Amey, a leading global infrastructure consultancy and operations partner, transformed its Accounts Payable (AP) function by implementing CausewayOne e-Invoicing. Faced with high volumes of paper invoices, long processing times, and limited visibility, the organisation embarked on a long-term digital transformation programme. By digitising invoice capture and aligning procurement, commercial, and finance teams on a single platform, Amey dramatically improved efficiency and data accuracy. The result was a reduction in invoice processing time from 12 days to 2 days and a significant uplift in first-time match rates from ~15% to ~70%.
Amey's AP function: 5,000 suppliers, 70K invoices
Amey is a global infrastructure consultancy with more than 100 years of experience supporting critical UK assets and systems. Its operations are underpinned by a complex and high-volume supply chain, requiring scalable financial processes to support delivery at pace.
At the outset of its transformation, Amey managed approximately 5,000 active suppliers and received around 70,000 invoices annually via email, placing significant demand on its AP function.
"Working with Causeway as a partner, we've been able to integrate our purchase orders and make it easier for suppliers to invoice us correctly."
Joe Sellwood, Head of Source to Pay, Amey
Why Amey's paper invoicing couldn't scale
Prior to digitisation, Amey’s AP function relied heavily on manual processes and paper invoices:
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Daily deliveries of physical invoices requiring sorting and manual entry
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Average processing time of 12 days from receipt to entry
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A team of 45 full-time staff managing accounts payable
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Low first-time match rate of approximately 15%
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Limited visibility of invoice status and payment timelines
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Disconnected procurement, commercial, and finance functions
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Strained supplier relationships due to delayed payments
These challenges created inefficiencies, increased administrative burden, and limited the organisation’s ability to scale its operations effectively.
"We've gone from milk crates of paper invoices arriving in the post every day to 96% of our invoices now coming in electronically."
Joe Sellwood, Head of Source to Pay, Amey
Automating AP with CausewayOne e-Invoicing
Amey partnered with Causeway to implement CausewayOne e-Invoicing, adopting a long-term, iterative approach to transformation rather than a one-off implementation.
Key elements of the solution included:
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Automated invoice capture and validation: invoices submitted electronically and validated against PO and GRN data
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PO flip functionality: enabling suppliers to convert purchase orders directly into accurate invoices
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Standardised invoice presentation: consistent template format across all suppliers
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Flexible supplier connectivity: integration options tailored to supplier size and digital capability
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Supplier self-service portal: real-time status tracking and reconciliation without reliance on AP teams
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Single unified platform: aligning procurement, finance, and commercial teams around one data source
This approach enabled Amey to standardise processes while improving transparency and collaboration across its supply chain.
The numbers: 12 to 2 Days, 70% match rate
The transformation delivered significant operational and strategic benefits:
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Processing time reduced from 12 days to 2 days
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First-time match rate increased from ~15% to ~70%
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96% of invoices now received electronically
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99% of invoices processed against purchase orders
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50% reduction in AP team size while improving service levels
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Improved payment performance and stronger supplier trust
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Reduced query volumes and administrative workload
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Enhanced financial visibility and forecasting capability
These outcomes highlight the value of automation and integration in modernising finance operations at scale.
"We've been able to move our first-time match rate from around 15% to around 70% and reduce the size of our AP function by 50% – while delivering a much better service back to our supply chain."
Joe Sellwood, Head of Source to Pay, Amey
What other AP teams can learn from Amey
Amey’s experience provides valuable insight into what it takes to successfully digitise finance operations at scale. The following key takeaways reflect the factors that helped drive adoption, improve performance, and deliver lasting business value:
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A long-term partnership approach is critical to successful digital transformation
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Automation must be supported by process standardisation and integration
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Supplier engagement is essential to drive adoption and maximise value
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Real-time visibility improves both operational efficiency and strategic decision-making
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A single platform helps eliminate silos and align internal stakeholders
To find out more about how CausewayOne can support your e-Invoicing journey, contact us today.
Questions, answered
At the outset of its transformation, Amey managed around 5,000 active suppliers and received approximately 70,000 invoices a year via email – a volume that placed significant demand on its accounts payable function.
Amey relied on manual processing and paper invoices, taking 12 days on average from receipt to entry. A team of 45 full-time staff managed AP, with a first-time match rate of only around 15%.
Processing time fell from 12 days to 2, first-time match rates rose from around 15% to 70%, 96% of invoices are now received electronically, and Amey reduced its AP team size by 50% while improving service levels.
Amey adopted automated invoice capture and validation, PO flip functionality, standardised invoice presentation, flexible supplier connectivity, a supplier self-service portal, and a single unified platform across procurement, finance and commercial teams.
