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Touch through processing in accounts payable (AP) refers to a semi-automated invoice workflow where certain tasks within the procure-to-pay (P2P) process still require manual intervention. Unlike touchless processing, where invoices move from capture to payment without any human interaction, touch through processing involves users stepping in to review, validate, or adjust data at key points—such as exception handling, coding, or approvals.
This type of processing typically occurs in organizations that have implemented partial AP automation but still rely on manual checks due to inconsistent invoice formats, non-PO invoices, or incomplete ERP integration. While it reduces some administrative burden compared to fully manual workflows, touch through processing can lead to longer invoice cycle times, increased error risk, and limited scalability.
With the rapid shift toward intelligent automation, touch through processing is increasingly viewed as a transitional phase. Modern finance teams are prioritizing full digital transformation, leveraging AI, machine learning, and smart workflows to minimize manual touchpoints and achieve end-to-end efficiency. As automation platforms evolve, the trend is to eliminate touch through processes by addressing exception handling, approval routing, and data validation entirely through intelligent, rule-based systems—enabling faster, more accurate, and scalable AP operations.
This processing method is typically used in organizations that have implemented partial AP automation. For example, invoices may be automatically captured and entered the system, but require manual handling for exception management, coding, or approvals. It is often a necessary approach during early stages of digital transformation or when dealing with complex supplier invoicing.
While it provides improvements over fully manual processes, touch through processing can still lead to slower invoice cycle times, increased risk of data entry errors, and limited scalability. These inefficiencies can impact working capital visibility, supplier satisfaction, and audit readiness. Despite these challenges, touch through processing is often considered a transitional phase toward full AP automation. As organizations mature their technology stack and improve data governance, they aim to reduce manual touchpoints and shift toward touchless invoice processing, where automation handles the entire lifecycle—from invoice ingestion and 3-way matching to approvals and payment scheduling.
By identifying high-frequency manual tasks and gradually automating them, AP departments can increase productivity, reduce processing costs, and ensure stronger compliance. Ultimately, touch through processing highlights both the progress made in automation and the opportunities that remain for achieving full digital transformation in accounts payable operations. Solutions like SoftCo AP automation platform enable organizations to move beyond touch through processing by delivering end-to-end automation—from invoice capture and matching to approvals and payment—helping finance teams eliminate manual tasks and optimize the entire P2P process.