80% touchless processing, with AP built for control
Project at a glance
A highly manual P2P process left invoices slow to process and difficult to match. With limited PO usage, spend visibility was low, reporting was unreliable, and the AP team carried the pressure of delays it couldn’t explain or control.
- Touchless processing increased from 5% to 80%
- PO compliance improved from 10% to 71%
- Three roles redeployed into management accounts
- Faster supplier resolution
Manual AP with no clear view of spend
Superdry operates across multiple entities, currencies, and regions. Their AP process didn’t reflect that complexity. It relied on manual input at every stage, from invoice capture to matching and approval. Purchase orders were used inconsistently. That limited control over spend and made matching harder than it needed to be. Invoices were delayed, but the root cause wasn’t visible. The impact wasn’t just operational. It shaped how AP was viewed internally. Without clear reporting or consistent processes, the function was seen as reactive, not in control. The day-to-day reality included:
- Manual processing across invoice capture and matching
- Low PO adoption, reducing visibility and control
- Delays in approvals and supplier friction
- Limited reporting across entities and currencies
Rebuilding AP around purchase order control
Invoices rarely arrive clean. Across multiple entities and currencies, that complexity compounds. SoftCo automated invoice capture, matching, and approval, configured around Superdry’s operating model. PO-backed invoices now flow through touchlessly when they meet defined thresholds. Exceptions are flagged with clear reasoning, so teams act quickly without chasing data. At the same time, PO processes were strengthened. Compliance increased, visibility improved, and supplier interactions became easier to manage, with better communication and clearer feedback loops.
SoftCo understood our processes and helped shape them around best practice alongside the automation
SoftCo didn’t just automate the process. It helped reshape it around best practice, aligned to how Superdry operates globally.
Improved efficiency, control, and scalability
The AP function scaled without adding cost. Three team members moved into management accounts, focusing on higher-value work while the remaining team operates more efficiently. Supplier relationships improved through clearer communication and faster resolution. Internally, perception shifted. AP is now recognised as a function that delivers control, visibility, and measurable value, including at audit committee level.
80% touchless processing
Up from 5%
PO compliance increased to 71%
Improved control over spend
Three roles redeployed
Shifted to higher-value work
Consistent global processing
Standardised across regions
Improved financial control
Better reporting and governance
“We moved from 5% touchless processing to 80% in 3 months, with a clear path to 100%. AP is now viewed as a high-value function, recognized by our audit committee and non-executive directors.”
Martin Ray
AP Manager, Superdry
