Still Chasing Approvals? Let AP Automation Do the Work for You

AP automation is all about efficiency, but there’s more than one way to get there. Too often, AP teams spend their days buried under invoices, matching, coding, chasing approvals, or building complicated folder systems and spreadsheets just to keep up. It’s a grind that leads to delays, errors, and what many in finance know as “spreadsheet hell.”

Automated Workflow offers a way out. By moving tasks through the process automatically based on rules you set, it eliminates the repetitive handoffs and manual effort. For example, any incoming invoice can be read by the system, matched to a purchase order, routed to the right approver, and followed up with reminders—all without anyone manually pushing it forward. The result is fewer bottlenecks, less data entry, and more time for your team to focus on higher-value work.

The key advantage: Automated Workflow moves work forward automatically; people step in for exceptions.

Work Queue Management Vs. Automated Workflow

Work Queue Management is like a digital to-do list. It’s great for organizing tasks, assigning them to the right people, and tracking progress. It’s a solid way to bring order to chaos, especially if your AP process still involves a mix of manual and automated steps. But here’s the thing: it still relies on people to move tasks forward. That means your team is spending time managing the queue instead of focusing on higher-value work.

Automated Workflow, on the other hand, is all about letting the system do the heavy lifting. With DataServ’s solution, tasks like data capture, PO matching, and routing for approvals happen automatically based on pre-set rules. No handoffs, no bottlenecks, no “who’s got this?” moments. It’s like having a super-efficient assistant that never takes a coffee break. Your team only steps in when there’s an exception that truly requires human judgment.

Here’s where it gets interesting: Automated Workflow doesn’t just replace Work Queue Management—it makes it almost unnecessary. Why? Because when the system is handling the routine stuff, there’s no need for a queue to organize it. Instead, your team can focus on strategic tasks, like analyzing spend data or building stronger vendor relationships.

Who Benefits Most?

Automated Workflow is best for teams that:

Process high transaction volumes
Face delays due to manual handoffs
Want to eliminate repetitive data entry and routing
Any decentralized organization

A company with thousands of monthly invoices can use Automated Workflow to shorten processing times and scale without adding staff.

How it Affects ERP Integration

Automated Workflow with an ERP Integration is about rule alignment. Automation rules must match your ERP’s data structure, business logic, and compliance requirements.

When done correctly, Automated Workflow integration removes most manual touchpoints between AP automation and your ERP, keeping data accurate while speeding up processing. DataServ’s pre-ERP approach ensures clean, consistent data flow without the risk of mismatches.

The Bottom Line

Automated Workflow moves work forward automatically, reducing manual effort and delivering speed and accuracy. You get full visibility into every task while repetitive processes run seamlessly in the background. That’s the DataServ advantage: automation where you need it, so your team can focus on what matters most.

Ready to take your AP process to the next level? Let’s talk about how DataServ can help your team work smarter, faster, and more efficiently.

Still Chasing Approvals? Let AP Automation Do the Work for You

Work Queue Management Vs. Automated Workflow

Who Benefits Most?

How it Affects ERP Integration

The Bottom Line

Subscribe to ReadDataServ Articles

5 Reasons Why You Should Not Manage OCR Software Internally

6 Common Roadblocks to Accounts Payable Automation

Struggling with Multiple ERPs After an Acquisition? AP Automation is the Answer