Plastribution Streamlines Accounts Payable with Tipalti

Tipalti has not only helped us improve operational efficiency but has also become a valued partner. The system’s user-friendliness, combined with Tipalti’s responsive and knowledgeable support staff, has made a lasting positive impact on our finance team’s daily work and long-term goals.

Zoe Bennett

Finance Business Partner, Plastribution

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Plastribution Overview

Industry

Business services

Company Size

Sub 100

Region

United Kingdom

Tipalti Products Used

Accounts Payable

Challenge

Plastribution required a solution to unify its multi-entity vendor payouts and improve manual invoice processes across multiple bank accounts.

Solution

With Tipalti's accounts payable automation, Plastribution streamlined supplier onboarding, consolidated accounts, and minimized the manual workload.

Results

Plastribution achieved seamless payment processes, reduced payment disruptions, and built a scalable foundation for future expansion.

The Challenge

Fragmented Multi-Entity Processes

Plastribution, the United Kingdom’s leading distributor of polymer raw materials, was managing payments in GBP through separate bank accounts, which had become a significant operational hurdle. This fragmented system relied heavily on manual reconciliation and created inefficiencies and errors in invoice and payment processes. Any changes in currency requirements or account structures further strained the finance team and delayed payment cycles.

For Plastribution, the manual-intensive workflows placed a significant burden on the finance team. Time spent on maintaining data accuracy and managing interdepartmental communication came at the cost of focusing on strategic initiatives. Addressing these inefficiencies and preparing for increased payment demands were essential to improving operational sustainability.

We relied on different systems for payments, and every adjustment created extra work for the finance team. It was clear that we needed an automated, consolidated solution to enable more efficient operations.

Zoe Bennett

Finance Business Partner, Plastribution

The Solution

Implementing Multi-Entity AP Automation with Tipalti

To resolve these fragmented processes, Plastribution implemented Tipalti’s AP automation. The phased implementation began with consolidating accounts into a unified system, standardizing vendor onboarding, and automating routine workflows.

The automation introduced several key efficiencies, including automated approval processes for changes in currency accounts or supplier data. This not only improved transparency but also allowed the team to operate more effectively during staff absences or peak workloads. The Tipalti solution laid an essential framework for scalable, efficient, and agile payment management.

Since implementing the changes, our payment runs have been reduced from a full day each week to approximately 30 minutes. This has allowed the team to focus on other areas of the purchase ledger, resulting in an 80% reduction in errors and payment delays. In addition, we successfully onboarded Eagle — a company we acquired in 2023 — onto Tipalti without any issues. The Plastribution team has taken on the full scope of the additional workload, which was previously handled on a part-time basis by an Eagle employee.

Rosanna Bryan

Accounts Payable Supervisor, Plastribution

The Result

Streamlined Payments and Expanded Currency Support

Since adopting Tipalti’s AP automation, Plastribution has benefited from streamlined payment processes with minimal disruptions. Time-consuming manual workflows have been significantly reduced, ensuring that invoices and payments progress seamlessly—even during seasonal staff absences. Supplier updates are also managed with improved precision and efficiency.

Before Tipalti, Plastribution’s accounts payable process was heavily manual, with little room for scale. Today, Tipalti’s automation capabilities have enabled Plastribution to expand payment operations confidently. With existing payment processes consolidated, the company is poised to manage future requirements with efficiency, allowing teams to focus on higher-value strategic tasks. Tipalti establishes a reliable foundation for Plastribution’s growing multi-entity and multi-currency needs.

Tipalti has not only helped us improve operational efficiency but has also become a valued partner. The system’s user-friendliness, combined with Tipalti’s responsive and knowledgeable support staff, has made a lasting positive impact on our finance team’s daily work and long-term goals.

Zoe Bennett

Finance Business Partner, Plastribution