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Try now for FreeMakersHub automates and simplifies accounts payable (AP) for businesses with complex operations and high payment volumes. Our solution streamlines bill capture, coding, approval routing, and payment processing, giving finance teams real-time visibility into project costs and cash flow. Learn more today.
When it comes to accounts payable (AP), many businesses settle for software that’s “good enough.” The invoices get paid (eventually), the data (mostly) makes its way into QuickBooks, and vendors (usually) stay happy. But if your finance team is constantly firefighting exceptions, manually entering data, or chasing approvals—you’re leaving money on the table.
In today’s economy, efficiency isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a necessity. And outdated AP tools aren’t just slowing your team down—they’re actively costing you time, money, and operational agility.
This post breaks down how to spot the warning signs, what to look for in a modern solution, and why companies across industries are switching to AP software alternatives like MakersHub.
The most expensive part of outdated software often isn’t the monthly subscription—it’s the drag it places on your operations. Here’s how legacy or underperforming tools quietly increase your costs:
Many AP tools claim to offer automation but rely on limited OCR that fails to extract line-item data accurately. Your team still ends up typing in vendor names, coding expenses, and matching POs by hand—an expensive use of skilled labor.
According to industry benchmarks, manual invoice processing can cost $12 to $20 per invoice, compared to under $3 when fully automated. Multiply that by hundreds or thousands of monthly invoices, and the savings potential is huge.
If your current AP system doesn’t capture line-item level data, you can’t reliably allocate costs across projects, departments, or clients. This leads to inaccurate reporting, margin erosion, and operational blind spots.
For businesses in construction, trade services, and manufacturing, this isn’t a nice-to-have—it’s core to profitability.
Traditional AP platforms often force businesses to adopt their structure. Can’t customize approval routing? Have to upload to match a specific file template? That’s time spent adjusting to your tool, not the other way around.
Modern businesses need flexible, custom-fit workflows that adapt to how they actually work.
If your current tool only integrates directly with a handful of systems, you’re either stuck with an incomplete sync (and lots of rework), or forced to manually import/export CSVs and map fields repeatedly. And when admins change or integrations break, rebuilding that connection can take hours—if not days.
Even after the invoice is approved and the payment is processed, legacy tools often stop there. You’re left without:
This gap increases the risk of late fees, duplicated payments, and vendor dissatisfaction.
The financial inefficiencies of older platforms are pushing forward-thinking teams to look for more powerful AP software alternatives. Whether you're scaling operations or trying to improve margins, these transitions are driven by:
The tipping point usually comes when teams realize they’re spending more time managing the tool than the process itself.
Let’s look at a simple side-by-side comparison.
When viewed side by side, the switch from your current AP software becomes less about risk and more about opportunity.
MakersHub is redefining AP automation for businesses that operate in the real world—where bills arrive in different formats, teams work across departments, and accounting needs real-time clarity.
We don’t just “read” your invoice—we fully extract and code every line item, including:
No more manual tagging. No more missed details.
With Custom Data Sync, you can connect MakersHub to any ERP—without expensive integrations. Just drag and drop your own file format, or work with our team to automate the flow.
For businesses that outgrow QuickBooks or work across multiple platforms, this flexibility is a game-changer.
No more waiting until month-end to uncover issues. Payments, approvals, and coding sync in real-time with your accounting system—giving you constant visibility into cash flow, spend, and project-level profitability.
With Payment Credits, you choose how quickly vendors get paid. Need next-day ACH? Use more credits. Prefer standard timing? No extra cost. It’s the flexibility your cash flow needs—built into the platform.
Our onboarding isn’t just a Zoom call and a help center link. You’ll get:
Many customers tell us that support alone was reason enough to make the switch.
MakersHub is purpose-built for finance teams dealing with complexity. Our most successful customers share one (or more) of the following:
They come to us to eliminate rework, streamline collaboration, and improve financial visibility—without changing how they operate.
If your current software can’t scale with your operations, provide real-time insights, or eliminate manual busywork, it’s likely costing you more than you think.
Switching doesn’t have to mean disruption. With MakersHub, teams can go live in weeks—not months—and start seeing immediate improvements in efficiency, accuracy, and team morale.
Still not sure if it’s worth the switch? Ask yourself:
If the answer isn’t a confident yes—it’s time to explore alternatives.
Become a MakersHub Accounting Partner and unlock a world of efficiency and innovation, elevating your accounting services to new heights with our cutting-edge solution.
