What is production AP automation?

Production AP automation connects vendor onboarding, invoice intake, production coding, approvals, payment execution, and reconciliation while preserving the project, department, cost-code, and budget context for every transaction.

How is film and TV production AP different from corporate AP?

Productions use changing vendor networks, project-specific cost structures, department-based approvals, fixed schedules, and often global payments. The workflow must retain production context rather than treating every invoice as an ordinary corporate expense.

Should an AP platform replace production accounting software?

No. Production accounting remains the financial book of record. The AP and payment platform should manage vendor, invoice, approval, and payment operations and return complete, consistently coded information to the accounting system.

What information should be attached to a production invoice?

In addition to vendor, amount, and date, finance should capture the production, department, category, cost code, purchase order or commitment, approval history, supporting documents, and final payment result.

Can production AP automation support global vendor payments?

Yes. A connected workflow can keep domestic and cross-border payment status, currency, remittance details, and compliance documentation associated with the original approved invoice.

Film & TV Production AP Automation: Workflow Guide