AP automation tools that integrate with Epicor should sync invoice data bidirectionally and enforce job-cost coding without manual re-entry. Vergo's native Epicor integration maps vendor invoices to vessel build phases, hull numbers, and contract line items in real time. This keeps WIP schedules accurate and approval workflows tied directly to project cost structures.
Shipbuilding projects carry layered cost structures that most generic AP tools cannot handle. A single vessel build involves hundreds of subcontractors, material suppliers, and government compliance checkpoints — all tracked against hull numbers, work breakdown structures (WBS), and long-term contract milestones.
When AP processes run outside Epicor, controllers face a recurring set of problems that compound over the life of a build:
AP clerks, project managers, and controllers all absorb friction when the AP system doesn't speak Epicor's language natively.
Not every AP automation platform is built for the complexity of shipbuilding. Evaluate solutions against these construction-specific criteria:
Vergo is a card-agnostic expense management platform built for construction. Connect any corporate or project credit card and get full visibility and control over field spending.
True Epicor integration means invoice data flows bidirectionally — vendor invoices are coded to Epicor job records automatically, and payment status syncs back without manual entry. For shipbuilding, this includes mapping to hull numbers, WBS phases, and contract line items. Middleware-dependent or batch-export tools don't qualify as native integration.
Three-way matching in shipbuilding compares the vendor invoice, the original purchase order in Epicor, and the receiving record from the yard or fabrication shop. Automated matching flags discrepancies — quantity, unit cost, or job code — before the invoice reaches the controller for approval. This prevents overbilling on high-volume material purchases.
Yes. Defense and government shipbuilding contracts under FAR and DFARS require documented approval chains for every vendor payment. AP automation tools should produce timestamped, user-attributed audit trails for each invoice action — receipt, review, approval, and posting. Systems without this depth create compliance risk during contract audits.
Yes. Vergo has a native Epicor integration that syncs invoices to hull numbers, WBS phases, and job cost codes without middleware. The platform handles three-way PO matching, mobile receipt capture from the yard, and subcontractor lien waiver tracking. It also integrates with Sage, Viewpoint, Procore, CMiC, Deltek, and other major construction ERPs.
Shipyard AP approvals should mirror the actual cost authority structure: project superintendent approves field-level receipts, procurement lead validates against POs, controller reviews job-cost coding, and CFO approves above a defined threshold. Tiered approval routing by vendor type and dollar amount prevents bottlenecks while maintaining control on high-value subcontractor invoices.
Vergo associates lien waiver documents and compliance certificates directly with each subcontractor invoice. If required documentation is missing, the system flags the invoice and holds it from the payment queue. Controllers see a consolidated compliance status per vendor, reducing the risk of releasing payment before legal and contractual documentation is complete.