Audience: Everyone
Summary: Reviews what the Universal Connector is, the two versions, and how they work at a high level.
What is it?
MineralTree's Universal Connector is an ERP-agnostic solution that allows you to automate your accounts payable workflow without a conventional API integration. Instead of an API integration, we use an SFTP application to allow data to transfer between the MineralTree platform and your accounting system. MineralTree is responsible for getting data out of the MineralTree platform and into the SFTP application and from the SFTP application back into MineralTree. The client is responsible for transferring between the SFTP and the ERP. This can possibly be automated, but requires an IT/development resource from your organization who can navigate the automation piece on your end.
Invoice to Pay
Invoice to Pay represents the automation of your entire AP workflow from when you enter your invoice document into MineralTree to when the payment processes. It includes invoice capture, automated invoice coding, invoice approval, payment authorization, and payment processing. Being that the Universal Connector allows for data transfer through an SFTP application, there are going to be times where you have to import files into and out of your ERP to the SFTP as part of your workflow. Below is a typical Invoice to Pay AP workflow in MineralTree with the SFTP tasks called out. For more information on the roles below, please see User Roles.
Payments Only
Using the Universal Connector for payments means that you are exporting your ready-to-be-paid invoices from your ERP into the SFTP and then paying them out of MineralTree. There is no invoice capture, review, or approval done within the MineralTree application - only payment submission and authorization. As in the full Invoice to Pay workflow above, if the invoices you are trying to pay require data that is not in MineralTree (e.g. GL Account, location, vendor etc.), you will have to import that information into the SFTP before the invoice can be paid.