliver feasibly advanced software applications to make the business of its client grow at a rapid and consistent pace.
Flamingostech ventured into the field with a mission to deliver robust effective Business Solutions in terms of development and implementation of customized Software Applications to the clients giving value for their money with guaranteed quality assurances.
Since the beginning, Flamingostech have been working with several clients belonging to the different segments of businesses providing them the uncompromising quality services which put their businesses on high pedestal of growth.
Flamingostech has reached in 3 continents to cater its clients along with a substantial number of domestic clients across India.
Explore our comprehensive data analysis project presentation on predicting product ad campaign performance. Learn how data-driven insights can optimize your marketing strategies and enhance campaign effectiveness. Perfect for professionals and students looking to understand the power of data analysis in advertising. for more details visit: https://bostoninstituteofanalytics.org/data-science-and-artificial-intelligence/
Chatty Kathy - UNC Bootcamp Final Project Presentation - Final Version - 5.23...John Andrews
SlideShare Description for "Chatty Kathy - UNC Bootcamp Final Project Presentation"
Title: Chatty Kathy: Enhancing Physical Activity Among Older Adults
Description:
Discover how Chatty Kathy, an innovative project developed at the UNC Bootcamp, aims to tackle the challenge of low physical activity among older adults. Our AI-driven solution uses peer interaction to boost and sustain exercise levels, significantly improving health outcomes. This presentation covers our problem statement, the rationale behind Chatty Kathy, synthetic data and persona creation, model performance metrics, a visual demonstration of the project, and potential future developments. Join us for an insightful Q&A session to explore the potential of this groundbreaking project.
Project Team: Jay Requarth, Jana Avery, John Andrews, Dr. Dick Davis II, Nee Buntoum, Nam Yeongjin & Mat Nicholas
As Europe's leading economic powerhouse and the fourth-largest hashtag#economy globally, Germany stands at the forefront of innovation and industrial might. Renowned for its precision engineering and high-tech sectors, Germany's economic structure is heavily supported by a robust service industry, accounting for approximately 68% of its GDP. This economic clout and strategic geopolitical stance position Germany as a focal point in the global cyber threat landscape.
In the face of escalating global tensions, particularly those emanating from geopolitical disputes with nations like hashtag#Russia and hashtag#China, hashtag#Germany has witnessed a significant uptick in targeted cyber operations. Our analysis indicates a marked increase in hashtag#cyberattack sophistication aimed at critical infrastructure and key industrial sectors. These attacks range from ransomware campaigns to hashtag#AdvancedPersistentThreats (hashtag#APTs), threatening national security and business integrity.
🔑 Key findings include:
🔍 Increased frequency and complexity of cyber threats.
🔍 Escalation of state-sponsored and criminally motivated cyber operations.
🔍 Active dark web exchanges of malicious tools and tactics.
Our comprehensive report delves into these challenges, using a blend of open-source and proprietary data collection techniques. By monitoring activity on critical networks and analyzing attack patterns, our team provides a detailed overview of the threats facing German entities.
This report aims to equip stakeholders across public and private sectors with the knowledge to enhance their defensive strategies, reduce exposure to cyber risks, and reinforce Germany's resilience against cyber threats.
For cf os, the time to deploy procure to-pay software is now
1. For CFOs, the
time to deploy
procure-to-pay
software is now
JANUARY 2017
ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS
HANDBOOK
FOTOLIA
2. 2 FOR CFOS, THE TIME TO DEPLOY PROCURE-TO-PAY SOFTWARE IS NOW
In this handbook:
Editor’s Letter
E-procurement software
uses cloud to its fullest
abilities
Procure-to-pay software
becoming a sophisticated
tool for CFOs
Expert tips for implementing
procure-to-pay software
ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS
HANDBOOK
Procurement management software cuts costs,
improves transparency
DAN RING, NEWS WRITER
Procurement is a critical function at any company largely because it can con-
sume a significant part of the annual budget. It’s also a major challenge.
Effectively managing outside suppliers and spending by departments while
keeping costs under control and maintaining open communications with
employees can be difficult. Increasingly, CFOs and business executives are
using cloud-based e-procurement software to streamline and automate B2B
transactions and create more openness. For example, Coca-Cola Bottling,
Agilent Technologies and Hallmark subscribe to Taulia procurement man-
agement software aimed at helping suppliers secure quicker payments. And
Coupa software is noted for preconfigured capabilities across procurement
and expense management.
E-invoicing is often a critical part of e-procurement. While e-procurement
vendors such as Taulia and Coupa are seeing explosive growth, there’s plenty
3. 3 FOR CFOS, THE TIME TO DEPLOY PROCURE-TO-PAY SOFTWARE IS NOW
In this handbook:
Editor’s Letter
E-procurement software
uses cloud to its fullest
abilities
Procure-to-pay software
becoming a sophisticated
tool for CFOs
Expert tips for implementing
procure-to-pay software
ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS
HANDBOOK
of room for expanded use of electronic invoicing alongside the more sophis-
ticated features of procurement management software. Despite lower costs,
better cash management, fewer errors, risk mitigation and transparency with
e-invoicing, only 25% of invoices in the U.S. are electronic, according to a June
2016 report by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.
While small organizations struggle to build business cases, large companies
have enough volume to benefit from invoice automation and greater technol-
ogy resources to support implementation. Meanwhile, the federal government
is seeking to increase the efficiency and cost effectiveness of its procure-to-
pay processes by mandating e-invoicing for companies that do business with
federal agencies, the report said. That could spark more change in the private
sector as implementation of e-invoicing to accommodate government suppli-
ers may pave the way for e-invoicing with business suppliers.
This handbook examines the many facets of procurement management
software as it becomes more sophisticated through advanced financing
and analytics features. Businesses need a buying strategy. Without e-invoic-
ing and e-procurement software, executives may be missing cost-saving
opportunities.
4. 4 FOR CFOS, THE TIME TO DEPLOY PROCURE-TO-PAY SOFTWARE IS NOW
In this handbook:
Editor’s Letter
E-procurement software
uses cloud to its fullest
abilities
Procure-to-pay software
becoming a sophisticated
tool for CFOs
Expert tips for implementing
procure-to-pay software
ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS
HANDBOOK
E-procurement software uses cloud to its fullest
abilities
JIMMY LEFEVER, RESEARCH DIRECTOR
Procurement is a process in which an organization requisitions, orders and
purchases goods or services. The typical procurement flow involves defining
a need; seeking approval for a purchase; identifying the most suitable, well-
priced product; and managing the logistics of the order until fulfillment. This
process grows more or less complex depending on an organization’s business
structure, size or industry, but for any company, the ultimate goal is to procure a
product at the greatest value and the best possible price.
In traditional procurement, an organization would handle purchasing with
manual methods, allowing limited control and visibility into the buying pro-
cess or the logistics of the order. However, with the rise of technology and the
increasing focus on cost control in B2B activity, innovative organizations are
now using electronic procurement (e-procurement) software to complete this
process faster and more efficiently. The e-procurement tools available today
allow purchasing departments to better control how items are purchased, to
5. 5 FOR CFOS, THE TIME TO DEPLOY PROCURE-TO-PAY SOFTWARE IS NOW
In this handbook:
Editor’s Letter
E-procurement software
uses cloud to its fullest
abilities
Procure-to-pay software
becoming a sophisticated
tool for CFOs
Expert tips for implementing
procure-to-pay software
ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS
HANDBOOK
build more strategic relationships with suppliers and to have full visibility into
the lifecycle of their orders.
PROCUREMENT PROCESS MADE EFFICIENT BY E-PROCUREMENT
SOFTWARE
Developers designed e-procurement software in the late ‘80s to
accommodate an increasingly globalized business environment, one in which
organizations had greater need for speed and efficiency in order to maintain
competitive advantage. The original intention of the software was to speed
up processes and increase visibility in purchasing. However, after the recent
economic recession, new operating challenges among businesses have
caused e-procurement software to become more versatile and more focused
on cost control. Businesses are increasingly turning to automation software to
control spend and maintain secure, cost-effective supplier relationships.
Leading e-procurement software include features for creating and manag-
ing requisitions, hosted catalogs and punch-out (supplier hosted) catalogs,
purchase order (PO) management, and receiving and reconciliation. E-pro-
curement software enables employees from many different departments to
6. 6 FOR CFOS, THE TIME TO DEPLOY PROCURE-TO-PAY SOFTWARE IS NOW
In this handbook:
Editor’s Letter
E-procurement software
uses cloud to its fullest
abilities
Procure-to-pay software
becoming a sophisticated
tool for CFOs
Expert tips for implementing
procure-to-pay software
ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS
HANDBOOK
order the items they need using a centralized, controlled system; this includes
configurable approval workflows to ensure that non-procurement staff are still
purchasing according to company guidelines and budgets.
Users can build and optimize catalogs with competitively priced items, both
through hosted catalogs that are maintained in the buyer’s systems, and
punch-out catalogs that integrate with suppliers’ external product lists. When
orders are placed, the e-procurement system will allow a user to monitor the
PO throughout its lifecycle. When shipments are received, the system will
facilitate automatic goods receipt creation, order reconciliation, and match
invoices to POs and receipts to ensure items and payments are correct and in
sync.
WHAT E-PROCUREMENT IS
Procurement is a core function of the purchase-to-pay (P2P) process. There-
fore, e-procurement is a vital element of P2P automation software suites,
which include tools for purchase order management, supplier information
management, accounts payable, payments and spend analysis. Some provid-
ers offer a holistic P2P platform that streamlines the transition between each
7. 7 FOR CFOS, THE TIME TO DEPLOY PROCURE-TO-PAY SOFTWARE IS NOW
In this handbook:
Editor’s Letter
E-procurement software
uses cloud to its fullest
abilities
Procure-to-pay software
becoming a sophisticated
tool for CFOs
Expert tips for implementing
procure-to-pay software
ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS
HANDBOOK
of these processes, while others focus on individual functions. In the latter
case, the standalone systems will be designed to easily integrate with other
P2P tools.
AND WHAT E-PROCUREMENT ISN’T
It is important to draw a distinction between e-procurement and another type
of purchasing software, electronic sourcing (e-sourcing). An e-sourcing tool
offers functionality for creating RFx (request for information, proposal or
quote) to distribute to suppliers, as well as for hosting reverse auctions that
award an RFx event to the supplier with the most competitive price. While
e-sourcing helps identify suppliers for projects and contracts, or for coopera-
tion in e-procurement catalogs, e-procurement software facilitates intelligent
and controlled purchasing from these suppliers.
THE EVOLUTION OF E-PROCUREMENT SOFTWARE
The changing economy and the rise of technology in the workplace have
changed the way e-procurement software is designed and packaged. For
8. 8 FOR CFOS, THE TIME TO DEPLOY PROCURE-TO-PAY SOFTWARE IS NOW
In this handbook:
Editor’s Letter
E-procurement software
uses cloud to its fullest
abilities
Procure-to-pay software
becoming a sophisticated
tool for CFOs
Expert tips for implementing
procure-to-pay software
ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS
HANDBOOK
example, the first e-procurement tools were primarily on-premises systems
that were maintained by internal parties, and they were mostly only realistic
for the budgets of large enterprises. Now, cloud-based software is available
at more reasonable prices and is more accessible to the middle market. Cloud
technology is also a much better option for organizations with many locations
and decentralized processes, and the solutions require very little internal IT
involvement. In addition, punch-out catalogs give users real-time access to
suppliers’ inventories of goods, allowing them to get more accurate prices and
order information than was available with on-premises, hosted catalogs.
Another aspect of e-procurement software that has changed in the last
decade is the software’s emulation of modern e-commerce platforms, and its
use of big data to enable more strategic purchases. For example, many hosted,
punch-out and hybrid catalogs offered with today’s solutions are designed
to look and function very much like an Amazon-type online marketplace. An
e-procurement system will also draw from clients’ internal purchasing data to
optimize procurement with item suggestions and specialized searches, such
as suggesting a complementary or similar item to one that a user frequently
orders.
9. 9 FOR CFOS, THE TIME TO DEPLOY PROCURE-TO-PAY SOFTWARE IS NOW
In this handbook:
Editor’s Letter
E-procurement software
uses cloud to its fullest
abilities
Procure-to-pay software
becoming a sophisticated
tool for CFOs
Expert tips for implementing
procure-to-pay software
ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS
HANDBOOK
In all, e-procurement can be seen as the wave of the future in back-office effi-
ciency. E-procurement software has the ability to allow organizations to save
millions in costs, having a direct impact on business revenue. It also enables a
company to transform their purchasing department from merely a cost center
into a strategic powerhouse.
Editor’s note: This is part one of a four-part series covering e-procurement software. Stay tuned for
part two, which will present use cases for e-procurement software; part three, which will show you
important features to look for in e-procurement tools; and part four, which will help you select the right
e-procurement software for your organization.
Procure-to-pay software becoming a
sophisticated tool for CFOs
LINDA ROSENCRANCE, CONTRIBUTOR
Put simply, procure to pay is the process by which companies buy and pay for
goods and services, from the initial decision to make a purchase to processing
and paying the supplier invoice.
10. 10 FOR CFOS, THE TIME TO DEPLOY PROCURE-TO-PAY SOFTWARE IS NOW
In this handbook:
Editor’s Letter
E-procurement software
uses cloud to its fullest
abilities
Procure-to-pay software
becoming a sophisticated
tool for CFOs
Expert tips for implementing
procure-to-pay software
ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS
HANDBOOK
Procure-to-pay software aims to automate this process, enabling organiza-
tions to operate more efficiently, save money and reduce risk by providing
more financial controls.
But there are other, more sophisticated ways CFOs can take advantage of pro-
cure-to-pay software to realize additional benefits, including improving cash
flow, building up working capital, extending and managing credit, and perform-
ing analytics on spending.
“The most interesting thing to me is the link between analytics on spend and
machine learning and artificial intelligence to validate transactions,” said Dun-
can Jones, vice president and principal analyst at Forrester Research, based
in Cambridge, Mass. “Either to validate procurement transactions before they
happen or to validate invoices and invoice discrepancies.”
A basic use of procure-to-pay software would only replicate a manual pro-
cure-to-pay process, including approving invoices, Jones said. In contrast, an
advanced procure-to-pay (P2P) system would learn from what people do and
do not approve, either formally with business rules -- e.g., if certain conditions
are met, the invoice will be approved -- or informally just by “learning” what
people approve, according to Jones.
11. 11 FOR CFOS, THE TIME TO DEPLOY PROCURE-TO-PAY SOFTWARE IS NOW
In this handbook:
Editor’s Letter
E-procurement software
uses cloud to its fullest
abilities
Procure-to-pay software
becoming a sophisticated
tool for CFOs
Expert tips for implementing
procure-to-pay software
ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS
HANDBOOK
“We replace the [basic use] with automated validations and analytics that
look for patterns after the fact, and then identify problems that need to be
addressed,” he said.
For example, managers can’t determine if an employee is overspending by
looking at one requisition at a time. They can only spot that overspending
by using procure-to-pay software to uncover the pattern of the employee’s
spending.
“It really needs a mindset change from finance. Some [Forrester] clients say
the goal they’re trying to get from procure to pay is compliance with policy,”
he said. “But I say that shouldn’t be the goal because the policy is not written
in stone. It’s your way to try and control spending to avoid waste. The goal is
avoiding waste. [Compliance] was the best you could do when you had manual
systems. Now that you have software, you can be much smarter.”
Coupa Software Inc.’s Donna Wilczek agreed that CFOs should be using pro-
cure-to-pay software to track this rogue spending.
“A lot of [the] time, people are expensing things that should have been on a
contract or purchased via purchase order,” said Wilczek, vice president of
12. 12 FOR CFOS, THE TIME TO DEPLOY PROCURE-TO-PAY SOFTWARE IS NOW
In this handbook:
Editor’s Letter
E-procurement software
uses cloud to its fullest
abilities
Procure-to-pay software
becoming a sophisticated
tool for CFOs
Expert tips for implementing
procure-to-pay software
ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS
HANDBOOK
strategy and product marketing at Coupa, a cloud spend-management soft-
ware vendor based in San Mateo, Calif.
She told the story of a Coupa client whose administrative assistants were buy-
ing bottled water from Costco and expensing it. “Then the company imple-
mented Coupa and realized there was a contract available for bottled water
and they saved over $100,000 annually on bottled water for one location.”
CASH FLOW, WORKING CAPITAL BENEFITS CAN BE SIGNIFICANT
The power of procure-to-pay software lies not just in the information it can
provide about how organizations spend money, but in helping them leverage
that information to make better decisions, said Brian Rosenberg, CEO of The
Rosenberg Group, based in Las Vegas.
Procure-to-pay software can also help CFOs gain more control over cash flow,
according to these experts. “You can more globally be able to make adjust-
ments in your cash flow to pay vendors faster if there are financial incentives to
do so,” Rosenberg said.
13. 13 FOR CFOS, THE TIME TO DEPLOY PROCURE-TO-PAY SOFTWARE IS NOW
In this handbook:
Editor’s Letter
E-procurement software
uses cloud to its fullest
abilities
Procure-to-pay software
becoming a sophisticated
tool for CFOs
Expert tips for implementing
procure-to-pay software
ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS
HANDBOOK
The cloud-based supplier financing system offered by Taulia Inc. helps buyers
and suppliers unlock that functionality by automating vendor discounts.
Taulia allows suppliers to get paid faster in exchange for giving buyers early
payment discounts, which can improve productivity, lower costs and automate
outdated business practices, said Markus Ament, co-founder and chief strat-
egy officer at San Francisco-based Taulia.
CFOs can ensure that that their supply chains have cash on hand when they
need it so they can remain competitive and profitable, he said. Companies
using Taulia’s software include Coca-Cola, PayPal, Hallmark, Salesforce and
Warner Bros. Entertainment.
Here’s how it works: A supplier for Taulia’s customers can request that an
invoice be paid sooner than the set term if it agrees to give the buyer a discount
on the invoice. The size of the discount varies according to when the supplier
wants to get paid. That’s called dynamic discounting, Ament said.
CFOs can also use tools that come with procure-to-pay software for treasury
functions, such as forecasting days payable outstanding and working capital,
said Jimmy LeFever, director of research and consulting at PayStream Advi-
sors, based in in Charlotte, N.C.
14. 14 FOR CFOS, THE TIME TO DEPLOY PROCURE-TO-PAY SOFTWARE IS NOW
In this handbook:
Editor’s Letter
E-procurement software
uses cloud to its fullest
abilities
Procure-to-pay software
becoming a sophisticated
tool for CFOs
Expert tips for implementing
procure-to-pay software
ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS
HANDBOOK
In addition, CFOs can use the reporting and analytics capabilities of advanced
procure-to-pay software to help manage spend, according to LeFever.
“If I want to know how much my northwest regional sales team spent on pen-
cils the first week of October in 2015, I can drill down to that in a matter of sec-
onds,” he said. “In older, less advanced solutions, that would be a report that
would have to be generated and it would take a while. The more advanced solu-
tions allow you do that in six to seven clicks.”
Global Health Exchange’s most sophisticated customers -- suppliers as well
as buyers -- are starting to deploy analytics on top of their requisition-to-order
platforms, said Chris Luoma, vice president of product management at GHX,
based in Louisville, Colo., which offers procurement software for the health-
care industry.
Customers are also looking for other opportunities, whether it’s consolidation
of suppliers or strategic relationships with particular suppliers, he said. Health
systems that grow through acquisition, for example, find themselves having to
manage new supplier relationships at the departmental level.
15. 15 FOR CFOS, THE TIME TO DEPLOY PROCURE-TO-PAY SOFTWARE IS NOW
In this handbook:
Editor’s Letter
E-procurement software
uses cloud to its fullest
abilities
Procure-to-pay software
becoming a sophisticated
tool for CFOs
Expert tips for implementing
procure-to-pay software
ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS
HANDBOOK
As the healthcare supply chain matures, CFOs are using technology to drive
great efficiencies for their organizations, according to Luoma.
“I need analytics tools to understand where I can go in and start to consolidate
basic services such as laundry, linens and electricity, all the way up through
more complicated arrangements where I’m going to a single supplier for both
my trauma and my orthopedics supplies,” he said.
With the analytics tools, the CFO can understand how the combination of
those lines of services allow the supplier to be more efficient and, as a result,
offer greater benefit to the healthcare provider, Luoma said.
However, it’s not just the analytics capabilities -- it’s also about the content.
“While our most sophisticated customers understand where they want to get
in terms of spend analysis and category management, they struggle with the
underlying data,” he said. “So, they come to GHX for content solutions that
allow them … to understand what they’re buying and who they’re buying it from
to consolidate that down.”
16. 16 FOR CFOS, THE TIME TO DEPLOY PROCURE-TO-PAY SOFTWARE IS NOW
In this handbook:
Editor’s Letter
E-procurement software
uses cloud to its fullest
abilities
Procure-to-pay software
becoming a sophisticated
tool for CFOs
Expert tips for implementing
procure-to-pay software
ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS
HANDBOOK
REDUCING THE ‘FRICTION’ IN SUPPLY CHAINS
Extending and managing credit is important in P2P and business networks
because the “expense of credit comes at the point of friction and lack of
information in the traditional processes,” said Drew Hofler, senior director of
financial solutions at SAP Ariba, a procure-to-pay software and networked
marketplace provider based in Sunnyvale, Calif.
For example, when a supplier “factors” an invoice (sells it to a third party at a dis-
count) or goes for a line of credit, the credit provider will want assurances that
the supplier will be paid for the invoices it submitted to the buyer, Hofler said.
That information is often hard to come by in paper-based and non-networked
processes, he said.
“But inside of networks, we have years of data on the relationship between
that buyer and supplier that shows, particularly when that payment is being
executed through us … exactly how long it took a buyer to pay a supplier, how
often they miss that date [and] if there’s a long-term relationship between that
buyer and seller,” Hofler said. “All those pieces of information directly go into a
calculation of risk.”
17. 17 FOR CFOS, THE TIME TO DEPLOY PROCURE-TO-PAY SOFTWARE IS NOW
In this handbook:
Editor’s Letter
E-procurement software
uses cloud to its fullest
abilities
Procure-to-pay software
becoming a sophisticated
tool for CFOs
Expert tips for implementing
procure-to-pay software
ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS
HANDBOOK
When buyers and suppliers have visibility into such data, “friction” and costs go
down in the overall system, he said.
That means when companies are on a P2P platform, especially one that is tied
into a business network, and have all this information, “they’re able to remove
artificial barriers and let liquidity flow where it needs to with as low a cost as
possible,” Hofler said.
“Maybe that money comes from their buyer who happens to have a lot of cash
on hand, or maybe it comes from a third-party funder providing liquidity to pur-
chase the invoice from a supplier,” he added.
In this case, neither the supplier nor the buyer is incurring any debt. Rather, it
is a flow of funds that is able to retire receivables and extend payables without
creating balance-sheet debt or the need for external credit, Hofler said.
18. 18 FOR CFOS, THE TIME TO DEPLOY PROCURE-TO-PAY SOFTWARE IS NOW
In this handbook:
Editor’s Letter
E-procurement software
uses cloud to its fullest
abilities
Procure-to-pay software
becoming a sophisticated
tool for CFOs
Expert tips for implementing
procure-to-pay software
ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS
HANDBOOK
Expert tips for implementing procure-to-pay
software
LINDA ROSENCRANCE, CONTRIBUTOR
The goal of a procure-to-pay software system is to enable companies to auto-
mate the process of requisitioning and paying for goods and services.
Increasingly, organizations are recognizing the value of using procure-to-pay
(P2P) software to streamline all their purchasing and payment activities in one
integrated, end-to-end process.
However, statistics indicate “pretty low levels of implementation of actual
transactional-level automation,” said Amy Fong, purchase-to-pay practice
leader at The Hackett Group Inc., a Miami-based consultancy.
For instance, although many companies have implemented e-invoicing sys-
tems, the average company only has about 20% of its invoices coming in
electronically.
19. 19 FOR CFOS, THE TIME TO DEPLOY PROCURE-TO-PAY SOFTWARE IS NOW
In this handbook:
Editor’s Letter
E-procurement software
uses cloud to its fullest
abilities
Procure-to-pay software
becoming a sophisticated
tool for CFOs
Expert tips for implementing
procure-to-pay software
ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS
HANDBOOK
“It’s not that people haven’t been spending money [in this space] -- it’s that they
haven’t necessarily made it all the way to the goal post in successfully getting
the value out of their purchases,” Fong said. “This is something that CFOs need
to think about.”
Before investing in a P2P system, CFOs should carefully consider their tech-
nology options and overall strategy, she said.
“Do we want a combination of best of breed that lets us pick and choose indi-
vidual solutions based on what our requirements are?” she said. “Or, are we
looking for one platform that goes across source-to-pay?”
Chet Taff, managing director of operations and service line lead at DayBlink
Consulting, based in McLean, Va., said one CFO might want to ensure that all
the transactions are electronic, including payables, while another might look
for a system that simplifies the supplier adoption process.
“You have to be clear about what your No. 1 priority is and not look at [P2P] soft-
ware as a panacea to do everything,” Taff said.
20. 20 FOR CFOS, THE TIME TO DEPLOY PROCURE-TO-PAY SOFTWARE IS NOW
In this handbook:
Editor’s Letter
E-procurement software
uses cloud to its fullest
abilities
Procure-to-pay software
becoming a sophisticated
tool for CFOs
Expert tips for implementing
procure-to-pay software
ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS
HANDBOOK
Some vendors offer single, integrated platforms that cover the P2P process
end-to-end, while systems from niche providers may only handle a particular
step in the process, although those vendors are considered the best at what
they do, Fong said.
“Unless you’ve already purchased something, I would say stay open to both,”
she said. “It’s just [a matter of] understanding the infrastructure strategy that
you have for the process.”
WHO WILL USE THE PROCURE-TO-PAY SOFTWARE?
Before making a final decision, Fong also recommended getting user input
from employees involved in the requisitioning, purchasing and accounts pay-
able processes as well as from suppliers.
“This is a type of software that touches your internal and your supplier custom-
ers. Most of these solutions now offer some kind of supplier portal, so you may
have suppliers and employees also using it,” she said. “You might have to think
about it a little differently than other pieces of finance software that are purely
back office.”
21. 21 FOR CFOS, THE TIME TO DEPLOY PROCURE-TO-PAY SOFTWARE IS NOW
In this handbook:
Editor’s Letter
E-procurement software
uses cloud to its fullest
abilities
Procure-to-pay software
becoming a sophisticated
tool for CFOs
Expert tips for implementing
procure-to-pay software
ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS
HANDBOOK
The P2P process involves cross-functional interaction throughout the com-
pany, Fong said. That means if a company has a team working on analytics and
finance, that team needs to partner with the sourcing analytics team.
“You should understand their needs and test out the capabilities to meet their
needs with each vendor that you’re considering,” Fong said. “And if you are
able to do any kind of predictive analytics, like looking at forward-looking pric-
ing that can help you model costs in advance, sourcing is the [team] to partner
with. But there may be other people in the finance side, as well as IT, [who] can
help with that.”
CFOs who think about their business processes from the perspectives of their
internal and external customers -- the people who are going to be affected by
using procure-to-pay software -- will be the most successful, said Henry Ijams,
vice president of product management at AvidXchange Inc., a provider of auto-
mated bill payment and invoice services in Charlotte, N.C.
“Think about who your customers are,” said Ijams, who is also managing direc-
tor of PayStream Advisors, a Charlotte-based research firm. “Are they your
department managers, suppliers, central purchasing? You have to support all
of them is what we’ve learned from the most innovative companies.”
22. 22 FOR CFOS, THE TIME TO DEPLOY PROCURE-TO-PAY SOFTWARE IS NOW
In this handbook:
Editor’s Letter
E-procurement software
uses cloud to its fullest
abilities
Procure-to-pay software
becoming a sophisticated
tool for CFOs
Expert tips for implementing
procure-to-pay software
ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS
HANDBOOK
In payments, that means optimizing the strategy to fit the value of the supplier
and the purchasing organization, he said.
Taff concurred with this strategy. In fact, he said companies that select and
implement P2P without the input of their internal customers will most likely fail.
“The companies that do it great, they’ll get the admins across their company --
typically, the ones who are doing the ordering -- to go out and tell them what’s
important, as opposed to them telling the admins what they’re going to get,” he
said.
In that example, the procurement department will also seek the input of other
adjacent processes, including accounts payable, according to Taff.
“They’ll find out what the clerks do” he said. “The accounts payable functions
aren’t always aligned with procurement. And their goals aren’t always aligned
with what procurement’s goals are.”
23. 23 FOR CFOS, THE TIME TO DEPLOY PROCURE-TO-PAY SOFTWARE IS NOW
In this handbook:
Editor’s Letter
E-procurement software
uses cloud to its fullest
abilities
Procure-to-pay software
becoming a sophisticated
tool for CFOs
Expert tips for implementing
procure-to-pay software
ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS
HANDBOOK
SKETCHING OUT A P2P SYSTEM
Before implementing procure-to-pay software, the CFO should ensure that the
business process is solidified, said Amit Patel, managing director of the enter-
prise solutions practice at Huron Consulting Group Inc. in Chicago.
“Then put on paper what pieces of that are going to be standard processes
supported by the software, what pieces will be automated and what pieces will
remain manual until they stabilize on the system,” Patel said. “Modern-day soft-
ware should allow you to take what you do on paper and transition it to a digital
organization.”
Most of Huron’s clients also want to have better internal controls, mainly for
segregation of duties and ensuring that the right individuals are procuring and
the right individuals are paying, he said. Next-gen procure-to-pay software
should also let CFOs address that issue.
Patel said another key element Huron recommends as part of the implementa-
tion cycle is for companies to consider either the source of the data or the kind
of data they’re going to put in the system.
24. 24 FOR CFOS, THE TIME TO DEPLOY PROCURE-TO-PAY SOFTWARE IS NOW
In this handbook:
Editor’s Letter
E-procurement software
uses cloud to its fullest
abilities
Procure-to-pay software
becoming a sophisticated
tool for CFOs
Expert tips for implementing
procure-to-pay software
ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS
HANDBOOK
“You want to make sure it’s clean,” he said. “If it’s not clean, we recommend you
manually clean it up or get some tools to clean it.”
For Nagi Prabhu, chief product officer at Icertis, a provider of contract manage-
ment software based in Bellevue, Wash., a procure-to-pay system is only as
good as the contracting system that is associated with it.
“If the contract solution is not robust enough, the procure-to-pay solution just
becomes a process organizer and doesn’t really provide a lot of benefits,” he
said.
Therefore, CFOs should look for procure-to-pay software that can help them
manage risks because every procure-to-pay workflow has a risk associated
with it, according to Prabhu.
For example, a contracting system underneath a procure-to-pay system could
help a company eliminate the risk that a vendor will be noncompliant, he said.
“We have an integration with DB and Thomson Reuters where we constantly
check, as part of the contracting and post-contracting risk mitigation process
[for a customer], that the vendors are compliant,” Prabhu said. “We also check
25. 25 FOR CFOS, THE TIME TO DEPLOY PROCURE-TO-PAY SOFTWARE IS NOW
In this handbook:
Editor’s Letter
E-procurement software
uses cloud to its fullest
abilities
Procure-to-pay software
becoming a sophisticated
tool for CFOs
Expert tips for implementing
procure-to-pay software
ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS
HANDBOOK
that they don’t have any legal issues where [our customer] should stop inter-
acting with certain vendors, or maybe find a way to eliminate the risks [they]
may incur because of the vendors’ noncompliance.”
Finally, Fong noted that procure-to-pay software has evolved over the years
and now includes many advanced features and functions. Because of that, she
advised CFOs to look carefully at those enhanced features.
“You should dig a couple layers deep, talk to other customers, talk to people
like Hackett or other analysts or advisors,” she said. “Understand what is really
valid and what is vaporware.”