The Industry Landscape
Modernizing AP in Energy with Intelligent Automation
AP operations across the energy sector are often constrained by fragmented systems, high manual effort and legacy infrastructure. As companies navigate complex vendor ecosystems and time-sensitive financial closures, intelligent automation and unified platforms are becoming critical to scale operations, reduce costs and strengthen compliance.
The Client Challenge
An Urgent Need to Modernize AP and Exit Legacy Systems
The client was operating a fragmented and heavily manual AP process spread across five disconnected systems. Only 8 percent of invoices were processed straight-through. The environment relied on aging Optical Character Recognition (OCR) tools, bots, e-mail-based workflows and legacy SAP integrations – creating inefficiencies and backlogs, high processing costs, limited visibility, strained vendor relations and compliance risk.
With a tight Transition Services Agreement (TSA) exit window of just 6-8 weeks and expiring third-party system licenses, the client needed to quickly transition to a unified, future-ready AP platform. The new solution had to ensure business continuity while driving long-term efficiency and automation.
The Solution
Delivering Intelligent Automation at Speed with TRAC ONE-F
WNS partnered with the client to implement TRAC ONE-F, our proprietary low-code AP Hyperapp, delivering a modern, intelligent invoice processing platform within a 7-week timeline
Working in close collaboration with client IT teams and their third-party consultants, WNS led the end-to-end transformation, from requirement gathering and stakeholder workshops to integration testing and business cutover. The platform consolidated disparate tools into a single intelligent workflow, incorporating:
The Outcome
A Transformed AP Process, from Fragmented to Future-Ready
The implementation of TRAC ONE-F delivered measurable improvements across operational, financial and compliance dimensions. Within just a month of go-live, the client saw marked improvements in efficiency and control, laying the foundation for scalable AP operations.
Key Results
percent reduction in time-to-market for AP automation – deployed end-to-end in just 7 weeks
> percent accuracy in invoice data capture via AI-powered OCR
Enhanced visibility into the invoice lifecycle, enabling proactive issue resolution
Streamlined vendor payments Service-level Agreement (SLA) adherence, reducing late fees and disputes
percent STP rate achieved within a month, up from a baseline of 8 percent
Backlog fully cleared within the first 30 days post go-live
Improved compliance and audit readiness through integrated tracking and controls
With TRAC ONE-F in place, Phase 2 enhancements are expected to further accelerate processing and vendor management. The client is now positioned to scale AP operations in line with future system migrations and business expansion – confident in a platform built for adaptability, transparency and automation.
FAQs
1. What is utilization management in the context of energy and utilities, and why is it important?
In Energy & Utilities, utilization management refers to optimizing how resources, assets, and operational processes are used to ensure cost efficiency, reliability, and regulatory compliance. For example, in the case study, the client’s Accounts Payable (AP) processes required better utilization of financial, operational, and workforce resources. WNS helped streamline and optimize AP workflows, improving utilization, reducing manual effort, and enabling accurate, timely payments—critical for operational continuity in the energy sector.
2. How does prior authorization or approval workflows impact suppliers and internal teams in energy companies?
Prior authorization in energy operations typically includes invoice approvals, vendor validation, and compliance checks. Inefficient or manual authorization processes delay supplier payments, increase operational bottlenecks, and reduce financial visibility. In the case study, the energy provider faced 95%+ manual processing, causing delays and compliance risks. WNS redesigned the AP lifecycle with automated validation and streamlined approval workflows, significantly improving supplier experience and internal efficiency.
3. What role does data democratization play in improving financial and operational decision-making for energy providers?
Data democratization in Energy & Utilities means making financial, operational, and vendor-related data accessible across departments for faster, smarter decisions. The case study highlights how limited visibility and siloed data slowed invoice processing and AP efficiency. WNS implemented a KPI-led governance model, transparent dashboards, and real-time data accessibility—empowering both finance and operations teams to make informed decisions and proactively manage exceptions.
4. How can automation and AI transform financial workflows such as Accounts Payable for energy companies?
Automation and AI reduce manual AP workloads, eliminate errors, standardize complex validation checks, and accelerate invoice processing. In the case study, WNS introduced intelligent automation, workflow redesign, and standardized SOPs—cutting manual processing, reducing failure rates, and enabling scalability. AI-led insights also helped proactively detect duplicate invoices, mismatched records, and compliance deviations—critical in a tightly regulated utility environment.
5. Why are strong vendor-partner relationships crucial for value-based outcomes in the energy sector?
In Energy & Utilities, vendor-partner collaboration is essential for uninterrupted operations, timely procurement, grid maintenance, and compliance-driven projects. Inefficient AP or procurement processes strain vendor relationships and increase risks. The case study demonstrates how WNS improved vendor experience through faster processing, error reduction, transparency, and reliable payment cycles—strengthening long-term partnerships and enabling value-driven, sustainable operations.
6. How does WNS enable operational resilience for Energy & Utility companies through digital transformation?
WNS brings deep industry experience, process expertise, and digital-first capabilities to modernize financial operations like AP, procurement, billing, and customer operations. In the case study, WNS transformed a fragmented, highly manual AP function into a scalable, automated, KPI-driven operation—enhancing accuracy, reducing operational risk, and improving business continuity for the energy provider.
7. What digital capabilities does WNS offer to address challenges such as manual processing and low visibility in energy operations?
WNS offers AI-driven invoice processing, automated validation engines, workflow management, analytics dashboards, process re-engineering, and governance frameworks. These solutions eliminate siloed processes, improve visibility, reduce errors, and allow energy companies to scale operations without proportional increases in cost or effort—exactly as demonstrated in the AP transformation case study.
8. Why is WNS a trusted transformation partner for global Energy & Utility companies?
WNS combines domain expertise, robust digital tools, strong governance, and cross-industry best practices. Its co-creation approach ensures solutions match unique requirements of utility clients—whether improving AP, enhancing CX, modernizing billing, or optimizing operational processes. The case study shows WNS’s ability to deliver measurable impact: standardized processes, reduced failure rates, enhanced vendor satisfaction, and a scalable AP model for future growth.