Touchless Processing
Touchless invoice processing means an invoice moves from receipt to approval or posting in the accounting system without anyone keying data, matching it by hand or correcting it, because capture, matching and coding are automated.
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Touchless invoice processing means no one has to key, match or correct the invoice. Ardent Partners' State of ePayables 2025 reports that 35.4% of invoices are processed straight-through on average, rising to 51.0% at best-in-class AP teams compared with 29.0% at all others.
Key Industry Data
- 35.4% of invoices processed straight-through on average; 51.0% at best-in-class AP teams vs 29.0% at all others: Ardent Partners, State of ePayables 2025 (2025)
Definition
In a touchless flow, software reads the invoice, extracts the data, matches it to the purchase order and receipt, codes it, and either routes it for approval or posts it, with no manual work. People only see invoices that fail a check. Touchless and straight-through processing are used interchangeably in accounts payable; the measure is the share of invoices that need no human intervention.
Why It Matters
Every manual touch on an invoice adds cost, time and error risk. Touchless processing eliminates these costs while accelerating payment cycles.
Examples
A touchless invoice
An invoice arrives by email for a PO that already has a goods receipt. The data is extracted, matches within tolerance, is coded to the PO's GL account and lands in the approver's queue. No one in AP touched it.
Not touchless
An invoice has no PO number, so AP has to find the right PO and confirm the price with the buyer. It needed manual work, so it does not count as touchless.
How Aequo AP Helps
Aequo AP extracts invoice data with AI, matches it to purchase orders and receipts, suggests coding and sends only exceptions to people, so more invoices pass through without manual work.
Start Free TrialFrequently Asked Questions
What is touchless invoice processing?
Touchless invoice processing means an invoice moves from receipt to approval or posting in the accounting system without anyone keying data, matching it by hand or correcting it, because capture, matching and coding are automated.
What is a good touchless processing rate?
Ardent Partners' 2025 data puts the average straight-through rate at 35.4% and best-in-class AP teams at 51.0%, so processing more than half of invoices touchlessly puts you among the best performers.
What stops invoices from being touchless?
Missing or wrong PO numbers, price or quantity differences, missing receipts, unknown vendors and poor-quality scans are the usual causes. Each one sends the invoice to a person.
Is touchless processing the same as straight-through processing?
In accounts payable the terms are used interchangeably. Both describe invoices processed without human intervention.
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