This report examines the varying degrees of automation and efficiency among North American (primarily United States) organizations’ AP processes, and what motivates—or prohibits—movement towards technology. It also examines the variances in the tools available for AP and payments processing, explores why organizations choose one type of tool over another, and provides a high-level summary of the features and functionality of leading payables automation software. The purpose of this report is to help organizations understand where they stand among their peers in terms of AP efficiency so that they can determine the optimal path toward automation and operational excellence.