Certinia (formerly FinancialForce) is a powerful Salesforce-native ERP and professional services automation platformparticularly strong for services-led businesses that need project billing, resource management, and financial management in one connected system. However, its accounts payable module is a component of a broad ERP, not a purpose-built AP automation tool. Invoice capture requires add-ons, approval workflows need Salesforce Flow configuration, and implementation is a significant undertaking. Finance teams focused specifically on AP automation should evaluate dedicated alternatives.
Certinia is a Salesforce-native ERP and professional services automation (PSA) platformit replaces your accounting system and adds project delivery, resource management, and service revenue recognition on top. Quick Payable is a purpose-built AP automation platform that works alongside your existing accounting software, delivering AI-powered invoice capture, automated approvals, and real-time AP visibility without requiring a full ERP migration.
Understanding that distinction is the starting point for this comparison. You are not choosing between two AP toolsyou are choosing between a full ERP implementation and a targeted AP automation deployment. For a detailed side-by-side breakdown, see how Certinia compares to Quick Payable across all AP capabilities.
What is Certinia (FinancialForce)?
Certiniarebranded from FinancialForce in October 2022is a cloud-based ERP and professional services automation platform built 100% natively on the Salesforce Platform. It was originally developed in 2009 by a team spun out of Salesforce and UNIT4, and has grown to serve thousands of customers globally, primarily in professional services, IT services, staffing, and consulting industries.
The platform covers financial management (including AP, AR, general ledger, and revenue recognition), professional services automation (project management, resource management, and time tracking), and services CPQall inside the Salesforce org, sharing data with CRM, Sales Cloud, and Service Cloud natively.
It is commonly used by organizations that:
- • Run services-led businesses where project delivery and financial management must be tightly connected
- • Need ASC 606 / IFRS 15 revenue recognition compliance built into their billing and finance system
- • Want a single Salesforce-native platform for CRM, project delivery, and financial operations
- • Manage complex multi-currency, multi-entity financial operations globally
- • Require deep integration between services backlog, resource utilization, and financial forecasting
How Certinia Works
Certinia's AP module follows a traditional ERP-based accounts payable workflow automation within the broader financial management suite:
1. Vendor and Supplier Setup
Vendor invoices are entered manually or via integration. Line items are coded against GL accounts, project codes, cost centers, and tax schedules. Native OCR is not includedmost organizations use a third-party document capture tool integrated into Certinia.
2. Invoice Entry and Coding
Vendor invoices are entered manually or via integration. Line items are coded against GL accounts, project codes, cost centers, and tax schedules. Native OCR is not includedmost organizations use a third-party document capture tool integrated into Certinia.
3. Approval Routing
Invoice approvals are managed through Salesforce Flow or custom approval processes built by a Salesforce administrator. Routing rules based on amount, entity, department, or vendor type are configurable but require admin build and maintenance.
4. Payment Run and Disbursement
Approved payables are batched into payment runs and processed through the cash management module. Payment outputs can be sent to banks via file export or integrated payment connectors, with all transactions posted to the general ledger automatically.
5. Reconciliation and Reporting
AP transactions reconcile against the general ledger in real time. Certinia's reporting runs on standard Salesforce reports and the platform's financial reporting framework, giving finance teams visibility into payable aging, cash flow forecasts, and period close status.
Key Features of Certinia
Benefits of Using Certinia
Key Benefits
- Single Salesforce-native platform for CRM, project delivery, and financeno integration gaps between systems
- Industry-leading revenue recognition capabilities for ASC 606 and IFRS 15 compliance
- Strong multi-entity and multi-currency support with consolidated reporting
- Deep PSA integrationproject billing flows directly into AP and AR without manual steps
- Full Salesforce reporting, security, and automation available on all financial data
- Large partner ecosystem on AppExchange for extending capabilities
Key Drawbacks
- AP is one module inside a broad ERPnot a focused automation product
- No native AI-powered OCR for invoice capturerequires a third-party add-on
- Approval workflows require Salesforce Flow configuration by an admin
- Complex, expensive implementationtypically 3–9 months with a certified partner
- High total cost of ownershiplicensing, implementation, and ongoing admin
- Not designed for organizations that want to keep their existing accounting system
Limitations of Certinia for AP
1. AP Is a Module, Not a Dedicated Product
Certinia's AP functionality is one component inside a full ERP and PSA suite. Features like AI-powered invoice capture, agentic exception handling, and pre-built AP approval automation are not the platform's focus. Organizations that need deep AP automation typically layer on a purpose-built tool alongside Certinia.
2. No Native AI-Powered OCR
Certinia does not include AI-powered invoice capture or OCR natively. Most customers integrate a third-party document capture solutionsuch as Kofax, Conga, or a Salesforce AppExchange OCR toolto digitize invoices, adding cost, integration complexity, and an additional vendor relationship.
3. Approval Workflows Require Salesforce Flow Configuration
Invoice approval routing in Certinia is built on Salesforce FlowSalesforce's workflow automation framework. This provides flexibility but requires a skilled Salesforce administrator to build, test, and maintain approval logic. As approval rules become more complex, so does the admin overhead.
4. Complex and Expensive Implementation
Implementing Certinia is an ERP-level project. Most organizations engage a certified Certinia implementation partner, invest 3–9 months in setup, configuration, and data migration, and spend significantly on professional services fees. This is appropriate for organizations that need the full ERPbut it is significant scope for teams focused solely on AP automation.
5. High Total Cost of Ownership
Certinia's pricing is enterprise-tier, covering both the platform license and the Salesforce license required to run it. Combined with implementation costs, ongoing admin requirements, and third-party add-ons for features like invoice capture, the total cost of ownership is materially higher than purpose-built AP automation platforms.
6. Requires Full ERP Commitment
To get full value from Certinia, organizations need to migrate their general ledger and accounting operations onto the platform. For companies that want to keep their existing accounting system and only automate AP, Certinia is a much larger commitment than the problem requires.
Certinia vs Quick Payable: Feature Comparison
Side-by-side view of how both platforms approach accounts payable automation:
| Feature | Quick Payable | Certinia |
|---|---|---|
| Salesforce Integration | Fully Native (AP-focused) | Fully Native (ERP + PSA) |
| AI OCR Invoice Capture | Included natively | Requires third-party add-on |
| Approval Workflows | Pre-built advanced automation | Salesforce Flow (admin-built) |
| Agentic AI Exception Handling | Included | Not available |
| Vendor Management | Included | Included |
| Payment Processing | Included | Payment run module |
| End-to-End AP Automation | Yesfull lifecycle | Partial (ERP module) |
| Revenue Recognition | Not applicable (AP tool) | ASC 606 / IFRS 15 |
| PSA / Project Accounting | Not applicable | Full PSA included |
| Replaces Accounting System | Noworks with yours | Yesfull GL replacement |
| Implementation Time | Fastdrop-in AP app | 3–9 months (ERP project) |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Lowfocused AP tool | Highenterprise ERP |
Key Difference: Full ERP + PSA vs Purpose-Built AP Automation
The core difference between Certinia and Quick Payable is not a matter of qualityit is a matter of scope and purpose.
Certinia focuses on:
→ Replacing your entire accounting and financial management system with a Salesforce-native ERPand adding professional services automation, revenue recognition, and project billing on top of it.
It is the right choice when your organization needs CRM, project delivery, and financial operations connected in one platform.
Quick Payable focuses on:
→ Automating the entire accounts payable processwithout replacing your accounting software. It works alongside Certinia any GL.
- AI-powered invoice capturebuilt in
- Pre-built approval workflowsno admin build needed
- Agentic exception handling
- Vendor management
- Payment processing
- Real-time AP dashboards
- Fast time-to-valuedrop-in deployment
Who Should Use Certinia?
Good Fit If You:
- Run a professional services, IT services, consulting, or staffing business on Salesforce
- Need revenue recognition (ASC 606 / IFRS 15) built into your billing and finance system
- Want project delivery, resource management, and financial management in one platform
- Manage multi-entity, multi-currency financial operations globally
- Have budget and timeline for a full ERP implementation project
- Need deep integration between services backlog and financial forecasting
Consider Alternatives If You:
- Want AP automation without replacing your existing accounting system
- Need AI-powered invoice capture and exception handling out of the box
- Want pre-built AP approval workflows without Salesforce Flow admin work
- Are looking for fast time-to-valueweeks, not months
- Need end-to-end AP visibility without a full ERP implementation budget
- Are a non-services business that does not need PSA or revenue recognition
Businesses focused on AP automation rather than full ERP replacement should review Certinia alternatives for a more direct fit.
Real-World Use Case Insight
Many Certinia customersparticularly in consulting and professional servicesadopt the platform for its PSA and revenue recognition capabilities. Once live, finance teams often find that AP still requires significant manual effort: invoices are keyed in, approval routing depends on admin-configured Salesforce Flow processes, and invoice capture requires a separately purchased OCR tool integrated into the platform.
These teams then look to layer on a dedicated AP automation tool to address those gapsreducing manual invoice entry, automating approval routing without additional admin work, and gaining real-time visibility into the payables pipelinewithout disrupting their Certinia ERP setup. The ERP handles the strategic financial layer; the AP automation tool handles the operational execution.
This pattern is common in services organizations that get high value from Certinia's project billing and revenue recognition capabilities but need their AP process to run more efficiently alongside it.
Want to automate AP without replacing your accounting software?
See how Quick Payable automates your full AP workflow inside Salesforceworks alongside Certinia or any GL.
Calculate Your AP Savings →Conclusion
Certinia (formerly FinancialForce) is one of the most capable Salesforce-native ERP platforms available particularly for professional services organizations that need project delivery, revenue recognition, and financial management tightly integrated in one system. Its multi-entity support, ASC 606 compliance, and deep PSA capabilities make it a strong strategic choice for the right type of organization.
For accounts payable specifically, however, it is an ERP module not a purpose-built AP automation platform. Teams that need AI-powered invoice capture, agentic exception handling, pre-built approval workflows, and fast time-to-value will find the AP component requires more workarounds, third-party add-ons, and admin effort than a dedicated AP tool.
The right decision depends on what problem you are solving. If you need a connected ERP and PSA platform for a services business, Certinia is worth serious evaluation. If your priority is automating accounts payable and you want to keep your existing GL a purpose-built AP automation platform is the more direct path to measurable results.
Certinia (FinancialForce) FAQs
What is Certinia (FinancialForce)?
Certinia, formerly known as FinancialForce, is a Salesforce-native ERP and professional services automation (PSA) platform. It covers financial management, accounts payable, accounts receivable, revenue recognition (ASC 606 / IFRS 15), project accounting, and services delivery all built natively on the Salesforce platform. The platform was rebranded from FinancialForce to Certinia in October 2022.
Is Certinia a complete AP automation solution?
Certinia provides AP functionality as part of its broader ERP and PSA suite, but it is not a purpose-built AP automation platform. It does not include native AI-powered OCR invoice capture, and approval workflows require Salesforce Flow configuration by an administrator. Organizations focused specifically on AP automation typically augment Certinia with a dedicated AP automation tool.
What are the main limitations of Certinia for accounts payable?
The main limitations for AP are: no native AI-powered OCR (invoice capture requires a third-party add-on), approval workflows built on Salesforce Flow (requiring admin configuration), complex and expensive implementation (typically 3–9 months), high total cost of ownership, and a requirement to replace your existing accounting system to get full value from the platform.
What is the best alternative to Certinia for AP automation?
Quick Payable is a strong alternative for teams that want Salesforce-native AP automation without the scope of a full ERP implementation. It delivers AI-powered invoice capture, pre-built approval workflows, vendor management, payment processing, and real-time AP dashboards natively in Salesforce and works alongside your existing accounting system, including Certinia itself.
Can Quick Payable work alongside Certinia?
Yes. Quick Payable is designed to work alongside existing Salesforce-native platforms, including Certinia. Organizations can use Certinia for their ERP, PSA, and revenue recognition and add Quick Payable specifically to handle AP automation (invoice capture, approvals, payments) without disrupting their existing Certinia configuration.
Who should use Certinia?
Certinia is best suited for professional services organizations consulting firms, IT services companies, staffing agencies, and managed service providers that need an integrated ERP and PSA platform on Salesforce. It is particularly strong when project billing, resource management, revenue recognition, and financial management need to be tightly connected in one Salesforce-native system.
How long does a Certinia implementation take?
Certinia implementations typically take 3–9 months depending on the scope of modules deployed, the complexity of the chart of accounts and entity structure, and the number of integrations required. Most implementations involve a certified Certinia implementation partner and include data migration, configuration, user training, and change management making it a significant project investment.
AI-powered Salesforce-native accounts payable automation software.