MSDW Surveys: Microsoft Dynamics GP users eager to automate AP, but struggle with how

Have respect for the lowly fax machine: 60 percent of accounting organizations still use it to process invoices. That is more than twice as many companies that use electronic commerce or data interchange (ecommerce/EDI, used by about 25 percent).

So MSDynamicsWorld.com found in recent survey that focused upon accounts payable (AP) and the maturity of its processes at Dynamics GP user organizations.

A recent MSDynamicsworld.com panel discussion and webcast examined how AP with its technology implications, business process implications, operational challenges, and financial impact, is ripe for any optimization; but there is some foot-dragging in the customer base, who may not be making the most of Dynamics GP's AP capabilities.

Three industry experts shared their ideas, including:

• Ray Emirzian, vice president with docStar, a provider of enterprise content management and AP automation solutions.
• Bob Hawley, director of sales and alliances with Metafile Information Systems, the company behind MetaViewer document management and accounts payable automation.
• Michael Goldenberg, vice president with MineralTree, which provides payment automation solutions.

The panel looked at two recent MSDynamicsworld surveys that provide insight into the progress (or lack thereof) of companies' automating and transforming AP, and the challenges they face.

The first survey, conducted April 2016, focused solely upon accounts payable. Respondents tended toward smaller enterprises, with nearly half of respondents from companies with 100 and 499 employees, that process fewer than 500 invoices per month.

The second survey, conducted in September (results still to be ...