Automating one part of finance doesn’t ensure information and decisions carry through to the next, Tungsten Automation SVP and GM, AP and Payments John Gibbon writes in a new PYMNTS eBook, “Payments Leaders Rethink What Works in 2026.”

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Artificial intelligence is expected to change everything. Customer insight, compliance and business value still matter.

I used to believe, like many people, that AI would change everything about how work gets done. In accounts payable and payments, I expected fewer manual steps and more complex processes handled automatically. It seemed reasonable to think that as the technology became more capable, products would become more valuable. I still believe AI will reshape how work gets done. What I’ve reconsidered is the assumption that greater capability, on its own, produces a better product.

One finding from Tungsten Automation’s eInvoicing and Payments Report 2026 brought that realization into focus. The share of business leaders who have modernized invoice processing is 77%, but only 30% fully automate payment reconciliation with invoice data. Meanwhile, 73% of respondents plan to automate reconciliation over the next 12 months.

For me, the figures show that automating one part of finance doesn’t ensure information and decisions carry through to the next. In payments, timing affects cash, controls must meet compliance requirements and payment decisions influence supplier relationships. The right payment decisions also depend on the circumstances. A team may need to weigh payment terms against cash priorities or consider whether a different method makes sense for a supplier.

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