AR Automation: Ensuring Timely Payments & Dispute Resolution

To run a business in today’s fast paced environ isn’t child’s play. A lot needs to be taken care of, and a lot brushed aside to make it financially rewarding for all the stakeholders involved. However, one thing that any businessman would rather avoid than get stuck facing is delayed payments.

For payments, if not received on time, not only obstruct a venture’s cash flow but also harm its operational efficiency in the long term.

Effective handling of accounts receivable, i.e., all the money owed to a business for goods delivered or services offered, thus, is vital for businesses to gain financial stability. AR automation is here to help them achieve just that. How? Let’s deduce…

What is AR Automation?

AR automation, or accounts receivable automation, as the name suggests, is the process of using technology to automate the entire AR process, from invoicing to payment collection. It helps businesses send invoices, track payment updates, and resolve disputes arising therein without requiring any human aid.

Unlike traditional AR processes that rely on manual handling of stuff, these tools, by automating tasks, thus ensure that no amount of time or efforts go to waste in collecting payments or following up for them. These simultaneously reduce operational costs, making accounts receivable management easy and economical.

8 Key Ways AR Automation Ensures Timely Payments and Resolves Disputes

There are sundry ways in which AR automation helps businesses evade deferred payments and achieve timely resolution for disputes. Some of them are listed below for your convenience….

1. Automated Invoicing & Billing

Using AR automation, businesses get to generate and send invoices at the click of a button. These invoices can be customized with respect to a customer’s payment terms, including mode of payment, due date, etc.

Automation secured thusly ensures quick and error-free billing, minimizing the possibility of payment-related disputes. It also eradicates the need for manual follow-ups, which can sometimes be missed, leading to deferred payments.

Upflow

4.4

Starting Price

$ 489.00

2. Customer Self-Service Portals:

AR automation tools come equipped with self-service portals for customers to access their invoices, payment history, and dues anytime, anywhere. As a result of which, they no longer have to rely on support teams to address discrepancies related to billing.

Companies, at the same time, get to direct their focus from customer follow-ups and query resolution to actual payment processing. This not only ensures timely payments, but also helps companies evade disputes, for customers, owing to these portals, become well-equipped to tackle them at their own convenience.

3. Automated Payment Reminders & Notifications

Businesses can set payment reminders using AR automation. These reminders can be sent via email, SMS, or through the self-service portal, so customers get timely notifications for due dates and overdue balances and act on them.

Studies have shown that customers who are sent regular notifications and reminders are more likely to make payments on time than those left to figure out things on their own.

Kolleno

4.3

Starting Price

Price on Request

4. Predictive Analytics & Payment Forecasting

Accounts receivable automation tools also offer predictive analytics to give businesses access to payment trends and forecasts. This, so they can make predictions regarding when payments are likely to be received and make financial decisions accordingly.

This data also helps businesses recognize customers who pay late often, so changes can be made in the collection process for effective accounts receivable management.

5. Integration with Payment Gateways

Automation tools allow integration with a host of payment gateways. Owing to which, customers get to pay their bills directly through the platform, accelerating the payment process and reducing the chances of disputes.

By making a variety of payment modes, including credit cards, digital wallets etc., available at that, these tools further make it convenient for customers to pay on time.

Billtrust

4.0

Starting Price

Price on Request

6. Automated Dispute Identification & Tracking

AR automation tools have a dispute identification mechanism at play that recognizes discrepancies in payment records before they turn into disputes. These discrepancies are then brought to the notice of the concerned authorities to effectuate resolution.

For instance, if a customer claims they did not receive an invoice, automation software solutions can quickly track it down to help account managers address the issue and avoid delays.

7. Documentation & Evidence Collection

AR automation software is programmed to store payment contracts, receipts, and proofs in a centralized database. This database can be accessed by the AR teams if and when disputes arise, so they don’t have to manually search for files and waste time during redressals.This database also ensures that there’s solid evidence to back any and every dispute resolution, lowering down the possibility of human error.

Bilendo

4.5

Starting Price

€ 799.00

8. Dispute Escalation Management

For payment-related disputes that are too complex to resolve, AR automation tools can automatically trigger an escalation process. This, so all the information regarding disputes reaches the higher-ups in time for them to review and provide resolution. This transfer of details becomes easier to accomplish owing to the centralization of payment documentation and automation-induced collaborative workflows.

Conclusion

AR automation thus makes a marked difference in the realm of finance, especially accounts receivable management. It is an indispensable tool for businesses looking to streamline their payment collection efforts and dispute resolution mechanism.

For only by improving in this respect can businesses optimize their cash flow management and overall operational efficiency to become profitable and stay ahead of competition. The market is filled with innumerable AR automation tools to help businesses achieve the same. These include Billtrust, Qonto, Upflow, HighRadius, Kolleno, Bilendo, Tesorio etc.

Suggested Read: Best Account Receivables Software List

You can choose one that matches the needs of your company, including its budget, in the best way possible. If you still need assistance in choosing one, get in touch with the Techjockey team today and take your accounts receivable management skills up a notch.