Author: Chris Haldane

Read Time: 4 minutes 

This is the final post in our Accelerate AR series—a four-part guide to transforming your invoice-to-cash process using embedded payments inside your ERP.

In this post, we’re exploring how real-time AR reporting turns your data into a strategic asset—and helps you drive smarter decisions across the business.

Even the most sophisticated companies often struggle to access timely, reliable data across the invoice-to-cash cycle. Key metrics like Days Sales Outstanding (DSO), overdue balances, and customer payment behavior are hidden in spreadsheets, locked in siloed systems, or calculated manually after month-end.

The result? Incomplete visibility. Delayed decision-making. And a reactive AR strategy that slows growth.

The AR Reporting Gap

Reporting is the final stage of AR—but it’s often where the biggest breakdowns happen. Many finance teams rely on manual processes to pull data, validate inputs, and build reports. Even when ERPs are in place, those reports are often outdated by the time they’re reviewed.

This leads to:

• Slow decision cycles
• Disjointed insights across teams
• Inaccurate forecasting
• Missed opportunities to improve collections

Without a real-time view of what’s paid, pending, or overdue, your team is flying blind.

Why Real-Time AR Reporting Matters

AR isn’t just about what’s come in—it’s about what hasn’t. And knowing that in real time gives you the power to act quickly.

When your reporting is up to date, you can:

• Identify at-risk accounts before they become write-offs
• See how your DSO is trending—week to week, not just month to month
• Forecast with confidence, based on actual performance
• Support strategic planning with live insights into liquidity and collections

It’s not just operational efficiency—it’s a financial advantage.

Automation Drives Results

That’s a powerful stat—and it underscores what’s possible when reporting is automated, embedded, and accurate.

What Modern Reporting Looks Like

Imagine dashboards that show you—in real time—which customers are behind, which regions are outperforming, and where your collections process is falling short.

You don’t need to wait for month-end. You don’t need to request a data pull. You can log into your ERP and see everything—instantly.

With the right tools, reporting becomes:

• Live and automated
• Consistent across teams
• Tied to your cash flow strategy
• Flexible enough to scale with your business

That’s what AR acceleration looks like at the reporting level.

Bringing AR into Focus

Strong financial decisions start with visibility. When your AR data lives in silos or lags behind reality, it’s hard to plan effectively or respond with confidence. That’s why real-time reporting inside your ERP is a game-changer—not just for finance, but for the business as a whole.

With the right embedded tools, finance teams can monitor performance metrics as they evolve, spot trends faster, and make more informed decisions—without toggling between systems or relying on outdated reports.

Fortis supports this shift by helping you unify and simplify how AR data is captured, tracked, and acted on.

Series Recap: Accelerating AR, End to End

This concludes our four-part Accelerate AR series, where we’ve explored how finance teams can modernize their approach to the full invoice-to-cash cycle:

• Invoicing – Automate billing and reduce errors with ERP-native workflows
• Payments – Remove friction and get paid faster with embedded options
• Reporting – Gain real-time visibility to guide smarter decisions

When these pieces work together, AR becomes more than a function—it becomes a driver of growth.

And the best part? You don’t need to replace your ERP. You just need to extend its power.

Next Steps: Build a Smarter AR Strategy

If your team is ready to move faster, plan with confidence, and reduce manual work, embedded payments could be a powerful next step.

Let’s connect and explore how Fortis can help you streamline your AR process—while keeping everything inside the system you already use.

From Main Street to Enterprise—Fortis Helps Businesses Grow

Read time: 3 Minutes

Inspired by national initiatives such as American Express’s Shop Small® movement—which encourages consumers to support local and independent businesses—Fortis shares the same belief: empowering local businesses strengthens communities and drives lasting economic growth.

At Fortis, we believe powerful commerce happens when innovation connects people, businesses, and communities. Every transaction represents trust—and for us, that trust is earned through technology that helps partners and businesses thrive.

While our platform delivers enterprise-grade B2B payment solutions, our impact extends to the small and mid-sized businesses fueling local economies every day. Through our network of software platform partners, we help local entrepreneurs simplify payments, strengthen relationships, and unlock growth opportunities.

Whether it’s a neighborhood shop, service provider, or online seller, Fortis empowers the small businesses that power our communities.

Why Small Businesses Matter More Than Ever

Small businesses are more than storefronts—they’re the creative engine of our economy. They bring innovation, personal connection, and authenticity to every interaction. But running a business today means navigating complex systems, evolving customer expectations, and tighter margins.

That’s where Fortis comes in.

We empower partners and the businesses they serve with modern, embedded payment technology that removes friction and builds efficiency. Our solutions help businesses accept payments anytime, anywhere, across any channel—while streamlining operations and creating consistency that turns everyday transactions into lasting customer loyalty.

When payments work seamlessly, small business owners can focus on what really matters: serving their customers and growing their communities.

The Fortis Difference: Technology + Partnership

At Fortis, we believe that powerful commerce doesn’t just come from great technology—it comes from true partnership. Our approach goes beyond delivering payment capabilities; it’s about helping businesses transform how they operate and grow with confidence.

We combine innovative payment solutions with a partner-centric business model designed for growth. That means simplifying complex payment experiences, scaling seamlessly across channels, and providing dedicated support that helps our partners and businesses thrive.

Through embedded, human-centered technology, Fortis enables small businesses to manage payments effortlessly, improve cash flow, and build stronger relationships with the people they serve.

Empowering Small Businesses—All Year Long

Supporting small businesses isn’t a seasonal initiative—it’s at the heart of what we do. Every day, Fortis helps entrepreneurs simplify operations, accelerate cash flow, and deliver exceptional customer experiences.

Our connected payment experiences bridge in-person, online, and mobile environments—helping business owners focus on what truly matters: growing their business and strengthening their community.

By making payments smarter, faster, and more connected, Fortis turns every transaction into an opportunity for growth.

Connected Commerce Builds Stronger Communities

From enterprise organizations to Main Street businesses, Fortis empowers businesses to scale, simplify, and succeed. By combining cutting-edge technology with the power of partnership, we’re helping businesses of all sizes create meaningful connections, drive growth, and keep communities thriving.

Because when small businesses grow, everyone benefits—and that’s a mission worth supporting every day of the year.

This is the third post in our Accelerate AR series—a four-part guide to transforming your invoice-to-cash process using embedded payments inside your ERP.

Today’s focus: how to remove friction from the payment experience, so customers pay faster—and your cash flow keeps moving.

You’ve delivered value. You’ve sent the invoice. But if the payment process is clunky, that revenue may still be weeks—or months—away.

For too many B2B businesses, payments are where momentum breaks down. The process is filled with unnecessary steps, limited options, and outdated systems that frustrate customers and slow down collections.

Getting paid should be simple. Instead, it’s often a manual, time-consuming bottleneck that leaves both your finance team and your customers unhappy.

The Payment Experience is Broken

Here are the common friction points we see: 

• Limited payment options: Some customers prefer ACH. Others want to use a card or even a digital wallet. If you don’t offer it, they’ll delay. 
• Disconnected systems: Payments processed outside your ERP require manual matching, increasing errors and wasting time. 
• Security concerns: If your payment system feels clunky or untrustworthy, customers hesitate to complete the transaction. 
• Lack of reminders: Without proactive nudges, busy AP departments miss due dates—even if they want to pay. 

All of these issues add friction—and friction kills cash flow.

That means you could be losing nearly six out of ten payments—not because customers won’t pay, but because they can’t pay easily.

That’s a solvable problem.

The Case for Embedded Payments 

The solution? Remove the friction. Let customers pay how they want, when they want—without jumping through hoops. 

Here’s what that looks like in a modern business:

• Invoices are sent electronically, with embedded payment links
• Customers click once and choose their preferred method: ACH, credit card, digital wallet, or even check
• Payments are automatically applied to the correct invoice
• Finance leaders can see real-time payment status, aging, and Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) metrics—without waiting for manual updates

It’s intuitive, fast, and removes unnecessary complexity—for both sides of the transaction.

How It Works in Practice 

A customer receives an invoice via email with a payment link. They click once, choose their preferred method, and complete the payment on a branded, secure page. That payment is then automatically applied to the correct invoice in your ERP—no manual entry required. 

It’s intuitive, efficient, and scalable. 

Why It Matters 

The longer it takes to receive payment, the more pressure you put on cash reserves, borrowing, and operations.

Accelerating payments isn’t just about improving AR—it impacts your entire business:

• More working capital means you can invest in growth
• Lower risk of bad debt protects margins
• Fewer manual tasks frees up your team for higher-value work
• Better customer experiences increase retention and loyalty

And when customers can pay how they want, they pay faster. It’s that simple.

Simplifying the Path to Payment

When the payment process is seamless, customers pay faster—and finance teams spend less time chasing down revenue. Embedded payment tools make it possible to offer flexible options, reduce manual steps, and improve real-time visibility across your AR cycle.

Instead of relying on disconnected systems or delayed processes, modern businesses are integrating payment directly into the invoicing experience—meeting customers where they are and getting paid sooner.

That’s the kind of simplicity and scale Fortis helps enable.

What’s Next in the Series  

In our final post, we’ll explore how real-time AR reporting turns data into strategy—and why accurate visibility is key to long-term growth.

Take the Next Step

Talk to Fortis today and see how embedded payments can help you accelerate collections—without increasing the workload.

Read Time: 6 minutes 

TL;DR: Fragmented AR integrations cost users up to $1.3M annually in lost productivity. 59% of U.S. companies attribute poor cash flow to manual AR processes, while IT teams waste hours maintaining broken integrations. The solution? Native or deeply integrated AR automation delivers 80% faster processing, 70% cost savings, and 20% DSO reduction. Teams should prioritize certified integrations, audit current AR workflows, and eliminate the “invisible project” draining IT resources. 

The Invisible Project Draining Your Resources 

Every company has one: the “invisible project” that no one budgets for, but everyone works on. It’s not a product launch, new initiative or campaign—it’s simply keeping your accounts receivable functional. 

When invoices don’t sync to your ERP, AR data lags, or a connector fails, your tech teams quietly step in. They rebuild, export, reconcile, repeat, all to keep revenue flowing. 

But that invisible project isn’t free. It costs hours of manual work, delayed insights, and missed opportunities that could be spent on strategic growth.

The Cost of Disconnected Payments 

Disconnected payment and AR tools create hidden costs that add up quickly. In fact, 59% of U.S. businesses attribute poor cash flow and forecasting to outdated manual AR methods, while another 57% cite difficulties in managing credit risk (PYMNTS Intelligence, 2024). 

Manual AR processes drain productivity across the organization. According to recent research, half of businesses report excessive time wasted on AR processing, while 44% struggle with collecting delinquent payments (PYMNTS, 2024). Beyond operational challenges, companies face direct financial losses: studies suggest businesses can lose up to $1.3 million annually on inefficient processes (Formstack/Mantis Research, 2022). 

The time cost is staggering. Each hour spent reconciling data, managing logins, or manually re-keying information is time your team could be using to move the business forward.

The IT Bottleneck: When Your Tech Team Becomes a Manual Data Bridge 

When payment processors, billing platforms, and AR automation tools don’t integrate seamlessly someone has to fill the gap—usually your IT or Applications teams. Sometimes it falls to the Finance leader who knows the workflow best but doesn’t have bandwidth to manage yet another integration project. 

The result? Your tech team becomes a human middleware layer. They’re constantly building custom scripts, managing API connections, creating saved searches for data exports, or worse—manually entering payment data into their ERP because the integration broke again. 

According to the National Automated Clearing House Association, 71% of remittance information associated with electronic payments travels separately from the actual payment, forcing AR teams to manually match payments to invoices (Citizens Bank Corporate Finance Insights). This often means toggling between multiple systems, exporting data, and using spreadsheets to reconcile what should be automatic. 

Teams find themselves spending valuable time on: 

• Re-creating APIs when third-party connectors fail 

• Building and maintaining custom connectors for data transformations 

• Manual cash application because payment data doesn’t map to invoices 

• Creating workarounds when batch imports fail or take too long 

• Troubleshooting why payment gateway data isn’t syncing to customer records 

This fragmentation doesn’t just slow operations—it damages team morale and retention. Accounts Receivable staff are especially vulnerable to defections: according to the Institute of Finance and Management, 27% say they plan to leave within the next year, and nearly half say they’ll leave within three years (IOFM, 2023).  

When talented developers and systems administrators spend their time on repetitive integration fixes instead of innovation, disengagement follows. Disengagement due to manual processes costs organizations $3,400 for every $10,000 in salary (OPEN.money, 2024).

The ROI of Integration 

The business case for AR automation is compelling. Companies that implement comprehensive automation solutions report significant benefits: 

• Processing time reductions of up to 80% and cost cuts of 30-40% on manual processes (SNS Insider Market Research, 2024) 

• Reduction in Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) by up to 20% (multiple industry sources) 

• Invoicing cost savings exceeding 70% when transitioning to automation (HighRadius, 2024) 

• 83% of AR executives report improved process efficiency and accuracy after implementing automation (PYMNTS Intelligence, 2024) 

The AR automation market is experiencing explosive growth, projected to increase from $3.2 billion in 2025 to $8.6 billion by 2035, with a compound annual growth rate of 10.3% (Future Market Insights, 2025). This growth reflects the urgent business need for integrated solutions.

From Fragmentation to Flow: Invisible Work Becomes Visible Impact 

The path forward requires more than just new software—it demands integrated systems that reduce manual handoffs and give teams real-time visibility into the entire order-to-cash cycle. 

Modern AR automation platforms offer: 

Seamless Integration 

• Native connectors or prebuilt integrations that eliminate custom coding 

• Real-time, bi-directional data sync between payment systems and your ERP 

• Automatic cash application that posts directly to customer records and invoices 

• No more CSV exports, batch uploads, or manual reconciliation 

AI-Powered Intelligence 

• Predictive analytics for customer payment behavior based on your transaction history 

• Automated credit risk scoring that updates customer credit limits 

• Smart payment matching that handles partial payments, credits, and discrepancies 

• Machine learning that improves accuracy over time 

Automated Collections That Scale 

• Dunning workflows that trigger based on invoice aging 

• Multi-channel payment reminders (email, SMS, portal) with embedded payment links 

• Customer self-service portals that pull live data from your system 

• Automated escalation paths based on customer payment history 

Real-Time Financial Visibility 

• Dashboards that reflect current AR data without manual reporting 

• Cash flow forecasting based on actual receivables and payment patterns 

• Custom saved searches and KPI tracking integrated with your ERP analytics 

• Role-based access that works with your existing permission structure 

For organizations still relying on manual processes, the window to act is narrowing. Invoice volumes are projected to increase by 46% over the next three years (PYMNTS Intelligence, 2024), which will only magnify existing inefficiencies.

Taking Action 

Tech leaders should: 

1. Audit current AR processes to identify the most time-consuming and error-prone manual tasks 

2. Calculate the true cost of fragmentation, including staff time, delayed payments, and opportunity costs 

3. Prioritize integration capabilities when evaluating automation solutions—58% of enterprises consider integration a key factor in selecting financial automation software (IMARC Group, 2024) 

4. Select scalable cloud-based solutions that can grow with your business and integrate with existing systems 

5. Focus on change management with strong training and support to ensure successful adoption 

The invisible project of keeping AR functional doesn’t have to drain your organization’s resources. With the right integrated automation platform, tech teams can shift from firefighting disconnected systems to enabling strategic growth.

Sources 

• PYMNTS Intelligence Report (2024). “Businesses at Risk: The High Cost of Manual AR Processes and What to Do About It” (in collaboration with Esker) 

• PYMNTS Intelligence (2024). “59% of US Businesses Link Poor Cash Flow to Manual AR Processes” 

• Citizens Bank Corporate Finance Insights. “Accounts Receivable Automation: Corporate Finance” 

• HighRadius (2024). “Accounts Receivable Automation Best Practices: 7 Top Benefits” 

• SNS Insider Market Research (2024). “Accounts Receivable Automation Market Size | Report 2033” 

• Future Market Insights (2025). “Accounts Receivable Automation Market | Global Market Analysis Report – 2035” 

• IMARC Group (2024). “Accounts Receivable Automation Market Size Report, 2025-2033” 

• Formstack/Mantis Research (2022). “Businesses can lose up to $1.3M a year on inefficient processes” (via CIO Dive) 

• OPEN.money (2024). “The True Cost of Manual Accounts Payable/Receivable Processes” 

• IOFM: Ten Ways To Win the War for AP/AR Talent _iofm25_best_teams_report_.pdf 

Post 1: Why It’s Time to Accelerate Your AR Workflow  
Read Time: 4 minutes 

This post kicks off our Accelerate AR series—a four-part guide to transforming your invoice-to-cash process using embedded payments inside your ERP. 

First up: Why manual Accounts Receivable (AR) is slowing you down, and what to do about it. 

In a perfect world, invoicing would be instant, payments would post immediately, and reporting would offer a crystal-clear view of cash flow. But for many mid-market B2B companies, the reality is different: invoices get delayed, payments arrive late, and reporting feels more like guesswork than a decision-making tool.  

These inefficiencies often stem from outdated, fragmented processes. Despite investing in ERP systems to centralize operations, many companies still rely on spreadsheets and manual workarounds for AR tasks. If your team is switching between tools, manually entering invoice data, and chasing payments without clear visibility, your AR process is likely holding you back. 

The results can be painful:  

• Payments trickling in well past due dates  

• Hours lost each week to reconciliation and follow-up  

• Limited insight into Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) and cash flow forecasts  

• Mounting frustration across finance, sales, and customer service  

It’s a common reality, and it’s costly. Businesses in the Americas lose over 50% of unpaid receivables that aren’t settled within 90 days. On average, 4% of accounts receivable are written off entirely.
Source: Atradius & U.S. Census Bureau 

The Hidden Cost of Staying “Good Enough”  

Too often, AR workflows are seen as a back-office task—not a business growth opportunity. But in an environment where speed and accuracy matter more than ever, staying stuck in outdated processes puts your financial health at risk.  

Even incremental delays can cascade into:  

• Missed revenue opportunities  

• Cash flow shortfalls that impact budgeting or expansion  

• Lower customer satisfaction due to billing confusion or payment friction  

It’s not just about operational efficiency—it’s about unlocking real financial performance. 

What If AR Could Move as Fast as Your Business?  

That’s where true transformation begins—not just faster workflows, but smarter, more connected ones that accelerate every step of your AR process. 

When you embed payments into your ERP environment, you create a single, frictionless AR system that works across your invoicing, payment collection, and reporting functions. You reduce touchpoints, minimize errors, and gain full control over your cash cycle.  

Imagine:  

• Invoices sent the moment a sale closes  

• Customers paying instantly using their preferred method  

• Payments posting automatically to the correct account  

• Finance having real-time visibility into every step  

This isn’t a future-state—it’s what embedded AR can deliver today.  

Why Now?  

Companies that haven’t modernized their AR systems are feeling it: longer collection cycles, higher operating costs, and a lack of data clarity to plan effectively. In contrast, businesses that integrate payments within their ERP are reclaiming time, reducing DSO, and scaling with less friction.  

Modernizing AR isn’t just a technology decision—it’s a growth strategy.  

Turning Strategy into Action 

Fragmented AR processes don’t just slow you down—they make it harder to plan, respond, and grow. When invoicing, payments, and reporting operate in silos, inefficiencies compound and visibility fades. 

But for companies using embedded payment solutions within their ERP, the story looks different. 

With a single, connected workflow, finance teams can streamline invoicing, enable easier payments, and monitor key AR metrics in real time—all without switching platforms or adding new tools to manage. 

That’s the power of embedded AR—and it’s what Fortis is built to support. 

Where to Go from Here  

Accelerating AR starts with recognizing the friction—and then replacing it with smart, embedded processes that work the way your business does. 

In this four-part series, we’ll explore how Fortis helps finance teams automate the full invoice-to-cash journey: 

• In our next post, we’ll break down the hidden costs of manual invoicing—and how native ERP automation speeds up billing and reduces errors. 

• Then we’ll look at the payment experience: what’s slowing it down and how to eliminate the barriers that frustrate customers and delay revenue. 

• Finally, we’ll dive into AR reporting—and how real-time visibility transforms AR from a reactive function into a strategic growth driver. 

Each post will offer practical insights and examples to help you modernize your AR process—and set your team up to scale. 

Ready to uncover hidden inefficiencies in your AR process? Talk to a Fortis expert to see how embedded payments can streamline invoicing, reduce delays, and give your finance team time back.