Sutherland Powers 93% Manual AR Effort Reduction and Uplifts Process Accuracy for Global Courier Leader

Industries: Travel, Transportation, Hospitality & Logistics
Services: Automation, Data & Analytics, Robility®, Sutherland Prodigy

Client Overview

The client, a globally recognized leader in logistics and express courier services, operates in over 200 countries and territories. Known for its vast delivery network, time-critical shipping capabilities, the organization plays a vital role in enabling global commerce and supply chain continuity.

The Challenge

Eliminating AR Bottlenecks to Accelerate Revenue Recognition

The client’s accounts receivable operations were hindered by outdated, manual processes, ranging from invoice uploads and payment reconciliation to the generation of aging reports. These fragmented workflows led to persistent bottlenecks that delayed revenue recognition, strained finance teams, and limited cash flow visibility.

Key challenges included:

• High operational overhead from manual data entry and validation
  
• Delayed collections and cash application, slowing revenue cycles
  
• Frequent reconciliation errors, impacting reporting accuracy
  
• Lack of real-time visibility into payment status and collection progress

To scale efficiently and improve working capital performance, the client needed an intelligent, automated solution to streamline AR operations and enable faster, more accurate revenue realization.

Sutherland Solution

Intelligent Automation at Scale to Transform AR Performance

To resolve inefficiencies and unlock speed, accuracy, and scalability, Sutherland deployed a custom intelligent automation solution purpose-built to modernize and streamline the client’s accounts receivable operations.

1. Mapped the AR Lifecycle to Identify Automation Opportunities
   Sutherland began with a comprehensive assessment of the end-to-end AR process to pinpoint high-volume, rule-based tasks ideal for automation, focusing on areas where manual intervention created delays and errors.
2. Deployed RPA Bots to Automate Core AR Functions
   Custom robotic process automation (RPA) bots were implemented to manage key operational tasks, including:
   • Extraction and upload of invoice data
   • Intelligent payment reconciliation across channels
   • Real-time collection tracking
   • Automated generation of aging reports
3. Integrated Seamlessly with ERP and Banking Systems
   The bots were embedded into the client’s existing ERP and banking platforms to ensure real-time data flow, automated transaction validation, and uninterrupted financial operations.
4. Established a Scalable Automation Framework
   The solution was designed to support expansion into new regions and processes, creating a flexible, enterprise-grade automation foundation that evolves with the client’s global finance strategy.

Through this approach, Sutherland enabled the client to shift from manual, reactive processes to a proactive, data-driven AR function, enhancing both operational efficiency and financial performance.

The Outcome

Scalable Efficiency, Accelerated Cash Flow, and Strategic Finance Impact

In the first phase of deployment, Sutherland’s intelligent automation solution delivered immediate and measurable improvements to the client’s AR operations. Manual effort was reduced by 93%, dramatically streamlining day-to-day workflows and freeing up valuable team capacity.

Collections accelerated by 80%, significantly improving cash flow velocity, while over 90% of payments were accurately reconciled without manual intervention, reducing errors and improving reporting integrity. These enhancements allowed the finance team to pivot from transactional tasks to strategic initiatives, increasing organizational agility and value delivery.

Beyond immediate results, the scalable automation framework positioned the business for long-term digital maturity and operational resilience, laying the foundation for future process optimization and enterprise-wide transformation.