Our fourth installment in our Industry Insights series on the future of accounts payable (AP) automation focuses on CoreIntegrator’s 2025 vision for the future of AP automation.
As the AP automation industry continues to evolve, CoreIntegrator President Scott Reidmiller is confident that CoreIntegrator is well-positioned to lead the charge with its cutting-edge AP automation solution A/P One.
“Our mission has always been to make accounts payable processes as efficient, secure, and user-friendly as possible so that we have the happiest customers in the world,” he says. “But more than that, we want to help businesses embrace the future with confidence.”
Flexibility at the Core
For CoreIntegrator, staying ahead means keeping flexibility at the heart of their solutions.
“With A/P One, we’ve created a platform that’s designed for the future of AP,” Scott explains. “It’s not just about automating the AP process – it’s about enabling businesses to work smarter.”
“In A/P One we’ve got a solution that is unique in the marketplace. It’s not just an AP tool. A/P One is a strategic enterprise platform that is totally flexible and so customizable. It’s powerful AP automation that can also do so much more,” he says.
“When software companies say you are NOT unique; that you are just like every other company – this really means they are trying to force you into an ‘out-of-the-box’ solution.” He continues, “But you ARE unique, we know that because after 25 years of implementing procure to pay solutions, no two installations have been exactly the same.”
“At CoreIntegrator, we offer feature rich procure to pay solutions that can be tailored to meet your specific business needs. Of course, we bring best business practice concepts to each project, but we also have the ability to adjust and customize our software, so it feels like it was custom made just for you,” he says.
When deploying a new enterprise-wide solution used by people at all levels of your organization, user adoption is critical. As Scott put it, “It only makes sense to have a system that speaks your language using terminology that reflects the uniqueness of your company.”
Staying Ahead of Change as Microsoft Retires Dynamics GP
CoreIntegrator was a pioneer of AP automation, brining the first a automation solution to Great Plains accounting software, now known as Microsoft Dynamics GP, over 25 years ago.
But in 2024, Microsoft made the long-anticipated announcement that it would stop supporting Dynamics GP on December 31st, 2029.
“When we first developed AP automation it was a revolutionary product for GP users,” Scott says.
“And today we still have cutting-edge automation. But in the last ten years we’ve developed integrations with Microsoft BC, Sage Intacct, Acumatica, and every major accounting and ERP system,” he explains.
“So when Microsoft announced they would stop supporting Dynamics GP at the end of the decade, we were ready to take that journey with our current GP customers,” he says. “We’ve moved with our customers from GP to Dynamics BC, to Sage Inacct, to Workday, and to other systems.”
“At CoreIntegrator, we don’t just adapt to change, we anticipate it and stay ahead of it. That’s what has kept our solution cutting-edge for over 25 years,” Scott points out.
The Future of AP Automation is Driven by Listening to Customers
So how exactly has CoreIntegrator kept its AP automation solutions cutting-edge for over 25 years?
Scott emphasizes that CoreIntegrator’s innovation is fueled by customer feedback. “We’re constantly listening to our customers to understand their pain points and needs,” he says.
“This feedback is what drives us to refine our solutions and develop new features that add value.” He continues, “One of the core principles of CoreIntegrator is that we never say ‘no’ to a customer.”
“When a customer has an idea for a new feature we will always try to implement it. It may take a release or two to add a new customer-driven feature. But great new features are almost always born out of customer suggestions. So, we always prioritize them in our technology roadmap – that’s how we build the future of AP automation,” he explains.
“And when a customer comes to us with a new requirement based on an immediate business need, we’re always ready to tackle it. Custom solutions for complex requirements can take some effort. But we love a good challenge!”
“Our customers choose A/P One precisely because it can be customized to their specific needs. So we roll up our sleeves and work the issue until the customer is happy and their business need is met,” he concludes.
Advanced PO Matching
For example, Scott shares that many customers expressed a need for enhanced PO matching tools.
“Several customers came to us looking for a solution that could match not just PO header data – that’s actually pretty easy – but match POs and invoices line-by-line. Even when there are no SKUs or part numbers associated with the lines. That may sound simple enough, but it’s actually much trickier than it sounds,” he says.
“I won’t get into the techno-babble, but meeting this requirement was impossible to deliver with OCR alone. We had to develop AI to do the job,” Scott explains.
So, CoreIntegrator spent six months developing an advanced AI algorithm that provides businesses with automated 3-way PO matching at the line level.
“AI has definitely been a game-changer. It allows us to automate processes that were simply impossible to streamline before. So now our customers get automated 3-way PO matching at the line level whether there are SKUs or not,” he said.
“When the lines match, it simply checks them off automatically. And when there is a mis-match, or a price is out of compliance, it alerts the AP team to the exact line so they can investigate and remediate.”
“Our customers wanted touchless PO matching at the line level, so we built it. Simple as that,” Scott explains.
Secure Payment Processing Service
“Another example is our new payment processing service. Vendor payments are one of the biggest area for fraud in any company,” Scott says.
“Customers expressed an interest in being able to use A/P One to complete the procure to payment process with an easy-to-use and secure payment portal.”
“So, we developed A/P One’s payment processing service as a seamless way to make B2B payments cheaper, more efficient, and more accurate. And most importantly, protected from fraud,” he points out.
“The best part of using our payment processing service is its integration with other stages of your automated procure-to-pay process. As the last step in the A/P One procure-to-pay solution, our payment processing service takes data from preceding workflows and applies it to the payment phase, ensuring a seamless flow of information,” he says.
“Plus, our payment processing system makes automating electronic payments simple. Our customers can manage all of their Check, ACH, and Virtual Card payments from the same application they use to approve invoices and POs. It’s all about making things as simple for our customers as possible.”
Scott encourages all CoreIntegrator customers to bring their pain points and ideas for new features to the CoreIntegrator team. “That’s how new A/P One features and functionality are born,” he says.
The Human Element
While technology is a key part of the equation, Scott believes that the human element is just as important.
“We don’t just deliver a product – we solve problems,” he says. “We make peoples’ work lives better.”
“Our team works closely with each customer to ensure that their automation solution is solving their specific pain points and problems.”
And that’s true through every phase of the customer journey.
“People don’t believe me when I say this, but CoreIntegrator does not have a sales team. That’s just not how we look at the world.”
“Instead, when we are talking to a potential customer, we take a purely consultative approach. I can’t count the number of companies we’ve helped improve their AP process even though they weren’t ready for our solution,” he says. “Sometimes just talking through best practices helps an AP manager, and we’re happy to do that.”
“But if a company is ready and we can help, our Solution Consultants collaborate with that business to understand their unique needs and requirements. We document those and then, if the business is happy with the automation we’ve crafted together, we deliver a solution custom-built for that company.”
“And once their solution is live, our Customer Happiness team isn’t just there to answer questions and fix problems. They’re there to discuss our customers’ ongoing needs and pain points and then work with our development team to find innovative ways to address those needs too,” he explains.
“CoreIntegrator exists to solve problems. We live that ethic every day,” Scott concludes.
What’s Next for CoreIntegrator?
Looking ahead, Scott is excited about the future of AP automation and CoreIntegrator’s role in shaping it.
“We’re always exploring new technologies and expanding our enhanced AI capabilities to make AP processes even more secure and efficient,” he reveals. “Our goal is to stay at the forefront of the industry and continue providing solutions that help businesses succeed.”
“Technology is evolving at lightning speed. And it’s only going to keep accelerating. Our vision has always been to create a truly touchless procure to pay process that is 100% accurate and reliable. Every year we get closer and closer to achieving that vision.”
“The future of AP automation is bright, Scott says. With the right tools, businesses can reduce costs, improve accuracy, and free their teams to focus on what really matters. At CoreIntegrator, we’re proud to be part of that journey.”
Conclusion and Key Takeaways from CoreIntegrator’s Vision of the Future of AP Automation
CoreIntegrator’s A/P One is a perfect example of a solution designed with the future in mind, offering machine learning capabilities, real-time processing, and the ability to meet evolving financial and technical requirements.
Key takeaways from this article include:
- Powerful Solutions, Tailored for You: Unlike other AP automation solutions, A/P One can be customized to your specific needs. It’s your AP process, your rules, automated your way.
- Future Ready: CoreIntegrator anticipates and stays ahead of change. As Microsoft prepares to retire Dynamics GP, the company is ready to move to other platforms along with its customers.
- Customer-Centric Innovation: CoreIntegrator builds its solutions based on client feedback, ensuring they address real-world pain points and deliver maximum value.
- The Vision for the Future: CoreIntegrator continues to lead the way in AP automation by exploring new technologies and refining its A/P One solution to stay ahead of industry demands.
Scott leaves readers with an encouraging thought: “AP automation isn’t just about technology—it’s about empowering your team and positioning your company for long-term success. At CoreIntegrator, we’re here to help you embrace that future.”
Curious about A/P One’s latest innovative features? Reach out today and we’d be happy to demonstrate them for you!
