Q: Why are more companies turning to a SaaS imaging and workflow approach for Accounts Payable?

A: The Software as a Service (SaaS) approach to implementing Accounts Payable workflow technology has been on the rise in recent years as companies are realizing the value of not having to install software or purchase hardware. The move to SaaS for AP workflow has become even more apparent as the preferred method in today’s economy in which IT resources are already stretched too thin and Accounts Payable departments are being reduced in size. With less IT people available to implement an AP workflow solution and even less AP staff to process invoices, companies cannot accept the delays and costs involved in building an in-house AP workflow solution. A SaaS approach allows companies to fully configure an AP workflow solution in weeks with little to no support needed from your valuable internal IT resources.

As companies continue to reduce staffs, especially in departments like Accounts Payable, it has become an urgent need to not only deploy an AP workflow solution but to deploy one now. Many CIO’s who have always gone by the approach of bringing software in-house, have started to move away from this practice as the SaaS approach has become more and more widespread. This is especially true in regards to Accounts Payable invoice processing technology. CIOs used to resist the SaaS approach because of the perceived job security gained from managing a lot of in-house applications. However that notion has changed as more and more CIOs are looking at the SaaS approach as an ally rather than an enemy. The prime reasons why companies are moving to a SaaS based model for AP workflow are its faster deployment, lack of upfront license and infrastructure costs and its ability to let your internal IT resources focus on the business-critical processes outside of Accounts Payable. SaaS approaches for AP workflow also provide the capability to change direction quickly as your business needs to change and gives much more flexibility than in-house packaged applications. Plus the added benefit of Accounts Payable best practices is already built into a SaaS based AP workflow solution.

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