--- title: Accounts payable best practices 2022 url: https://www.medius.com/blog/accounts-payable-best-practices-2022/ updated: 2025-05-21T22:43:03Z --- [Back to Blog](https://www.medius.com/blog/) Accounts Payable 6.16.2022 # What Are Accounts Payable Best Practices in 2022? What happened with AP during the pandemic? Global events changed overall business operations over the past three years. Companies needed to support remote work to avoid interruptions, and automation became a necessity rather than a luxury. As a result, accounts payable best practices in 2022 evolved from the days of spreadsheets and file folders. Cloud automation provides a secure environment for collaboration from any location on a device with the Internet. Everyone with system access can review real-time data to make time-sensitive decisions that keep production moving forward. Consider how accounts payable best practices changed and the growing role automation plays. ## What are the controls in accounts payable? Controls are crucial in accounts payable to tackle common issues, such as invoice approvals, preventing invoice exceptions, monthly and annual reports, and supplier onboarding. In addition, understanding the controls in AP and AP workflows and benchmarks helps the organization remain competitive in a constantly changing international marketplace. The AP controls include: - Obligation to pay controls ensures invoices are accurate and paid by exact terms, including PO order approval, invoice approval, two- or three-way matching, and auditing for duplicate payments. The best practice for the obligation to pay controls is keeping POs, shipping receipts, and invoices in a centralized location. The best solution is AP automation to support remote collaboration and real-time access to financial data. - Data entry controls ensure invoices are correctly entered into the automation system through verification processes to prevent human errors associated with manual processes and provide the highest level of accuracy. - Payment entry controls verify that the bills are paid accurately, securely, and on time, focusing on tracking check numbers, segregation of duties, vendor payment information updates, and authorization of payments. AP automation eliminates the [risk of duplicate payments](https://www.medius.com/blog/how-to-prevent-duplicate-payments-in-accounts-payable/ "How to prevent duplicate payments in Accounts Payable"), fraud, and errors associated with manual processes. ## How do you simplify the accounts payable process? The recent global marketplace provided the [need to simplify AP](https://www.accountingtoday.com/list/5-organizational-best-practices-all-accounting-firms-should-follow) to avoid business interruptions and remain competitive regardless of current supply and demand. Simplification starts by eliminating redundancies with centralized invoice processing, standard operating procedures, and establishing an AP workflow. In addition, automation provides a central zone for the C-suite and AP department to access real-time financial information to speed up invoice approvals, supplier onboarding, and monthly and annual reports. Additionally, training employees to maximize automation reduces errors. Also, through invoice capture and automating the invoice-to-pay process, many companies reduce the time it takes to pay suppliers and can take advantage of discounts for early payments. ### Ways to optimize accounts payable best practices Following AP benchmarks is crucial to stay ahead of the curve. Optimizing accounts payable best practices enables organizations to remain competitive internationally regardless of external factors. [Use AP benchmarks](https://benchmarks.medius.com/) to gauge the performance of your AP department and develop optimization strategies, including: - Streamlined workflows - KPIs to measure AP efficiency - Organization and prioritization of invoices - Safeguards to eliminate duplicate payments - Fraud detection protocols - Secure access controls - Going paperless and touchless through total automation In 2022, adopting accounts payable best practices is more crucial than ever. Optimize your accounts payable department now through a complete AP automation solution. [Contact us today](https://www.medius.com/contact-us/ "Contact Us") to learn more about ways automation reduces errors and provides real-time access to financial data to make critical decisions when they matter most. Are outdated processes holding you back? Accounts payable staff are on the front line of business change and often are tasked to implement cash flow policy changes in near real time. In many ways, AP has become the control tower for managing spend within the organization. However, many of them are stuck with legacy tools and outdated processes, creating massive inefficiencies. The real promise of AI and machine learning within accounts payable is not just streamlining processes but eliminating them. This report from SSON explores how AP automation of today is evolving to become autonomous AP of tomorrow. [Get the report](https://www.medius.com/resources/guides-reports/from-automated-to-ai-driven-the-future-of-ap-automation/ "From Automated to AI-Driven: The Future of AP Automation") [!\[SSON report cover: From Automated to AI-Driven: The Future of AP Automation\](https://www.medius.com/media/nxzf0vh3/sson-from-automated-to-ai-driven-2025-resource-page.png?rmode=max&width=372&height=0&v=1dbbec33c221b90)](https://www.medius.com/resources/guides-reports/from-automated-to-ai-driven-the-future-of-ap-automation/) #### Medius Financial Census 2026 87% of finance pros have ignored suspected fraud. That's just one finding. See what 2,386 finance leaders revealed about fraud, late payments, AI, and the profession's future. [Get the report](https://www.medius.com/resources/guides-reports/medius-financial-census-2026/ "Medius Financial Census 2026") #### Ardent Partners' State of AP in 2026 AI is changing what AP teams can do, and fast. Get leading analysts at Ardent Partners' take on where the industry is headed. [Get the report](https://www.medius.com/resources/guides-reports/ardent-partners-state-of-ap/ "Ardent Partners State of AP") #### Webinar: Preparing for agentic AI in AP In this webinar with SSON, see how leading finance teams are moving from automation to autonomous AP, with real governance built in. [Watch the webinar](https://www.medius.com/resources/events-and-webinars/through-trust-and-governance-sson/ "Through trust and governance SSON") #### Discover accounts payable benchmarks Learn the efficiency metrics that matter for AP teams and the benchmarks derived from thousands of Medius customers around the globe. [Get the report](https://www.medius.com/resources/guides-reports/ap-benchmark-report/ "AP Benchmark Report") #### Questions about AP automation? Let's talk through it. A 30-minute conversation with a Medius expert costs you nothing and might save you a lot. Book a consult ## Related Posts [8.26.2026 Accounts Payable Best AP automation software features](https://www.medius.com/blog/best-ap-automation-software-features/) [8.24.2026 AP Automation Why legacy AP systems hold back finance transformation](https://www.medius.com/blog/why-legacy-ap-systems-hold-back-finance-transformation/) [8.18.2026 AP Automation Best AP automation software for food and beverage](https://www.medius.com/blog/best-ap-automation-software-for-food-and-beverage/) [8.17.2026 Accounts Payable 5 AI-powered tactics for touchless accounts payable](https://www.medius.com/blog/five-tactics-for-peace-of-mind-touchless-accounts-payable/) [!\[focused business woman looking at computer\](https://www.medius.com/media/exkdu0tm/adobestock_126291778-red.jpg?width=340&height=245&v=1d99261d24b3f10) 8.13.2026 AP Automation The AP metrics CFOs review first when evaluating finance operations](https://www.medius.com/blog/the-ap-metrics-cfos-review-first-when-evaluating-finance-operations/) [8.12.2026 Integration Choosing the best AP automation platform for complex ERP environments](https://www.medius.com/blog/choosing-the-best-ap-automation-platform-for-complex-erp-environments/) Previous Next [View All Posts](https://www.medius.com/blog/) ## Ready to transform your AP? 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