AP automation tools that integrate with Unanet should sync invoice data directly to project cost codes, eliminating manual entry. Vergo's native Unanet integration handles three-way PO matching, project-level cost code mapping, and approval routing tied to Unanet's project structure for AEC controllers.
Unanet is purpose-built for AEC project accounting — but its native AP functionality leaves gaps that create real pain for controllers and AP teams. Invoice intake is largely manual. Approvals happen outside the system via email. Coding decisions fall to AP clerks who lack project context. The result: delayed closings, miscoded costs, and audit exposure.
For engineering firms running 50 to 500 active projects, these gaps compound fast. Project managers don't see committed costs in real time. Controllers spend days chasing approvals before month-end. And when an invoice is coded to the wrong contract or labor category, the error propagates into billing — directly affecting revenue recognition.
The specific problems AP automation must solve for Unanet-based engineering firms:
Not every AP automation platform is built for project-based accounting. Generic tools designed for retail or manufacturing don't understand the AEC cost structure. Evaluate tools against these construction- and engineering-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.
Unanet includes basic invoice and payment tracking within its project accounting module, but lacks structured AP automation features like OCR capture, multi-step approval workflows, and automated PO matching. Most engineering firms supplement Unanet with a dedicated AP automation tool to handle invoice intake, coding, and approval routing before data posts to Unanet.
Three-way matching compares an invoice against the original purchase order and the receiving document to confirm the quantity, price, and vendor terms align before payment is approved. For AEC firms, this prevents overpayment on subcontracts and material orders. It also creates a documented audit trail that supports DCAA compliance on government contracts and reduces dispute risk.
Best practice for engineering firms is threshold-based routing: project manager approval for invoices under a defined dollar amount, controller or principal approval above it, and automatic escalation if approvals are not completed within a set window. Approval authority should also vary by contract type — cost-plus government contracts typically require tighter controls than fixed-fee private work.
Yes. Vergo maintains a complete, timestamped audit trail for every invoice — capturing who submitted, coded, reviewed, and approved each document. This supports DCAA audit readiness by providing documented evidence of invoice review and approval. Approval workflows can be configured per contract type, ensuring government invoices follow stricter controls than commercial project invoices.
Vergo's Unanet integration syncs vendor master data, project codes, cost types, and contract values from Unanet into Vergo for invoice coding. Once an invoice is approved in Vergo, it posts directly to the corresponding Unanet project record without manual export or re-entry. This eliminates duplicate data entry and ensures project budget data stays current in real time.
For firms managing 50 or more active projects, the critical features are project-level cost coding at the line-item level, real-time budget commitment tracking, and approval routing that maps to project hierarchy — not just company org charts. Mobile approval capability is also essential when project managers are on-site or traveling and need to approve invoices without VPN access.