Sage is one of the most prestigious brands in back-end business and resource management. In recent years, they released Sage Paperless as a solution for construction companies seeking to automate manual invoicing and coding processes. With a variety of helpful features and impressive claims, it may seem like the best idea to choose a product with such an enduring legacy.  

But as technology and software continue to evolve, it never hurts to keep your options open. 

Whether you’re one of the 25% of small businesses still doing AP manually and considering an automation software that organizes and protects documentation… 

Or you’re a current Sage Paperless customer wondering if there’s something better out there that can increase efficiency while drastically reducing human error and saving time and money… 

This article offers insight into some of the reported problems with Sage Paperless, and presents three automated document management software alternatives that may be a better fit for your construction business–whatever stage of growth you’re in. 

Read on to find the pros and cons of these AP automation solutions, eye-opening industry statistics, and why construction-specific software is crucial to operating efficiently and ensuring compliance. 

The Importance of AP Automation in the Modern Construction Industry 

Grappling with the nuance of maintaining compliance and regulations is just one uniquely challenging aspect of operating a construction company. Add in trying to accurately code, invoice, and track multiple job sites, chase time sheets, and find time to make sure your own invoices get paid, and it’s clear that manually processing construction AP requires impeccable accuracy, and spending a lot of time on easily-automated tasks, instead of focusing on higher-priority projects. 

Even though 48% of invoices are still received manually (compared to 52% electronically) the problem with manual data entry is the risk of human error.  

Aside from draining AP specialists' time (with the average invoice taking 10 days to process, according to a 2023 report by Ardent Partners’)... it ends up costing construction businesses an egregious amount of money each year. 

Ernst & Young illustrates this point with their study revealing that each manually entered HR task (like payroll entry) costs US businesses an average of almost $5 PER task processed. 

But a simple switch to software automation can reduce payroll errors by 75%, according to a report by The Hackett Group. One popular AP automation software is Sage Paperless–a pillar of enterprise resource planning and management… but is it really all it’s cracked up to be? 

Sage Paperless has the Pedigree–but is it Actually the Best Option? 

Sage Paperless Document Management software offers AP solutions that help accounting workflows operate more efficiently with automation. Consolidating and organizing all “project-related information” into a centralized platform, it claims to boost operational efficiency by reducing reliance on paper and offering easy integration with other Sage products. 

While Sage’s long-standing career is appealing, customers report that setup for Paperless is overly complicated, has an expensive price tag, lacks features, and offers underwhelming software updates. 

With its hefty price tag, it’s worth investigating alternative software to ensure you’re not only getting the best deal, but also the right solution for your specific business needs. 

Comparing 4 Top Construction AP Automation Options 

Now that we’ve addressed the value of automating AP processes, and why it’s worth looking into other construction AP software options, let’s dive into three top solutions, their pros and cons, and customer feedback. 

Sage Paperless  

Sage Paperless is document management software that offers both on-premise and cloud-based solutions for construction companies. It claims to improve operation efficiency by automating, organizing, and storing documentation in one location with the intention of helping businesses adopt a more efficient and “paperless process”. 

 Pro 

• Integrates with Sage 100, Sage Intacct, and Sage 300 CRE 

• Offers both on-premise and cloud-based options 

• Includes a 14-day free trial 

• Adjust documents in real-time 

• User-friendly search functions 

 Con 

• Slow software 

• Users report hidden fees 

• The companion mobile app has limited features and some customers report documents go missing 

• Very expensive 

• Complex set up process 

• Requires a pre-existing and extensive IT infrastructure 

• Software “updates” mostly consist of bug fixes 
  

avidXchange (formally TimberScan) 

Avidxchange (previously Timberscan) is an accounting software developed specifically for the construction industry and states that it’s a “complete purchase-to-pay” Sage 300 CRE solution. It streamlines AP processes by centralizing information and offering features like automated workflows, automated coding, real-time reporting capabilities, and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) invoice processing. 

 Pro 

• User-friendly 

• Budget-friendly 

• A pleasant image-handling experience 

• Helpful and responsive support 

• Sage 300 CRE integration 

• Centralized location for all AP automation processes and documents 

 Con 

• Limited features 

• Once an invoice is submitted for review, the specialist can't access it until the manager reviewing the invoice “releases it” 

• Some users report compatibility issues–especially around software updates 

• Slow loading reported by some users 

SAP Concur 

SAP Concur is an accounts payable software that emphasizes the importance of going from paper to digital. It helps customers improve their AP workflows with features like mobile-compatible and cloud-based solutions. 

 Pro 

• Works well on both desktop and mobile devices 

• Customizable settings 

• User-friendly 

• Great for securely managing travel expenses 

 Con 

• Steep learning curve 

• Lacks details regarding denying/rejecting an expense report 

• Customers report having a hard time getting in contact with human support, and others aren’t satisfied with customer service as a whole 

• Expensive price tag 

hh2's Document Flow 

Hh2 cloud-based construction platform was built by contractors for contractors. Powering over 3,500 construction sites, hh2 connects field and office seamlessly, eliminating the frustration and costly errors associated with manual accounts payable. Hh2’s Document Flow software streamlines construction expense management (from invoices to reimbursements), without dealing with complicated spreadsheets and mountains of paper. 

 Pro 

• Centralizes all documents 

• Makes it easy to route approvals and expenses to the correct person 

• Automates accounts payable processes 

• Integrates with several major ERP and accounting software 

• Web-based and mobile apps included 

• Users love the User-friend interface 

• Cloud-based 

• Great services for the price 

• Large library of helpful resources 

• Responsive and friendly customer support 

 Con 

• No free trial 

• Not great for freelancers 

• Some customers report that new tech support processes are harder to use 

How to Ensure Your AP Software Serves Your Business Effectively 

With the breadth of software continuously expanding the market, it can be overwhelming trying to find the right solution for your construction company. The construction industry’s unique nuances, complexities, and compliance standards require automation software that isn’t just for accounting–but is designed specifically for your industry. 

 We hope this article has offered insight into the top construction-specific AP solutions worth looking into, and that even if you’re a long-time user of Sage products, there are excellent Sage Paperless alternatives that are accurate, secure, easy to use, and incredibly effective. 

If you’re ready to optimize your construction AP processes with the industry’s #1 back-office accounting platform, book your free demo with one of our hh2 AP experts to learn more about hh2 Document Flow. We’re always here with exceptional software–and personalized support–to help you achieve your short and long-term goals.