The starting point
The Busby Diagnostic
A one-to-two week review that tells you exactly what's broken in your procure-to-pay operation, why it's broken, and what it's costing you — with a prioritized roadmap to fix it.
Before you buy software, you need to understand the process.
Most engagements we see start the same way: a company bought an AP automation tool, or an ERP, or a procurement platform — and the problems didn't go away. Sometimes they got worse.
The Busby Diagnostic exists because the right question isn't which software to buy. It's what's actually failing, and why. That answer almost always lives in the process, not the technology.
The Diagnostic gives you that answer in writing, with numbers attached, before you spend another dollar on tools.
What we examine
A complete picture of how your P2P operation actually runs.
Invoice receipt and routing
How invoices enter the system, who touches them first, and where they stall.
Approval hierarchy and ownership
Who approves what, how exceptions are handled, and where approvals go to die.
Vendor master and onboarding
How vendors are set up, validated, and maintained — and where duplicate or fraudulent entries hide.
Payment execution and timing
How payments are scheduled, released, and reconciled — and what late fees and missed discounts are costing you.
Exception and dispute handling
How mismatches, holds, and disputes are resolved — and how much manual effort they consume.
Spend visibility and reporting
What data exists, when it's available, and whether anyone can act on it before the money is gone.
What you receive
Three documents. No fluff.
Root Cause Analysis
A clear diagnosis of what's failing and why — written in plain language, not consultant-speak. We identify the actual source of each problem, not just the symptom.
As-Is Process Map
A documented map of how your P2P process actually runs today — including the informal workarounds, the inbox-based approvals, and the steps that only one person knows how to do.
Prioritized Fix Roadmap
A sequenced list of recommended changes, ranked by impact and cost to implement. Each item includes an estimate of what fixing it is worth — in cycle time, rework, late fees, or early-pay discounts recovered.
How it works
One to two weeks. Minimal disruption.
Discovery and mapping
Structured interviews with AP, procurement, and finance stakeholders. We map the process as it runs, not as it's documented.
Analysis and costing
We quantify the cost of each failure point — cycle time, rework hours, late fees, missed discounts, duplicate payments.
Findings and roadmap
We present the root cause analysis, process map, and prioritized fix roadmap. You leave with a clear picture and a plan.
Is this right for you?
The Diagnostic is built for companies at a specific moment.
It's the right engagement if any of these are true:
- Invoice backlogs are growing and nobody owns the problem
- Vendors are being paid late — or occasionally paid twice
- Approvals live in email threads and nobody has a complete audit trail
- You're evaluating AP automation software but aren't sure what to buy
- You just implemented a new system and the problems didn't go away
- Spend data arrives after the fact and can't drive decisions
Start with a conversation.
The Diagnostic begins with a 30-minute call to understand your situation and confirm it's the right fit. No commitment required.