Effortless Trade Compliance: Automate Invoice Processing with iCustoms
-
Freya Jane
- Director of Customer's Success
International trade is essential for promoting global cooperation and economic progress in the modern, globalised economy. However, it may be difficult and time-consuming to navigate the complexities of customs laws and guarantee trade compliance. One of the most crucial elements of trade compliance is invoice processing. Manual invoice processing is labour-intensive, error-prone, and lacks real-time visibility. This blog will explain how you can automate invoice processing with IDP to improve your trade compliance.
According to a study, “22% of businesses are actively pursuing the integration of artificial intelligence into a wide range of technological products and business processes.”
The problem: Challenges with manual invoice processing
Traditional, manual invoice processing systems, despite serving as the basis for customs compliance, have various obstacles that impede efficiency and accuracy. This established procedure usually follows a workflow consisting of many steps:
- Data entry: When invoices are received in person, their information must be manually entered into a system. This process is prone to mistakes and inconsistencies.
- Verification: To guarantee its accuracy, every data point needs to be carefully verified manually, which adds to the total time and resource consumption.
- Approval: After verification, invoices pass via an established chain of command for approval, which adds to the time frame of the processing cycle and the delays that come with it.
Though these processes appear simple at first, they result in considerable labour- and time-intensive challenges when applied to several invoices. According to empirical research, processing handwritten invoices by hand can take up to eight man-hours for every 100 invoices, which is a significant resource drain from essential business operations.
Moreover, the inherent reliance on human involvement in invoice processing presents the possibility of human mistakes at every stage of the procedure. Typos, misinterpretations, and discrepancies are common throughout the data entry and verification steps, potentially causing delays in customs clearance, fines, and interruptions to the established supply chain.
Manual invoice processing operations are frequently associated with a lack of real-time data and tracking. Physical invoices are more likely to be lost or misplaced, and it becomes more difficult to track each invoice’s progress.
These factors impede proactive decision-making and the prompt identification of possible problems. These limits of manual invoice processing highlight the crucial need for a more efficient and dependable alternative.
iCustoms is an innovative platform that uses artificial intelligence to automate the whole invoice processing workflow, addressing the inefficiencies and constraints associated with traditional invoice processing. This cutting-edge platform has several AI-powered and machine learning features that improve trade compliance and expedite processes.
Data extraction
The foundation of iCustoms is Intelligent Data Extraction technology, a sophisticated method that does away with the necessity for human data entry. IDP technology combines machine learning techniques with pre-established rules to:
Identify crucial data points: Pre-defined rules serve as a starting point, instructing the system to focus on certain places and formats inside invoices in order to find essential data fields.
Adapt to different formats: iCustoms’ machine learning capabilities enable it to adjust to different invoice layouts and languages, guaranteeing smooth data extraction from any source.
Automated processing
After data extraction, iCustoms goes one step further with its automated invoice processing software, which automates crucial tasks that are usually done by hand:
Data validation: To reduce the possibility of mistakes, the extracted data is subjected to extensive validation procedures to guarantee accuracy and consistency.
Matching: iCustoms automatically compares extracted data to relevant documents, increasing accuracy and optimising procedures.
Routing for approval: After being verified and matched, invoices are electronically sent via pre-established processes for approval, which removes the backlog and delays caused by manual routing.
Streamlined process
This automation-driven strategy promotes a streamlined process, which has the following major advantages:
Reduced processing time: iCustoms drastically cuts down on processing times by doing away with manual data entry, verification, and routing. This frees up important resources for other vital tasks.
Improved accuracy: iCustoms reduces mistake risk, maintains data integrity, and facilitates quick customs clearance through data validation and matching.
Enhanced control and visibility: Up-to-date information and tracking tools offer a thorough understanding of the whole invoice processing process, facilitating proactive problem detection and well-informed decision-making.
iCustoms enables firms to easily comply with trade regulations, maximise resources, and obtain a competitive advantage in the international market by utilising artificial intelligence and automation.
Experience Precise VAT and Customs Duty Calculation Now!
Advantages of iCustoms' automated invoice processing
Businesses that use iCustoms for invoice automation processing can gain several practical benefits, including increased efficiency, compliance, and considerable cost savings.
Enhanced accuracy and efficiency
The foundation of iCustoms is automation, which removes the human factor that can make mistakes during data entry, verification, and routing. By doing this, the possibility of mistakes is greatly decreased, guaranteeing data integrity and avoiding expensive delays and fines brought on by incorrect information. Furthermore, iCustoms drastically cuts down on processing times, freeing up important resources previously used for labour-intensive manual activities. This increased efficiency enables staff to concentrate on higher-value tasks like strategy planning and relationship building.
Enhanced trade compliance
Trade compliance relies heavily on accurate data. With the use of its sophisticated data extraction process and validation procedures, iCustoms makes sure that all relevant invoice data is precisely recorded and validated. By doing this, the possibility of breaking customs laws and facing fines, delays, and reputational harm is reduced. Businesses may focus on their primary business operations with confidence, knowing that their invoice processing meets the highest standards, thanks to iCustoms.
Enhanced visibility and control
The absence of real-time data and monitoring functionalities in manual invoice processing frequently impedes proactive decision-making and prompt identification of issues. However, by providing comprehensive monitoring and real-time data, iCustoms grants enterprises enhanced visibility throughout the complete invoice processing journey. This enables businesses to:
- Observe the real-time progression of invoices, detecting possible obstacles and taking proactive measures to resolve them.
- Make informed decisions using accurate and current data, optimising resource allocation and simplifying processes.
- Identify and promptly resolve potential compliance issues in order to reduce the likelihood of facing penalties and delays.
Cost reduction
Implementing iCustoms AI-driven software guarantees substantial cost savings due to enhanced efficiency and decreased chances for errors. Businesses can minimise labour expenses by reducing the requirement for human work in the data processing. Moreover, the reduced likelihood of mistakes further diminishes the potential for fines linked to failure to comply, thereby increasing the economic advantages.
These compelling benefits demonstrate iCustoms’ revolutionary potential for businesses involved in global trade. By adopting automation and harnessing the capabilities of artificial intelligence, businesses can easily adhere to trade regulations and attain a competitive advantage in the international market.
The bottom line
Manual invoice processing poses substantial obstacles to businesses involved in global trade. iCustoms, with its novel AI-powered solution, provides a tempting alternative. iCustoms helps businesses achieve easy trade compliance, boost productivity, and gain a competitive edge in the global economy by automating invoice processing. Contact iCustoms now to find out how their technology can transform invoice processing and streamline global trade processes.
FAQ's
You may also like:
Struggling to Extract, Catagorise & Validate Your Documents?
Capture & Upload Data in Seconds with AI & Machine Learning
Subscribe to our Newsletter
About iCustoms
iCustoms is an all-in-one solution helping businesses automate customs processes more efficiently. With AI-powered and machine-learning capabilities, iCustoms is designed to streamline your all customs procedures in a few minutes, cut additional costs and save time.
Struggling to Extract, Catagorise & Validate Your Documents?
Capture & Upload Data in Seconds with AI & Machine Learning