Struggling with manual invoicing? Click below and find out how much an automated invoice process could save your business.
$ 196,832 48,921 274,354 191,462 72,864 367,908 202,341 113,064 107,007 131,746 324,853
Fujifilm Business Innovation finds sweet-spot in AI-augmented process automation
Year-on-year revenue surges as enterprise consulting takes off.
FUJIFILM Business Innovation New Zealand has released the results of its 2025 AI in AP Automation Survey, providing valuable insights into the current state of Accounts Payable (AP) automation among New Zealand businesses.
The survey, conducted in November 2024 by FUJIFILM Process Automation team, gathered responses from close to 100 CFOs, Financial Controllers and Heads of Finance (with annual invoice volume from 5,000 to 250,000), highlights the challenges and opportunities in the AP landscape.
Key Findings:
- Manual AP Dominates: Only 7% of businesses have fully automated their AP processes.
- Slow Processing Times: Invoice processing takes an average of 11–20 days – a stark contrast to top-performing businesses that achieve sub-5-day processing times.
- Frequent Errors: 46% of respondents reported dealing with frequent discrepancies and errors.
- Under-utilisation of AI: While only 21% currently use AI in their AP processes, 96% of the respondents recognise its potential benefits.
Why This Matters for New Zealand Businesses:
The survey results underscore the pressing need for AP automation to address productivity challenges faced by Kiwi businesses. Manual processes not only slow down finance teams but also increase costs and errors, negatively impacting supplier relationships and cash flow. With rising operational costs and the demand for greater efficiency, AP automation presents a significant opportunity to streamline operations and enhance financial performance.
“The findings from our survey with finance leaders reveal the significant potential for New Zealand businesses to enhance their AP processes through automation. Our Process Automation team work closely with finance teams across industries to streamline processes, reduce manual workloads, and introduce AI-driven automation that makes AP more efficient,” said Irene Direnko-Smith, Head of Process Automation, FUJIFILM Business Innovation NZ.
“Our team have successfully implemented AP automation for over 100 organisations across New Zealand, and we have seen our customers achieve remarkable improvements in productivity, efficiency, performance, and substantial reductions in errors and costs. Recent successes include:
- Gallagher Group: Reduced Accounts Payable & Accounts Receivable Specialist operation time by 40%.
- PGG Wrightson: Reduced invoice processing time by >50%, virtually eliminated manual handling of invoice discrepancies.
- Xero: Accelerated invoice approval from several weeks to 3-4 days.
Regulatory Changes: Why PEPPOL Matters
While automation is becoming a priority for many businesses, regulatory shifts are also driving change. By 1 January 2026, all government agencies in New Zealand processing more than 2,000 invoices per year must adopt PEPPOL eInvoicing.
“This requirement is a significant step,” commented Direnko-Smith. “However, what’s often overlooked is its primary goal: enabling government agencies to pay businesses faster—some within just five business days. While eInvoicing helps reduce processing time, it doesn’t guarantee timely payment, especially when discrepancies exist between invoice and purchase order data. We take a holistic approach to streamlining accounts payable, integrating eInvoice receipt with best-in-class AI to accelerate exception handling and automate non-PO invoice coding. And, while this requirement is aimed at government agencies, it’s likely to have a flow-on effect for the private sector too.”
For more information about the 2025 AI in AP Automation Survey, download the full report.
About FUJIFILM Business Innovation NZ
FUJIFILM Business Innovation New Zealand (FBNZ) offers a diverse portfolio of technology solutions, including business process automation and outsourcing services, managed IT services, interactive displays, world-class multifunction office print devices, commercial production printers, and device and print management software.
We have been part of the fabric of New Zealand since 1962 and we’re proud to be a trusted partner for commercial, government, and not-for-profit organisations of all sizes, from one end of New Zealand to the other.
Read the full article in Reseller.co.nz.