Automate and Optimize SAP Accounts Payable - Dolphin

AUTOMATE AND OPTIMIZE SAP ®
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
THE BUSINESS CHALLENGE
Despite economic recovery, for many businesses, the key to success is to retain the lean
efficiencies forced by the downturn, while investing in strategic programs that improve
process effectiveness and contain costs. Standardizing and automating business processes
such as Accounts Payable will ensure that your organization is ready for the upswing.
Efficiency is critical to keep ahead of your competition and contribute to the bottom line.
Even in the best of times, automating Accounts Payable is a smart move. It directly
supports an organization’s strategic mission to be productive regardless of the volume
of processing or business levels, while conforming to financial directives such as reducing
paper and waste, eliminating errors and improving throughput. The ultimate objective
is optimization.
BENEFITS
Dolphin customers have seen significant
ROI from Accounts Payable automation,
including:
• Operational productivity
increased by 40–80%
• Cost per invoice reduced by
40–60%
• Near elimination of human error
from data entry through OCR
software and e-Invoicing
• Real-time visibility for confident
cash management
• Decrease in inquiry response
time of 60% or more
• Reduced cost
The bottom line is this: Efficient, effective Accounts Payable automation and optimization
can have a dramatic impact on costs, productivity, risk management and the
bottom line.
THE DOLPHIN SOLUTION
Dolphin builds the right solution for each customer, faster, to take significant time and
cost out of the Accounts Payable process. Our Accounts Payable solution suite provides
real-time information and includes an array of configurable options to fit each
customer’s needs.
Optimization Process
Invoice Optimization Process
Phase 3: 2: 1: Analyze Process Capture & Data Status Tracking
32
1 2 3
Configurable process to
SAP c Invoice ERP
accomodate any type of
life cycle detail
including image, notes,
paper invoices incoming invoice format
2
b Optical AP
history Character workflow
c and Recognition
related
a
b
SAP ERP SAP ERP
(OCR) extracts documents and applies
Exceptions
Real-time Initial information
& Secondary
business rules Rules-based at invoice exception header
collaborative providing actionable workflow
paper invoices
to
AP workflow or line item handling detail to focus staff
intelligence speed approvals and
Status attention for quick
exception handling
Exceptions Tracking resolution
a
email
fax
hard copy
email
fax
hard copy
OCR
Validation
Dolphin
Executive
Process
Dashboards OCR DolphinValidation
Tracking
Dolphin
Invoice
System
Gateway
Process InfoCenter Automated
e-invoices
Entry
Dolphin
Tracking
Interface
Invoice
e-invoices
Gateway data
System
(AEI)
data
Storage
Data e Bridge from validation
Retrieval process to PTS-AP in
CAPTURE
Audit/Compliance Storage PROCESS SAP application
a b c Automated e-invoice
Ensure the reliability, system accuracy, can reduce Faster invoice processing and
d
Bridge Robust from search, the retrieve data and
d
and timeliness of expenses invoice and data increase efficient exception First d step Automated validation handling. storage process
capture print tool process to quickly (Phase and 1)
Easy access to stored
entering accuracy
for data security
effortlessly the workflow meet audit process. needs
documents from SAP GUI or web
ANALYZE
PROCESSING
CAPTURE
Provide Faster Ensure invoice the easily reliability, processing.
accessible accuracy, and
actionable and timeliness AP intelligence.
of invoice data Status
• entering Improved the control workflow & collaboration
process. Tracking
• Immediate User-controlled transparency secure data access
• Eliminate Customizable Proven interface lost documents
executive regulates reporting input
• ‘Accruals Best Improved Executive practice in data Minutes’ workflow accuracymodels
Dashboards
• Workload Central Reduced repository cycle analysis timefor all invoice
• Audit Improved information simplicity productivity
InfoCenter
• Focus Increased In-depth attention performance cash discounts on exceptions reporting
• Accepts EDI transactions
Audit/Compliance
ANALYZE
Provide easily accessible and
actionable AP intelligence.
Data
Retrieval
D
The solution leverages the Dolphin Process Tracking System framework which is also
the foundation for our Accounts Receivable, Order Management and Human Resources
solutions and has earned SAP ® certification.
Multiple Invoice Inputs – Dolphin automates receipt of invoice documents and data
into SAP, integrating scanning, optical character recognition (OCR) and e-Invoicing, along
with robust analysis and reporting.

CUSTOMER SUCCESS:
LARGE TIER 1 AUTOMOTIVE
SUPPLIER
The Problem
• Significant processing costs from
two Shared Service Centers
• Process inefficiencies caused
delays in posting
• Little or no visibility or in-house
control of the process
The Solution
Dolphin Process Tracking System for
Accounts Payable with header/line item
OCR to create a centralized global
process to meet the needs of 180 plants
worldwide; vendor portal.
The Results
• Streamlined AP process – cost
savings $7 million and still saving!
• Improved control and visibility
• Processing more than 2.5 million
invoices/year
• OCR recognition rate > 70% for all
European languages
• Lower invoice process costs,
shorter process cycle time, fewer
late payments and short inquiry
response time
• Short implementation timeline –
< 4 months to pilot
888.305.9033
www.dolphin-corp.com
contact@dolphin-corp.com
© Dolphin 2013. SAP, SAP NetWeaver, ArchiveLink, ABAP
and all SAP logos are trademarks or registered trademarks
of SAP AG in Germany and in several other countries.
All other product and service names mentioned are the
trademarks of their respective companies.
Real-time Information and Exception Handling – Dolphin’s unique Process Tracking
System for Accounts Payable (PTS-AP) InfoCenter is the central point of access and
exception handling to all Accounts Payable invoice data in the SAP system, regardless
of the status (not posted, held, parked, blocked) or the delivery channel (EDI, e-Invoice,
OCR, inter-company, ERS, Web). It essentially opens up the black box from within the
SAP solution, providing visibility to where the invoices are in the routing process and fast
access to the full invoice history, approval status and original document images.
Contain Costs, Optimize Cash Flow – Ideally, an efficient AP process should enable
the department to control costs and optimally manage cash flow. Dolphin continuously
enhances the PTS-AP platform with new tools and more analytics to help customers
accomplish just that, including:
• Invoice processing features to speed and track invoices in the system.
• Enhanced SAP workflow to streamline and customize the process.
• An InfoCenter Dashboard to assess invoice status, analyze productivity
and forecast cash.
• Advanced reporting features to track volumes, status and department
productivity.
• Dynamic Discounting and vendor portal.
•
Unique Options for Specific Needs – Every company has specific needs. Dolphin
offers an array of add-on components that work within SAP to handle specific AP
challenges, including:
• Check Requests eliminates the disruption of emergency check requests
with an orderly, integrated check request process as part of the standard
invoice receipt, approval and payment processes.
• EDI Interface and Image enables PTS-AP users to handle exceptions
for both EDI and regular invoices with one tool.
• Block resolution clears blocked invoices faster using SAP workflow and
Web Approval resolution processes.
• Service entry and acceptance streamlines entry, evaluation and
acceptance of service details or timesheets.
• Pre-approval/Auto-Coding/Pay within Range enables dynamic evaluation
of non-PO invoice details to allow approval under defined parameters
without routing via the workflow.
ABOUT DOLPHIN
Dolphin leads the way in SAP business performance improvement and is the one partner
that manages both data and processes. From data and information lifecycle management
to end-to-end solutions for SAP procure-to-pay and order-to-cash processes, Dolphin
delivers a competitive advantage that drives cost savings, optimizes cash flows and
fosters a lower total cost of ownership. Leveraging SAP technology, Dolphin’s data
lifecycle and business process management solutions, and SAP-certified add-on
applications, have built-in flexibility and are designed to be tailored to each customers’
specific business processes and IT environments.
The company was founded in 1995 and has offices in San Jose, CA, Philadelphia, PA
and Toronto, Canada. Dolphin’s smart, adaptable and proven solutions are implemented
by hundreds of companies across North America and around the world. Among Dolphin
customers are more than one-third of Fortune 100 companies running SAP systems.
To learn more, email us at contact@dolphin-corp.com or visit
www.dolphin-corp.com.