Aqilla has launched E2D, an AI-enhanced invoice automation tool for its accounting platform that brings invoice capture and accounts payable into one system.

The feature is designed to reduce reliance on separate optical character recognition software and manual invoice entry. Invoice details are captured and fed directly into the accounts payable workflow, with line-item data and account coding handled within the same platform.

Tests found invoices could be processed twice as quickly with E2D. Aqilla presented the launch as a response to a long-standing problem for finance teams, which still often spend substantial time entering invoice information by hand or moving data between separate systems.

Single System

The software is built to give finance teams control over how much automation they use. It scores its confidence in extracted invoice data and highlights fields that may need attention, allowing users to decide which items proceed automatically and which are reviewed.

That approach reflects the uneven pace of AI adoption in finance departments. Some organisations are ready to automate routine processing quickly, while others want tighter controls and a clearer audit trail before relying on machine-led decisions.

E2D provides a traceable view of invoice data and its source, with lower-confidence items flagged for review. The goal is to help teams spend less time on repetitive data entry and more on overseeing exceptions and approvals.

Cristina Grecu, Finance Manager at Konditor, said: “As a long-standing Aqilla customer, we already had our processes well established with a third-party OCR tool. But after trialling E2D and seeing the flexibility it offered, it became clear that consolidating all our document processing into one system just makes sense.”

AI Rollout

The launch comes as accounting software suppliers add more AI-based features to products used by finance teams. Invoice processing has become an early target because it remains one of the most repetitive tasks in finance operations and often relies on disconnected tools.

For vendors, bringing invoice capture into a broader accounting system can reduce the number of integrations customers need to manage. That can simplify data flows between invoice receipt, coding, approval and payment, while keeping supporting records in one place.

Hugh Scantlebury, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Aqilla, said: “We’ve always believed that accounting and finance teams should not have to rely on a patchwork of third-party tools to manage their core processes. Too often, that approach creates unnecessary complexity, fragments data and makes it harder to maintain a single source of truth.”

He added: “With E2D, we’re extending that philosophy by bringing invoice capture and processing fully into the Aqilla platform. In addition, because Aqilla is cloud native, we’re able to develop and deliver E2D in a way that keeps accounting and finance processes connected, consistent and easy to manage.”

Aqilla positions the tool as part of a broader effort to embed AI into finance workflows in a controlled way, rather than treating automation as an all-or-nothing shift. Users can set confidence thresholds, allowing organisations to align invoice handling rules with internal policies and their tolerance for automated processing.

That may appeal to finance leaders under pressure to improve efficiency without weakening controls. Accounts payable teams often face competing demands to process invoices faster, maintain accurate coding, and preserve visibility over who reviewed what and when.

Charis Thomas, Chief Product Officer at Aqilla, said: “Many finance and accounting software providers are scrambling right now to introduce AI into their platforms, often without a clear strategy or end goal. However, we have been clear from the outset that AI must deliver meaningful user benefits. In the context of E2D, this means using the technology to automate repetitive, time-consuming invoice data entry-a significant, widely acknowledged pain point for finance and accounting teams. In doing so, we are helping to improve productivity and enabling them to deliver even more value.”

Thames Freeport has named the winning technologies from its Connectivity Lab programme, with the selected systems set to be deployed or extended at the Port of Tilbury, DP World London Gateway and Ford Dagenham.

The programme tested eight technologies in live commercial settings after the three industrial partners reviewed more than 140 applicants. The work was backed by £4 million in 5G infrastructure investment through Verizon and a further £1.2 million invested directly in the lab.

Each innovation is expected to deliver at least a 25% increase in productivity. The model also cuts the usual procurement process for new technology by more than 100% and reduces risk for site operators considering adoption.

The Port of Tilbury chose to extend pilots with Aible, Allread and Streamwide. Aible uses AI-based analysis to help port teams make operational decisions, while Allread applies AI imaging to CCTV footage to track containers moving by rail in and out of the site.

Streamwide provides a communications platform that connects parties across the port and improves responses to alerts, thereby supporting operational efficiency.

Ford Dagenham also selected Aible for an extended pilot focused on process flows around vehicle movements. It has also extended a pilot with Focalx, which uses AI analysis on mobile devices during vehicle inspections to reduce disputes and standardise the process.

Nokia also ran a pilot with Ford, using 5G-enabled cameras to improve visual and audio awareness in areas not covered by existing systems. Discussions are continuing with Ford and the Port of Tilbury.

At DP World London Gateway, the programme introduced Conroo and Purple Transform, with both still under engagement. Conroo offers a smartphone app that tracks container arrivals at port gates, aiming to reduce lorry loading and discharge times, improve routing and ease congestion.

Purple Transform uses existing CCTV data to automate the detection of context-specific personal protective equipment around heavy machinery and vehicles. DP World also piloted MapBI, which built a digital twin of the site’s container inventory to provide operational data for loading, discharge and inventory planning.

MapBI is continuing discussions with all three sites. The lab forms part of Thames Freeport’s wider strategy to use technology trials as a route to broader industrial deployment across logistics and manufacturing operations.

Operator Trials

The programme was designed to give scale-ups and larger businesses access to industrial environments where new systems could be tested under operating conditions. For site operators, it offered a way to assess technologies before making longer-term purchasing decisions.

Stuart Rimmer, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Thames Freeport, said, “As the UK’s Next Generation Growth Zone, Thames Freeport is focused on turning innovation into deployment. The Connectivity Lab shows how new technologies can be tested in live operating environments and adopted at pace. This is about improving productivity, safety and resilience across critical industrial sites.”

For DP World, the work focused on whether the technologies could fit into existing port operations. Alan Shaoul, UK Chief Financial Officer – Ports & Terminals, DP World, said, “At DP World, we’re focused on continuously improving how our operations perform and how we support our customers across their supply chains. Technology is an important part of that, and the Connectivity Lab gives us a useful opportunity to assess new solutions from Conroo and Purple Transform in a live operational setting before making decisions on wider adoption.”

At the Port of Tilbury, the selected pilots focused on data analysis and cargo tracking. Ross McKissock, Director of Unitised, Port of Tilbury, said, “Being part of the Connectivity Lab has enabled us to run an initial pilot and extended pilots with both Aible and Allread, expanding our data analysis and container tracking capabilities to drive better decisions, efficiency and cost savings. The Connectivity Lab has enabled us to pilot these technologies at speed. We’re proud to have been part of this programme, which will unlock efficiencies and sustainability for trade and industry across the UK and ultimately enhance the country’s performance on a global scale.”

L Marks, which was involved in the programme, described the lab as a way to shorten a typically slow route to procurement in port settings. Daniel Saunders, Chief Executive Officer, L Marks, said, “The pathway to procurement in port environments can take years because, at this scale, every decision carries commercial and operational weight. The Lab cut that to weeks by generating the evidence before the commitment is made, so operators no longer have to bet on a technology they have never seen perform. Seeing the trial, as well as the ROI specific to their business case, is what drives adoption and the productivity gains that follow.”

Oboloo has launched a free procurement software plan for SMEs and charities, available globally.

The London-based provider said its new Free Forever Plan is aimed at smaller organisations that still manage suppliers, contracts and renewals through spreadsheets despite rising cost pressures. The platform brings supplier records, contract information, sourcing activity and savings tracking into one system.

The launch comes as smaller businesses face tighter margins and greater scrutiny of recurring costs. Oboloo cited official UK statistics showing about 2,000 business failures a month, most of them SMEs, and pointed to industry research suggesting that 25 to 40 per cent of subscriptions and licences go unused or underused.

Auto-renewals are a particular concern for companies trying to control spending. The free plan includes automated email alerts for upcoming contract renewals, alongside audit trails designed to give businesses a clearer record of procurement decisions and supplier agreements.

Core tools

The free plan includes a central hub for supplier and contract information, a step-by-step process for supplier sourcing events, a tracker for savings achieved and integrations with a range of third-party business software. It is designed as a self-service cloud platform.

Oboloo is targeting a gap in the market where dedicated procurement systems have often been used by larger organisations, while smaller firms have relied on manual processes. As subscription spending and vendor complexity have grown, many SMEs have been left to manage supplier relationships and contract deadlines without specialist tools.

The company compared the move with the wider adoption of customer relationship management software, arguing that procurement systems should also be within reach of smaller businesses. It says procurement software has remained too expensive or too difficult to adopt for many SMEs and charities.

James Lancaster, co-founder of oboloo, outlined the company’s case for the launch.

“SMEs are the backbone of the UK economy, yet they are the hardest hit during periods of economic instability,” said James Lancaster, co-founder at oboloo. “Every day brings new financial pressures, and businesses simply can’t afford to let costs spiral due to a lack of visibility or well-intentioned but outdated procurement practices.

“With our Free Forever Plan, we’re removing cost as a barrier and putting powerful procurement tools directly into the hands of businesses, helping them stay on top of supplier decisions and costs.

“Unlike traditional procurement solutions that are often expensive and complex to implement, oboloo has been designed to be intuitive, fast to implement and easy to scale.

“This launch marks a significant step in oboloo’s mission to democratise procurement technology, making it accessible to every business, regardless of size or budget, at a time when it matters most.”

Cost pressure

The announcement reflects a broader effort by software providers to win smaller customers by reducing upfront fees and simplifying deployment. For SMEs, procurement has often ranked behind finance, sales and payroll systems when technology budgets are tight, even though supplier spending can account for a large share of total costs.

Businesses without a clear view of contract expiry dates, negotiated terms or active subscriptions can struggle to cut unnecessary spending quickly. Smaller organisations are also more exposed to staff turnover and informal processes, making it harder to maintain a complete record of supplier commitments.

By offering a no-cost entry point, oboloo is seeking to widen adoption among businesses that may not previously have considered procurement software. Founded in 2021, the company said it was created by procurement and technology specialists with more than 25 years of experience advising businesses on procurement strategy.

Its pitch centres on visibility and control over supplier and contract data at a time when many businesses are reviewing every line of expenditure. Users can create an account and begin using the platform within minutes, according to the company.

The free plan is open to SMEs and charities, giving them access to tools for sourcing, contract oversight, supplier management and savings tracking without a software charge.