Mercana is a premium North American home-goods brand, producing and selling luxury furniture, art, and décor across multiple brands and locations in both Canada and the United States.
With a large supplier network and high invoice volume, Mercana required an efficient, accurate, and consistent accounts payable and receivable operation to support smooth vendor relationships and maintain cash-flow visibility.
However, as the business scaled, their existing processes were no longer built to handle the volume or complexity.
Brand
Industry
Region
Service
Mercana
Retail / Manufacturing (Home Goods)
Canada & United States
AP & AR Offshore Specialists, Workflow Automation, Invoice Processing, Vendor Management
8 Weeks
Invoice backlog fully cleared
1.5 Mos→ 5 Days
Vendor payment delays reduced
50%
AP/AR processing errors reduced
Challenge: Fragmented, Reactive AP & AR Operations
Mercana’s finance team was being pulled into constant reactive work instead of strategic planning.
Key challenges included:
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Large invoice backlog : Supplier invoices accumulated faster than they could be processed, leading to payment delays and strained vendor relationships.
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Manual, error-prone workflows: Invoices were being handled using manual and paper-based methods, leading to frequent data errors, duplication, and rework.
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Limited cash-flow visibility: Inconsistent AP/AR updates prevented leadership from seeing an accurate, real-time cash position.
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Overextended internal team: Resolving the problem internally would have required hiring and training additional staff, increasing overhead and slowing progress.
These challenges directly impacted vendor trust, payment terms, cash-flow planning, and overall operational efficiency.
Mercana needed a solution that could deliver immediate relief while remaining scalable—without adding internal headcount.
Solution: Building a Scalable AP & AR Engine with SolvedAF
SolvedAF partnered with Mercana to rebuild its AP/AR function for speed, accuracy, and long-term scalability.
Offshore AP & AR specialists
SolvedAF provided experienced specialists dedicated to high-volume invoice processing, collections, and payment execution — acting as a seamless extension of Mercana’s team.
Backlog Cleanup & SLA Enforcement
SolvedAF cleared the existing invoice backlog and implemented service-level agreements (SLAs) to ensure invoices were processed predictably and on time going forward.
Cost-Effective Scaling
Instead of hiring internally, Mercana leveraged SolvedAF’s offshore model—gaining flexibility, speed, and specialized expertise at a fraction of the cost.
Workflow Automation & Standardization
Invoice processing workflows were automated and standardized to:
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Reduce manual handling
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Eliminate duplicate work
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Enforce consistent approval and posting processes
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Introduce quality controls to prevent errors
Workflow Automation & Standardization
Invoice processing workflows were automated and standardized to:
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Reduce manual handling
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Eliminate duplicate work
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Enforce consistent approval and posting processes
-
Introduce quality controls to prevent errors
Results: Improved Efficiency, Visibility & Cash-Flow Control
With scalable systems in place, Mercana transitioned from reactive finance operations to a controlled, data-driven AP/AR function.
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Vendor & Payment Efficiency
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Invoice backlog fully cleared in 1 day.
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Processing time per invoice reduced by 5 days to 1 day.
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Vendor disputes and late-payment escalations significantly reduced.
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Cash-Flow & Working Capital
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Leadership gained reliable visibility into AP/AR by weekly closing.
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Working capital tied up in payables and receivables reduced.
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Improved forecasting supported better purchasing and production decisions.
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Error Reduction & Cost Savings
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Manual data-entry errors reduced.
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Internal AP/AR hiring avoided, saving $55k to $60k.
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Risk & Relationship Management
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Vendor relationships stabilized and strengthened.
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Payment terms preserved or improved.
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Reduced risk of supply-chain disruption due to payment delays.
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"We went from constantly playing catch-up on invoices to having a smooth and controlled process. Our vendors noticed the difference immediately"
Angela Sun
Payroll & Accounting Specialist
"SolvedAF became an extension of our finance function. They helped restore trust in our numbers and improve day-to-day operations."
Manthan Sethi
Accounting Manager
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