Why writing an RFP for an autonomous AP solution is a challenge
Selecting an autonomous AP solution is a critical decision for finance leaders looking to eliminate manual processes, reduce costs, and improve cash flow control. A well-structured RFP helps finance leaders select an AI-driven AP solution that supports intelligent AP automation and broader autonomous financial management. However, many companies struggle to structure an effective request for proposal (RFP) that ensures they choose the right technology partner.
Without a well-crafted RFP, it’s easy to overlook essential features, fall for outdated automation disguised as AI, or choose a solution that still requires manual intervention—preventing true autonomy in AP.
What to ask in your autonomous AP solution RFP
A strong RFP should focus on key factors that determine whether a solution is truly autonomous, eliminating manual work rather than just optimizing outdated processes:
- AI-driven invoice processing – Can the system provide touchless invoice ingestion, coding, and matching?
- Seamless ERP integration – How easily does it integrate with Oracle, SAP, NetSuite, and other ERPs without heavy IT involvement?
- Fraud prevention & compliance – Does the platform detect duplicate invoices, unauthorized charges, or deepfake fraud?
- Scalability & usability – Is it intuitive for finance teams and capable of handling growing invoice volumes?
- Native AI vs. rules-based automation – Does the platform use AI to eliminate manual work, or is it just a rules-based system?
- Implementation & onboarding – What are the key steps in implementing your solution, and how do you support our team during onboarding?
- User experience & training – What training resources and ongoing support do you provide to ensure our team can effectively use your platform?
- Reporting & analytics – Does your solution offer real-time reporting and analytics to help us monitor AP performance and identify areas for improvement?
- Customer success & references – Can you provide case studies or references from clients in our industry who have successfully implemented your AP automation solution?
- Ongoing innovation & roadmap – How does your company continue to innovate, and what upcoming features or improvements can we expect in the next 12-24 months?
How to ensure your AP solution is truly autonomous and meets RFP criteria
Many vendors claim to offer autonomous AP, but most still rely on OCR, templates, and human review, making it essential to ask the right questions in your RFP. The criteria outlined in the RFP will help you determine if a solution is truly autonomous by assessing the following capabilities: A truly autonomous finance solution should eliminate manual AP processes and drive intelligent AP automation by:
- Eliminate manual work – No human review, no templates, no data entry.
- Guarantee 100% accuracy in capture – If invoice capture isn’t perfect, the process becomes manual.
- Continuously learn and improve – AI should self-correct without IT reconfiguration.
- Handle exceptions automatically – No need for finance teams to review anomalies manually.
- Deliver real-time invoice-to-PO matching – No batch processing or delays.
- Scale effortlessly – Handles multi-entity operations and complex pricing models.
Why OpenEnvoy meets the RFP criteria for autonomous AP
The RFP process ensures you evaluate solutions based on their ability to deliver true AP autonomy. OpenEnvoy meets and exceeds these criteria with AI-first automation designed to eliminate manual AP work, provide full visibility into cash flow, and support AI-driven AP solutions that advance autonomous financial management. Our platform delivers:
✅ 100% accuracy in capture SLA – Aligns with RFP criteria to ensure invoice capture is perfect, preventing manual intervention and maintaining full automation.
✅ Touchless invoice processing – Fully eliminates manual data entry, meeting the RFP’s demand for true AI-driven automation.
✅ Real-time anomaly detection – Ensures compliance with the RFP’s fraud prevention requirements by identifying duplicate invoices and unauthorized charges instantly.
✅ Seamless ERP integration – Meets RFP requirements for easy ERP integration without heavy IT involvement.
✅ Proven results – Demonstrates measurable ROI, a key factor in RFP evaluation.
Get your free RFP bundle: blank template + sample answers
To help finance teams evaluate vendors, we’re offering a free AP Automation RFP Bundle, which includes:
📃 A blank RFP template – Ready to customize for your needs.
📃 A sample RFP with OpenEnvoy’s answers – See what best-in-class automation responses look like.
[Download Your RFP Bundle Now] (Insert gated asset link)
With this RFP bundle, you can confidently assess AP automation vendors and ensure you select a solution that delivers efficiency, accuracy, and cost savings.
Want to see OpenEnvoy’s AI-powered AP automation in action? [Book a 15-minute demo] and learn how we can help you eliminate manual AP work in less than 60 days.
