Glossary

Using AP Detail by Vendor Reports to Streamline the Expense Analysis Process

Written by Nils R. | Mar 26, 2022 7:00:00 AM
How can Accounts Payable Reports Drive Faster and Better Decisions? As Accounting Managers increasingly become key advisors to streamline vendor expense analysis, they must rely on modern self-service corporate performance management (CPM) and business intelligence (BI) tools. Using interactive Accounts Payable Reports like the AP Detail by Vendor report template shown below enables them and users from the finance and payables teams to experience near real time vendor payables analysis with aging buckets that help drive faster and better decisions. Who uses AP Detail Reports by Vendor and What are Some Key Analytical Features? In today’s fast-paced business environment, Accounting Managers are under high pressure to supply end users like controllers and AP managers with timely and concise Accounts Payable Reports. Companies use key features like the ones below to support their users with effective analysis that helps drive better expense control and vendor management:
  • Graphical analysis to highlight Top 5 Vendors, Oldest Payables due, and Overdue vs Current Balances
  • AP detailed information grouped by vendor
  • Analysis of payments due by aging bucket
The AP Detail Report by Vendor template can be used as a key element of the Vendor Expense Analysis process: [caption id="attachment_30573" align="alignnone" width="1010"] Example of an AP Detail Report by Vendor to Streamline the Vendor Expense Analysis Process[/caption] The AP Detail Report by Vendor is a ready-to-use Accounts Payable Reports from the Solver Marketplace. A Brief Description of the AP Detail Report by Vendor Template Accounts Payable Reports like the one seen in the image above are interactive and parameter driven and often contain sections with graphical analysis, auto narrative to highlight key information, and payables by vendor. One of the important features that aid the user in the analysis process is the ability to enable easy self-service for managers that need to get a quick picture of the top AP metrics. AP Detail Reports by Vendor are often used in conjunction with AP summary reports, AP spending trend reports, AP dashboards, balance sheets, and profit & loss variance reports. Data Integration to Transaction Systems Most organizations these days want automated and streamlined planning, reporting and analysis. However, many of the benefits described earlier rely on best of breed Corporate Performance Management (CPM) tools and/or Business Intelligence (BI) capabilities as well as data marts or data warehouses that use pre-built integrations to the organization’s ERP system. Oftentimes, they also need integrations to other key data sources like CRM, subscription systems, payroll tools, etc. Modern, cloud-based ERPs like Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance (D365 Finance), Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (D365 BC), Sage Intacct, Acumatica, Netsuite and SAP have robust APIs which allow for dynamic integrations to CPM and BI tools that are fully automated and flexible to run on a schedule or on-demand. Additional Resources to Aid with Research of Templates, CPM and BI Tools