Settlement systems convert operational activity into amounts payable or receivable. They certify services and benefits according to contracts (SLAs, rates or catalogues). They also calculate pre-invoicing, invoicing and settlement processes for third parties or partner companies. They reconcile data on orders, deliveries, consumption and incidents, and include quality controls.
In some cases, they generate accounting entries and payment and collection files, and are a reliable guarantee for maintaining traceability and auditing: who, what, when and with what data.
And what about logistics?
Logistics systems comprise a wide range of functionalities, all related to the physical flow and information of materials and orders throughout the chain:
- Warehouses: entries, locations, picking, dispatch.
- Inventory: stock by item/IMEI, series, batches.
- Orders and distribution: procurement, transport, deliveries.
- Reverse logistics: collections, repairs, returns.
- Operational reporting and logistics BI.
How do they complement each other?
These systems complement each other, as logistics generates the events (movements, deliveries, repairs) while settlements are responsible for monetising these events:
- A logistics event (installation, certified repair, etc.) triggers a settlement rule.
- Settlements consume previously validated logistics data (dates, units, locations, IMEIs, statuses) in order to calculate the amounts.
- The ERP accounts for and orchestrates payments/collections, returning statuses that are reflected in reporting and reconciliations.
What are the benefits?
There are numerous benefits, among which the following stand out:
- Financial accuracy and contractual and regulatory compliance.
- End-to-end traceability.
- Operational efficiency: faster closings and fewer reprocessings and incidents.
- Cost and revenue control.
- Better experience for businesses and partner companies: clear statuses and deadlines, and managed discrepancies.
What professional profiles are dedicated to these issues?
The profile for managing settlement and logistics systems must be technical, although it must also be familiar with the business and the flows that trigger actions in each of the systems.
How does the development of new technologies influence this?
There is a wide variety of systems in this area, and new technologies affect them in different ways.
- Some systems are being replaced by more modern, improved versions: near real-time data, better accounting-logistics integration.
- Other systems are being shut down or replaced, with their functionality transferred to more modern systems that can absorb it, with the aim of simplifying the system map.
- Automation and the cloud mean that many systems must be transformed to adopt emerging technologies, adapting to constant evolution.
While systems are being transformed due to technological evolution, they are also being transformed by the needs of our customers, always striving to provide them with the best service.
