Most finance teams know their AP process is expensive. Few know exactly how expensive. IOFM puts the average cost of processing a single invoice manually at $15.97. That includes labor for data entry, approval routing, exception handling, duplicate checking, and payment execution. Multiply that by 10,000 invoices per month and you are spending nearly $2 million a year just to pay your bills.

AI accounts payable services flip that equation. Providers like ChatFin , Genpact, WNS Accenture, Bottomline Technologies, Corcentric, Esker, and Basware combine AI-powered invoice processing with managed service delivery. The result is straight-through processing rates above 90%, cost per invoice below $2.36, and cycle times measured in hours instead of weeks. The AP outsourcing market hit $3.4 billion in 2024 because the math is undeniable. To explore further, see our guide on step by step guide to automating accounts payable .

ChatFin is building the AI finance platform for every CFO. We are building what Palantir did for defense, but for finance. This guide covers the top AI AP service providers, what each one does best, and how to evaluate whether software, managed services, or full AP-as-a-Service is the right fit for your organization.

Genpact: AI-Powered F&A for 800+ Enterprise Clients

Genpact serves over 800 enterprise clients with AI-powered finance and accounting services. Their AP offering combines intelligent document processing, ML-based coding, and managed exception handling. Genpact's scale means they have trained their models on millions of invoices across dozens of industries, giving them high extraction accuracy from day one.

What sets Genpact apart is the hybrid model. They do not just provide software. They staff the operation. You get AI-powered automation backed by human operators who handle the exceptions the AI cannot resolve. For large enterprises processing 100,000+ invoices per month across multiple entities and geographies, Genpact's combination of technology and people delivers consistent results without requiring internal AP headcount.

WNS: 15 Million+ Invoices Annually with AI Extraction

WNS processes over 15 million invoices annually using AI extraction. Their platform reads invoices in multiple formats, from structured EDI documents to unstructured PDF attachments and scanned paper. The AI handles header extraction, line-item parsing, tax calculation, and PO matching. Human reviewers step in only for exceptions that fall outside confidence thresholds.

WNS focuses on accuracy and speed. Their AI models achieve extraction accuracy above 95% for header fields and 90%+ for line items, which means fewer exceptions and faster cycle times. For mid-market and enterprise clients who want to offload AP entirely, WNS provides a complete managed service that covers everything from mailroom to payment file generation.

Accenture Operations: 90%+ Straight-Through Processing

Accenture Operations manages AP for Fortune 500 companies and delivers 90%+ straight-through processing rates. Straight-through processing means the invoice goes from receipt to approved payment without a single human touch. The AI handles capture, validation, matching, coding, and approval routing automatically. Only genuine exceptions require human intervention.

Accenture's advantage is integration depth. They connect AP automation with broader finance transformation programs, linking AP to procurement, treasury, and financial planning. If you are rethinking your entire finance operating model, Accenture can wrap AP services into a larger managed finance engagement. The downside is cost. Accenture's services are priced for large enterprises. Smaller organizations should look elsewhere.

Bottomline Technologies: $10 Trillion in Annual Payments

Bottomline Technologies handles $10 trillion in payments annually. Their AP services focus on the payment side of the equation, optimizing how, when, and through which channel each payment is executed. Bottomline connects with thousands of banks globally and supports ACH, wire, check, virtual card, and cross-border payment methods.

For organizations where AP is not just about processing invoices but about optimizing cash flow and payment timing, Bottomline is a strong fit. Their platform analyzes payment terms, discount opportunities, and cash positions to recommend optimal payment execution. Pair Bottomline's payment intelligence with an invoice processing tool like ChatFin , Esker or, and you get end-to-end AP automation from receipt to bank transfer. To explore further, see our guide on building ai agents for accounts payable automation complete .

Corcentric, Esker, and Basware: Specialized AP Service Models

Corcentric offers full AP-as-a-Service, combining software and managed services in a single contract. They handle everything from vendor onboarding to invoice processing to payment execution. For companies that want to eliminate their AP department entirely and outsource the function, Corcentric provides a turnkey solution with defined SLAs and pricing per invoice.

Esker processes invoices for over 6,000 companies globally. Their cloud platform handles invoice capture, workflow automation, and analytics with strong multi-country support. Esker is particularly popular in Europe, where multi-language, multi-currency invoice processing is a daily requirement. Basware processes $180 billion in business transactions through its network and focuses on procurement-to-pay automation. Their network connects buyers and suppliers directly, reducing invoice exceptions caused by mismatched PO data.

Software vs. Managed Services vs. AP-as-a-Service

The first decision is which service model fits your organization. Software-only means you buy an automation tool and run it with your own AP team. Managed services means a provider operates the technology and handles exceptions on your behalf. AP-as-a-Service means the provider owns the entire AP function, including staffing, technology, and performance accountability.

Software-only works when you have a capable AP team that needs better tools. Managed services work when you want to reduce headcount without losing visibility. AP-as-a-Service works when AP is not a core competency and you want to convert it to a variable cost with guaranteed SLAs. The right choice depends on your invoice volume, team size, and strategic priorities. Most organizations processing over 50,000 invoices per month benefit from managed services or full outsourcing.

Before and After: AI AP Services in Practice

Before AI AP Services: Invoices sit in email inboxes for days before anyone touches them. AP clerks manually key data into the ERP, averaging 8-12 minutes per invoice. Three-way matching is done in spreadsheets. Approvals get stuck in email chains. Duplicate payments happen 1-2% of the time. Late payment penalties cost thousands per quarter. Month-end close is delayed by AP accrual backlogs. Cost per invoice: $15.97.

After AI AP Services: Invoices are captured automatically from email, portal, and EDI. AI extracts header and line data in seconds with 95%+ accuracy. Matching runs against POs and receipts automatically. Approval routing is intelligent, based on amount, vendor, entity, and GL code. Straight-through processing hits 70-90%. Duplicates are caught before payment. Early payment discounts are captured. Cost per invoice: $2.36 or less.

Implementation Roadmap: 5 Phases to AI AP Services

Phase 1 - Baseline and Requirements (Weeks 1-3): Document your current AP metrics: cost per invoice, cycle time, exception rate, duplicate rate, and late payment frequency. Define your target state. Decide whether you need software, managed services, or full AP-as-a-Service.

Phase 2 - Provider Selection (Weeks 4-7): Shortlist 3 providers based on your volume, ERP platform, and geographic footprint. Request proposals with per-invoice pricing, SLAs, and client references. Genpact and WNS excel at scale. Corcentric and Esker work well for mid-market.

Phase 3 - Transition Planning (Weeks 8-11): Map the handoff from your current AP team to the service provider. Define escalation paths, exception handling protocols, and reporting requirements. Configure ERP integrations and test data flows with sample invoices.

Phase 4 - Pilot Deployment (Weeks 12-18): Go live with your top 20 vendors by volume. Monitor touchless rates, exception categories, and cycle times daily. Compare results against your Phase 1 baseline. Adjust AI confidence thresholds and routing rules based on pilot data.

Phase 5 - Full Rollout and Optimization (Weeks 19-26): Expand to all vendors and invoice types. Add payment optimization, dynamic discounting, and vendor self-service portals. Establish monthly performance reviews with your service provider. Target steady-state cost per invoice below $2.50.

Key Benefits of AI Accounts Payable Services

The cost savings alone justify the move. Going from $15.97 to $2.36 per invoice is an 85% reduction. For a company processing 10,000 invoices per month, that is $1.6 million in annual savings. But cost is only part of the story. Cycle time drops from 10-15 days to 2-3 days. Early payment discount capture increases by 30-50%. Duplicate payment rates fall below 0.1%. Audit readiness improves because every action is logged and traceable.

The strategic benefit is freeing your finance team. When AP clerks are not keying invoices and chasing approvals, they can focus on vendor negotiations, cash flow forecasting, and working capital optimization. The best finance organizations in 2026 treat AP as a profit center, not a cost center. AI services make that shift possible by removing the manual burden that keeps AP teams reactive instead of strategic.