Invoice exception management

• US 20080133388A1
• Filed: 12/01/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Reiner, Robert, Alekseev, Sergey, Hochwarth, Pascal, Soehngen, Tanja, Sala, Paola, Klehr, Benjamin
• Application Number:
  US11/607,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20080133388A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

The disclosure provides a system, method, and software for facilitating invoice exception management. Particularly, this disclosure describes systems, method, and software for facilitating invoice exception management. The software comprises computer readable instructions. When executed, the software is operable to receive an invoice into a distributed business application. The software can identify an exception to the invoice. If an exception to the invoice is identified, the software automatically presents resolution options for the identified exception to a user via an invoice center interface.

Claims

1. Invoice management software for facilitating invoice exception resolution comprising computer readable instructions operable when executed to:

receive an invoice into a distributed business application;

identify an exception to the invoice; and

automatically present resolution options for the identified exception to a user via an invoice center interface.

2. The software of claim 1, wherein the receipt of the invoice comprises receipt via an invoice clerk using the invoice center interface.

3. The software of claim 2, wherein the receipt includes validation of various portions of the invoice.

4. The software of claim 1, wherein the receipt of the invoice comprises receiving the invoice electronically from a third party.

5. The software of claim 1, wherein the identified exception is one of the following:

invoice duplication;

missing external information;

missing internal information;

missing goods receipt;

incorrect reference;

approval overdue;

price variance;

quantity variance;

or

tax variance.

6. The software of claim 1, wherein the presented resolution comprises one of the following actions by the user:

accept exception;

reject invoice;

rekey at least a portion of the invoice;

contact internal people;

or

contact external people.

7. The software of claim 1, wherein the invoice center interface displays at least a portion of a plurality of invoices with one or more exceptions via a secured portal.

8. The software of claim 1, wherein automatically presenting resolution options for the identified exception comprises:

processing the identified exception using a plurality of exception rules that automatically identify appropriate resolutions for the identified exception; and

presenting a particular presentation by the invoice center interface based on the identified resolution that facilitates the identified resolution.

9. The software of claim 8, the particular presentation comprising a notification that the resolution was automatically initiated.

10. The software of claim 8, the particular presentation comprising a display of recommended procedures for resolving the exception.

11. The software of claim 1, wherein the user is third party supplier of the invoice.

12. A system for facilitating invoice exception management comprising:

memory storing a plurality of invoices and a plurality of invoice-related data; and

one or more processors operable to;

receive an invoice into a distributed business application;

identify an exception to the invoice; and

automatically present resolution options for the identified exception to a user via an invoice center interface using at least a subset of the invoice-related data.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the receipt of the invoice comprises receiving the invoice electronically from a third party.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the identified exception is one of the following:

invoice duplication;

missing external information;

missing internal information;

missing goods receipt;

incorrect reference;

approval overdue;

price variance;

quantity variance;

or

tax variance.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the presented resolution comprises one of the following actions by the user:

accept exception;

reject invoice;

rekey at least a portion of the invoice;

contact internal people;

or

contact external people.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the invoice center interface displays at least a portion of a plurality of invoices with one or more exceptions via a secured portal.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein automatically presenting resolution options for the identified exception comprises:

processing the identified exception using a plurality of exception rules that automatically identify appropriate resolutions for the identified exception; and

presenting a particular presentation by the invoice center interface based on the identified resolution that facilitates the identified resolution, the identified resolution utilizing at least the subset of invoice-related data.

18. The system of claim 17, the particular presentation comprising a notification that the resolution was automatically initiated.

19. The system of claim 17, the particular presentation comprising a display of recommended procedures for resolving the exception.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the user is third party supplier of the invoice.