One year after adopting Rydoo Accounts Payable, Norwegian has achieved significant improvements in its accounts payable operations. Invoice processing time has been cut by six days, and 70% of all invoices are now processed automatically using advanced AI.

In a highly competitive industry with tight margins, Norwegian has positioned itself as a leader in innovation and operational efficiency. Driven by this forward-thinking mindset, the company set out to improve its processes further. By turning to artificial intelligence (AI), Norwegian aimed to modernise its accounts payable function, simplify workflows and secure a stronger position in the market.

Jeanette Bø-Alnes

VP Performance Management, Norwegian

“For VAT processing alone, across all our entities, the automation rate consistently exceeds 90%.”

Challenges in the finance department

Norwegian's finance department faced a range of complex challenges, particularly in accounts payable. The process was highly manual and labour-intensive, and it lacked transparency and oversight. This caused delays, increased the workload for staff and made it difficult to track key performance indicators (KPIs) or pinpoint areas for improvement. Managing VAT on both domestic and international invoices was especially challenging, as differing regulations required careful attention and precise reporting.

The need for a smarter, more efficient solution

Recognising the limitations of its existing approach, Norwegian needed a solution that would not only improve efficiency but also provide advanced analytics and a better user experience. The system had to meet Norwegian's specific requirements and reduce the time spent on accounts payable and invoice approval. By automating routine tasks, the finance team could shift its focus to more strategic, value-adding work.

"We needed a solution that offered a seamless user experience – something intuitive and accessible to all staff, while also improving the quality of our working environment," explains Līga Supe, Head of Shared Service Centre at Norwegian.

"We needed a solution that offered a seamless user experience — something intuitive and accessible to all staff."
— Līga Supe, Head of Shared Service Centre, Norwegian

Seamless integration

Despite the complexity of Norwegian's systems, Rydoo Accounts Payable was implemented within four months, during one of the busiest periods of the year for air travel. Going live in peak travel season shows just how efficient the process was.

This success was driven by close collaboration between Norwegian and the Rydoo Accounts Payable project team. Rydoo Accounts Payable's standard ERP integration with SAP, the SAP expertise of IT partner Sopra Steria and experienced project managers on both sides ensured a smooth, efficient transition.

"The implementation went remarkably well, especially given the challenging timing. Our strong collaboration with the Rydoo Accounts Payable team was key to this success, as was the support of our internal superusers and ambassadors," says Supe.

Immediate results

Since implementing Rydoo Accounts Payable, Norwegian has seen substantial improvements in its accounts payable operations. Over 70% of the company's 5,000 incoming invoices each month are now processed automatically, significantly reducing manual effort. Automation has shortened the overall processing time per invoice by six days, freeing up the finance team to focus on more strategic, value-driven work.

Jeanette Bø-Alnes, VP Performance Management at Norwegian, points out that the decision to implement Rydoo Accounts Payable wasn't only about increasing automation, but also about gaining richer data.

"Rydoo Accounts Payable has given us detailed insights into our procurement activities by extracting data from both the header and the line items of each invoice. This rich dataset integrates seamlessly with our analytics tools, allowing us to track costs by aircraft, location or airport. That, in turn, enables us to make better-informed financial decisions and drive greater efficiency," she explains.

"This rich dataset integrates seamlessly with our analytics tools, allowing us to track costs by aircraft, location or airport."
— Jeanette Bø-Alnes, VP Performance Management, Norwegian

Significant improvements and strategic benefits

The partnership with Rydoo Accounts Payable has delivered significant improvements for Norwegian, including a six-day reduction in processing time per invoice and an impressive 70% automation rate across its accounts payable operations.

"For VAT processing alone, across all our entities, the automation rate consistently exceeds 90%," says Bø-Alnes.

Beyond financial efficiency, Norwegian has also improved its decision-making through deeper data insights and analytics. This has allowed the company to shift its focus towards more strategic initiatives that drive greater value and long-term growth.

Enhanced user experience and operational flexibility

Rydoo Accounts Payable has not only streamlined workflows but also improved the user experience. The intuitive system, and particularly its mobile-friendly app, has been well received internally and lets people approve invoices anytime, anywhere.

Superusers have also gained more operational flexibility, as they can now adjust automation settings without help from IT, further boosting efficiency across the board.

"As a leading player in the aviation industry, Norwegian is committed to continuous innovation and to optimising our operations. Our ambition is to set new standards for efficiency and customer satisfaction in an increasingly competitive environment. With Rydoo Accounts Payable as our partner, we are well positioned not only to adapt to change, but to lead it," concludes Bø-Alnes.