Accounts payable and spend management platforms are a tricky selection to make; many offer a range of services that can either be “too much” or “too little” for your business, depending on your needs. At the same time, though, there’s a glut of information available that makes determining the best platform for your needs a difficult endeavor.
Coupa is one popular spend management platform that, through Coupa Pay, also integrates payment processing. But it’s just one of many tools that could be right for your business – understanding the difference between Coupa and Coupa software alternatives is the first step towards right-sizing your business.
What is Coupa?
Coupa is a comprehensive spend management platform that includes centralized request and approval workflows, invoice and expense automation tools, vendor onboarding and integration solutions, and a one-stop global payment platform for rapid-fire reconciliation.
Coupa’s tools also include AI-driven inventory management, AP automation, and travel solutions that include booking tools that get the best possible hotel and flight pricing for your company. Competitors to Coupa tend to focus on other aspects of spend management, like procurement, making Coupa unique in this regard.
Nanonets
Nanonets leans hard into machine learning and AI’s potential to change the way a range of businesses manage their accounting systems, no matter their size. A core selling point is Nanonets’ suite of advanced optical character recognition (OCR) that helps accounting teams integrate invoicing, receipts, and more, no matter whether they’re digital or paper products.
This saves companies countless hours’ worth of manual data entry while cutting down on error rates and ensuring vendors get paid properly with minimal operational disruption. Likewise, digitally centralizing your documents helps draw insight into spend through Nanonets’ AI-powered analytics tools. Nanonets also offers a wide range of accounts payable software features, making it a one-stop shop for many business needs.
Nanonets vs. Coupa Comparison
Nanonets Top Features
- Instant Learning AI: Nanonets’ AI rapidly extracts data from documents without prior training and improves over time based on user feedback, making the process highly efficient and adaptable.
- Extensive ERP Integrations: It supports integrations with major ERP systems like QuickBooks, Microsoft Dynamics, Xero, Sage, Salesforce, etc., offering a broad compatibility range.
- User Experience: Known for its world-class, intuitive, and effortless user interface, Nanonets makes navigation and task execution simpler for users.
Best-Fit Companies for Nanonets
Nanonets stands out as the go-to solution for companies inundated with a plethora of document types, offering swift and flexible AI-powered data extraction that doesn’t require significant pre-training. It’s particularly advantageous for businesses that demand effortless integration with an extensive array of ERP systems. With its intuitive user interface, Nanonets appeals to teams in pursuit of a straightforward yet powerful user experience. It is perfectly tailored not only for small to medium-sized businesses but also for specific departments in larger enterprises that are navigating complex, document-intensive procedures and are aiming to automate and refine their accounts payable and related document-management workflows.
Price Comparison
Include, in paragraph and/or bullet formats, any publicly available pricing details for this competitor. Plus, describe how this competitor compares in pricing to Coupa. By comparing pricing information in this section, we can set this piece apart from Tipalti, which only covers the brand’s price, but does not incorporate any comparison to Coupa.
Nanonets’ pricing is much clearer than Coupa’s, which requires custom quotes regardless of your business size or needs. By comparison, Nanonets has two core tiers with spend and accounts payable software targeting small and medium businesses or larger companies testing the waters:
- Starter (FREE): This is a “pay as you go” tier, perfect for companies with limited documentation requirements, sole proprietorships, and the like. Under this plan, your first 500 pages are free; then, you’ll pay $0.3 per page. Nanonets’ OCR will auto-capture tables in this tier as well, though you have limited field options to play with. You’ll also pay $0.05 per step execution in managed workflows.
- Pro ($499 per month, per model): The Pro plan covers one model and up to 5,000 pages monthly; additional pages cost just $0.10 per page. Step execution pricing is the same as the Starter tier, but you’ll also get additional support features and team integration.
- Enterprise (custom pricing): For the top players, Nanonets offers a robust package priced according to your needs. Though you’ll need to work with their account managers for an exact quote, the Enterprise tier unlocks document classification tools, signature and QR code detection, custom integrations, and more. You’ll also get 1-on-1 dedicated support and a white glove setup process (setup is self-guided for the previous tiers).
SAP Ariba
SAP Ariba is a cloud-based spend management and procurement platform that, like most others, ties vendors and buyers together no matter their geographic location, enabling a cross-border ecosystem wherein buyers and sellers can connect and transact within a single platform. A big selling point to SAP Ariba is its “Supplier Risk” portal which mitigates many challenges associated with cross-border transactions by evaluating individual suppliers on a range of criteria, including labor concerns, ethics, regulatory compliance, and more.
SAP Ariba vs. Coupa Comparison
SAP Ariba Top Features
Ariba, a SAP company, stands out as a comprehensive procurement and supply chain collaboration solution designed to streamline business-to-business buying and selling processes. Its top features include an extensive network that connects millions of suppliers and buyers worldwide, facilitating seamless transactions and collaboration. Ariba offers advanced e-procurement and e-invoicing capabilities that automate the purchase order and invoicing process, significantly reducing manual efforts and improving efficiency. The platform also provides strategic sourcing tools that enable businesses to find the best suppliers, negotiate savings, and manage contracts effectively.
Best-Fit Companies for SAP Ariba
SAP Ariba is good for large companies extending their reach well beyond existing borders; for those sourcing overseas vendors, the company’s vetting and management tools are invaluable and save time, money, and potential pitfalls associated with questionable vendors.
Since SAP Ariba is part of the overall SAP ecosystem, it’s also useful for businesses already familiar with or using SAP as part of regular operations.
Price Comparison
SAP Ariba uses a unique pricing structure that automatically upgrades your account as you reach certain document count thresholds or customer transaction amounts. The initial tier, Premium, is free for up to four documents or $50,000 worth of transactions with a single customer. Thereafter, you’ll pay per tier based on utilization:
- Bronze ($50 annually): 5 – 24 documents; up to $250,000 worth of transactions with a single customer. Subsequent tiers are only based on document quantity, not transaction amounts.
- Silver ($750 annually): 25 – 99 documents. This tier, and the following tiers, allows for connectivity to existing ERP systems.
- Gold ($2,250 annually): 100 – 499 documents. This tier unlocks additional tools to manage buyer/seller interactions alongside premium support.
- Platinum ($5,500 annually): 500+ documents. This top tier unlocks the entire automation suite for users alongside unique networking opportunities.
Corcentric
Corcentric blends vendor management and payment processing tools, but its unique value proposition is that it also offers advisory and asset management services. Its broad range of tools includes AR/AP automation and data analytics, but its dedicated team of strategic advisors set it apart by offering sourcing, procurement, and payment advice to help streamline operations.
Corcentric vs. Coupa Comparison
Corcentric Top Features
Corcentric offers a suite of features that cater to the finance and procurement needs of businesses, with a strong emphasis on automation and optimization. Its accounts payable automation streamlines the invoice-to-pay process, while accounts receivable tools enhance billing and cash flow. The platform’s procurement optimization capabilities manage purchase orders and vendor relationships effectively, complemented by robust contract management features for compliance and renewals. Spend analysis tools provide deep insights into spending for cost-saving opportunities, and electronic invoicing facilitates a faster, paperless billing cycle.Bottom of Form
Best-Fit Companies for Corcentric
Large companies with a budget to support a service that combines spend and automation platforms with ongoing consultation initiatives are well-served by using Corcentric. However, some of Corcentric’s top benefits may prove unnecessary for companies adept at navigating procurement and with robust and effective standard operations procedures. Likewise, smaller companies likely won’t need many of the tailored tools Corcentric offers enterprise-level clients.
Price Comparison
Like Coupa, all of Corcentric’s pricing structure is driven by your business’ size and needs; you’ll need to work with a Corcentric account manager to determine pricing.
Tradeshift
Tradeshift shines in its procure-to-pay process that helps digitize and tie transactions between buyers and vendors together to ensure compliance and transparency while reducing wastage or fraud threats. Tradeshift has a collaborative workspace for vendors and buyers to interact and manage business transactions and leverages AI to automate invoicing processes and workflows.
Tradeshift vs. Coupa Comparison
Tradeshift Top Features
Tradeshift is known for a comprehensive suite of features that assists supply chain operations, primarily focusing on digitizing and simplifying financial transactions. Key among its offerings is its robust e-invoicing system that allows for seamless digital invoicing, promoting prompt payment processing and improved cash flow. The platform also excels in supplier management, equipping businesses with advanced tools to oversee supplier data, assess performance, and mitigate risks, thereby fostering durable supplier partnerships and enhancing supply chain robustness. Tradeshift’s support for the entire procure-to-pay process ensures that users can efficiently manage purchasing activities from order to payment within a unified, cloud-based ecosystem.
Best-Fit Companies for Tradeshift
Smaller companies who need a bespoke and guided experience but lack the sheer scale as those who may need Corcentric-level offerings, for example, benefit from Tradeshift’s features. Notably, Tradeshift outsources advisory services to a robust and active partner community ready to help guide users through procurement and vendor management processes.
Tradeshift’s pricing tier also benefits smaller businesses with limited transaction volume, as basic offerings are free. The pricing structure (described below) increases rapidly but at a pace that’s appropriate to volume scaling.
Price Comparison
Tradeshift, like some other spend and invoice management platforms, uses an auto-regulated tier system that’s driven by total transactions. All tiers offer invoice submission, order capture, ticket support, and live chat support. All tiers except for the first (Startup) offer integration support. Tradeshift defines transaction volume as invoicing and credit notes, not purchase orders.
- Startup (FREE): Fewer than 600 annual transactions.
- Business ($3,600 annually): 601 – 3,000 transactions.
- Growth ($9,000 annually): 3,001 – 12,000 transactions.
- Enterprise ($18,000 annually): 12,000+ transactions annually.
Procurify
Procurify is an integrated spend and expense management platform that offers robust requester and approver workflows to gain granular insight into who is spending what, when, and why. The level of detail and nuance Procurify offers is invaluable in delivering deep insight into spending trends and preventing waste or, worse, fraudulent spending.
Procurify vs. Coupa Comparison
Procurify Top Features
Procurify stands out in the procurement software landscape with its cloud-based spend management platform, designed for ease of use and streamlined procurement operations. It facilitates comprehensive purchase order management, enabling users to create, issue, and track purchase orders effortlessly, while also maintaining meticulous records. Additionally, Procurify provides customizable approval workflows that can be tailored to suit the unique hierarchical structure and procurement policies of any business, ensuring that spending stays within budget and in line with company procedures.
Best-Fit Companies for Procurify Price Comparison
Procurify best serves companies with complex approval chains or many dispersed departments. Likewise, data-driven companies seeking novel insight into their spending patterns in an effort to optimize or cut waste will benefit from Procurify’s real-time data and reporting features.
Price Comparison
Unlike Coupa, Procurify offers multiple tiers with pricing easily determined. However, like Coupa, Procurify’s actual pricing is difficult to determine as they don’t readily define “small” or “medium business.” Likewise, its large and enterprise business plans are priced according to specific needs. In any case, if you want a solid idea of your potential pricing, you’ll need to work with an account manager. The two non-enterprise tiers are:
- Small Business: $1,000+ per month.
- Medium Business: $2,000+ monthly.
Tipalti
Tipalti is an integrated automation platform that includes AP automation, cross-border payments, and more. Its expense and spend solutions help gather all standalone payment processing into a single channel, including ACH and bank transfers, credit cards, wires, checks, and even PayPal. Tipalti is particularly beneficial if your company leverages international labor as its global payment infrastructure automates cross-border payments.
Tipalti vs. Coupa Comparison
Tipalti Top Features
Tipalti is a comprehensive accounts payable automation platform that streamlines global supplier payments, offering a broad spectrum of currencies and methods to facilitate international transactions. It emphasizes tax compliance, automating the collection and validation of tax forms and the preparation of necessary tax reports to ensure adherence to regulatory standards. The platform includes a self-service portal where suppliers can independently manage their information, reducing the administrative burden on payers.
Best-Fit Companies for Tipalti
Companies leveraging global talent will enjoy Tipalti’s streamlined cross-border payment tools. Tipalti also lets companies pay influencers and affiliate marketers through a dedicated channel, benefiting eCommerce companies that extensively use these marketing tools. Tipalti also eases the tax burden of cross-border payments by ensuring compliance and tax management through a KPMG-approved back-end system.
Price Comparison
Though its basic tier includes platform access, starting at $129 monthly, you’ll need to pay extra for additional features and benefits, including tax form management and similar common requirements. Like Coupa, you’ll need to work with an account manager to determine your likely pricing structure.
BILL
BILL has a basic set of no-frills spend management tools that target small digital retailers and individual operations. BILL Spend and Expense lets users access credit opportunities, manage expenses and budgets, and track reimbursements. BILL also has a mobile app, perfect for on-the-go small operations that need rapid access to transaction tools.
BILL vs. Coupa Comparison
BILL Top Features
BILL is a leading cloud-based software that offers a suite of financial tools tailored for small to mid-sized businesses, focusing on automating and simplifying the accounts payable and receivable processes. Among its top features are streamlined invoice creation and management, enabling users to easily send and track invoices, and automated payment processing that ensures timely transactions while improving cash flow. The platform also boasts comprehensive integration capabilities, seamlessly connecting with major accounting software like QuickBooks, Xero, and Sage, thereby ensuring data consistency and accuracy across financial systems.
Best-Fit Companies for BILL
BILL best serves small companies and solo operators; the company’s platform offers limited expansion or scaling opportunities for larger businesses with custom needs. However, small businesses and individuals benefit from BILL’s massive time-saving opportunities, considering many see administrative and accounting management eat into time better spent on strategic initiatives.
Price Comparison
BILL is unique compared to Coupa as its free Spend and Expense platform includes business credit access, spend management, and expense management. If you do, however, want to integrate other BILL features, its Essentials tier starts at $45 per user monthly for AP or AR automation; it’s $79 per user monthly for both AP and AR features.
Buyer’s Guide: Coupa vs Nanonets
Intro to Nanonets
Nanonets, at the forefront of AI-driven workflow automation, is transforming the business landscape with its advanced workflow automation product. Distinguished by its Instant Learning AI, which requires no initial training and quickly adapts to user feedback, Nanonets delivers a streamlined and intuitive experience. Its capacity for rapid deployment and accelerated market readiness is further enhanced by seamless integration with leading ERP systems, including QuickBooks, Microsoft Dynamics, Xero, Sage, and Salesforce. As a pioneering AI company, Nanonets embeds artificial intelligence into every facet of its operations, promising its clients not just a product but an experience that heralds the future of business process automation. This approach positions Nanonets as a reliable and innovative partner for businesses seeking to embrace the full potential of AI-enhanced efficiency and decision-making.
For many, Nanonets is THE name in AI-powered workflow, accounting, and automation solutions. One of the first to fully leverage today’s emerging tech, Nanonets helps a range of businesses automate workflows and unlock the power of existing data through advanced insight.
Nanonets can be easily adapted to any business with a minimal learning curve and ongoing support; it also integrates with most ERPs, including QuickBooks, Xero, Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, and Sage.
Ultimately, Nanonets’ range of tools that include AP automation, spend management, and more position it near the top of the list of “hands-off” accounting tools that let AI do the heavy lifting, saving time and money while letting users focus their efforts on efforts that compound business success. This makes Nanonets stand out as a competitor to Coupa while also setting it apart from other Coupa alternatives.
How does Nanonets stack up as a Coupa Competitor?
Nanonets and Bill.com are both effective in automating accounts payable processes, but Nanonets stands out with its AI-driven data extraction that requires no initial training and learns from user interactions, as well as its extensive ERP integration capabilities. Bill.com, conversely, is more established in providing a broad set of basic features for both accounts payable and receivable, with a focus on providing a low-cost solution and efficient payment processing.
Nanonets is the best choice for you if…
Nanonets is particularly well-suited for businesses that prioritize advanced AI capabilities for handling a diverse and high volume of documents, require seamless integration with a variety of ERP systems, and value user-friendly interfaces for efficient workflow management in accounts payable automation.
- High-Volume Document Handling: Ideal for businesses that process a large volume of diverse invoices and financial documents. Nanonets’ Instant Learning AI excels in extracting data from various document formats without prior training, making it a superior choice for companies with high variability in their document types and sources.
- Rapid Implementation in Diverse ERP Environments: Companies using a wide range of ERP systems, such as QuickBooks, Microsoft Dynamics, Xero, Sage, or Salesforce, will benefit from Nanonets’ comprehensive ERP integrations. This capability makes it a better fit for businesses that require seamless and versatile integration across multiple accounting platforms.
- Adaptive AI Learning in Complex Scenarios: Businesses facing evolving document formats or data extraction requirements would find Nanonets more advantageous. The platform’s AI adapts and improves continually based on user feedback, offering greater long-term efficiency in dynamic business environments where document types and formats frequently change.
- Enhanced User Experience for All Business Sizes: Nanonets’ user-friendly interface is particularly beneficial for small to medium-sized businesses or teams that lack specialized training in financial software. Its intuitive design ensures ease of adoption and reduces the learning curve, making it a preferred choice for organizations prioritizing ease of use without compromising on advanced features.
- Efficient Workflow Management for AP Automation: Companies looking for a robust solution to automate their accounts payable workflows, especially those dealing with complex approval processes and needing accurate GL coding and 3-way matching, would find Nanonets more effective. Its AI-driven approach streamlines these processes, offering a higher degree of precision and efficiency compared to Bill.com’s more generalized feature set.
Coupa Software FAQs
What key considerations should teams make when exploring Coupa alternatives?
Businesses should consider the extent and scale of their vendor ecosystem; Coupa’s top selling features focus on integrated vendor management portals and cross-linking to help juggle a multitude of suppliers.
Which Coupa competitors are primarily focused on procurement?
Coupa procurement alternatives include SAP Ariba, Corcentric, and Tradeshift.
Which Coupa competitors are primarily focused on AP?
Nanonets, BILL, and Tipalti are primarily focused on AP.
What is Coupa pay?
Coupa pay is a payment processing platform for B2B payments that helps streamline buyer/vendor relations while keeping all transactions within a secure, transparent, cloud-based ecosystem.
How does Coupa’s Netsuite integration work?
Coupa Netsuite integration lets customers who use both Netsuite and Coupa tie approved invoices from Coupa into NetSuite and billing from NetSuite into Coupa. The integration also offers robust reporting dashboards and a range of additional payment options, including virtual card charging.
How does Coupa’s pricing work?
Coupa pricing is driven by your team’s needs, size, and scale – you’ll need to work with an account manager to determine what package and solutions are best for you before getting a custom quote.
Conclusion
AP automation and spend management aren’t easy to wrangle; picking a solid solution to do the hard work for you sometimes feels just as difficult. However, integrating one of many possible solutions is the first step towards accelerating your business growth by letting you and your team focus on strategic efforts and operational improvements.
Coupa AP and Coupa payment system integrations are just one of many viable tools for your business – the trick is finding which one offers the widest range of best-fit features for your needs and at the best price.
