Improve the order-to-cash process to speed up payments

by | Sep 28, 2022 | Suppliers

What is the order-to-cash process?

The order-to-cash process involves all the steps that start from when a customer places an order to when you get paid for an invoice. Automating the order-to-cash process is essential for ensuring accuracy and an efficient order cycle. Steps in the process include:

  • Order management
  • Credit management
  • Order fulfillment
  • Order shipment
  • Customer invoicing
  • Payments
  • Order and data management

Accurate data allows all parties to collaborate, helps the process run as smoothly as possible and prevents human errors that can cost time and money.

A common challenge in the order-to-cash cycle

One issue that many suppliers face is getting paid on time. It’s already difficult when some retailers push payment terms out as much as 60 and 90 days. But additional delays can occur, thanks to problems with the invoice and related documentation.

We previously discussed how suppliers can get paid “faster” with EDI. It’s not that you get paid sooner; it’s that you get paid on time by eliminating delays due to discrepancies between purchase orders, packing lists and invoices. By using automated fulfillment solutions:

  • The supplier receives an electronic purchase order (PO) and sends a purchase order acknowledgement (POAs) to confirm and make any revisions to pricing and quantity.
  • Later, the supplier sends an advanced shipping notification (ASN) based on the POA.
  • The order arrives on time, with an up-to-date packing list, based on the ASN.
  • The supplier sends an invoice, which matches the ASN and POA.
  • The retailer compares these to the PO in a three-way match. When it matches, the retailer pays the invoice on time.

Before automation came along, retailers did all this matching by hand, which often created delays because the details of the transaction didn’t match. They had to investigate the discrepancy and correct it. By hand.

However, it’s possible to make the reconciliation — and payments — happen automatically. With a robust EDI solution, the three-way match occurs automatically. Once a match is successfully made and there are no discrepancies, the invoice is scheduled automatically. Any invoices with mismatches can be set aside for further research, avoiding any scheduling delays for successful matches. Through electronic funds payments, money can transfer on the specified date from the retailer’s bank to the vendor’s bank. Depending on the agreements and relationships between the retailer and vendor, payment for the invoice could potentially be exchanged within hours of the invoice being electronically transmitted.

A by-product of electronic payments is a reduction in the payment mailing process for the Retailer and automated remittance reconciliation for the suppliers. Managing manual check issuance requires the printing and stuffing the checks in envelopes. By remitting payments electronically, the staff/resources needed for this process is reduced, if not eliminated. In addition, the remittance detail can be shared with suppliers electronically, allowing those partners to conduct systematic matches of the payment to their accounts receivable systems.

Similar to exception management of retailers’ three-way match with invoices, suppliers can conduct a two-way match using the remittance detail to match the transaction in their Accounts Receivable system.

An automated order-to-cash system can cut float time

But here’s the issue. Today, many retailers still prefer to write checks and mail them. The time it takes for the check to travel by mail is called the “float.” In the past, retailers appreciated the float, because they could hold on to their money a little longer. Several years ago, when the post office wasn’t as efficient, the float could be anywhere from 5 – 7 days. These days, it’s usually 3 – 5.

One reason for retailers to embrace electronic payment is that vendors sometimes offer early payment discounts—as much as 1 to 2 %—if retailers pay before a certain deadline, such as seven days early. By using electronic payments, retailers can take advantage of those early payment discounts, and save thousands of dollars—even tens or hundreds of thousands—per year. But they lose that float time.

The discussion that’s taking place today between the retailers and suppliers is the matter of splitting the float, so everyone still benefits from electronic payments. Retailers and suppliers are agreeing to split the float down the middle, so retailers can hang on to their money a little longer, but the suppliers get paid a little faster. Discounts are being offered and payments are being made quicker.

If you would like to learn more about how your organization can use automated EDI and electronic payments to save money (or get paid on time), please visit the SPS Commerce website for more information.

Scott Bolduc
Latest posts by Scott Bolduc (see all)
Item Descriptions for Buyers

RELATED POSTS