Office of the CFO for Manufacturing

Lay the foundation for efficient production planning, healthy margins, and real-time financial insights.

Purchase to Pay

E-transactions

Order to Cash

Intelligent automation

Financial Planning & Analysis

Purchase to Pay

E-transactions

Order to Cash

Intelligent automation

Financial Planning & Analysis

Finance connects the entire chain, from the supply chain to cash flow

Manufacturing companies operate with complex supply chains, large numbers of suppliers, and a constant flow of goods. This often makes processing purchase invoices a time-consuming process.

Invoices must be linked to purchase orders, receiving records, and, if applicable, production or project records. Discrepancies between orders, receiving records, and invoices frequently cause delays and require additional checks.

From raw materials and components to transportation and maintenance costs: every supplier has its own way of doing things. This results in a lot of manual work for the financial administration.

Even small variations in costs can have a major impact on margins. That is why fast and accurate invoice processing is essential for keeping costs under control.

Production, Purchasing, and Finance are often involved in the same invoice. When approvals are handled via email, delays occur and there is a lack of visibility into the status.

Accelerate the journey from production to cash

An efficient financial process also plays an important role on the sales side. Deliveries are made in installments, orders are adjusted, and customers have high expectations regarding invoicing and reporting.

Invoices are not always issued immediately after production or delivery. That’s why it’s important to keep track of outstanding items and cash flow.

When invoices are not sent on time or disputes arise regarding deliveries, payment terms are extended and pressure on working capital increases.

Many manufacturing companies operate internationally. Different currencies, VAT rules, and customer agreements make accounts receivable management more complex.

Intelligent automation in finance operations

Webinar | 17 oktober

Webinar | October 7 – Practical AI applications for Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable: from invoice processing to cash application.

Direct aanmelden

Manufacturing companies handle large volumes of transactions and documents

Every day, Finance departments in the manufacturing industry process a steady stream of purchase invoices, order confirmations, goods receipts, and sales invoices.

However, the pressure to process more transactions with the same number of employees is increasing. Manual checks, matching processes, and exceptions make these processes complex and limit scalability.

E-invoicing enables invoices to be exchanged directly between suppliers, manufacturers, and customers. By receiving and processing invoice data digitally right away, manual steps are eliminated from the process. This speeds up both purchase-to-pay and order-to-cash processes, shortens turnaround times, improves data quality, and enhances compliance throughout the entire supply chain.

AI helps finance teams process large volumes of transactions faster and with greater accuracy. Invoices are automatically recognized, posting proposals are generated, and discrepancies between orders, receipts, and invoices are immediately flagged. AI also helps prioritize exceptions and predict payment behavior. As a result, the focus shifts from administrative processing to analysis, risk management, and decision-making.

In production environments, invoices often need to be linked to purchase orders, contracts, and goods receipts. Discrepancies in quantities, prices, or partial deliveries result in exceptions that are time-consuming to resolve. By utilizing AI and intelligent matching, discrepancies can be resolved more quickly, and approval processes become significantly more efficient.

Why this is relevant to the manufacturing sector

Many challenges in the manufacturing industry have a financial component. With the right digitalization, you can gain insight, control, and predictability.

Shorter turnaround times in financial processes
Greater control over costs and margins
Improved collaboration between Finance, Procurement, and Operations
Stronger cash flow and liquidity position

From Manual Checks to Real-Time Insights

Machine manufacturer Unisign automated the processing of thousands of purchase invoices per year using 3-way matching. The result: less manual work, greater control, and reliable data for better decision-making.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are invoices linked to purchase orders and goods receipts?

Invoices are automatically matched with purchase orders, contracts, and goods receipts. Discrepancies in quantities, prices, or partial deliveries are immediately flagged as exceptions, allowing exceptions to be resolved quickly and approval processes to run more efficiently.

Why does DSO often increase at manufacturing companies, and how can you get it under control?

An invoice does not always follow immediately after production or delivery, and disputes over deliveries can further extend payment terms. Real-time insight into outstanding items and cash flow keeps the DSO under control, even with international customers who use different currencies and have different VAT rules.

What exactly does AI do within the financial processes of a manufacturing company?

AI automatically recognizes invoices, generates posting proposals, and immediately flags discrepancies between orders, receipts, and invoices. It also helps prioritize exceptions and predict payment behavior, allowing finance teams to focus on analysis and management rather than administrative work.