Austin-based ERP developer Cetec ERP has unveiled two new artificial intelligence tools designed to automate document handling and invoice processing for manufacturers. Announced at this year’s ERPALOOZA user conference, the Document Scan & Attach and AP Automation features extend the platform’s use of machine learning to remove repetitive administrative tasks from daily operations.
The company said the new functions advance its goal of giving manufacturing customers “full control over their systems” by consolidating document management, data entry, and accounts payable within a single integrated platform.
The Document Scan & Attach feature uses optical character recognition (OCR) and AI to automatically process paperwork such as receipts, vendor documents, and work order packets. Once scanned, the system matches each file to the correct record within Cetec ERP and attaches it automatically. Documents that cannot be matched are directed into a review queue for manual verification.
In practice, the company says, a receiving team can scan batches of certificates of conformance, packing slips, and receipts in one go. The software then sorts and files them to the relevant purchase or receipt object within the ERP, improving traceability and removing the need for manual uploads or paper filing.
The second feature, AP Automation, applies the same AI logic to accounts payable. It converts scanned or emailed vendor invoices into vouchers automatically, performing a full three-way match between invoices, purchase orders, and receipts. When a match is confirmed, the voucher is approved for payment; any discrepancies are flagged for review. Cetec ERP said the feature is priced from $250 per month and is targeted primarily at small and mid-sized manufacturing companies seeking to increase accounting throughput without losing control of cash flow.
“These features take tedious, error-prone work off people’s plates and increase their capacity for more value-added work,” said Scott Ryan, Senior Consultant at Cetec ERP. “We want to make everyday processes simpler, faster, and more reliable for our customers.”
The update continues a broader industry trend of ERP vendors embedding AI-driven automation into legacy workflows such as document capture and payables processing. Similar functionality has become a differentiator in mid-market ERP deployments, where manufacturers often balance lean staffing with high regulatory and traceability requirements.
Automated document capture is increasingly viewed as a baseline capability across industrial ERP and MES platforms. While OCR-based scanning has existed for years, the use of contextual AI to link files directly to ERP objects — without human validation — represents a significant technical leap, particularly for multi-stage manufacturing environments.
Both new tools are now live for all Cetec ERP customers. The company said it plans to expand its automation roadmap further in 2026, integrating AI into production planning and inventory management modules to streamline data reconciliation across the manufacturing cycle.
