Top 5 Accounts Payable Trends for 2026

Accounts Payable is evolving at breakneck speed—are you ready for what’s next? From AI-powered automation to regulatory mandates and real-time payments, the forces reshaping AP in 2026 are more impactful than ever before. In this exclusive webinar, SoftCo’s AP and finance experts explore the top 5 transformative trends your AP team must prepare for—along with actionable insights on how to future-proof your operations.

Join us as we unpack the biggest opportunities and threats set to shape Accounts Payable in 2026. You’ll gain a clear view of how forward-thinking organizations are preparing now to turn upcoming compliance mandates, emerging fraud risks, and increasing process pressures into competitive advantage.

What we’ll cover:

AI and GenAI move from pilots to embedded AP co-pilots
The great e-invoicing split – mandates in Europe, networks in North America
AP as the first line of defence against AI-powered fraud
Working capital pressure turns AP into a liquidity lever
The death of the cheque and the rise of ‘always-on’ AP

Speaker

Garret Pearse
Finance Technology Consultant - SoftCo

Garret is a senior finance consultant at SoftCo with over 20 years’ experience. Garret specializes in introducing best practice automated P2P processes to global organizations. He has been instrumental in transforming P2P in hundreds of global organizations across all industries.

Speaker

Killian McCarthy
AP & P2P Specialist - SoftCo

Killian is a senior P2P expert at SoftCo who works closely with C-suite finance leaders to define and deliver effective purchase-to-pay strategies. He helps organizations navigate change, align procurement and AP processes, and unlock measurable value through automation and best-practice implementation.

Previous Webinars

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SoftCo Leaders Series, Episode 4 – Automation Strategy for Growth

In this episode, Susan speaks with Brian Conneely, Financial Director of Chadwicks Group, to discuss the automation strategy for the business in dealing with unprecedented growth over the last number of years. Read more

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From Manual to Automated: Transforming Your AP Workflow with SoftCo

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On Demand Webinar