Smart Routing

Smart Routing is an advanced AI-driven capability within SoftCo’s Accounts Payable (AP) automation platform, designed to intelligently direct invoices to the appropriate approver, department, or cost center. It works by analyzing predefined business rules alongside historical routing data, using machine learning to recognize patterns and continuously improve accuracy. This capability is particularly valuable when dealing with non-PO invoices, which often lack structured workflows and can vary widely in routing logic depending on the organization’s policies and approval hierarchies.

The key value of Smart Routing lies in its ability to remove manual intervention from invoice approval processes. Rather than relying on human effort to forward invoices or select approvers, Smart Routing determines the optimal path based on invoice context—such as amount, department, project code, or previous routing behavior. As a result, organizations benefit from faster approval times, fewer errors, and stronger adherence to financial controls and compliance standards.

• Reduces invoice cycle times by up to 90%, leading to faster processing and improved cash flow.
• Minimizes human error by ensuring invoices are routed correctly every time, based on dynamic conditions.
• Enforces approval workflows and audit trails, improving internal control and compliance.
• Supports scalability in high-volume environments, where manual routing would otherwise be inefficient or prone to delay.
• Enhances straight-through processing, especially for recurring or high-frequency invoice types.

Technologically, Smart Routing is powered by SoftCo’s proprietary AutoML engine, which learns from user interactions, transaction history, and approval outcomes. Over time, it becomes more refined in recognizing the correct routing paths, even adjusting to organizational changes or new business rules without reprogramming. This ensures the solution stays agile and future-ready as workflows evolve.

In practice, companies using Smart Routing have reported substantial improvements in their AP process efficiency. For example, recurring non-PO invoices like rent, software subscriptions, or utilities can be routed automatically to the correct budget owner, eliminating the need for manual assignment. This reduces backlogs and keeps payment timelines on track, which is crucial for maintaining supplier relationships and avoiding late fees.

To learn more about Smart Routing and how it integrates with features like Smart Matching and Smart Coding, visit SoftCo’s Accounts Payable Automation page.