Microsoft Dynamics AP Automation for Smooth Invoice Processing & Financial Management
Microsoft Dynamics 365 AP Automation
Microsoft Dynamics AP Automation involves establishing a consistent connection between your accounts payable automation solution and your enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. This integration ensures smooth data flow, simplified invoice processing, improves financial management, and supports overall business operations.
Overcome Business Challenges with AP Automation
✓ Avoid the absence of controls and standard procedures, which leads to lengthy audits and makes it challenging to detect fraud.
✓ Increase the visibility of the status of invoices, whether they are paid or unpaid.
✓ Employees can be reallocated to more valuable tasks but are overwhelmed with manual tasks that require a lot of labour.
Microsoft Dynamics AP Automation Integration Methods
Integration Methods
API
Microsoft Dynamics AP Automation delivers RESTful APIs, including the Common Data Service (CDS) API, for integrating with external applications such as AP Essentials.
AP Automation has the capability to exchange data with Dynamics 365 through API endpoints, allowing for real-time data transfer.
Middleware Solutions
Integration platforms such as Azure Logic Apps, Power Automate, or third-party tools like Dell Boomi or MuleSoft can be utilised to facilitate the integration process.
These platforms manage data transformations and error handling and ensure effective communication between both systems.
Data Synchronisation
Invoice Data
Invoices processed through AP Essentials are automatically synchronised with Dynamics 365’s Accounts Payable module.
This includes data such as the invoice number, date, vendor details, line items, amounts, and payment terms.
Vendor and Purchase Order Data
Vendor data and purchase orders (POs) can be retrieved from Dynamics 365 to AP Essentials for matching and validation during invoice processing.
Real-time Updates
The integration should support real-time or near real-time data synchronisation, ensuring that any changes in Dynamics 365, such as vendor updates, are reflected in AP Essentials and vice versa.
Authentication and Security
OAuth 2.0
OAuth 2.0 is commonly used to authenticate API calls between AP Essentials and Dynamics 365, ensuring secure access to data.
Azure Active Directory (AAD)
Azure AD can be used to manage user permissions and authentication across both AP Essentials and Dynamics 365.
Data Encryption
Data transferred between AP Essentials and Dynamics 365 should be encrypted using HTTPS/TLS to protect sensitive financial information.
Error Handling and Logging
Error Logging
Integration should include robust error logging mechanisms to capture and log any issues during data transfer.
Logs can be stored in Azure Log Analytics or a similar platform for further analysis.
Retry Mechanism
Implement a retry mechanism to handle quick errors during API calls or data synchronisation.
Customisation and Configuration
Custom Fields Mapping
You might have to align custom fields from AP Essentials with Dynamics 365 entities based on your business requirements.
Workflow Configuration
Set up workflows in Dynamics 365 to manage data coming in from AP Essentials, including initiating invoice approval processes.
Batch Processing
Support for batch processing can be configured to handle large volumes of invoices or vendor data, reducing system load during peak times.
Reporting and Analytics
Unified Reporting
Integrating AP Essentials with Dynamics 365 allows for unified financial reporting. Data from both systems can be combined for comprehensive analytics.
Power BI Integration
You can import data from AP Essentials and Dynamics 365 into Power BI to create advanced data visualisations and gain insights.
Scalability and Performance
Scalable Infrastructure
Integration is constructed on a scalable infrastructure, like Azure, to manage growing data volumes as the business expands.
Performance Monitoring
You can consistently monitor API performance, data synchronisation times, and system load to ensure smooth integration performance.
Compliance and Audit
Audit Trails
The two systems record of all transactions to comply with financial regulations.
Compliance Standards
AP Essentials Integration adheres to the applicable financial regulations such as GDPR, SOX, and any others that are specific to your region.
Testing and Deployment
Sandbox Environment
Conducts integration testing in a sandbox environment to guarantee that all components collaborate flawlessly before the final launch.
Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)
Employs CI/CD practices for managing the deployment of updates and new features for the integration.
Upgrade your Accounts Payable Processes
Adding automation with Microsoft 365 will enable any business to simplify and automate its Accounts Payable processes. Through this integration, you can carry out effective management with visibility across all financial activities. This means enhanced productivity and increased accuracy while processing accounts payable tasks, such as processing invoices, approving payments, and performing financial reconciliations. The business attains the capability of streamlining AP workflows for better financial management in their Dynamics 365 environment.