Unlocking AP Transformation: Basware’s CEO on the Four Forces and Invoice Lifecycle Management

Accounts Payable (AP) is at a pivotal crossroads. Basware CEO Jason Kurtz identifies four converging forces that are rendering traditional, fragmented AP processes unsustainable: autonomous AP, global e-invoicing compliance, open supplier networks, and composable technology stacks. To meet these challenges and unlock strategic value, organizations must adopt a holistic, end-to-end approach to Invoice Lifecycle Management (ILM). ILM transforms AP from a back-office cost center into a strategic lever for cash optimization, compliance, and fraud prevention.

In our recent SAPinsider interview, Kurtz shares how these Four Forces are driving a new chapter for AP. IILM is the comprehensive process of managing invoices from receipt through payment and archiving. It ensures regulatory compliance, maintains control through standardized workflows, and mitigates risks such as fraud and errors. Basware’s ILM platform—built on over 40 years of expertise and powered by AI trained on 2.3 billion invoices—empowers finance leaders to strive for “100% automation, 100% compliance, and 100% protection” across the entire invoice lifecycle.

ILM includes:

• Invoice receipt and capture
• Validation and compliance checks
• Automated matching and approval
• Payment preparation and scheduling
• Archiving and audit readiness
• Analytics and reporting
• Fraud prevention and risk controls

Force 1: Autonomous AP

Why start with AP in a transformation? Kurtz emphasizes that autonomous AP delivers low risk, high ROI outcomes in weeks or months—not years. Basware research shows that 88% of organizations advanced in their AP practices exceeded their gross profit targets compared to 66% of organizations improving. AP’s repeatable workflows are a natural fit for AI, enabling faster invoice capture, touchless matching, and predictive exception handling. This automation unlocks cleaner data across multiERP landscapes and gives CFOs confidence to accelerate the financial close while improving audit readiness. Basware’s AI-powered AP automation platform enables organizations to achieve touchless invoice processing, predictive exception handling, and real-time data visibility—delivering measurable ROI in weeks.

“Autonomous AP is central to autonomous finance. When AP data is clean and connected, organizations don’t just optimize processes they unlock working‑capital levers, reduce fraud risk, and turn compliance into a competitive advantage.”

Jason Kurtz

CEO

Basware

Force 2: Global E-Invoicing Compliance

E-invoicing mandates are accelerating worldwide, creating a patchwork of Continuous Transaction Controls (CTC). Over 70 countries have already adopted CTC frameworks, and over 100 are predicted to have mandates by 2030. Kurtz emphasizes, it isn’t enough to de-risk compliance, organizations need to turn it into opportunities – optimizing cashflow, strengthening supplier relationships, and preventing fraud before it even happens. Basware’s dedicated compliance team has over 40+ years of specialized expertise in invoice-centric automation. They track mandate timelines and embed rules directly into AP workflows. As a result, organizations avoid automation setbacks when new mandates go live and maintain a single source of truth for invoice data across countries resulting in audit ready financials and avoidance of costly disruptions.

Force 3: Open Supplier Networks

Kurtz shares that the value of AP networks grows with adoption. Buyers and suppliers benefit from shared, realtime visibility, simpler onboarding, and stronger cash management. An “open network” according to Kurtz facilitates adoption by allowing “buyers and suppliers to work together in a collaborative, integrated data-sharing way.” A unified connection reduces portal sprawl, preserves enterprise grade security, and provides a complete digital trail for each transaction. This lowers friction in the AP process, improves supplier experiences, and helps companies become a “customer of choice” in tight supply markets.

Force 4: Composable Technology Stacks

Rather than customizing the core of SAP to meet every AP nuance, Kurtz points out that leading teams place purpose built invoice lifecycle management on top of SAP ERP and SAP S/4HANA. This specialized ILM layer reduces complexity by giving businesses the ability to keep up with accelerating real-time regulations and AI advancement without tying mandate update processes to typical 6–18-month ERP release cycles. Mandates can change in weeks. One global manufacturer eliminated 3,000 customizations by pairing Basware with S/4HANA, keeping a clean core while standardizing AP across business units. This decoupled approach delivers immediate AP value today and readies the enterprise for the future of their ERP and AP requirements.

Listen to the Podcast Series & Watch for the Feature Article in SAPinsider Magazine

Watch the sneak peek of our 2026 SAPinsider Enterprise Live interview series, listen to the five-part podcast series coming in early 2026, and read our expanded four‑page feature article in SAPinsider Magazine, debuting at SAPinsider North America in Las Vegas, March 16–19.

What This Means for SAPinsiders

• Prioritize AP as a fast, high‑ROI starting point in your S/4HANA journey.
• Adopt purpose‑built invoice lifecycle management to keep your SAP core clean.
• Plan proactively for global e‑invoicing/CTC; centralize mandates to avoid fragmentation.
• Leverage open networks to improve supplier experience and cash predictability.
• Use AI in AP for fraud detection, touchless processing, and audit-ready transparency.