Coupa: How Businesses are Thriving Despite Disruption
Economic uncertainty remains an obstacle for businesses around the world–but those leaders with their finger on the pulse are changing this into a chance to optimise spending, harness AI-driven decision making and create long-term resilience.
That's according to Coupa's annual Total Spend Management Benchmark Report, which offers five insights derived from its US$8tn in cumulative global spend data.
Coupa's insights highlight how high-performing organisations are not simply dealing with disruptions, but thriving.
The report is built on anonymised activity from more than 10 million customers, buyers and suppliers across the Coupa platform. The report reveals the behaviours and strategies that consistently set high performers apart, offering a blueprint for smarter, more resilient spend management.
Michael Agresta, Chief Financial Officer at Coupa, says: "Smart businesses aren't just reacting; they're rewiring. This data shows how leading companies are turning every pound of spend into a lever for growth, even in the toughest condition.
"Spend control is not just about cutting back; it's about taking control of the unknown. Our data shows that investing smarter and responding faster works, time and time again."
AI-powered decision-making becomes CFOs' secret weapon
Given the uncertainty in today's market, the ability to stay agile is vital for finance leaders.
Coupa finds that leading businesses are leaning on AI and data to quicken decision making, without surrendering control. This provides greater clarity on key choices, such as where to invest, where to pause and how to stay resilient. AI is proving to be the difference between avoiding costly mistakes and reacting too late.
Those performing the best are already seeing the benefits, such as contracts being turned around in just 11.3 business days, expenses approved in 7.5 hours and 96.4% of spend is now tied to pre-approvals.
NS BlueScope, a manufacturer of coated steel products, explains: "Apart from giving us end-to-end visibility, one thing that stands out about Coupa is the predictive analytics that is part of the system. Transformation is not just about moving to digital but actually challenging yourself to be more proactive and predictive in terms of procurement."
From cost centre to growth engine
Coupa's customers have achieved 8.1% average savings across total spend, highlighting that leading businesses are no longer treating procurement as a cost centre, but rather leveraging it to unlock working capital and build resilience.
By obtaining visibility across all spend types – from the cost of goods sold to operating expenses – CFOs and finance leaders are able to transform day-to-day purchasing decisions into chances to respond faster, stay agile and reinvest in growth, even during disruptions.
ESG integration drives both savings and sustainability
ESG isn't a side note, but embedded in sourcing strategy.
As regulation tightens and stakeholder expectations rise, sourcing teams are under pressure to align cost with conscience. Companies that align sourcing with ESG objectives are not only unlocking results like 10% savings and cycle time reductions of up to 50%, but also building more resilient, compliant supply chains.
The e-invoicing revolution
Businesses are now processing 86.2% of invoices electronically, helping them cut out manual work, reduce fraud risk and stay ahead of tax compliance rules. However, many businesses aren't ready for new mandates. The urgency is vital, as e-invoicing mandates roll out across Europe. Organisations that delay modernisation risk non-compliance and rising operational costs.
Those using Coupa have highlighted what 'good' looks like. For example, one global energy company slashed its invoice approval cycle time by 50%, accelerating financial close and enabling more accurate cash forecasting.
These results don't come from digitisation alone – they come from intelligent automation, embedded policy controls and supplier-friendly submission channels that ensure adoption at scale.
Visibility is everything
AI has transformed how organisations identify risks, discover cost savings and maintain compliance throughout their spending operations. Companies adopting this technology have achieved a 24.4% improvement in managed spend visibility, revealing previously obscured expenses while eliminating traditional process constraints.
Through achievements such as 97.1% first-time invoice matching and 99.97% automated cash reconciliation rates, Coupa's clients have attained operational transparency that remains elusive for most organisations.
