For Esker, building a human-centric and sustainable business has been the objective ever since we started the company 39 years ago. And today we still ask ourselves how we can encourage others to also embrace this vision for their organisations.

Some vacation reading took me to the Maslow Hierarchy of Needs, and this theory seemed quite fitting not just on a personal level, but also for a business. According to Maslow, what motivates humans to act is the goal of fulfilling five levels of needs: physiological, safety, social, esteem and self-actualisation. The lower-level needs must be satisfied before the higher-level needs can be pursued.

An organisation’s needs can be categorised into a similar ranking: The source-to pay (S2P) and order-to-cash (O2C) processes involve the flow of information and money between a company and its customers and suppliers. These processes are, in fact, the foundation of business operations, as they cover the entire cycle of procurement and sales: from sourcing suppliers and placing orders to delivering goods or services and collecting payments. Automating these processes improves efficiency, accuracy, speed and customer satisfaction. These advantages, in turn, flow into all business relationships, including buyers, suppliers, customers and employees.

Using the Maslow Hierarchy of Needs as a template, we can trace the five motivational levels to a business, too:

Physiological needs for humans consist of food, water, and shelter. For a business, these are cash, liquidity and solvency. Automating the S2P and O2C processes, especially with AI-powered solutions, can help a business meet these needs by making these processes faster, more efficient and accurate. This means fewer errors and delays, and lowered costs by getting paid and paying others faster. Automation can also help a business monitor and manage its cashflow better, so it always has enough money to operate and grow.

Safety needs include security, stability and protection. By improving the quality and consistency of S2P and O2C processes with automation, businesses can reduce the exposure to disruptions, disputes and fraud. Automation solutions build a reliable supply chain, ensuring compliance with rules and regulations, and mitigating risks through consistent decision-making, reliable predictions and accurate data insights.

Social needs generally describe a sense of belonging, acceptance and affiliation. At Esker, we place a lot of attention on exactly this factor: When a business takes care and ownership of the needs of others in their business ecosystem, it creates what we call positive-sum growth. It means that no business can for the long run operate at the expense of anyone or anything else, be it its employees, suppliers or the planet. Automation can help a business meet this standard by enhancing the communication and collaboration with all stakeholders. Not only does this translate into improved customer satisfaction and increased customer loyalty, but also better relationships with suppliers and stronger employee engagement.

Esteem needs refer to the feelings of being recognised, respected and having a sense of achievement. Speeding up business processes and improving their quality ensures better profitability, which gives a company a competitive edge, the ability to convey a strong performance, and engage in sustainable growth. Additionally, these outcomes will positively impact the brand image and reputation of a company, which attracts and retains more customers and talent while reassuring suppliers.

Self-actualisation needs include personal growth and the fulfilment of one’s potential. A clear vision, a strong company culture, and a focus on making a positive impact in the world will inevitably result in a business environment that creates true value to all of society. Automation can help a business meet these needs by freeing up time and resources for strategic planning, value creation, and social responsibility. Aligning the S2P and O2C processes with the company’s mission, vision and values means investing in a stronger ability to focus, inspire creativity, and perform sustainably and with agility.

Since businesses are made up of humans, it’s no wonder that these two compare so easily. And just like in those outdoor survival tv shows where the contestants first build a shelter, forage or hunt for food, and then increasingly turn their attention to improvements or artistic pursuits, an organisation should take care to cover the basics before thinking about expansion or vanity projects. Automating the S2P and O2C processes not only satisfies the basic operational requirements but also creates value and meaning for themselves and their stakeholders in a dynamic and competitive environment.

To find out more about positive-sum growth and how we integrate it into our solutions and daily life, visit www.esker.co.uk

Emmanuel Olivier

Emmanuel has been with Esker for 25 years. As WW Chief Operating Officer, he leads Esker’s operations worldwide, covering sales, marketing and consulting activities. He also supervises Esker’s finances and is in charge of its financial communication and investor relations.

1. Speed Up Invoice Processing
Automating your cash collection process begins with accelerating invoice processing. Using cutting-edge technology enables quick and accurate invoice creation, approval, and distribution. By reducing manual intervention, you can minimise errors and ensure that invoices reach your customers promptly, facilitating faster payment turnaround.

2. Enhance Payment Visibility
Visibility into your payment process is essential for effective cash collection. The ability to provide real-time tracking and reporting features, allowing you to monitor payment statuses and identify any bottlenecks is crucial. This transparency empowers your team to take proactive measures, improving overall cash flow management.

3. Implement Secure Payment Gateways
Security is paramount when it comes to financial transactions. Ensure secure payment gateways, safeguarding your organisation and customers from potential threats. With encrypted payment channels and compliance with industry standards, you can instill trust and confidence in your payment processes.

4. Minimise Manual Data Entry
Eliminate the time-consuming and error-prone task of manual data entry. Automation tools can seamlessly integrate with your existing systems, reducing the need for manual intervention. This not only increases accuracy but also frees up valuable resources, allowing your team to focus on more strategic tasks.

5. Personalise Customer Communication
Effective communication is key to successful cash collection. Esker empowers you to personalise and automate customer communication, sending tailored reminders and updates. This not only improves customer relationships but also encourages timely payments.

In conclusion, embracing automation in your cash collection process is a strategic move to consider for the new year. By focusing on these five key areas, you can enhance efficiency, reduce errors, and ultimately boost your organisation’s cash flow. Make 2024 the year of streamlined processes and increased success .

Ready to embark on this journey towards a more efficient cash collection process? Contact Esker today to learn more about our cutting-edge automation solutions, and how they can benefit your organisation.

Enhanced Efficiency and Speed
In the fast paced world of supply chain, time is money. Customer Service automation streamlines routine tasks, such as order processing, tracking, and issue resolution, significantly reducing response times. This efficiency not only improves customer satisfaction but also contributes to the overall speed and agility of the supply chain.

24/7 Accessibility: Automation doesn’t sleep.
By implementing B2B customer service automation, supply chain leaders can ensure that their customers have access to support around the clock. This 24/7 accessibility is crucial for global supply chains, where partners may be operating in different time zones. It enhances the overall reliability of the supply chain and fosters a sense of trust among B2B customers.

Data-Driven Decision Making
Customer Service automation generates a wealth of data that can be leveraged for strategic decision making. Supply chain leaders can analyse customer interactions, identify patterns, and gain valuable insights into areas that may need improvement. This data driven approach allows for continuous optimisation of the supply chain, leading to more informed and effective decision making.

Scalability and Flexibility
As supply chain operations grow, the demand for customer service also increases. Automation provides scalability, allowing supply chain leaders to handle a growing volume of customer interactions without a proportional increase in resources. This flexibility is particularly valuable during peak seasons or periods of rapid expansion, ensuring that customer service levels remain consistent.

Cost Savings
Traditional customer service models often require a significant investment in human resources. B2B customer service automation can lead to substantial cost savings by automating routine tasks, reducing the need for a large customer service team. This cost-effectiveness allows supply chain leaders to allocate resources strategically, investing in areas that directly contribute to the overall efficiency and success of the supply chain.

In summary, B2B customer service automation is not just a technological trend; it’s a strategic imperative for supply chain leaders looking to stay competitive in today’s dynamic business environment. By embracing automation, leaders can elevate their customer service, enhance operational efficiency, and position their supply chains for sustained success in the digital age. It’s time to automate and streamline the path to excellence in B2B customer service.

The partnership will enable Link to integrate Esker’s innovative software into its existing services, and to resell the solutions to its broad network in the aviation industry.

Read full press release here.

Esker, a global cloud platform and leader in AI-driven process automation solutions for Finance, Procurement and Customer Service functions, today announced it has once again received recognition for its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) commitments. EcoVadis awarded Esker the Platinum Medal and placed it in the top 1% of companies evaluated across all industries. EthiFinance also ranked Esker among the leaders of its ESG Rating. These two accomplishments exhibit Esker’s successful implementation of its ambitious ESG roadmap.

The Platinum Medal is the highest distinction awarded by EcoVadis, the leading provider of business sustainability ratings. Esker received an overall score of 81/100, up 7 points from 2022, and improved its social and ethical conduct score by 10 points. EthiFinance, a European rating, research and advisory group serving sustainable finance and development, evaluates companies according to a framework containing 140 criteria which are divided into four tiers. Esker achieved an overall score of 75/100, an increase of 8 points over 2022. Notably, this included a 30-point improvement in environmental performance and a 9-point improvement in the social performance category.

“The EcoVadis and EthiFinance awards crown two decades of continuous efforts to establish a more sustainable and resilient business model,” said Jean-Michel Bérard, CEO at Esker. “We have put a roadmap in place in which we pledge to increase our efforts to achieve four key objectives: acting ethically and responsibly, continuing to grow customer trust, fostering a content and skilled workforce, and doing our part in protecting the planet. The involvement of all teams and stakeholders is essential to successfully reduce Esker’s environmental footprint, which also is a prerequisite for long-term growth.”

This year, Esker has been able to distinguish itself in the social sphere, thanks to long-standing commitments to employee well-being as well as externally through community engagement and educational initiatives. Esker understands the importance of a positive work environment and promotes a culture of diversity and inclusion and held several company-wide awareness-raising initiatives such as trainings, events and workshops on these subjects. And successfully so, as the question “I feel accepted as I am at Esker” received the highest score in the 2023 HR employee survey. Over 91% of employees recommend Esker as great company to work for.  

“The EcoVadis Platinum Medal and the significant progress on social and ethical conduct aspects acknowledge the long-term work performed not only by Esker Management and HR teams, but above all by Esker employees, who are very involved in proposing ideas and seeing them through,” said Aurélie Guimera, Worldwide Director of Human Resources at Esker. “This is an impressive team achievement which aligns superbly with our company values.”

Being a technology company, Esker is committed to the inclusion and promotion of women in IT positions. With 32% of management positions held by women (compared with 31% of women in the total workforce), the company’s goal is to achieve an overall rate of 34% women in the workforce by 2027.

Esker’s commitment to innovation is also reflected in its education sponsorship programme, which includes being a founding partner of the coding school Ecole 42 Lyon, and a cocreator of an AI research chair at INSEEC. By supporting a variety of schools and organisations in the region that promote gender equality in the IT sector and encouraging exchanges between students and employees, Esker is working to contribute to the development and integration of future graduates. An additional pillar of this work revolves around the recruitment of interns and work-study programme participants, whose number has more than doubled in France between 2020 and 2022.

On the environmental front, Esker is strongly committed to reducing the environmental footprint of its business activities. Esker has proactively measured its carbon emissions across all locations worldwide, including all direct and indirect emissions (scopes 1, 2 and 3).

Esker recently renewed its ISO 14001 environmental management certification for both locations in France (Villeurbanne and Décines). Esker strives to extend the lifecycle of company-owned IT equipment and electronic devices as much as possible by performing in-house maintenance, vendor support and employee buyback programmes. These buybacks are made in exchange for donations to charities of the employee’s choosing. As part of its ESG roadmap, Esker is also committed to extending the lifespan of its IT equipment for all subsidiaries by six months by 2027.

Esker considers ethical business conduct to be the foundation of its operations. To that end, the company has implemented anti-corruption policies and training as well as a Code of Conduct for all employees.

Learn more about Esker’s ESG strategy https://www.esker.co.uk/company/environmental-social-governance/

Read full press release here.

Artificial Intelligence (AI), the simulation of human intelligence by machines, has been around for longer than some might think: The actual beginnings of this field lie in the 1950s, at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. Over the decades, the excitement has alternately waxed and waned. What catapulted AI to the absolute highest hype levels, however, was the release of ChatGPT by OpenAI in November 2022. ChatGPT — which stands for Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer — is a Large Language Model (LLM) that unleashed a new era of usability of AI.

The initial enthusiasm was immense. Speculation about all the problems AI will solve, and what problems it
will create, abounded. Almost a year later, the buzz has died down a little, but governments all over the world are considering legislation as to how AI can and should be used responsibly. For private use, AI capabilities are used for entertainment and, not least because of cost, will probably remain so for a while to come. Businesses, meanwhile, are ready to hit the ground running. It is no surprise that Microsoft has embedded a variety of AI-piloted features in its products.

Although it gets the most attention due to its revolutionary capabilities, ChatGPT is not all that AI can do. There are many different layers, and their targeted and pragmatic use can help organisations in their digital transformation.

Machine learning algorithms are not programmed. Instead, they “learn” from user input to solve specific problems, continuously advancing these learning capabilities. They can, for example, extract relevant data from customer orders sent in a variety of formats: free-text emails, PDFs, images and even, for those still stuck in the 90s, faxes. Sometimes, however, misidentifications occur, and values are not correctly read. This is where human intervention is still required to rectify these errors. The machine learning AI will then remember the correction, and, with the help of historical data analysis, from there on out rapidly predict increasingly correct outcomes.

Deep learning, a subcategory of machine learning, can execute even more advanced tasks. Relying on artificial neural networks that mimic the human brain and on enormous amounts of validated data, deep learning extracts information from multiple data layers, yielding even higher accuracy and optimisation. Ideal business uses for deep learning technology can be found, for example, in email triage for shared inboxes, both on the supplier and customer sides. Questions, invoices and purchase orders can all be filtered out and forwarded to the correct recipient. For the Finance department, deep learning can even pinpoint small changes in payment behaviours, order dynamics and credit ratings. These indicators can have a significant impact on working capital requirements, and thus, the earlier they are detected, the better the business can react accordingly.

And then, of course, there is ChatGPT. In addition to the fun moments it can provide when entering a query,
for example, to generate an article about AI business use-cases in the voice of Yoda, it does have some real-life applications. Customers who email a business with questions such as “Where is my order?” or “When will my reimbursement arrive?” are all living different experiences. While sentiment analysis can identify when a customer might be getting frustrated, ChatGPT can help in generating an appropriate response. This refers to both tone and content: pulling the correct information from the different systems and then suggesting a fitting answer. The emphasis here lies on “suggesting.” A human should always remain in control and make necessary adjustments, rather than relying on ChatGPT for fully automated responses. The potential for errors is just too great otherwise.

The hoped-for result would be an efficient workplace that cuts out repetitive and meaningless tasks by using AI, and brings to light hidden financial details and business indicators. These tools need to remain assistive rather than replacing humans, since no matter how intelligent AI is, the human touch just cannot be replaced. Properly used, with an awareness of potential risks, AI technologies should be used to increase well-being, strengthen our democracies, and improve the shared information environment.

Allegro-Pro specialises in a wide range of SAP financial modules and has hands-on experience in implementing SAP S/4 HANA and On-Premise solutions. Its dedicated consultants will refer Esker solutions alongside SAP modules to ensure the most comprehensive solution package for their clients.

Read the full press release here.

Esker, a global cloud platform and leader in AI-driven process automation solutions for Finance, Procurement and Customer Service functions, today announced the appointment of Catherine Plasse as Esker’s new Chief Financial Officer.

Reporting to Emmanuel Olivier, Esker COO on the Board of Directors, Plasse will manage and coordinate Esker’s Finance teams worldwide and join Esker’s Associate Board of Directors. She will lead the creation of information for the public and financial communities and ensure the maintenance of a high-level internal control environment and compliance with regulatory obligations. Plasse will also play a crucial role in steering the operational performance of Esker by managing budgetary and control aspects. In collaboration with the Board of Directors, she will also be actively involved in the development of Esker’s environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) policies.

Plasse brings to Esker more than 15 years of experience in strategic financial management and providing key input to executive levels at a variety of international companies. Plasse held various Financial Analyst and Controller positions at Suez Group, most notably as CFO in the U.S. for three years. She holds three degrees in International Business Administration, from Northumbria University (BA), IAE France (master’s degree) and EDHEC Business School (BA). She also holds a certification in Sustainable Transition Management from HEC Paris and in Principles of Sustainable Finance from Erasmus University of Rotterdam.

“I’m delighted to be joining Esker, an innovative company that plays a key role in the digital transformation of businesses worldwide,” said Plasse. “I look forward to contributing to Esker’s continued success and collaborating with such a dynamic and talented team.”

“Catherine brings to Esker a wealth of international experience, strong technical and managerial skills, as well as deeply held beliefs in ESG responsibility. We look forward to working with her and continuing Esker’s success story,” said Jean-Michel Bérard, CEO at Esker.

Read full press release here.

By now it should be clear that a lot of things need to change if we want to avoid a climate emergency and all the downstream effects it will bring with it. And since these downstream effects will also affect businesses, the responsibility to take action lies on everyone’s shoulders. Governments and institutions are rolling out more and more regulations for sustainability measures such as the CSRD by the European Commission, and organisations are required to implement these. This is often easier said than done.

At Esker, we embarked on an ESG journey a few years ago and have, in the meantime, implemented several policies to reduce our carbon footprint. One factor remained difficult to gauge, however: the supplier side. In France, for example Esker requests its suppliers to sign a Code of Conduct, which addresses the main ESG aspects such as corruption, fair labour practices and environmental considerations. For our own ESG performance data, however, it was challenging to quantify the impact the procurement side of our operations had.

Since we’re not alone in this dilemma, we decided to make it easier to track a supplier’s ESG performance indicators, not just for ourselves, but also for our customers. Esker Supplier Management now displays risk rating panes that indicate downgraded or upgraded ESG scores, which allows you to verify that ESG standards are met before engaging with a new supplier. It also enables continuous tracking of the ESG score in real time, so that you can rest assured that your supply chain meets the defined standards.

Starting in 2024, the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) requires mandatory reporting of ESG metrics for a number of European businesses. To prepare for these requirements, Esker developed AI-supported capabilities that extract energy consumption from utility bills and travel expenses. This feature will make meeting the reporting requirements much easier.

The recent Forrester report “The Environmental Sustainability Procurement Technology Landscape, Q3 2023” gives clarifying insights into how to work with vendors of solutions that are meant to track an organisation’s carbon footprint. We are excited to be mentioned as a Notable Vendor. The features in Esker Supplier Management assist in reducing the complexity of ESG reporting and in managing compliance with ESG regulations, of which many more are expected to be implemented in the near future. We are happy to be considered part of the solution for the huge challenge that humanity is facing.

Feel free to contact us! We’d be happy to discuss all things ESG with you, and help you figure out how Esker can help.

This is, for some people at least, one of the most dreaded questions in a job interview. There’s no obvious right or wrong answer, and whether the answer ‘fits’ depends on the — often mysterious — inner workings of the company you’re interviewing at.

But for a company, this question is an inevitable consideration for the business plan. And, naturally, it’s not limited to five years, either.

When considering Source-to-Pay automation for your business, you obviously want to go with a vendor that is experienced and offers mature solutions that are ready to get up and running as soon as possible, yet should also provide scalability so that you can easily plan for the next two, three, five or ten years.

Gartner® Hype Cycle reports reveal emerging technologies that have the potential to disrupt industries and spot investment opportunities that can give you a competitive edge. According to Gartner, “Hype Cycles provide a graphic representation of the maturity and adoption of technologies and applications, and how they are potentially relevant to solving real business problems and exploiting new opportunities”.

Which is why we are excited that Esker is listed as a Sample Vendor in three technology categories in the 2023 Gartner® Hype Cycle for Procurement and Sourcing Solutions: AP Invoice Automation, Supplier E-invoicing and Source-to-Pay Suites. According to Gartner, solutions such as Esker Accounts Payable, Esker Supplier Management and Esker Sourcing are well on their way to reaching the Plateau of Productivity.

Esker’s automation solutions not only help your business run smoother and provide visibility now, but with our continuous dedication to innovation and listening to customer feedback, we’re convinced that you can nail down a pretty solid business plan for the next 5, 10, or even 15 years.

Companies worldwide trust Gartner Hype Cycles to guide their technology decisions.

Access your complimentary copy to learn why Esker was recognised as a Sample Vendor.

Gartner, Hype Cycle for Procurement and Sourcing Solutions, 2023, By Kaitlynn Sommers, Micky Keck, Lynne Phelan, Naveen Mahendra, Cian Curtin, Chaithanya Paradarami, 19 July 2023
GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally, Hype Cycle is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved.
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