BAE SYSTEMS Automates Invoice Processing Across UK Finance Shared Services

World-leading defence company improves financial control over supplier invoice management with automated solution from Digital Vision

[ClickPress, Thu Feb 01 2007] BAE Systems is deploying a new supplier invoice processing solution to automate Accounts Payable (AP) functions and the processing of circa 45,000 SAP invoices per annum.

BAE Systems, which is one of the world’s leading defence and aerospace companies with annual sales of £15.4bn, selected document processing specialist Digital Vision to implement the data capture and Contempus based processing solution at its UK Finance shared service based in Warton, Preston.

Given the large volume of invoice-related documents processed within the Finance shared service, the geographic spread of its 40 locations across the UK and highly devolved invoice approval structures, finance systems managers needed a solution which would automate the invoice handling process and improve financial control over payment and approvals processes.

BAE opted for a Kofax based solution, which will enable them to process large volumes of vendor invoices efficiently, at minimum cost to the organisation and without the need for high levels of customisation. This replaces BAE System’s existing manual invoice processing system and will reduce invoice and query management by 50%.

Bob Hynes, Finance Manager Systems at BAE Systems, said: “The key benefits of the Contempus solution are its workflow management functionality and archiving and retrieval facilities. Improved visibility enables staff to track and manage invoice processing at all times.

“This provides us with a valuable audit trail, helping us to optimise the accounts payable process and to further strengthen relationships with major partners and suppliers by improving invoice approval and settlement timescales.”

The company previously operated a manual invoice handling process, which was time and labour intensive and required individual authorisation signatures to be obtained and cross-checked before invoices could be processed.

The new system has automated this process, removing the need for manual intervention at each stage but still allowing staff to carry out the necessary audit and quality control checks. The system was initially rolled out to the Accounts Payable team, and has been well accepted, enabling them to improve and streamline their working practice considerably.

The solution will be extended to automate the handling of an additional 35,000 invoices through its IFS business system in 2007.


About Digital Vision
Digital Vision is a leading document processing systems integrator specialising in OCR capture, scanning for workflow and content management. A leading player in banking and financial services, accounts payable automation and the healthcare sector, Digital Vision works with a number of blue-chip and international organisations such as Barclays, BAE, BUPA and Dixons

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