Accounts payable
Review invoices before approval or payment release.
Invoice Intelligence Suite
Three-Way Match Analyzer Online Free
Reconcile purchase-order, goods-receipt and supplier-invoice quantities and prices before payment.
Three-Way Match Analysis
Compare purchase order, goods receipt and invoice values in one reconciliation file.
Upload a CSV or Excel file to begin.
Business context
The business problem this tool helps solve
Three-way matching compares what was ordered, what was received and what was invoiced. Quantity and price differences should be investigated before payment because they may reflect timing, damage, unit conversion, contract changes or billing error.
What can happen when the issue is ignored
- • Payment for unreceived goods
- • Invoice price exceeds the agreed PO
- • Partial receipts treated as complete
- • Approved tolerance not applied consistently
Who should use this tool?
This guidance is designed for people who need to use three-way match analyzer results in a real approval, planning or operational workflow.
Procurement teams
Confirm invoice values against purchase orders and agreed prices.
Finance controllers
Strengthen payment controls and investigate material exceptions.
Input guide
Prepare the inputs before calculation
| Column | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| PO / Invoice / Item * | References used to identify the transaction line. | PO-10632 / INV-4812 / RM-104 |
| PO Quantity * | Quantity ordered. | 100 |
| Received Quantity * | Accepted receipt quantity. | 96 |
| Invoice Quantity * | Quantity billed by the supplier. | 100 |
| PO and Invoice Unit Price * | Agreed and billed unit values. | 18.50 / 19.00 |
Mapping note: Use consistent dates, currencies, units and definitions. A correct calculation based on inconsistent inputs can still lead to a poor decision.
From raw data to a business decision
Use the analysis as a controlled decision-support step: prepare reliable data, review the exceptions, verify the cause and document the action taken.
- STEP 1
Prepare
Clean the source data and confirm the required fields and reporting period.
- STEP 2
Analyse
Run the tool and prioritise the most important three-way match results.
- STEP 3
Investigate
Validate the cause with contracts, transactions and operational evidence.
- STEP 4
Act and review
Assign actions, export the report and measure improvement in the next cycle.
Decision support
Recommended next actions
These actions are practical review priorities. Apply your organisation's approval limits, tolerance rules and contractual requirements.
- 1
Immediate
Review the material three-way match exceptions
Start with records that have the greatest financial, service or operational effect. Confirm the source data before taking action.
- 2
Next
Identify the business cause
Separate genuine performance or demand movement from data quality, timing, unit, currency and process issues.
- 3
Monitor
Create a repeatable review
Run the analysis on a consistent schedule, record decisions and compare whether corrective actions improve the next period.
Practical review tips
- • Use one reporting period and consistent definitions.
- • Review high-value exceptions before low-value noise.
- • Keep operational context with the analysis.
Common mistakes
- • Using incomplete or stale records.
- • Mixing units, currencies or reporting periods.
- • Taking action without checking the underlying transaction.
Good control practices
- • Define thresholds before reviewing results.
- • Assign each action to an owner and due date.
- • Retain the exported report with management decisions.
Practical examples
How teams use this analysis
The same result can require a different response depending on product criticality, shelf life, contract terms, service impact and available alternatives.
Manufacturing
An invoice bills the full order while only a partial receipt is accepted.
Expected outcome: The line is held until the remaining goods arrive or the supplier corrects the invoice.
Retail
A small unit-price difference is within the authorised tolerance.
Expected outcome: The reviewer records the match evidence and continues approval.
About this invoice intelligence tool
Three-way matching verifies that the business ordered the goods, received the goods and was billed according to the agreed quantity and price.
How to use it
- Prepare a line-level export containing PO, receipt and invoice values.
- Map the quantity and unit-price columns.
- Set the permitted variance tolerance.
- Investigate hold lines and document the approval decision.
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Frequently asked questions
Are invoice files uploaded to a server?
No. Supported CSV and Excel files are processed locally in your browser.
Can the result approve or reject an invoice automatically?
No. Use the result to prioritise review and confirm every decision against source documents and authorised controls.
Can I change the variance tolerance?
Yes. Set the percentage tolerance before running the analysis. Use limits approved by your organisation.
Does the tool support VAT and GST?
It can compare a taxable amount, percentage rate and reported tax, but it does not determine the correct legal treatment for a jurisdiction.