A Case Study on F&A Outsourcing

iGATE Global Solutions helps a leading North American Manufacturing firm reduce turnaround
time for the AP processes and improve mailroom functionality

Business Challenge

To implement Accounts Payable Solution on a transaction-priced model.

With various ERP systems across its multiple locations, the firm had issues with mailroom functionality and turnaround time of the Accounts Payable process. In order to improve efficiencies, they wanted to put in place a suitable workflow solution that would not only consolidate but also communicate with all the ERP environments across locations.

Proposed Solution

• A robust, scalable and flexible workflow solution that tightly integrates with the document scanning/imaging solution that will be hosted at iGATE's offshore facility:
  • iGATE's workflow solution is a multi-tiered, platform independent solution, built using robust server-side Java and J2EE technologies and capable of working on Windows, Linux, Solaris and UNIX operating systems.
  • The entire invoice approval process is done through the workflow system.
• Monitoring and tracking, and de-duping of invoices using iGATE's proprietary tool set,
  ePartner, which:
  • eliminates duplicate invoices/payments, and
  • reduces manual audit efforts
• Use of iGATE's proprietary iSight tool for a high level of transparency in tracking, monitoring
  and reporting metrics and quality of service as well as allowing clients to investigate status
• Integration with multiple ERP environments (SAP (multiple versions), Oracle, PeopleSoft, BPICS, MFGPRO) and eventual maintenance.

Solution Summary

The solution enables consolidation of, and communication between, the multiple ERP systems across locations and deal with the mailroom functionality problem by providing a Digital File Room to optimize performance. It provides faster turnaround time for the firm's AP process by eliminating duplicate invoices/payments and minimizing manual audit efforts.

Furthermore, it provides more visibility into the AP process and helps vendors by allowing them to track the status of invoices once submitted.

Effective Outcomes

• Reduced turnaround time
• Consolidation of multiple ERP environments across locations
• Reduced inefficient and manual routing of invoices to end user and approving managers
• Proper reporting structure and transparency in reporting catering to both management and vendor needs
• High level of automation requiring minimal manual intervention
• Year-on-year cost reduction leading to higher profit margins -- 50% savings on total cost of ownership over five years
• Year-on-year improvement in process efficiencies