A Merchant’s Guide to AR Automation
Help reduce payment friction and increase business efficiency with Accounts Receivable (AR) solutions
Key benefits of automating your Accounts Receivable
Accounts Receivable automation supports finance teams by digitizing manual collections activities to transform workflows.
Automation can take the frustration out of managing AR by helping to streamline payments, reduce administrative costs and enhance cash flow visibility.
Payment efficiency matters
Of surveyed U.S. business decision makers:
say easy, streamlined and secure payments drive business growth1
say late or slow payments have stopped them from working with a Buyer or Supplier2
say a single payment fraud incident could significantly impact their trust3
Top problems in manual AR
Outdated processes
create errors and delay payments4
Lack of collaboration
is inefficient and frustrates customers5
Insufficient resources
lead to burnout and shift focus away from important work6
Inconsistent policies
cause misalignment across departments7
Benefits of AR automation over manual processes
Accelerated cash flow8
Increased efficiencies and visibility9
Easier to attract and retain talent10
Better customer experiences11
Automation software helps streamline AR tasks
Generate and deliver invoices12
Accept and process payments13
Match and apply payments to open invoices14
Ensure final reporting accuracy15
American Express AR payment solutions
AR automation software
Help save time and money by reducing errors, improving efficiency and boosting cash flow16
Straight-through processing
Process static and Virtual Cards electronically from start to finish, without any manual steps17
Electronic Invoice Presentment and Payment (EIPP)
Automate sending invoices to and accepting payments from customers electronically18
Digital push payments
Let payers initiate a transfer of funds to control the amount and destination of the payment19
AR solutions in action
This hypothetical use case is for illustrative purposes only.
The Problem:
A regional lumberyard was struggling with late payments from contractors, which caused a cash-flow crunch and extra work for their AR team.
The Solution:
AR automation helped the lumberyard streamline invoices, generate reminders and gain real-time visibility into receivables.
As a result, they reduced Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) and freed up staff to focus on customer relationships.
Get started with AR automation
Explore our AR partnerships to help streamline your business operations.
More resources for AR teams
Learn more about how accounts receivable automation can benefit your business.
Your Guide to Automating Payment Acceptance
Payment portals can speed up the time it takes for your business to get paid.
From Friction to Flow: AR Automation in 2025
In an uncertain economic climate, automating accounts receivable is imperative.
Virtual Cards: The Future of B2B Payments
Organizations are recognizing the strategic advantages of modernizing manual processes.
1,2,3,16,17,18,19Amex Trendex: B2B Payments Study Finds 8 in 10 Businesses Plan to Improve Payments Processes in 2025, American Express, March 13, 2025.
4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15AR Automation Software: A Complete Guide to Choosing Automated Accounts Receivable Systems, Versapay, July 29, 2024.