Forging a Stronger Financial Foundation: How Greco Architectural Metal Products Automated Its Way to Efficiency with Concur Invoice

Greco Architectural Metal Products is in the business of strength and precision. Across North America, their custom railings provide safety and sleek design for everything from high-rise residences to commercial landmarks. But while their products were built to last, their internal accounts payable process was showing cracks. For a company focused on building the future, its financial workflows were stuck in the past, held together by paper, printers, and patience.

A Process Bent Out of Shape

Four years ago, the journey of an invoice at Greco Architectural Metal Products was a physical one. It would arrive via email, get printed, and then begin a long walk around the office for manual data entry and ink-on-paper signatures. This system wasn't just slow; it was fragile.

“There were invoices moving from desk to desk all the time, ending up under a stack of something else, under somebody’s notebook, or even in a drawer,” recalls Adrian Hutchison, Senior Manager of Financial Planning & Analysis at Greco Architectural Metal Products.

The consequences rippled through the business. Managers spent valuable hours chasing signatures, and the risk of manual errors was constant. “We wanted people to have eyes on expenses from a controls perspective,” Hutchison says, “but the way it was being done was incredibly inefficient.” For a company with a growing footprint across North America, these daily roadblocks were becoming a significant risk.

A Blueprint for a Better Way

Greco Architectural Metal Products knew it needed a sturdier way forward. After evaluating several options, the team landed on SAP Concur solutions for a rare combination of three key factors: flexibility, usability, and affordability.

The platform was able to integrate with their existing ERP system without a costly and disruptive overhaul. More importantly, it was intuitive enough for non-finance managers to adopt with minimal training. “When you are changing the way that people do something, the ease of use of the system for other users was a huge plus for us,” he recalls.

The platform’s OCR and digital document retention features added another layer of value, reducing errors and improving visibility. The cost was also a deciding factor. For Greco’s finance team, that blend of powerful functionality and affordability made SAP Concur the clear choice.

Building a More Efficient Future

The transition to Concur Invoice was smooth, and the positive feedback was immediate. Hutchison remembers colleagues saying, “I cannot believe we waited this long to do this.”

The efficiency gains quickly followed. Accounts payable, once tied to desks in their Windsor office, became a remote-first function. Staff who had spent their days on manual data entry were now free to focus on higher-value work. Hutchison says the added capacity also gave the team time for bigger improvements: “Now our team can focus on improving systems and processes across the business.”

Accountability also improved, as each approval came with a digital stamp showing name, date, and time, giving managers clearer oversight. “From a SOX control perspective, that level of detail is a very important thing,” Hutchison notes.

Laying the Rails for Future Growth

With a solid foundation now in place, Greco Architectural Metal Products is expanding its use of the SAP Concur platform, adopting Concur T&E and exploring Purchase Request functionality to further strengthen procurement. The company is even training its vendors to submit invoices directly into the system, speeding up the entire payment cycle.

Reflecting on the shift, Hutchison is unequivocal. “If you are on a paper- based process, the efficiency and time savings are night and day,” he says. For Greco Architectural Metal Products, the transformation has delivered the efficiency and accountability needed to support its future growth. To learn more about Greco Architectural Metal Products’ journey with SAP Concur, view the full case study here.
 

About SAP Concur

SAP® Concur® is the world’s leading provider of integrated travel, expense, and invoice management solutions. With near real-time data, AI-driven audit, and mobile-friendly workflows, SAP Concur helps businesses eliminate inefficiencies, strengthen compliance, and make every dollar count. Learn more at concur.ca.