Automated invoice processing in multi-ERP environments

Business growth is the key corporate objective - multi-ERP environments arise as a result of this growth through mergers and acquisitions, and over time can lead to significant inefficiencies and waste valuable resources.

The greatest added value of automation and the harmonizing effects on multi-ERP environments are found in the possibility of introducing a standardized process across different systems with different challenges. In addition, from a business perspective, the interchangeability of resources and the ability to consolidate shared services centers (SSCs) are other key benefits.

The goal of automation should be to be able to demonstrate processes that are independent of physical locations and requirements. For this purpose, paper-based invoicing processes must be automated, for example, or personal know-how, such as the coordination of accounts payable, must be brought to a higher level.

The advantage of Esker's sophisticated automation solutions is that a single platform is used to perform any type of analysis, reporting and management of processes. From an infrastructure perspective, the idea is understandable: The company is building an abstract layer that allows all employees to work at that level, rather than dealing with all the technical details associated with different ERPs.

Cloud solutions are clearly gaining ground here, as they offer user-oriented access options via a web browser, while the actual application is operated in the service provider's infrastructure.

SAP is Esker's central anchor point in process automation. As an SAP® Silver Partner, Esker's integrated cloud platform offers flexible ways to automate complex business processes and organize actions across departments.

The automation solutions feature SAP-certified integration that provides seamless automation of data and document flow in the companies' SAP system.

Engel & Völkers: Central invoice processing with multi-SAP® connection

Esker's Accounts Payable solution integrates seamlessly with SAP® ERP systems, enabling companies to automate manual activities from traditional invoice processing.

Engel & Völkers, one of the best-known service providers for real estate brokerage in the premium segment, has also taken this step with Esker. Every month, around 3,000 to 4,000 invoices from several countries and different locations are processed in a central shared service center (SSC) in Hamburg.

The invoices are posted in two ERP systems: SAP Business One and SAP Business by Design. SAP R3 is connected for archiving purposes. In the past, the manual capture of paper and e-mail invoices and the document-based approval process proved to be time-consuming and not very transparent.

"An important criterion for us when selecting a solution was a workflow that could be individually designed to trigger invoice releases from the application for all SAP systems, depending on the company code and ERP affiliation.'' explains Fabian Endtricht, Team Lead Accounting Systems and Processes at Engel & Völkers.

,,The cloud-based Esker solution for accounts payable fully met our requirements for a multi-SAP connection and was able to go live after three months of implementation."

Thanks to the multi-ERP capability of the Esker solution, the ERP systems, which all originate from SAP but have completely different technological structures, can be managed centrally under one interface.

Incoming supplier invoices are now automatically transferred to the Esker platform for processing and approval. There, allocation to company codes and ERP is performed. Key invoice information is read and, where possible, automatic logic-based pre-accounting is applied.

After a successful check, the release takes place via an email-based workflow that can be customized, takes several stages into account and is based on invoice amount and company code. After approval, the Esker solution transfers the data to the relevant SAP system for automated posting. The respective SAP B1/SAP ByD/SAP R3 invoice number is returned to the Esker application and archived in an audit-proof manner.

The end result? With AI-driven data capture, direct ERP routing, and electronic workflow capabilities, Engel & Völkers now optimizes invoice processing and effectively manages cash flow.

Fit for the future in the cloud - SAP-certified, of course

As of October 2019, the integration of Esker's order processing and accounts payable solutions with SAP S4/HANA® Cloud has been certified by SAP®. "Esker has been investing in the SAP ecosystem for over 15 years. Delivering new integration capabilities provides customers with greater value in terms of their digital transformation," explains Jean-Michel Bérard, CEO of Esker.

With the certification, users can be sure that the Esker Cloud is a future-proof solution in the SAP® environment. SAP S4/HANA® is finding its way into more and more companies as the "successor" to the classic SAP/R3.