We recently joined Esker On Air to discuss a challenge that’s reshaping accounts receivable: the explosive growth of customer payment portals. The conversation with Dan Reeve, Esker’s VP of Sales, revealed just how much this shift is impacting businesses worldwide.
The story behind Monto starts with a frustration many AR teams know too well. During our early days implementing ERP systems, we witnessed firsthand how companies struggled with an ever-growing number of supplier portals. What was once a simple email-based invoice process had transformed into a complex web of portal registrations, manual uploads, and endless status checking. Each portal demanded its own setup, its own process, its own attention.
Just how significant is this shift? At Esker’s recent AR user group in Atlanta, what was meant to be a brief mention of our partnership turned into an animated 45-minute discussion. The reason became clear: portal management has become what Dan Reeve calls “the new paper town,” consuming up to 35% of AR teams’ time and energy.
We built Monto to solve this challenge differently. While others had tried to connect suppliers to portals, we recognized that each buyer-supplier relationship is unique. Two customers using Ariba might have completely different requirements – different fields, different formats, different processes. By building smart connections that understand each buyer’s specific needs, we’ve created a system that doesn’t just transfer data – it ensures invoices meet every requirement before they’re even submitted.
The results speak for themselves. Our customers are seeing their Days Sales Outstanding drop by 30-50%. Invoice rejections, which typically triple the time to payment, have practically disappeared. But perhaps most importantly, we’re giving AR teams their time back.
The excitement around our Esker partnership became evident when their customers started finding us independently. They were looking for exactly what our integration provides: a single interface within Esker where they can monitor everything about their invoices. No more jumping between systems, no more manual checking, no more surprises about payment status. One of the most powerful aspects of our solution is its ability to catch issues before they become problems. Think of it as a spell-check for invoices – but instead of catching typos, it ensures every invoice matches exactly what each buyer expects. This pre-validation means teams aren’t discovering payment blockers 30 days later when the money hasn’t arrived. They know immediately if something needs attention.
The impact goes beyond just invoice processing. Finance teams using portals often spend a third of their time just accessing and navigating these systems – time they’d rather spend building relationships with customers and working on strategic initiatives. By automating these tedious tasks, we’re not just saving time – we’re enabling teams to focus on work that truly matters. Looking ahead, we’re expanding our reach beyond traditional supplier portals to connect with ERPs and lighter AP platforms. With new e-invoicing regulations emerging globally, having a robust portal strategy isn’t just about efficiency – it’s about future-proofing your business. The best part? Companies can be up and running with our solution in just 30 days, with new portal connections possible within a week.
Want to see how we’re transforming AR automation with Esker? Listen to our On Air episode here or reach out to learn more about our integrated solution.