Order To Cash Automation Metrics: A Step-By-Step Guide For Executives
ACCOUNT RECEIVABLE AUTOMATION METRICS
Automation metrics have become increasingly important for finance executives hoping to streamline and improve their Order to Cash process. Automation metrics and processes eliminate manual labor, allowing more accurate and timely financial decisions to be made. In this guide, executives will learn how to use solution for account receivable automation metrics, and how to best manage their finances.
Before delving into the specifics of automation metrics, it is important to understand the core concepts of Order to Cash software. This software provides platform to manage an organizations entire financial lifecycle, which encompasses the entire scope of payment processing process from invoices, payments to customers, collections, and accounts receivable. This software is designed to automate the repetitive, manual processes and allows for improved efficiency in collecting revenue, reducing accounts receivable and optimizing working capital.
First, it is important to analyze the current Accounts Receivable (AR) environment. Analyzing the starting point of your automation metrics will allow for successful, consistent solution. Questions to consider here are: What is the current collection rate of accounts receivable? What payment methods are available, and which ones have the highest success rate? Are there discrepancies between customer billing and payments? After you have answered these questions, it is important to identify the objectives for automation. Examples of objectives might include reducing the time to close receivables, reducing disputes and increasing collections.
The next step is designing an automated Order to Cash system to meet the objectives. Pay attention to the functionality, setup and user experience of the system in order to ensure positive outcome. Consider which payment modes are to be used and how users will engage with the system. Also important is to consider how to integrate the automation with other software. This will enable access to all the data necessary to make informed financial decisions.
Once the system is designed, it is important to test it. Testing will ensure that the system is functioning correctly; it is also used to determine whether the design objectives are being met. Test the system using either mock transaction or simulation using real data. Do not skip the testing stage.
After testing is complete, the next step is to deploy the system. This involves sufficiently training employees on how to use the system and then having them use it. Monitor the system for period of time to ensure that the objectives are being met. This monitoring includes tracking user engagement level, system exceptions, payment statuses and automation success rates.
Finally, it is important to review the performance of the system. Evaluate the performance in terms of time and cost savings, productivity, and other metrics such as invoice accuracy, user satisfaction, payment acceptance rate and collection rate. This will allow for fine-tuning of the system to the aspect of the metrics that are not meeting the objectives.
Accounts receivable automation metrics provide invaluable insight into the financial decisions being made by an organization and can greatly contribute to an overall increase in efficiency. By following the steps above, executives will be well on their way to implementing an Order to Cash automation solution that is tailored to their specific needs and objectives.
