Organizations running Microsoft Dynamics ERP platforms are under increasing pressure to modernize their financial operations. Manual accounts payable (AP) processes—paper invoices, slow approvals, data entry errors, and lack of visibility—continue to drain productivity and increase risk.
In a recent episode of the MSDynamicsWorld (MSDW) Podcast, “A Successful Path to Automation in Dynamics ERP, with Yooz,” industry experts John Parisi (Yooz) and Mark Munson (ACE Micro)** unpack what it really takes to build a successful automation journey for Dynamics users. Their insights offer a clear roadmap for GP and Business Central customers ready to embrace digital transformation.
The Problem: Manual AP Processes Slow Everyone Down
Parisi and Munson begin by spotlighting the pain points most organizations still face:
Time-consuming, error-prone invoice entry
Paper or PDF-driven approval processes
Poor visibility into invoice status and cash outflows
Increased fraud risk and duplicate payments
Heavy reliance on email, spreadsheets, and physical documents
These manual burdens create both operational and financial drag—making AP automation no longer optional, but essential.
Why AP Automation? Cost, Fraud Prevention & Productivity
According to the podcast guests, three primary drivers push Dynamics customers toward automation:
1. Cost Reduction
Manual processing is expensive. Labor hours, exception handling, and corrections add up quickly. Automation cuts these costs dramatically.
2. Fraud Prevention
Dispersed approvals and inconsistent controls leave many organizations exposed. Automation introduces standardization, audit trails, and real-time anomaly detection.
3. Productivity Gains
Automation frees finance teams from repetitive tasks, enabling them to focus on strategic work—forecasting, analysis, vendor negotiations, and process improvements.
Starting the Journey: Choosing the Right First Use Case
Munson stresses that success is not about overhauling everything at once. It begins with identifying a targeted, high-value workflow that can generate an early win.
Popular entry points include:
Non-PO invoice processing
Low-dollar invoices
Vendor-specific workflows
Approval routing automation
OCR-based invoice capture
These “quick wins” help establish momentum, build user adoption, and demonstrate ROI early.
Planning a Successful Rollout
Parisi and Munson emphasize that planning is just as important as technology. A smooth rollout requires:
✔ Mapping the Current State
Document how invoices enter the business today. Quantify hours spent, errors, approval delays, and costs per invoice.
✔ Defining Success Metrics
Examples include reducing processing time by 30–50%, cutting manual touches in half, or eliminating duplicate payments.
✔ Engaging Stakeholders Early
Finance, procurement, IT, and leadership all need to understand the benefits and implications of automation.
✔ Piloting Before Scaling
Start small, refine the process, measure outcomes, then expand across departments, locations, or invoice types.
The Value Proposition: What AP Automation Really Delivers
The podcast highlights the transformational impact automation brings to Dynamics GP and BC environments:
Faster Processing: Invoices move from receipt to approval in a fraction of the time.
Stronger Controls: Built-in validation, role-based approvals, and audit trails reduce risk and improve compliance.
Better Vendor Relationships: Faster and more predictable payments enhance trust and negotiations.
Increased Visibility: Dashboards and analytics provide real-time insights for cash-flow planning.
More Strategic Finance Teams: Less keyboard work, more value-added work.
AP automation is not just a tech upgrade—it’s a business transformation.
Common Challenges—and How to Overcome Them
The guests call out several hurdles that can slow adoption if not addressed:
Staff resistance to change
Poor or inconsistent vendor data
Lack of standardized approval paths
Misaligned expectations about “out of the box” vs. configurable automation
Integration complexity with Dynamics GP or BC
Addressing these proactively turns obstacles into opportunities for better processes.
Looking Forward: The Future of AP Automation
The AP landscape continues to evolve. In the coming years, expect advancements such as:
AI-enhanced OCR and invoice capture
Predictive fraud detection using machine learning
Deeper integration into ERP workflows and payment processes
Improved global support for multi-entity and multi-currency operations
Greater executive focus on cash-flow optimization and real-time analytics
Automation is no longer simply about efficiency—it’s becoming a foundation for strategic financial management.
Conclusion: Your Path to Automation Starts with the First Step
The conversation with Parisi and Munson makes one thing clear: successful AP automation isn’t just about implementing software. It’s about understanding your processes, choosing the right entry point, engaging your people, and scaling thoughtfully.
For Dynamics GP and Business Central users, the opportunity is significant:
Lower costs
Reduced fraud
Faster approvals
Better insights
Happier finance teams
The question isn’t whether to automate—it’s when and how.
For the full video podcast click here…
More information, contact ACE today!
President and VP of Business Development
read full bio