AI in Accounts Receivable: 2025 guide to implementation and ROI

Key statistics and market trends driving AI adoption

How AI is revolutionizing the order-to-cash cycle and accounts receivable

Two years on from the launch of ChatGPT, AI has moved beyond the initial hype cycle to demonstrate tangible business value across industries. The big question has shifted from whether AI adoption is warranted to how organizations can maximize its proven potential.

While AI technology keeps improving, several established factors provide compelling evidence that AI has successfully transitioned from experimental technology to business-critical infrastructure:

1. The vast amount of data available on the internet today serves as the lifeblood for training advanced language models like ChatGPT.
2. Computing power and storage have reached unprecedented levels and continue to expand rapidly, providing the necessary infrastructure for AI’s growth.
3. Users worldwide are actively engaging with AI tools, providing real-time feedback that fuels the development of even more sophisticated models.

These factors have enabled AI to move beyond the experimental phase into widespread enterprise adoption. The focus now centers on implementation and measurable ROI rather than proof of concept.

Specifically for the order-to-cash cycle and accounts receivable, where the onus is on moving and settling funds faster than ever before, AI offers particularly sharpened opportunities. The companies that have put AI to work in their AR departments are seeing real results—faster payments, fewer manual errors, and happier customers. It turns out the early promises weren’t just marketing hype.

Separating AI reality from AI marketing

Finance leaders face a new challenge when evaluating accounts receivable solutions: distinguishing between genuine AI capabilities and marketing claims. Making the wrong choice can impact cash flow, team productivity, and customer relationships while wasting valuable budget.

The “AI washing” problem in financial software

Many vendors have rushed to slap “AI” labels on traditional rule-based automation, hoping to capitalize on the technology’s proven success. While these solutions might still provide value, they won’t deliver the transformative results that true AI can achieve in accounts receivable processes.

The difference matters. Rule-based systems follow predetermined pathways and break down when they encounter exceptions. True AI learns from patterns, adapts to new scenarios, and improves over time—exactly what you need for AR challenges like cash application matching or payment prediction.

From Generative to Agentic AI: Accelerating Cash Flow Management with Artificial Intelligence. Get the eBook

Red flags when evaluating AR automation vendors

Watch for these warning signs during your vendor evaluation:

Vague explanations of AI functionality

If a vendor can’t clearly explain how their AI works or defaults to generic buzzwords, that’s a red flag. Real AI solutions should be able to describe their machine learning approach, training data, and improvement mechanisms.

No concrete performance metrics

Vendors making AI claims should provide specific, measurable outcomes. Look for match rates, processing time improvements, or accuracy percentages. Generic promises about “increased productivity” without numbers suggest the AI may be more marketing than reality.

Can’t explain decision-making processes

You need to understand how the AI matches payments to invoices or prioritizes collection accounts. If a vendor says “our AI just works” without explaining the methodology, you’ll struggle when customers question payment applications or auditors request process documentation. Look for vendors who can walk you through their logic and show you how decisions are made.

What to look for in genuine AI-powered AR solutions

Instead, focus on vendors who demonstrate:

Purpose-built expertise

Look for solutions designed for AR challenges like invoice matching, payment prediction, or customer segmentation. Generic AI tools rarely perform as well as purpose-built solutions.

Transparent methodology

Quality vendors will explain their AI approach—whether machine learning for cash application, natural language processing for remittance data, or predictive analytics for collections prioritization.

Proven performance data

Ask for case studies with specific metrics. 92% of companies report their AI initiatives in finance meet or exceed ROI expectations, but you want to see evidence that this particular solution delivers results.

The human element remains important

AI should complement your team’s expertise, not replace it. The most effective AR automation solutions augment human decision-making rather than eliminating it. Your collections team’s relationship skills, your credit team’s industry knowledge, and your finance team’s thinking remain irreplaceable.

Your goal should be to find solutions that make your team more effective and accurate in their work.

Read our blog → How AI accounting software powers cash flows

What mature AI implementation looks like

Companies have had enough time now to figure out what works and what doesn’t when it comes to AI in finance. Developing a good and truly vetted AI solution requires thoughtful development, proper data preparation, and ongoing refinement. Companies that rush to market with half-baked AI often disappoint customers and damage their own credibility.

Here’s what finance leaders should expect from properly developed AI solutions:

System compatibility that actually works

Your AI solution should integrate smoothly with your existing ERP and financial systems without requiring major overhauls. This approach reduces implementation time and minimizes disruption to your daily operations.

Built-in scalability from day one

Good AI grows with your business. The algorithms should handle increasing transaction volumes without manual rule updates or constant maintenance. At Billtrust, our Cash Application solution uses confidence-based machine learning that adapts automatically—processing 10,000 invoices takes the same effort as processing 1,000.

Data integration that makes sense

AI is only as good as the data it receives. Quality implementations pull information from multiple sources—your ERP, bank feeds, customer communications, and external data providers—then clean and organize it properly. The old rule “garbage in, garbage out” applies more than ever with AI systems.

Ongoing support and training

AI implementation doesn’t end at go-live. Your team needs training on how the system works, and you need ongoing support as your business changes. The vendor should provide clear documentation, responsive support, and regular updates based on user feedback.

Focus on measurable ROI

The best AI implementations start by understanding your specific challenges and measuring improvement over time. At Billtrust, we focus on understanding your workflow and the challenges you’re encountering before making enhancements. Rather than promising dramatic overnight changes, quality solutions deliver steady, measurable improvements in areas like processing speed, accuracy rates, and cost reduction.

Looking ahead: AI’s role in transforming accounts receivable

2025 marks a turning point for AI in finance. We’re moving beyond basic automation into the era of agentic AI—intelligent systems that can reason through challenges and develop solutions independently. This isn’t just faster processing; it’s AI that can think through complex payment scenarios, prioritize collection strategies, and adapt to new situations without constant human intervention.

The shift is already happening. Finance leaders are moving from requesting AI training to implementing AI solutions, with some companies even tying executive bonuses to successful AI deployments. At Billtrust, we’re building these next-generation capabilities into our platform, from cash forecasting that predicts payments with over 90% accuracy to intelligent dispute resolution that handles routine cases automatically.

Our team of experts can help you understand which AI solutions make sense for your business and develop an implementation strategy that delivers real results. Contact Billtrust today to learn more about our AI-powered AR platform.