The Compass Group is the world’s largest food service and hospitality organisation. In Australia and New Zealand it operates over 500 sites nationally, employs 10,000 staff and has a world-wide annual turnover of $AUD21 billion.
The Compass Group Accounts Payable team handles 700,000 invoices per year, but it was a cumbersome process. Invoice approvals did not allow for 3-way matching, and had to be distributed to up to 500 sites where they were re-entered into a locally run order management system. Inevitably, this caused delays and increased costs significantly.
Canon Business Services ANZ (formerly Converga) were challenged with reducing the costs of the Accounts Payable function, support faster payment cycles and to allow for the suppliers’ own transition to electronic invoicing.
Nadia Lake, National Payroll/AP Manager, Compass Group Australia
Canon Business Services ANZ (CBS) introduced a secure accounts payable solution. Hard copy and electronic invoices are redirected to one of CBS’ Technology Centres where they are scanned and or data is extracted to suit the Compass Group’s internal processes. Validated data is then sent for approval through CBS’ automated workflow to the individual Site Managers. Depending on the outcome, email alerts are sent to suppliers asking for further information or approved invoices are passed straight to the ERP system for payment.
The processing cycle improved dramatically; the AAP system allows for real time enquiries regarding unapproved invoices and clearly identifies any bottlenecks with suppliers or at the individual sites. The system has also resulted in a significant number of suppliers changing to electronic invoicing and up to 80% of all invoices will be electronically processed by mid 2019.
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