{"id":2778,"date":"2016-11-17T17:24:15","date_gmt":"2016-11-17T17:24:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.peeriosity.com\/shared-services\/articles\/?p=2778"},"modified":"2022-08-26T17:19:00","modified_gmt":"2022-08-26T17:19:00","slug":"why-manual-checks-in-local-offices-is-still-a-bad-idea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.peeriosity.com\/shared-services\/articles\/2016\/11\/why-manual-checks-in-local-offices-is-still-a-bad-idea\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Manual Checks in Local Offices is Still a Bad Idea"},"content":{"rendered":"

The pervasive use of local manual checks for everything from employee recognition awards to urgent vendor payments has been the nemesis of Accounts Payable organizations<\/a> for decades.\u00a0 Difficult to control and manage, and costly to administer, the hope was that with the introduction of improved processes and efficient centralized payment systems, the need for local manual checks could be completely eliminated.\u00a0 Good news!\u00a0 For many companies, this is exactly what has happened.<\/span><\/p>\n

Peeriosity\u2019s iPollingTM<\/sup> functionality was recently used by a member who needed accurate and objective feedback from their peers regarding the use of manual checks in local offices.\u00a0 In the words of the member: \u201cSomewhat contrary to our company\u2019s overall Shared Services objectives (consolidation, efficiencies, and controls), we are considering having checkbooks in some of our local offices, including internationally. This will allow local leaders to issue checks manually outside the primary Accounts Payable system. We would like input from other major corporations that have evaluated this approach and have either implemented it or decided against doing so. \u201c<\/span><\/p>\n

This Peeriosity member used iPollingTM<\/sup> to draft two questions that examined this issue.\u00a0 Responses were posted in real-time, with visibility to company responses available to all Peeriosity members, allowing for direct communication with peers using Peeriosity\u2019s integrated Peer MailTM<\/sup> capabilities.<\/span><\/p>\n

The first question asked about the current status of allowing local offices to issue checks manually outside of the primary Accounts Payable<\/a> system.\u00a0 In 84% of the companies, the idea was either never considered (28%) or evaluated and denied (56%).\u00a0 Of the remaining 16% of responding companies, 8% are currently evaluating, 4% report that, while they have implemented, they are not satisfied with the current process and controls, with the remaining 4% indicating that they are satisfied with their implementation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"iPolling:<\/p>\n

The second question asked how companies address the need to make urgent payments locally.\u00a0 Interestingly, at 81% of responding companies some combination of Purchasing Cards<\/a> issued to local leaders and the overnight delivery of paper checks to a local office was effective at eliminating to need for manual checks.\u00a0 Here are the details:<\/span><\/p>\n

\"iPolling:<\/p>\n

Unlike traditional benchmarking, Peeriosity\u2019s iPollingTM<\/sup> capabilities allowed members to examine this issue in detail very quickly, providing a range of experiences and viewpoints that could be reviewed to develop an appropriate and workable answer.\u00a0 Tapping into the experience of peers eliminates the guesswork and allows members to quickly access the collective experiences of a large community of users who are facing the same challenges.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some of the comments from responding companies:<\/span><\/p>\n