Introduction

Finance and IT teams haven’t always been the best of friends. One side crunches numbers, balances budgets, and worries about compliance. The other builds systems, manages cybersecurity, and ensures the tech stack stays functional. They often work in parallel—rarely overlapping. But with accounts payable (AP) automation, that’s starting to change.

The integration of automation tools into finance workflows is creating new opportunities for both departments to collaborate. IT brings the expertise to implement, secure, and maintain systems. Finance gains the efficiency, transparency, and speed it needs to stay competitive. Together, they’re building bridges instead of silos.

So, how exactly does AP automation align IT and finance? What benefits does it bring? And where is this partnership headed? Let’s break it down.

Understanding AP Automation

Before we explore the partnership between IT and finance, it’s worth pausing for a quick overview. At its core, understanding AP automation means looking at how software replaces repetitive, manual invoice processing with digital workflows. Instead of invoices being emailed, printed, or physically routed for approval, they’re captured, coded, and routed automatically.

Automation covers the full cycle:

  • Invoice capture
  • Data validation
  • Coding and approvals
  • Payment scheduling
  • Supplier communication

Done right, the system reduces manual effort, cuts processing time, and improves accuracy. But beyond those immediate wins, the ripple effects extend into IT and finance collaboration.

The Efficiency Advantage

Finance leaders often measure efficiency in cost per invoice or cycle time. According to Ardent Partners, best-in-class AP teams process invoices in just 3.1 days, compared to an average of 17.4 days. They also pay just $2.78 per invoice, versus the industry average of nearly $13.

That kind of efficiency doesn’t come from finance alone. IT’s involvement in integrating automation software with existing systems—ERP platforms, databases, and reporting dashboards—ensures data flows smoothly. When both sides work together, manual delays disappear.

And the result? Less friction. Finance gets faster approvals and cleaner reporting. IT gets fewer ad hoc requests and more standardized processes.

Transparency Through Shared Data

One of the biggest shifts AP automation brings is visibility. Finance can track every invoice in real time, while IT benefits from centralized platforms that eliminate shadow spreadsheets and email chains.

Levvel Research’s 2021 Payables Insight Report found that nearly 23% of invoices are processed with little or no human touch when automation is in place. That means fewer errors, fewer mismatched records, and more reliable data.

Transparency matters for collaboration. IT teams rely on accurate finance data to set budgets for software, hardware, and infrastructure. Finance teams rely on IT to keep platforms secure and integrated. Shared systems mean both sides see the same version of the truth—no more back-and-forth finger-pointing.

IT’s Role: Implementation and Security

Automation isn’t just a finance project. It’s a tech initiative, too.

  • Implementation: IT ensures AP automation software connects with existing systems. That could mean integrating with an ERP, syncing with reporting tools, or setting up APIs for data exchange.
  • Security: Finance deals with sensitive data—banking details, supplier information, tax IDs. IT ensures encryption, access controls, and compliance with standards like SOC 2 or ISO 27001.
  • Scalability: As companies grow, IT ensures automation tools expand without breaking.

A Forrester study on Microsoft Power Automate estimated time savings worth $13.2 million over three years for a 30,000-employee organization. But those gains were only possible with IT managing deployment and expansion.

Without IT’s buy-in, finance might pick tools that can’t scale, don’t integrate, or introduce risk. With IT as a partner, automation becomes a strategic asset instead of a one-off project.

Reduced Friction Between Departments

Traditionally, finance and IT butt heads. Finance worries about costs; IT worries about functionality. But with AP automation, both departments share the same objectives:

  • Reduce processing costs
  • Improve approval times
  • Maintain compliance
  • Strengthen security

For example, APQC research shows top-performing companies process invoices for less than $2.07 each. Bottom performers? They spend $10 or more. Finance wants to lower costs, but IT has an incentive too: standardized systems mean fewer integrations to maintain and less custom coding.

Automation aligns incentives. Both departments win.

Productivity Gains That Scale

Forrester’s Total Economic Impact study on Basware found AP clerk productivity increased by 50%, valued at about $830,000. That’s a direct benefit to finance. But look closer, and IT benefits too. With fewer manual requests and cleaner data, IT teams spend less time troubleshooting.

Ardent Partners also noted that best-in-class AP teams spend 50% less time responding to supplier queries. Why? Because automation gives suppliers access to portals and self-service tools. Finance saves time, and IT doesn’t get dragged into ticket after ticket about missing invoices or lost payments.

The Future of IT and Finance Collaboration

The story doesn’t end here. As automation technology evolves, the partnership between IT and finance will only deepen. A few trends worth noting:

  • Artificial Intelligence: Machine learning models are already being used to flag duplicate invoices, detect fraud, and predict payment cycles. IT will be the gatekeeper for deploying these models securely.
  • Data Analytics: Finance leaders want dashboards with real-time insights. IT will handle integrations with BI tools and data warehouses.
  • Cross-department alignment: AP automation is just the start. Procurement, HR, and even customer service are adopting automation. IT and finance will set the blueprint for collaboration across the enterprise.

The financial case is clear. Forrester’s Basware study reported a 158% ROI over three years, while Microsoft Power Automate showed a 248% ROI with payback in less than six months. When the numbers look this strong, the question isn’t whether to automate—it’s how quickly IT and finance can get there together.

Conclusion

AP automation is more than a finance tool. It’s a bridge. Finance gains speed, efficiency, and cost savings. IT gains control, security, and fewer integration headaches. Together, they create transparency, reduce friction, and deliver measurable value.

The numbers speak for themselves: faster invoice cycles, lower processing costs, and higher ROI. But the bigger story is the partnership. IT and finance, once distant departments, are now working side by side to drive business success.

And that’s the real shift worth watching.