Efficiency in invoice processing: 10 key KPIs

For many organizations, cash flow is a key indicator of financial health. Yet cash flow management often focuses on revenue growth, accounts receivable management, or financing. While this is understandable, it means that one important factor is frequently overlooked: procurement. Every purchasing decision has a direct impact on cash flow within an organization. From the moment an order is placed through to the processing and payment of the invoice, every step affects the available financial resources. Therefore, anyone who wants to gain better control over cash flow would be wise to look not only at revenue but also at how expenses are managed.

E-invoicing has been a topic of discussion for years. However, the issue will take on greater urgency in 2026. While many organizations initially viewed it primarily as a way to process invoices more quickly, it is now increasingly becoming a prerequisite for operating in a compliant, scalable, and future-proof manner. This is due to European regulations, VAT digitization, and technological standardization. The direction is clear: financial processes are becoming increasingly digital, and invoice data is becoming increasingly important. As a result, waiting to see what happens is no longer a smart strategy.

Employees who first pay for lunch, a hotel stay, or a train trip out of their own pocket and then submit a reimbursement claim. For years, this was the standard practice in many organizations. Nowadays, more and more companies are opting for corporate payment cards—whether physical or digital—that allow employees to make business-related purchases directly. That may seem like a minor change, but the impact on the expense-claims process is greater than you might think. Because although the need to pay expenses up front is being phased out, proper processing of expense claims remains essential.