---
title: Purchase to Pay
url: https://www.medius.com/solutions/purchase-to-pay/
updated: 2026-06-09T16:46:17Z
---
# Purchase-to-pay, without the hand-offs
Medius manages the entire procure-to-pay process in one automated platform, from purchase requests and approvals to invoices and payments.
[Book a demo](https://www.medius.com/book-a-demo/ "Book a Demo")
*Average go-live: 8–12 weeks.*
## Three phases. Nine steps.
One connected workflow.
The purchase-to-pay process, from initial request to final payment, often involves multiple
systems and teams. This can lead to errors, delays, and compliance issues.
Medius automates all nine steps. Procurement and AP in one connected system.
This chart is best viewed in landscape orientation or on a larger device.
| Phase 1 — Requisition | Phase 2 — Purchase | Phase 3 — Pay |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 01 **Purchase request**
Employee identifies a need and submits a structured request. | 04 **Goods receipt**
Delivery checked against PO. Discrepancies flagged automatically. | 07 **Payment approval**
Matched invoices routed for approval within policy limits. |
| 02 **Approval workflow**
Automated routing based on value, category, and policy. | 05 **Invoice capture**
AI extracts invoice data from any format: paper, PDF, or portal. | 08 **Payment**
Check, ACH, or card — part of AP workflows, not a separate system. |
| 03 **Purchase order**
PO is generated and sent to the supplier automatically upon approval. | 06 **3-way matching**
Invoice matched against PO and goods receipt automatically. | 09 **Record keeping**
All documents archived automatically for audit at any time. |
[The P2P Process Explained](https://www.medius.com/blog/purchase-to-pay-process/ "Purchase to Pay (p2p) process explained")
## Three applications. One purchase-to-pay platform.
Most P2P problems occur when procurement and AP teams use separate systems without shared data.
Medius closes that gap by running procurement, invoice automation, and payments on a single platform with one shared data layer.
### REQUISITION TO PO
**[Medius Procurement](https://www.medius.com/solutions/medius-procurement-solutions/ "Medius Procurement Solutions")**
An eProcurement solution designed for adoption. Consumer-style shopping experience, automated PO creation, and built-in spend compliance. Budget owners see costs before they're committed.
### INVOICE TO APPROVAL
**[Medius AP Automation](https://www.medius.com/solutions/medius-accounts-payable-automation/ "Medius Accounts Payable Automation")**
AI captures invoice data in any format, matches it against POs and receipts, and routes only exceptions. 96.3% of invoices are processed touchlessly for top performers. Fraud detection runs on every transaction.
### APPROVAL TO PAYMENT
**[Medius Pay](https://www.medius.com/solutions/medius-payments/ "Medius Payments")**
Check, ACH, and card payments in one automated workflow. It’s part of your AP process, not an add-on: enforced approval chains, full payment visibility, and no need to change banks.
[How is Medius differentiating from other S2P vendors on AI](https://www.medius.com/blog/how-is-medius-differentiating-versus-other-s2p-vendors-on-ai/ "How is Medius differentiating versus other S2P vendors on AI?")
What purchase-to-pay automation
actually delivers
The gains from connecting procurement and AP show up in invoice cycle times,
inbox hours, and the spend your team can suddenly see and control.
touchless invoice processing for Medius top-performer customers
invoice cycle for top performers vs 9.2 days industry average
reduction in AP inbox time with Supplier Conversations agent
“Medius AP Automation and the cloud gave us substantial gains: The touchless rate increased from 20 percent previously in some cases to an average of 80 percent. The amount of money saved annually is roughly equivalent to the annual salaries of ten full-time employees and approximately NOK 5 million (USD 600K).”
**Per Magnus Frantzen**
CFO at Bohus
[](https://www.medius.com/resources/case-studies/bohus-ap-automation/ "Bohus AP automation")
[Read the case study](https://www.medius.com/resources/case-studies/bohus-ap-automation/ "Bohus AP automation")
Purchase-to-pay software built for
finance and procurement, together
P2P is only as strong as the connection between the teams that use it. Medius ensures
procurement compliance and AP visibility reinforce each other rather than compete.
**Eliminate maverick spend**
All purchases are routed through pre-negotiated contracts and approved suppliers, making compliant buying the easiest option—not a policy to work around.
**Capture indirect spend**
Integrating AP automation with procurement helps purchasing departments manage hidden costs, such as coding and approvals, by bringing them under control.
**Real-time spend reporting**
Configurable dashboards provide a live view of purchasing activity, invoice status, and payment timing, helping you identify bottlenecks and overruns before they escalate.
**ERP integration included**
Pre-packaged connectors for SAP, Dynamics 365, Oracle, Infor, and more. Integration is handled by Medius, going live in weeks, not months.
P2P is one part of the source-to-pay lifecycle
Purchase-to-pay covers the purchasing and payment phases of the procurement process. If you also need to manage supplier sourcing and contract negotiations upstream, Medius offers a complete source-to-pay platform that includes sourcing, contract management, and supplier onboarding, built on the same foundation.
### Already using Medius for P2P?
Adding Medius Sourcing and Contract Management extends your coverage upstream: same platform, same data layer, no additional integration work.
[See the S2P platform](https://www.medius.com/solutions/source-to-pay/ "Source to Pay")
How will Medius evolve in the future across S2P? [Read now](https://www.medius.com/blog/how-will-medius-evolve-in-the-future-across-s2p/ "How will Medius evolve in the future across S2P?")
## Common questions about
purchase-to-pay software
What is purchase-to-pay (P2P)?
Purchase-to-pay (P2P), also known as procure-to-pay, is the entire process from raising a purchase request to paying a supplier. A P2P system automates and connects every step, including approvals, purchase orders, goods receipt, invoice capture, and payment. Key benefits include reduced maverick spend, fewer invoice errors, and full visibility over purchasing and payment activity.
What is the difference between purchase-to-pay and source-to-pay?
Purchase-to-pay (P2P) begins with a purchase request. Source-to-pay (S2P) starts earlier, covering everything from supplier identification and negotiation to onboarding. Essentially, P2P is a subset of S2P. If you already have contracted suppliers and need to manage purchases and payments, P2P is your starting point. If you need to manage the full procurement lifecycle, including sourcing and contracting, Medius offers a complete source-to-pay platform.
How does Medius purchase-to-pay software work?
Medius P2P combines procurement, AP automation, and pay into one platform. Employees easily raise purchase requests, approvals are automatically routed, and POs are generated instantly. When invoices arrive, AI captures and matches them to POs and receipts. Approved invoices go directly into payment workflows—check, ACH, or card—all within the platform. Every step is auditable and synced with your ERP in real time.
What is 3-way matching in purchase-to-pay?
Three-way matching is the process of verifying an invoice against its purchase order and goods receipt before payment. It's a key control in the procure-to-pay process that helps prevent overpayment, duplicate invoices, and fraud. Medius uses AI to automate this process, allowing matching invoices to be processed touchlessly. Only genuine discrepancies are sent to a human for review.
How long does a P2P implementation with Medius take?
With Medius’ Rapid Application Deployment (RAD), AP Automation can go live in just 4–6 weeks. The full P2P suite, including Procurement, AP Automation, and Pay, is typically live in 8–12 weeks. Medius has pre-packaged connectors for ERPs like SAP, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Oracle, and Infor. We also handle the integration for you, so your IT team can focus on other priorities.
Where should I start with P2P automation?
For the fastest ROI, most organizations should start with AP automation. Invoice processing is the most manual part of the P2P cycle, and it's where AI automation delivers the quickest, most measurable results. Once your AP process is automated, expanding into procurement and payments is much simpler.
[View more FAQs](https://www.medius.com/frequently-asked-questions/ "Frequently Asked Questions")
* * *
## Ready to connect procurement and AP?
Medius customers go live in 8–12 weeks on average. See what a connected
purchase-to-pay platform looks like for your organization.
[Book a demo](https://www.medius.com/book-a-demo/ "Book a Demo") [See the full S2P platform](https://www.medius.com/solutions/source-to-pay/ "Source to Pay")