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.
Speakers
Andrew Bartolini
Founder & Chief Research Officer, Ardent Partners
abartolini@ardentpartners.com
Andrew Bartolini is a globally recognized expert in sourcing, procurement, accounts payable, and supply management. At Ardent Partners, Andrew focuses his research and efforts on helping enterprises develop and execute strategies to achieve operational excellence within their procurement and finance departments.
Graeme Chard
SVP Product Marketing at Medius
graeme.chard@medius.com
Graeme Chard is SVP of Product Marketing at Medius, where he helps shape the company’s AI strategy, product positioning, and market narrative across spend management and AP automation.
With more than 20 years of experience in B2B SaaS, Graeme has led product marketing and go-to-market initiatives across enterprise technology, digital experience, and AI-driven business solutions. His expertise focuses on translating complex technology into clear business value for organizations navigating modernization, automation, and operational change.
At Medius, Graeme contributes thought leadership on AI, finance transformation, procurement, and the future of intelligent enterprise operations. He is particularly focused on how agentic AI, automation, and orchestration are reshaping the way finance teams operate and make decisions. Prior to Medius, Graeme held leadership roles at Sitecore, Boxever, and Adobe.
