Project at a glance
Finance was built around spreadsheets. Invoices sat in folders, on desks, or in inboxes, with limited visibility across the process. As the business scaled, the function couldn’t keep up, and remote working exposed the reliance on manual processes.
- Full visibility across procurement and invoice journey
- Significant reduction in processing time
- Hundreds of hours saved through automation
- Reduced risk across errors and dependency
- AP fully operational in a remote environment
Finance built on spreadsheets, with no clear visibility
Crown Agents Bank was scaling, but its finance processes weren’t. Accounts payable relied heavily on Excel and manual handling. Invoices sat in folders, on desks, or in inboxes, making it difficult to know where anything was or what stage it had reached. As the business grew, this lack of visibility became a constraint. Finance couldn’t provide timely insight into costs, and decision-makers didn’t have access to reliable, up-to-date information. When remote working became necessary, those weaknesses were exposed immediately. The day-to-day reality included:
- Invoices stored across desks, folders, and inboxes
- Limited visibility into invoice status and spend
- Heavy reliance on manual processes and spreadsheets
- Risk tied to key individuals and manual handling
Replacing spreadsheets with a process the business can see
Fixing AP wasn’t about speeding up Excel. It was about replacing it. SoftCo implemented a full Procure-to-Pay platform, centralising invoices, approvals, and procurement data into a single system, fully integrated with Infor SUN Systems. Invoices are now captured, matched, and approved within a consistent workflow. Nothing sits outside the process. Everything is visible.
"Invoices are not stuck on a desk or in a folder. They’re in a system we can access easily, with clear visibility of our costs.”
The platform is intuitive enough for non-finance users, removing friction across the business while strengthening control within finance.
From manual processing to a visible, controlled AP function
The impact is visible across both operations and decision-making. Invoices now move through a single system, with full visibility across status, value, and ownership. Finance teams no longer rely on manual tracking or spreadsheets to understand what’s happening. Processing times have reduced significantly, while automation has removed hundreds of hours of manual effort across the business. Risk has also reduced. The process no longer depends on individuals or manual handling, improving accuracy and control. The result is a finance function that is visible, reliable, and able to scale with the business.
Hundreds of hours saved
Manual processing time removed
Faster invoice processing
Reduced time across AP tasks Full procurement visibility
Full procurement visibility
Track costs across the business
Reduced operational risk
Less reliance on manual processes
Straight-through processing
Invoices handled without intervention
“It’s reduced risk, improved control, and made the process much easier for both finance and the wider business.”
Michael Ogazi
SVP Finance, Crown Agents Bank
