The AP automation landscape is loud—but according to recent market research we conducted with senior finance leaders across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, it’s also deeply underwhelming.
These participants—VPs of Finance, Controllers, AP Directors, and CFOs—represent high-volume, complex AP environments. Their responses uncovered a clear, consistent pattern: while nearly every organization has implemented some level of automation, most are still unsatisfied.
The frustration isn’t about a lack of features. It’s about what’s missing between the features: credibility, compatibility, and control. At Ascend, we believe automation should feel invisible—not painful—and the findings from this survey reinforce exactly why that mission matters.
When asked what holds them back from switching AP automation providers, integration ranked as a top concern. It’s not just about whether a system integrates—it’s about whether it does so seamlessly, without disruption to teams already stretched thin.
Several respondents shared experiences where switching platforms introduced delays, broke processes, or required weeks of retraining. That kind of disruption isn’t just inconvenient—it’s a blocker to innovation.
This is precisely why Ascend was built with deep, certified Workday Financial Management integration. There’s no middleware, no patching, no retrofitting—just one cohesive platform that plugs in cleanly and behaves like an extension of your ERP, not an external add-on. When your automation lives inside your system of record, workflows stay intact, and confidence goes up.
Many respondents said they’d be open to investing in a premium AP automation platform—even with a free ERP solution already in place—if the value could be proven upfront. That skepticism runs deep. When asked how long they’d continue using a low-cost solution that wasn’t working, one senior finance leader simply answered: “Immediately.” That one-word response says it all—decision-makers are ready to move on the moment they find something that proves it’s worth the switch.
This is something Ascend prioritizes in every customer conversation: we help finance leaders benchmark expected outcomes—like increasing touchless processing rates above 60% and cutting down invoice cycle time—before they commit. Whether it's through ROI modeling, real-world use cases, or transparent performance metrics, our approach is rooted in proof over promises. And when it comes to payments, we make it easy to start small—managing as many or as few of your supplier payments as you'd like until you're ready to scale up with confidence.
AI is everywhere in AP automation messaging. But according to our participants, only a few capabilities actually matter. They’re not chasing virtual assistants or flashy interfaces—they’re looking for AI that drives accuracy, adapts to complexity, and learns over time.
That’s exactly how Ascend’s AI was designed to function. It doesn’t sit on top of the process—it’s embedded at key decision points: predicting GL coding for non-PO invoices, reducing exception routing, and accelerating approvals by making smart suggestions based on your company’s behavior. One respondent put it perfectly: “AI should adapt to our workflows, handle exceptions, and improve accuracy—not just answer questions or look fancy.” That expectation is exactly what Ascend was built to meet—AI that works under the hood, not just on the slide deck.
The AP leaders we spoke with weren’t looking for vague transformation promises. They were looking for something simpler—and smarter: a platform that fits, proves its value early, and evolves with them.
That’s been Ascend’s focus from the beginning: a purpose-built solution that handles complexity without adding it. For finance teams ready to expect more from their automation, that shift is long overdue—and completely within reach.
Want to preview what smarter AP automation really looks like?
Let’s show you how Ascend can meet you exactly where you are—and get you where you want to be.