The State of AP 2026: AI benchmarks, maturity, and leading strategies

Overview

The shift from AP automation to AP intelligence is happening everywhere you look, and the data makes it impossible to ignore.

Nearly six in ten organizations are already using or piloting AI in AP. Two-thirds expect it to have a significant or transformational impact within the next two to three years. But adoption alone doesn't define leadership. What separates the organizations moving decisively from those still finding their footing is a combination of data quality, governance, and a clear understanding of where AI delivers the fastest, clearest value.

In this webinar, Ardent Partners Founder & Chief Research Officer Andrew Bartolini presents the findings of the State of AP 2026: AI Rising report. You'll get the benchmarks, the maturity data, and the practical playbook to act on both.

What you'll learn:

• Where the market stands on AI: the full AP AI maturity curve and what each stage means for your roadmap
• The 2026 AP performance benchmarks: industry averages for cost per invoice, cycle time, exception rates, straight-through processing, and supplier electronic submission
• Industry AI maturity benchmarks: for the first time, AP leaders can assess how their AI programs compare in addition to operational results
• Where AI is delivering ROI today and where the biggest gaps are in the invoice lifecycle
• A tiered AI Activation Guide: practical, stage-by-stage recommendations based on where you sit on the maturity curve

The window to get ahead is still open. But not for long.

The AP market is not waiting for consensus. Organizations that are moving decisively on AI are pulling ahead on every metric that matters: cost per invoice, cycle time, exception rates, straight-through processing. The ones still evaluating are not standing still. They're falling behind.

If your AP team is under pressure to do more with the same resources, if AI is on your roadmap but hasn't translated into results yet, or if you simply want to walk into your next budget conversation with independent data behind you, this is the webinar that earns its place on your calendar.

Meet Speaker