We were able to reduce manual processes and are now looking forward to more transparency and efficiency.
Gunter von Dewitz
Head of Global Processes Accounts Payable
Head of Global Processes Accounts Payable
Deutsche Bahn automates processing of 3 million invoices a year
Industry
Transportation
Employees
310,000
Headquarters
Berlin, Germany
Deutsche Bahn is a German international logistics concern with 310,000 global employees. The company is number 1 in Europe for rail transport and serves 4.6 billion travellers every year.
Deutsche Bahn’s 240-tonne invoicing challenge
When your total annual AP invoicing volume is the equivalent of six full freight cars of paper (or about 240 metric tonnes), managing it all isn’t a simple task. Deutsche Bahn was struggling to handle the high degree of manual effort associated with processing these invoices, including having to manually sift for purchase order references.
What’s more, with different business units using a variety of systems and workflows for processing invoices, there was a growing lack of consistency and no company-wide visibility of invoice status. This meant cooperation between purchasing departments, requisitioners, and accounting was difficult – resulting in delayed payments, damaged supplier relationships, and inefficient cash management.
Key facts:
- 12 million invoices per year from 100,000 suppliers
- 30% of which have no purchase order reference
- Requiring significant manual processing
Deutsche Bahn’s transformation approach
The company set out to find an automation partner based on the principle that “the tool determines the process”. They wanted a new AP platform that would provide a self-contained, organization-wide standard while also automating the workflows associated with processing millions of invoices to reduce manual workloads and foster greater cross-team collaboration.
Deutsche Bahn chose Serrala FS² Accounts Payable both for its functionalities and capabilities, and for its direct integration into SAP ERP systems, which would satisfy all business needs and reduce process friction. Creating a true end-to-end process for invoices that enhanced existing investments and intelligently automated workflows within a uniform, transparent structure.
The results – invoice processing now 60 tonnes lighter
FS2 Payments is now implemented in 3 subsidiary companies, with immediate positive effects on group-wide invoice processing. Time required to clarify and reconcile invoices has fallen significantly, and cash discounts can be captured at much higher rates, optimizing costs and improving supplier relationships.
Overall, around 3 million invoices are now handled by the Serrala solution, leveraging automated processes that are faster, more reliable, and more transparent. Leading to increased cooperation across departments, improved employee satisfaction, and much reduced costs-per-invoice.
Business Need
Deutsche Bahn is a German international logistics concern with 310,000 global employees. The company is number 1 in Europe for rail transport and serves 4.6 billion travellers every year.
Deutsche Bahn’s 240-tonne invoicing challenge
When your total annual AP invoicing volume is the equivalent of six full freight cars of paper (or about 240 metric tonnes), managing it all isn’t a simple task. Deutsche Bahn was struggling to handle the high degree of manual effort associated with processing these invoices, including having to manually sift for purchase order references.
What’s more, with different business units using a variety of systems and workflows for processing invoices, there was a growing lack of consistency and no company-wide visibility of invoice status. This meant cooperation between purchasing departments, requisitioners, and accounting was difficult – resulting in delayed payments, damaged supplier relationships, and inefficient cash management.
Key facts:
- 12 million invoices per year from 100,000 suppliers
- 30% of which have no purchase order reference
- Requiring significant manual processing
Solution Implemented
Deutsche Bahn’s transformation approach
The company set out to find an automation partner based on the principle that “the tool determines the process”. They wanted a new AP platform that would provide a self-contained, organization-wide standard while also automating the workflows associated with processing millions of invoices to reduce manual workloads and foster greater cross-team collaboration.
Deutsche Bahn chose Serrala FS² Accounts Payable both for its functionalities and capabilities, and for its direct integration into SAP ERP systems, which would satisfy all business needs and reduce process friction. Creating a true end-to-end process for invoices that enhanced existing investments and intelligently automated workflows within a uniform, transparent structure.
Results Achieved
The results – invoice processing now 60 tonnes lighter
FS2 Payments is now implemented in 3 subsidiary companies, with immediate positive effects on group-wide invoice processing. Time required to clarify and reconcile invoices has fallen significantly, and cash discounts can be captured at much higher rates, optimizing costs and improving supplier relationships.
Overall, around 3 million invoices are now handled by the Serrala solution, leveraging automated processes that are faster, more reliable, and more transparent. Leading to increased cooperation across departments, improved employee satisfaction, and much reduced costs-per-invoice.
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