3 way match is one of the most tedious and error prone tasks in the accounts payable department.

So, many companies and organizations look to automate three way match. And then they look for ways to improve on that Automation.

Let’s take a look at the traditional way to automate three way match. And then learn how to take it to the next level.

Traditional OCR Based 3 Way Match

The most common way to automate 3 way match is using OCR technology in combination with a PO matching platform to automatically compare the three critical PO documents (PO, Receipt/Packing Slip and Invoice) and highlight any discrepancies between them.

You can read more about that approach in our article AP Automation Makes 3 Way Match or 2 Way Match Simple.

But what if you are looking for a higher level of automation?

Then you are in luck.

SmartMatch is 3 way match automation for purchase orders that not only looks for exact matches between characters, but uses algorithms and machine learning to identify whether line items match.

The Limits of Traditional 3 Way Match

One of the problems with automated three way match using OCR is that POs, receipts, and invoices don’t always use precisely the same characters to identify the product.

Then again, that’s not supposed to be a problem if your purchase orders are based on SKUs. Generally speaking, numbers are numbers.

Except when they aren’t.

Sometimes a letter or other character is added to a SKU in one of the PO documents. Or a SKU is mistyped.

And then, with non-SKU purchasing, the automated 3 way match becomes even more of a challenge. Now exact words and letters – or even a description of the product or service need to match.

A traditional system may even be able to identify a ‘close’ match. But inevitably you will spend more time on manual intervention into the matching process than you would like.

How Does SmartMatch Improve Automated Match?

SmartMatch is a revolutionary new approach to 3 way match for PO processing.

Through proprietary algorithms, SmartMatch determines if the PO document line items match or not.

How?

First, SmartMatch looks at what items or services have been received. And then it checks the extended totals of the lines. Using our algorithm, the system then calculates what combinations of lines are being invoiced against – based on subtotals. Finally, the system automatically uses this calculation to perform the 3 way match for you.

And because it is using math rather than looking at characters, SmartMatch cuts out an enormous amount of manual intervention from the automated 3 way match process.

Best of all, SmartMatch is so smart that it works just well on partially received orders as it does when all items or services are delivered at once.

And it works equally well with SKU or non-SKU POs!

Does SmartMatch Have Limits?

SmartMatch works best on POs with fewer than 20 lines to match.

But it will try to match even if the PO has more lines. The issue is that the combination of pricing and items become too common.

And SmartMatch only 3 way matches when it finds unique combinations that create a correct line item match for PO, receipt, and invoice. It never tries to guess.

Bottom Line – A Revolutionary Advance in PO 3 Way Match Automation

SmartMatch truly takes 3 way match to the next level.

Used along with manual match on our PO matching platform, it will significantly reduce your time and efforts.

But combing SmartMatch with OCR technology provides an unparalleled level of 3 way match automation!

The post A Revolutionary Advance in PO 3 Way Match Automation appeared first on CoreIntegrator.