Most Organizations and their accounts payable team strive toward a paperless invoicing process from paper invoicing but have yet to achieve it.

Paper bills are a pain to handle since they need scanning, all the data input, and subsequent stakeholder communication and approval. However, the approval and payment of incoming invoices may be sped up by paperless invoices.

Many businesses make accounts payable time-consuming and error-prone since paper invoices must be passed around the office. In contrast, AP automation enables paperless invoice processing, improving efficiency and accuracy.

According to the 2021 State of AP study by MineralTree, 45 percent of firms still pay more than half of their suppliers through checks. This stat itself tells the need for transition to accounts payable paperless from manual invoice processing.

So, in this article, we will cover all the basics of paperless invoicing, paperless accounts, processes, and transactions. First, let’s begin with what is paperless invoice processing and then we will see why it should be your preferred option.

What is Paperless Invoice Processing?

Businesses are adopting paperless invoice processing to eliminate manual steps like scanning and entering data like GL codes.

To completely remove paper processes, paperless invoicing relies on AP automation software or a quick invoice generator that assists accounts payable administrators in establishing automated workflows.

It is possible to:

  • Facilitate supplier self-service to automate the invoice capture procedure.
  • Invoices, purchase orders, and receipts may all be matched together automatically by automating the three-way match process.
  • Saving time and money by not keying each invoice into the AP system will reduce data indexing costs.
  • Reduce the number of steps required to pay bills.
  • Increased cash flow insight is possible due to more rapid invoicing.

There’s more room for customization with paperless invoices. When sending electronic invoices to customers, company owners have the option of customizing a template to suit each individual’s needs. The happiness of customers is expected to grow when new and improved invoicing methods are introduced (like paperless invoice processing solutions).

How Does Paperless Invoicing Work?

Invoices that do not include the use of paper in any format are referred to as “paperless invoices,” and it is obvious from the term that this invoicing exists.

Do you find yourself wondering how such a thing could be possible?

Paperless invoicing is the easiest and fastest method to charge all your customers across the globe without getting up from your desk. Investing in an all-in-one paid or free online invoicing for small businesses is necessary if you want to digitize the process of creating invoices and sending them out.

It gives you the ability to generate and send electronic bills.

You can make invoices using any paperless invoice processing solution like Google Doc templates, pdf format, digital notes app, and Photoshop without a doubt, but that’s just half the battle; the other part is collecting payment; the transaction must be paperless, too! So you are responsible for sending them out and collecting the money.

An invoice management system that is paperless gives your client the option to pay you electronically.

Electronic invoices may be generated using Moon Invoice’s pre-designed or user-created templates. In addition, you can save a digital copy of these invoices in the cloud, in contrast to a paper invoice and manual data entry.

It enables you to access the invoice data on any device, from any location, at any time, and anytime you want. After creating the electronic invoice, you can use the app’s emailing option to send invoices to the customer as a PDF file.

After receiving your paperless invoices, the client has the option of making an online payment using several different payment processors. This expedites the process of paying you. In addition, customers no longer need to write checks and mail them to you, requiring you to send the checks out to be cleared and wait for the bank to process them.

You can transmit an electronic receipt of the money as soon as you have received it, and you can also send invoices over the internet. Therefore, it is possible to send an invoicing document to every client, regardless of which part of the world they may be in.

The Benefits of Paperless Invoice Processing?

A paperless invoice process has several advantages for your business, some of which are more noticeable than paper format.

1. Faster Invoice Approval Process

Sending paper-based invoices is time-consuming and requires a significant investment of resources. The transmission of digital invoices and their approval may be automated via online invoicing combined with specialist software.

The sending of invoices may be easily scheduled (invoice automation), and they can be sent to numerous contacts at once; this allows whoever is available to do the payment processing at the appropriate moment. In addition, for automated clearing house payments to be made promptly, frequent reminder phone calls are required when the invoicing process is done on paper.

This is radically changed by the availability of online invoices, which enable automated reminders to be sent to the receivers of the bills. As a result, paperless processes are far more effective than the standard format. Vendors send and receive invoices via email or a cloud-based app to get started.

2. Simplified Administration of Financial Statements

When using a system that relies on paper, keeping track of and handling many invoices is a laborious procedure for the AP team. In addition, there is a high probability that an invoice may go missing while it is transported.

Simplified invoice reports generated by cloud-based solutions that facilitate invoicing help regulate and monitor the status of payments and maintain paperless accounts. With this information, prompt steps may be taken to reduce the number of bills and other documents past the due date.

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3. Gains in Efficiency and Effectiveness

It takes a lot of time and energy to file manually, sort, scan, update and recover paper records. Time spent replacing papers that have been lost, stolen, or destroyed might be better spent growing your business.

Incorporating a digital and paperless invoice processing solution may give several AP departments a chance to contribute more meaningfully to the firm’s overall success. You can manage your documents digitally. By streamlining your accounts payable (AP) process, your AP department will have more time to devote to value-added tasks.

Increasing stakeholder financial visibility through enhancing vendor-customer interactions and spending management.

4. Increased Long-term Viability

Detrimental effects on the planet from paper manufacturing persist. Deforestation, air and water pollution, and eventually climate change is all made worse by the process, which uses an absurd amount of fossil fuels and water.

Though some businesses and communities may recycle diligently, many do not. You must also consider the impact of inks and toners since they often include chemicals harmful to the environment and become paperless offices.

A company’s carbon footprint may be reduced if it uses fewer paper documents daily. Marketing, recruitment, and stakeholder relations plans may all benefit from this from a CSR perspective.

5. Simple Organization of Bills

When stored manually, invoices incur significant expenses regarding the amount of paper used and the amount of space required. Therefore, it is necessary to provide large amounts of space for the secure storage of paper invoices.

Historical invoices need to be monitored continually, which requires extra time and resources. Paperless invoicing enables invoices to be easily shared in a digital format, which can be viewed whenever and wherever the user chooses. This results in a savings of both time and resources.

6. Access to Searchable Invoices

When using a paper-based system, searching for past invoices might be a challenging process. If one knows the customer’s name on the invoice and needs to discover it fast, employing an online invoicing solution is the way to go. It does not matter how long ago the invoice was created.

One may search using various criteria, including the invoice number, date, customer name, unpaid amount, early payment discounts, etc.

7. Streamlined Procedures for Auditing

When it comes to the manual invoice processing system, the likelihood of employees engaging in fraudulent activity or other unethical actions is significant since the procedure is convoluted and requires the signatures and approvals of several individuals at various stages.

Keeping tabs on online approvals and the time, date, and status of an invoice’s transmission, approval, and payment is simple. Because of this, the auditing process will take less time and be easier to complete.

Pros & Cons of Paperless Invoicing

Making a list of the benefits and drawbacks of paperless invoicing will help you determine whether it’s right for your business.

Pros Cons
The biggest benefit of using paperless invoices or e-invoices is that it may help you get paid more quickly and save a tonne of time each month. Companies may greatly profit from this. However, there is much to do for those who own little businesses. They continuously try to find a place to stay so they can delay the inevitable. This will also provide you the opportunity to offer more early payment discounts to your customers.
You can’t assume that everyone who buys from you has access to the internet. Customers who prefer paper bills should be aware of this potential drawback. In addition, some clients only accept paper invoices.
With quick invoice generators, you can streamline the invoicing process and reduce the need for human intervention. This reduces the likelihood of mistakes being made by humans. This means that your invoices will be perfect the first time around. This will also be highly efficient to improve customer relationships.
Using a paperless invoice processing system may uphold security concerns, as with the use of advanced technology comes the fear of cyber-attack.
Switching to digital accounts payable is good if you’re waiting for payments. It serves three purposes – paperless accounts, paperless processes and paperless transactions including online payments.
Customers may instantly check the accuracy of their bills thanks to the paperless approval procedure. However, the typical time to automate the accounts payable process is 15–17 days if paper invoices are preferred. In contrast, executing a paperless invoice takes no more than an hour.

 

If you are having any key cons of paperless invoicing – let us know in the comments below.

4 Steps for Adopting a Paperless Invoice

There is less hassle in transitioning to a paperless AP system than you would assume. A little forethought and preparation will prepare you to take the necessary first step toward making the change. Typically, an invoice processing system and accounts payable paperless include the following steps:

1. Planning

Meeting with the whole accounting department to assess the present state of the AP process, identify areas for improvement, and assign roles is essential for a smooth transition to paperless invoices.

2. Digitizing

All paper records must be digitized by an internal department or a contracted service. This tedious work may take a lot of time and energy, but it will be well worth it in the long run.

3. Automating

Make sure an automated AP solution has all you need before committing to it. Medius is just one example of the many scalable, highly effective software systems available today that can meet the needs of enterprises of any size.

4. Configuring & Learning

After the automation software has been implemented, its functionality may be modified to serve the company’s needs better. For example, utilize automated invoice coding and approval routing to maximize productivity.

Don’t give up if you’re having trouble getting the hang of new software. Instead, get the accounting department together and go through the system’s features, one by one, to ensure that everyone is acquainted with its use. Cohesion and fewer problems in the AP division result from doing this.

Conclusion

So, that was it from our side regarding paperless invoicing. Out of all these tips, tricks and techniques – use a quick invoice generator like Moon Invoice.

Amaze your clients with exceptional facilities of our billing software such as expense tracking, offline usage with privacy, online payment methods, and measuring the performance by reports and whatnot.

Not only features – we have online invoicing software for almost every industry. Contact our sales team now.

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