Project at a glance
Invoices moved through 10–12 touchpoints across 38 locations, but the process remained manual. Limited visibility, slow approvals, and delayed query resolution made it difficult to track invoices and manage them at scale
- 150,000 invoices processed without manual handling
- 75% reduction in invoice query times
- Faster approvals through email-based sign-off
- Reduced process complexity across AP
- Improved supplier payments and relationships
Too many touchpoints, not enough control
Invoices moved through multiple stages, often involving 10–12 touchpoints before approval. With 100 approvers across 38 locations, the process was fragmented and difficult to manage. Tracking invoices was time-consuming. Resolving queries took even longer. As volumes increased, delays became harder to avoid. The issue wasn’t a single bottleneck. It was how invoices moved, or didn’t move, through the process. The day-to-day reality included:
- Multiple handoffs across invoice approval and processing
- Manual routing between 100 approvers and 38 locations
- Limited visibility into invoice status and queries
- Slow resolution of issues across the business
Reducing touchpoints and removing manual handling
Fixing AP meant simplifying the process. SoftCo introduced a single workflow for invoice capture, matching, approval, and query resolution. Invoices no longer pass through disconnected steps or rely on manual routing. Queries are automatically directed to the right person. Approvals can happen anywhere, without delaying the process.
"The SoftCo system has been faultless, reducing our invoice query times by 75% and allowing us to handle all invoices without manual intervention.”
From fragmented workflows to end-to-end success
Dairygold processes all 150,000 invoices without manual handling, removing delays caused by handoffs and manual intervention. Query resolution times have reduced by 75%, with issues identified and routed quickly to the right people. Approvals are completed faster, supported by email-based sign-off, allowing invoices to move without waiting on location or availability. Supplier relationships have improved as a result. Faster processing leads to more consistent, on-time payments and fewer queries. The result is a process that is faster, more consistent, and able to scale across a global organisation.
150,000 invoices touchfree
No manual handling required
75% faster query resolution
Issues resolved more quickly
Faster invoice approvals
Reduced lifecycle time
Reduced process complexity
Fewer touchpoints and handoffs
Improved supplier payments
More consistent and on time
“The SoftCo Accounts Payable Automation system has been faultless, reducing our invoice query times by 75% and allowing us to handle all 150,000 annual invoices electronically.”
Mick Leahy
IT Business Analyst, Dairygold
