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Automation that delivers hard savings
On average, UK SMEs waste up to 30% of staff time searching for or handling documents manually. At current wage levels, this equates to tens of thousands of pounds per year spent on non-value-adding activities.
With DocuWare, these inefficiencies disappear. Documents are captured automatically from email or scanners, indexed instantly, and available in seconds—removing the paper chase entirely. Teams spend less time pushing paper and more time driving revenue, improving supplier terms, or supporting customers.
For most SMEs, automation translates directly into staff capacity savings of 20–40%, enabling growth without additional headcount.
Consider how often invoices stall on desks or in inboxes, delaying payment runs and frustrating suppliers. With DocuWare, invoices route automatically to the right approvers, who can sign off from any device, anywhere. Dashboards provide full visibility, ensuring nothing gets “lost in the system.”
The commercial benefit? Faster approvals, stronger supplier relationships, and better cash flow management. SMEs using DocuWare typically reduce approval cycles by up to 70%, giving Finance Managers tighter control over spend and Directors a real-time view of commitments.
Compliance Without the Headaches
Non-compliance isn’t just a regulatory issue—it’s a reputational one. HMRC audits, GDPR breaches, and lost records can cost dearly in fines and brand damage.
DocuWare eliminates this risk by embedding compliance into every process. Every document is securely stored, access-controlled, and audit-ready. For Finance Directors, this means complete confidence in governance and a significant reduction in the hidden costs of non-compliance.
The average SME spends £1–£2 on processing a single invoice manually. For a business handling 2,000 invoices a month, that’s a cost of £2,000–£4000 monthly just to move paper but with DocuWare this can be reduced to pennies. Invoices are captured, matched to POs, routed for approval, and booked with little or no human input. Exceptions are flagged instantly, meaning Finance teams only step in when necessary.
The impact is profound:
Average manual time per invoice from 10 mins to seconds.- Automation rates exceed 85%, with staff handling only exceptions.
- Payment speed improves unlocking preferential terms.
For a typical SME, this equates to annual savings well into six figures, alongside stronger working capital control.
The Competitive Edge for SMEs
Implementing DocuWare isn’t just about cutting costs - it’s about futureproofing the business. SMEs adopting intelligent document management consistently report:
- 20–40% capacity savings across admin and finance functions
- 70% faster approval cycles.
- Up to 80% reduction in compliance-related admin.
- Between 6 and 10 month ROI on project investment.
Today when agility and profitability define success, these are not optional gains—they are strategic imperatives.
Take Action Now
The question for Managing Directors, Finance Managers, and Finance Directors is no longer if document management is needed, but when. Every month without automation represents lost savings, missed opportunities, and unnecessary risk exposure.
DocuWare offers a proven, low-disruption route to transformation. Whether your objective is cutting AP costs, strengthening compliance, or creating capacity for growth, the business case writes itself.
Isn’t it time your SME stopped paying for inefficiency, if so then get in touch with us now and let us help you on your digitalisation journey.
