Your Purchase to Pay - Invoice Processing Data Template
Your Purchase to Pay - Invoice Processing Data Template
- Recommended attributes to collect
- Key activities to track
- Extraction guidance for NetSuite
Purchase to Pay - Invoice Processing Attributes
| Name | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|
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Invoice Number
InvoiceNumber
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The unique identifier for a vendor invoice within the system. | ||
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Description
The Invoice Number serves as the primary case identifier, linking all activities and events related to a single vendor bill from its creation to its final payment. This attribute is crucial for tracing the end-to-end journey of each invoice. In process analysis, this number allows the system to reconstruct the entire lifecycle of an invoice. By grouping all related activities under this common identifier, analysts can visualize the process flow, measure cycle times, and identify variations or bottlenecks that affect individual invoices.
Why it matters
It is the essential key for tracking each invoice's journey through the payment process, enabling a complete case-level analysis.
Where to get
This is typically the 'Transaction ID' or 'Invoice #' field on the Vendor Bill record in NetSuite.
Examples
INV-0012345789-ABC-654202405-101
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Activity
ActivityName
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The name of the business process step that was performed. | ||
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Description
This attribute describes a specific action or event that occurred within the invoice processing lifecycle, such as 'Vendor Bill Created', 'Bill Approved', or 'Bill Paid In Full'. Each activity represents a distinct point in the process. Activities are the building blocks of the process map. Analyzing the sequence and frequency of these activities helps to understand the actual process flow, identify deviations from the standard procedure, and pinpoint common rework loops or inefficient steps.
Why it matters
It forms the backbone of the process map, allowing for visualization and analysis of the sequence of events in the invoice lifecycle.
Where to get
Derived from system logs, status changes in the Vendor Bill record, or specific user actions recorded in the system history.
Examples
Vendor Bill CreatedBill ApprovedPayment Scheduled In Batch
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Last Data Update
LastDataUpdate
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The timestamp when the data was last refreshed or extracted from the source system. | ||
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Description
This attribute indicates the date and time of the most recent data extraction from the source system. It provides context on the freshness of the data being analyzed. Knowing the last data update time is essential for users to understand if they are viewing the most current information. It helps manage expectations about data latency and ensures that decisions are based on data of a known age.
Why it matters
It informs analysts about the freshness of the data, ensuring they are aware of the data's timeliness when making decisions.
Where to get
This timestamp is generated and added during the data extraction and loading (ETL) process.
Examples
2024-05-21T02:00:00Z
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Source System
SourceSystem
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Identifies the system from which the data originated. | ||
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Description
This attribute specifies the source application where the event data was generated. For this process, it will typically be 'NetSuite'. In environments with multiple integrated systems, this field is crucial for understanding data lineage and assessing data quality. It helps differentiate activities that occur in different systems and is important for building a holistic view of the end-to-end process.
Why it matters
It provides context about the data's origin, which is crucial in multi-system landscapes for troubleshooting and data validation.
Where to get
This is typically a static value ('NetSuite') added during the data extraction process.
Examples
NetSuite
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Start Time
EventTime
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The timestamp indicating when an activity occurred. | ||
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Description
This attribute captures the precise date and time that a specific activity or event was recorded in the system. It provides the chronological context for the entire process. Timestamps are fundamental for any time-based process analysis. They are used to calculate durations between activities, measure overall case cycle times, and analyze performance against service level agreements. Accurate timestamps are essential for identifying bottlenecks and understanding process delays.
Why it matters
It provides the chronological data necessary to calculate all durations, cycle times, and performance metrics, forming the basis of temporal process analysis.
Where to get
Sourced from date fields or system logs on the Vendor Bill record and related transaction records, such as 'Date Created', 'Last Modified Date', or approval date fields.
Examples
2023-04-15T09:00:00Z2023-04-16T14:30:15Z2023-04-20T11:05:45Z
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Approver
Approver
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The user responsible for approving or rejecting the invoice. | ||
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Description
This attribute identifies the employee or manager who performed the approval step for an invoice. In workflows with multiple approval levels, this may capture the most recent or final approver. Tracking the approver is essential for analyzing the approval cycle. It helps identify bottlenecks in the approval process by showing which individuals or departments have the longest average approval times. This information can be used to balance workloads or provide additional training.
Why it matters
Helps pinpoint bottlenecks in the approval process and analyze performance by individual or department, enabling targeted improvements.
Where to get
Sourced from the workflow or approval history logs associated with the Vendor Bill transaction. This may be in the 'System Notes' or a custom approval log.
Examples
John SmithJane DoeFinance Department Head
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Invoice Amount
InvoiceAmount
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The total monetary value of the vendor invoice. | ||
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Description
This attribute represents the total amount due as stated on the invoice, including any taxes or other charges. It is a key financial metric for each case. Invoice Amount is used for various analytical purposes, including segmenting invoices into value bands (e.g., high-value vs. low-value) to see if processing times or approval paths differ. It is also essential for financial reporting, calculating the value of invoices in different stages, and analyzing the financial impact of payment delays.
Why it matters
Allows for financial analysis and value-based segmentation, helping to prioritize high-value invoices and understand cost drivers.
Where to get
This corresponds to the 'Total' or 'Amount' field on the header of the Vendor Bill record in NetSuite.
Examples
1500.75250.0012500.50
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Invoice Status
InvoiceStatus
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The current processing status of the invoice. | ||
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Description
This attribute reflects the current state of the vendor bill within its lifecycle, such as 'Pending Approval', 'Approved', 'Paid in Full', or 'Rejected'. The status provides a snapshot of where an invoice is in the process at any given time. It is used in operational dashboards to monitor the current workload and throughput. Analyzing status transitions is also a key part of process mining, as it often forms the basis for defining activities.
Why it matters
Provides a real-time snapshot of invoice progress, enabling workload management and throughput analysis.
Where to get
This is the 'Status' field on the Vendor Bill record in NetSuite.
Examples
OpenPending ApprovalApprovedPaid in Full
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Is Auto Matched
IsAutoMatched
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A flag indicating if the invoice was matched to a purchase order automatically without manual intervention. | ||
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Description
This boolean attribute indicates whether the system was able to automatically match the invoice to a purchase order and goods receipt (in a three-way match scenario) based on predefined rules and tolerances. A 'true' value signifies a touchless matching process. This attribute is the basis for the 'Invoice Auto-Matching Rate' KPI. A high rate of automatic matching is a key indicator of a highly efficient and automated invoice processing system. Analyzing the cases where this is 'false' helps identify the reasons for matching failures and opportunities for automation improvement.
Why it matters
Directly measures the level of automation and efficiency in the invoice matching process, highlighting opportunities to reduce manual work.
Where to get
This is typically a derived attribute. It can be inferred by the absence of a 'Matching Discrepancy Identified' activity or by checking if the bill was created and approved by a system user in a very short time.
Examples
truefalse
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Is Paid On Time
IsPaidOnTime
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A flag that indicates whether the invoice was paid on or before its due date. | ||
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Description
This calculated boolean attribute compares the timestamp of the 'Bill Paid In Full' activity with the 'Payment Due Date'. It is 'true' if the payment was made on time and 'false' otherwise. This attribute directly supports the 'On-Time Payment Rate' KPI, a critical measure of financial discipline and vendor relationship management. It allows for easy filtering and analysis of late payments to identify root causes, such as approval delays or payment run scheduling issues.
Why it matters
Directly measures adherence to payment terms, which is critical for vendor relations, avoiding penalties, and financial planning.
Where to get
Calculated field: TRUE if the timestamp of the final payment activity is less than or equal to the 'PaymentDueDate'.
Examples
truefalse
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Payment Due Date
PaymentDueDate
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The date by which the invoice must be paid to meet the agreed payment terms. | ||
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Description
The Payment Due Date is calculated based on the invoice date and the payment terms negotiated with the vendor (e.g., Net 30, Net 60). It serves as the primary deadline for payment execution. This date is crucial for measuring on-time payment performance, a key KPI for vendor relationships and financial health. By comparing the actual payment date to the due date, organizations can track their payment timeliness, identify vendors who are consistently paid late, and manage cash flow more effectively.
Why it matters
It is the benchmark for measuring on-time payment performance, which directly impacts vendor relationships and can help avoid late fees.
Where to get
This is the 'Due Date' field on the Vendor Bill record, which is often calculated automatically based on the 'Terms' field.
Examples
2023-05-152023-06-302023-07-01
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Vendor Name
VendorName
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The name of the vendor or supplier who submitted the invoice. | ||
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Description
This attribute identifies the legal name of the vendor associated with the invoice. The vendor is a key entity in the Purchase-to-Pay process. Analyzing the process by vendor is critical for identifying specific supplier-related issues. It helps answer questions such as which vendors have the longest approval times, which ones submit the most invoices requiring rework, and which are most frequently paid late. This segmentation is fundamental for vendor relationship management and performance analysis.
Why it matters
It enables critical segmentation of the process data to identify vendor-specific bottlenecks, payment performance, and compliance issues.
Where to get
Sourced from the 'Vendor' or 'Supplier' field on the Vendor Bill record, linked to the Vendor master data.
Examples
Office Supplies Inc.Global Tech ServicesCreative Marketing Agency
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Currency
Currency
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The currency of the invoice amount. | ||
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Description
This attribute specifies the currency in which the invoice is denominated, such as USD, EUR, or GBP. This is especially important for companies operating in multiple countries. Currency provides essential context for all monetary values. In analysis, it ensures that financial data is interpreted correctly and allows for proper currency conversion when aggregating financial metrics across different regions.
Why it matters
Provides necessary context for all financial amounts, ensuring accurate financial analysis in multi-currency environments.
Where to get
This is the 'Currency' field on the Vendor Bill record, typically defaulted from the Vendor master record.
Examples
USDEURGBP
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Discount Date
DiscountDate
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The deadline for paying an invoice to be eligible for an early payment discount. | ||
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Description
This attribute specifies the date by which an invoice must be paid to take advantage of any early payment discounts offered by the vendor, as defined in the payment terms (e.g., '2% 10, Net 30'). This date is essential for calculating the 'Early Payment Discount Capture Rate' KPI. Tracking performance against this date allows the organization to identify missed savings opportunities and optimize its payment strategy to maximize captured discounts, which can have a significant positive impact on profitability.
Why it matters
It is the key date for identifying and capturing early payment discounts, directly impacting cost savings and profitability.
Where to get
This date is derived from the invoice date and the 'Terms' field on the Vendor Bill record. NetSuite calculates this as the 'Discount Date'.
Examples
2023-04-252023-05-10
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Discount Taken
DiscountTaken
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A flag indicating if an available early payment discount was successfully taken. | ||
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Description
This calculated boolean attribute checks if an invoice with an available discount was paid on or before the 'Discount Date'. It is 'true' if the discount was captured and 'false' if the opportunity was missed. This attribute is essential for the 'Early Payment Discount Capture Rate' KPI. It helps finance departments quantify missed savings and identify process bottlenecks, such as slow approvals, that prevent them from taking advantage of favorable payment terms.
Why it matters
Measures the effectiveness of the process in capturing cost-saving opportunities, directly impacting the company's bottom line.
Where to get
Calculated field: TRUE if the invoice had a 'DiscountDate' and the final payment activity occurred on or before that date.
Examples
truefalse
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Invoice Cycle Time
InvoiceCycleTime
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The total time elapsed from when the invoice was created to when it was fully paid. | ||
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Description
This calculated metric measures the end-to-end duration of the invoice processing lifecycle. It is typically calculated as the time difference between the 'Vendor Bill Created' activity and the 'Bill Paid In Full' activity. As a primary KPI, average invoice cycle time provides a high-level measure of the overall efficiency of the AP process. Analyzing this metric, segmented by vendor or subsidiary, helps identify broad areas of inefficiency and track the impact of process improvement initiatives over time.
Why it matters
Measures the end-to-end efficiency of the invoice processing workflow, directly impacting vendor relationships and working capital.
Where to get
Calculated field based on the timestamps of the first and last events for each case (invoice).
Examples
25 days 4 hours15 days 11 hours45 days 2 hours
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Payment Block Reason
PaymentBlockReason
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The reason why a payment for an approved invoice has been blocked. | ||
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Description
An invoice that is approved for payment may still be put on a payment block for various reasons, such as a vendor dispute, a quality issue with goods received, or a cash management decision. This attribute captures the specific reason for the block. Analyzing payment block reasons and their resolution times is important for optimizing cash flow and maintaining good vendor relationships. It helps identify recurring issues that lead to payment delays even after an invoice has been successfully processed and approved.
Why it matters
Explains why approved invoices are not being paid, highlighting operational or financial issues that delay payments.
Where to get
This is often managed via a custom 'Payment Hold' or 'Payment Block' checkbox and a corresponding reason list or text field on the Vendor Bill.
Examples
Vendor Account on HoldQuality Inspection PendingAwaiting Credit Memo
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Purchase Order Number
PurchaseOrderNumber
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The identifier of the purchase order related to the invoice. | ||
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Description
This attribute links a vendor invoice to the corresponding purchase order (PO) that authorized the procurement of the goods or services. Invoices can be PO-backed or non-PO. Analyzing by PO provides crucial context for invoice matching efficiency. It helps determine the rate of auto-matching versus manual intervention and identify discrepancies between the invoice, PO, and goods receipt. A high rate of mismatches can indicate problems in the procurement process.
Why it matters
Links the invoice to the procurement process, which is essential for analyzing invoice matching efficiency and three-way match compliance.
Where to get
Available on the Vendor Bill record, typically on the line items or in a header field linking it to a PO.
Examples
PO-005678PO-005891N/A
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Rejection Reason
RejectionReason
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The reason provided when an invoice is rejected during the approval process. | ||
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Description
When an approver rejects an invoice, they typically provide a reason for the rejection, such as 'Incorrect Amount', 'Duplicate Invoice', or 'Missing PO'. This attribute captures that reason. This information is vital for root cause analysis of process inefficiencies. By categorizing and trending rejection reasons, organizations can identify common problems, like issues with specific vendors or data entry errors, and implement corrective actions to reduce rework and delays.
Why it matters
Provides direct insight into the root causes of rework and process failures, helping to improve first-time-right rates.
Where to get
This data is typically captured in a memo or comment field during the rejection step of an approval workflow. It may be stored in the 'System Notes' or a custom field.
Examples
Incorrect quantityDuplicate invoicePrice mismatch with PO
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Subsidiary
Subsidiary
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The company or legal entity within the organization that is responsible for the invoice. | ||
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Description
In a multi-entity organization, the Subsidiary attribute identifies which legal entity the vendor bill belongs to. This is a fundamental organizational data point in NetSuite OneWorld accounts. Analyzing the process by subsidiary allows for performance comparison across different business units or geographic locations. It helps identify which parts of the organization are most efficient and where best practices can be shared, or where specific process issues exist.
Why it matters
Enables performance benchmarking and analysis across different legal entities or business units within the organization.
Where to get
This is the standard 'Subsidiary' field on all transaction records in a NetSuite OneWorld account.
Examples
US WestEMEA HeadquartersAPAC Services
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Purchase to Pay - Invoice Processing Activities
| Activity | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|
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Bill Approved
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Marks the final approval of the vendor bill, authorizing it for payment. This is a key milestone, typically captured as an explicit status change to 'Approved' in the system's approval workflow. | ||
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Why it matters
This is a critical milestone that gates the payment process. Delays here are a common bottleneck, and tracking this activity is essential for managing payment timeliness and cash flow.
Where to get
Captured from the system notes or audit trail for the Vendor Bill, specifically the timestamp when the 'Approval Status' field is set to 'Approved'.
Capture
Timestamp of status change to 'Approved' in the Vendor Bill's audit trail.
Event type
explicit
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Bill Paid In Full
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This activity signifies that the vendor bill has been fully paid and its status is updated accordingly. This is the successful completion of the process, inferred from a status change on the bill itself. | ||
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Why it matters
This is the primary 'happy path' end event for the invoice lifecycle. Measuring the total time to reach this state provides the end-to-end cycle time for the process.
Where to get
Inferred from the system notes or audit trail on the Vendor Bill record, specifically the timestamp when the status changes to 'Paid in Full'.
Capture
Timestamp of status change to 'Paid in Full' on the Vendor Bill.
Event type
inferred
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Bill Posted To GL
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This activity represents the moment the approved vendor bill impacts the general ledger. In standard NetSuite configurations, this occurs automatically upon final approval of the bill. | ||
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Why it matters
This is a key financial control point, ensuring that liabilities are recognized correctly. Monitoring for deviations, such as payments made before posting, is critical for compliance analysis.
Where to get
The 'Posting' flag on the Vendor Bill is set to true. The timestamp can be sourced from the approval event date, as posting is typically synchronous with approval.
Capture
Timestamp of the final approval action which triggers GL posting.
Event type
explicit
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Vendor Bill Created
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This activity marks the creation of a vendor bill record in NetSuite, which serves as the starting point for the invoice processing journey. This is captured from the creation date of the Vendor Bill transaction record. | ||
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Why it matters
This is the primary start event for the invoice lifecycle. Analyzing the time from this activity to others reveals the total processing time and highlights initial data entry delays.
Where to get
From the 'Date Created' or transaction date field on the Vendor Bill record. Each Vendor Bill has a unique internal ID and transaction number.
Capture
Timestamp of Vendor Bill transaction creation.
Event type
explicit
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Vendor Payment Created
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This activity marks the creation of the payment transaction that settles the vendor bill. This is an explicit event captured from the creation of a Vendor Payment record linked to the bill. | ||
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Why it matters
Represents the execution of the payment, a critical step for on-time payment analysis and cash flow forecasting. It is a key milestone before the process end.
Where to get
From the creation date of the Vendor Payment transaction record. The payment record will have a reference in its 'Apply' sublist to the Vendor Bill it is paying.
Capture
Timestamp of Vendor Payment transaction creation.
Event type
explicit
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Bill Rejected
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The vendor bill is rejected by an approver and removed from the active processing queue. This is captured from an explicit status change to 'Rejected' and often represents a terminal state unless resubmitted. | ||
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Why it matters
Highlights process failures, such as duplicate invoices or incorrect vendor information. Tracking the frequency and reasons for rejection helps improve first-time accuracy and reduce wasted effort.
Where to get
Captured from the system notes or audit trail for the Vendor Bill, recording the timestamp when the 'Approval Status' field is set to 'Rejected'.
Capture
Timestamp of status change to 'Rejected' in the Vendor Bill's audit trail.
Event type
explicit
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Bill Sent For Rework
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Occurs when an approver or reviewer sends the invoice back to the originator for correction. This is inferred from a status change that moves the bill backward in the workflow, for example from 'Pending Approval' back to 'Pending Submission'. | ||
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Why it matters
Identifies rework loops that significantly extend processing times and increase manual effort. Tracking this helps pinpoint common causes for errors, such as incorrect coding or data entry mistakes.
Where to get
Inferred from the system notes or audit trail on the Vendor Bill, looking for a status regression or a specific 'Rework' status.
Capture
Timestamp of status change indicating a backward step in the approval workflow.
Event type
inferred
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Bill Submitted For Approval
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Represents the point where the created vendor bill is formally submitted into an approval workflow. This is typically inferred from a change in the bill's status from 'Open' or 'Pending Submission' to 'Pending Approval'. | ||
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Why it matters
Initiates the approval cycle. Measuring the time from this event to 'Bill Approved' or 'Bill Rejected' is critical for the Invoice Approval Cycle Time Analysis dashboard.
Where to get
Inferred from the system notes or audit trail on the Vendor Bill record, specifically tracking changes to the 'Approval Status' field.
Capture
Timestamp of status change to 'Pending Approval' in the Vendor Bill's audit trail.
Event type
inferred
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Credit Memo Applied
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Represents the application of a vendor credit memo to a bill, reducing the amount owed. This is an explicit event captured from the Vendor Credit transaction's application record. | ||
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Why it matters
Shows an alternative path to resolving an invoice that doesn't involve a direct cash payment. Frequent credit memos may indicate issues with initial order accuracy or vendor performance.
Where to get
From the application record linking a Vendor Credit to a Vendor Bill. The date of application would serve as the event timestamp.
Capture
Timestamp of applying a Vendor Credit transaction to the Vendor Bill.
Event type
explicit
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Early Payment Discount Missed
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A calculated event indicating that the payment for an invoice with available early payment terms was not executed within the discount window. This event is derived by comparing the payment date to the discount due date. | ||
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Why it matters
Directly supports the 'Early Payment Discount Capture Rate' KPI by quantifying lost savings. It helps organizations identify process or cash flow issues preventing them from capturing discounts.
Where to get
This is a calculated event. It requires comparing the 'Date' of the applied Vendor Payment transaction to the 'Discount Date' field on the source Vendor Bill record.
Capture
Compare Vendor Payment date with Vendor Bill discount date. If payment date > discount date, event occurs.
Event type
calculated
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Matching Discrepancy Identified
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This activity occurs when a bill that is supposed to match a purchase order fails automated matching rules, requiring manual review. It's often inferred by the bill entering a specific 'Matching Hold' or 'Discrepancy' status. | ||
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Why it matters
Highlights inefficiencies in the procurement and receiving processes that lead to manual rework. This directly supports the 'Invoice Matching Efficiency' dashboard and the 'Matching Discrepancy Rework Rate' KPI.
Where to get
Inferred from a status change on the Vendor Bill indicating a hold or exception, or by identifying bills linked to a PO that required significant manual edits before approval.
Capture
Timestamp of status change to a 'hold' or 'mismatch' status. May require analysis of custom fields or workflows.
Event type
inferred
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Payment Block Released
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The payment block on an invoice is removed, making it eligible for payment again. This is inferred from the clearing of the 'Payment Hold' checkbox or a status change away from a 'Hold' state. | ||
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Why it matters
Measuring the duration between 'Payment Block Set' and this activity reveals the efficiency of the resolution process. It helps identify common reasons for blocks and streamline their removal.
Where to get
Inferred from the audit trail for the 'Payment Hold' checkbox being unchecked or a custom status field being updated on the Vendor Bill.
Capture
Timestamp of change event for a 'Payment Hold' or similar field being cleared.
Event type
inferred
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Payment Block Set
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A payment block is actively placed on an approved invoice, preventing it from being paid. This is often inferred from a specific checkbox being marked or a custom 'Hold' status being applied. | ||
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Why it matters
This activity is crucial for the 'Payment Block Resolution Analysis' dashboard. It pinpoints delays between approval and payment readiness, which can harm vendor relationships.
Where to get
Inferred from the audit trail for a 'Payment Hold' checkbox or a custom status field on the Vendor Bill transaction.
Capture
Timestamp of change event for a 'Payment Hold' or similar field.
Event type
inferred
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Payment Scheduled In Batch
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The approved invoice is selected and included in a payment batch for future execution. This is an explicit action where bills are added to a Vendor Payment Batch or processed through the 'Pay Bills' page. | ||
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Why it matters
Shows the transition from an approved liability to an intended cash outflow. Analyzing delays between approval and scheduling can reveal cash management strategies or inefficiencies in the payment run process.
Where to get
This can be difficult to capture as a distinct event. It is often part of the payment creation process itself. It may be inferred from the creation date of a payment batch record that includes the bill.
Capture
Creation timestamp of a payment batch record that references the invoice.
Event type
inferred
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