10 Ways to Transform AP Customer Relations

When we polled AP professionals about the best ways they "transformed" their operations, one key area we asked about was customer relations. Here are 10 ideas survey respondents submitted that triggered the highest success in improving dealings with both internal and external customers.

1. Prepare or revise a formal, written, comprehensive AP policies and procedures manual.
2. Educate other departments in proper AP procedures, particularly with respect to invoices--late invoices mean lost discounts and late fees.
3. Creating an AP PowerPoint presentation and meet with different business units to explain AP expectations and workflow.
4. Meet with "problem" departments to find out the source of bottlenecks.
5. Set deadlines for all departments to have all invoices turned in timely--send out monthly reminders.
6. Hold monthly finance/operations meeting to discuss financial results from prior month and discuss future plans.
7. Show department managers how to look up invoices, so they can better manage their budgets.
8. Hold a monthly training meeting with AP, purchasing, and the accountants and tackle a tough topic each month.
9. Create a new-vendor packet that describes payment terms and the W-9 form.
10. Make customer service the focus of the AP department and for other departments to recognize and appreciate the huge output AP handles.