Phased digitisation of invoice processing and greater control over costs at Verstegen

09 March 2026

Verstegen Spices & Sauces has been a household name since 1886. The Rotterdam-based family business, now run by the fourth generation, operates in more than 30 countries and is known worldwide for its high-quality herbs, spices and sauces. Quality, transparency and sustainability form the foundation of the organisation, not only in the chain from farmer to consumer, but also in its internal operations.

To support further growth and professionalisation, Verstegen has embarked on a broad optimisation of its processes and organisational structure. Digitisation and “being in control” are clear priorities in this regard. In this context, Verstegen opted for a phased expansion of its collaboration with ISPnext, with a clear focus on AP Automation, e-invoicing and intelligent support with nextAI. We spoke with Paul Mennen, Manager Finance & Control at Verstegen Spices & Sauces.

More efficient processing of cost invoices

The immediate reason for further professionalisation with ISPnext was the processing of incoming cost invoices. There was a particular need for greater efficiency and better prior control of indirect costs. Paul: ‘The reason for starting to work with ISPnext was to process incoming supplier invoices more efficiently and to secure budget approval for cost invoices in advance, not for raw material purchases.’

An important starting point was the connection to Verstegen's ERP landscape: ‘This in combination with Infor's M3 Cloud ERP system.’ The chosen solution had to fit not only the current situation, but also the planned cloud transition.

AP Automation as the next step after ISP-Invoice

Verstegen has been using ISPnext's on-premise invoice processing solution for quite some time. That experience forms an important basis for the next step towards further automation. Paul explains: ‘As an organisation, we already have experience with ISPnext and expect to be able to take the next step in professionalisation with Procurement and AP Automation.’

With AP Automation, Verstegen is automating the entire process surrounding incoming cost invoices, from receipt to approval and processing. E-invoicing plays an important role in this. Invoices are delivered digitally and in a standardised format via Peppol, the European network for secure electronic invoice exchange. This increases the quality of invoice data, reduces the risk of errors and makes the process more scalable.

nextAI and line recognition: less manual work, more control

Verstegen will use nextAI within AP Automation. nextAI for AP Automation supports the automatic recognition and interpretation of invoice data, thereby helping to reduce the number of manual operations. An important part of this is line recognition. This functionality automatically recognises invoice lines, such as quantities, prices and descriptions. This allows cost invoices to be processed and checked at line level. This increases accuracy and makes it possible to better analyse and control costs without additional administrative burden.

Phased implementation with a view to the ERP roadmap

As Verstegen is currently still working with Infor M3 on-premise, a phased implementation has been chosen. In addition to AP Automation, they are also implementing digital purchase orders and structured purchasing processes. Once the transition to Infor M3 Cloud has been completed, it will be possible to scale up further to Procurement within the cloud landscape. In this way, the ISPnext platform fits seamlessly into Verstegen's broader IT and digitisation strategy.

Experience and confidence in the collaboration

Although some of the solutions are still in the implementation and start-up phase, the collaboration with ISPnext is experienced as positive. The implementation process is progressing smoothly, with questions being followed up quickly and answered clearly. Confidence in the project team is also explicitly mentioned, providing reassurance that a strong result will be achieved in 2026.

This approach aligns with the way ISPnext guides organisations: in phases, pragmatically, and with attention to both process and people.

Within Verstegen, and particularly within finance and procurement, there is clear confidence in the chosen route. The organisation expects that working with ISPnext software will contribute to greater efficiency and improved control over operating costs and underlying business processes: “We are positive that the chosen route of working with ISPnext software will help us to work more efficiently and gain more control over our operating costs and the underlying business process.”

This confidence is partly based on previous experience with ISPnext. Years of collaboration have reinforced the expectation that both the Procurement and AP Automation solutions will integrate seamlessly with the M3 Cloud ERP, enabling further efficiency improvements within the administrative domain.

‘We are confident that the decision to work with ISPnext software will help us operate more efficiently and gain greater control over our operating costs and underlying business processes.’

Paul Mennen, Manager Finance & Control | Verstegen Spices

About Verstegen Spices & Sauces

Verstegen Spices & Sauces is a Dutch family business, founded in 1886, and active in more than 30 countries. The company is known for its high-quality herbs, spices and sauces and works closely with local farmers in countries of origin. Transparency, sustainability and quality are central to the chain from farmer to consumer. With the use of AP Automation, e-invoicing and nextAI from ISPnext, Verstegen is working on further digitisation, efficiency and control of its administrative processes.

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Frequently asked questions

1. Why are digital procurement and invoice processing important for organisations such as Verstegen?

For organisations with international activities and growing cost streams, control over indirect expenditure is essential. Digital procurement and invoice processing provide clarity, faster approvals and better control of operating costs, without burdening the primary process.

2. What is the difference between traditional invoice processing and AP Automation?

Traditional invoice processing is often manual and fragmented. AP Automation automates the entire process of receiving, matching, approving and posting invoices. This reduces errors, speeds up turnaround times and increases the reliability of financial processes.

3. What role does e-invoicing play in AP Automation?

E-invoicing ensures standardised, digital receipt of invoices, for example via Peppol. This improves the quality of invoice data, reduces the risk of errors and makes the invoicing process more scalable.

4. How does AP Automation support prior approval and cost control?

AP Automation makes it possible to check cost invoices against budgets and approval flows in advance. This provides control before costs are definitively booked and prevents financial surprises afterwards.

5. What is nextAI for AP Automation?

nextAI is the AI layer within ISPnext's AP Automation. This technology supports the automatic recognition and interpretation of invoice data, with the aim of reducing the number of manual actions and increasing processing reliability.

6. How does line recognition work within nextAI?

Line recognition automatically recognises invoice lines, such as quantities, prices and descriptions. This allows invoices to be processed and checked at line level, which provides extra insight and accuracy, particularly for more complex cost invoices.

7. What are the practical benefits of line recognition?

Automatic line recognition reduces the need for manual entry. This shortens processing times, reduces errors and increases consistency in financial administration. It also supports better cost analysis and reporting.

8. Why has Verstegen opted for a phased implementation with ISPnext?

Verstegen currently works with Infor M3 and has ambitions to switch to Infor M3 Cloud. Phased implementation allows the organisation to professionalise step by step and ensures alignment with the ERP roadmap.

9. How does ISPnext fit into Verstegen's ERP landscape?

ISPnext is designed to integrate with ERP systems such as Infor M3 and Infor M3 Cloud. The solutions support both on-premise and cloud environments and are compatible with future IT developments.

10. How will this approach benefit Verstegen in the future?

The combination of e-invoicing, AP Automation and nextAI forms a future-proof basis. This will enable Verstegen to further automate administrative processes, work more efficiently and respond better to growth and changing requirements.