An AI two-way match agent pairs each invoice line with the PO line and tests description, quantity, unit price, currency and total against your tolerances.
The agent reads PO number, lines and amounts.
It pulls the order and its open balance.
It checks price, quantity and totals against the PO.
An AP analyst rules on any difference.
Matched amounts reduce the PO's open balance.
It flags POs nearly fully billed.
It decides when two-way match applies by checking the category or value against your policy, for example services or items below a threshold.
It reports a pass or lists each difference, such as a price above the PO rate, and sends the exception to the buyer.
Two-way match is lighter than three-way, but its simplicity makes it easy to apply carelessly to spend that really needs a receipt.
Teams disagree about which spend qualifies for two-way match.
A PO raised after the work contains whatever the buyer recalls.
Hours and fees on an invoice can exceed what the PO estimated.
Suppliers rename items, so a human has to confirm the pairing.
A pass says the bill matches the order, not that the work was done.
The agent checks your policy to see whether this invoice is eligible for two-way match.
It locates the PO from the reference, or from supplier, amount and date when the reference is missing.
It tests each line for item, quantity, price and currency, and totals for the invoice.
It marks differences within tolerance as passes and others as exceptions.
It names the issue and routes it to the buyer or AP to resolve.
Bring a small sample and watch Flo work through it.
| Aspect | By hand | With the agent |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Analysts compare invoice and PO by eye. | Lines are compared automatically with differences highlighted. |
| Open balance | Overbilling against a PO is found late. | Open balance is checked on each invoice. |
| Service spend | Receipts are skipped, so checks are loose. | Two-way match is applied where the policy says receipts are not needed. |
| Policy fit | Teams use two-way where three-way is required. | The agent applies the matching type set for each vendor or spend type. |
| Exceptions | Mismatches are emailed with no figures. | Each exception carries both sets of numbers. |
| If | Then | Who decides |
|---|---|---|
| Invoice and PO agree within tolerance | Marks the match passed | None |
| Invoice total exceeds PO open balance | Holds the invoice and shows the balance | Buyer decides on a PO increase |
| Line price differs from PO | Shows both prices | Buyer decides |
| Vendor policy requires a receipt | Switches the invoice to three-way and flags it | AP analyst follows up |
| PO has expired | Flags the expiry | Buyer extends or rejects |
| PO is missing | Routes to the no-PO path | AP analyst decides |
The agent checks each invoice against the schedule on the PO. The owner confirms any change in scope.
The agent tracks the running balance across invoices. The buyer reviews when it nears exhaustion.
The agent separates these from line prices and compares them to allowed extras. The analyst confirms they are valid.
The agent rechecks against the latest version and notes the change. The analyst decides if the earlier hold stands.
Talk it through with the team. We will map it to your steps and show where a person stays in control.
Agree where receipts are not needed.
Mark vendors with the matching type.
Compare agent results with manual checks.
Revisit which spend uses two-way.
This shows how often bills disagree with orders. A high rate for one supplier suggests the PO terms are unclear or the supplier bills outside agreed scope.
Quick answers to what people ask most about two-way match.
Book a demoIt is a control that compares an invoice to its purchase order only. If supplier, items, quantity and price agree, the invoice passes this check.
It suits services, subscriptions and low-value or low-risk spend where there is no goods receipt. Your policy sets the exact scope.
Three-way match adds the goods receipt as a third document to confirm delivery. Two-way match relies on the PO and invoice alone.
No. It means the invoice agrees with the PO. Approval and any confirmation of delivery still follow your process.
Three-way match is the control that compares an invoice with the purchase order and the goods receipt before payment, confirming that what was billed was ordered and received.
→Price variance is the gap between the price a supplier charges on an invoice and the price agreed on the purchase order or contract.
→Project coding is the step of tagging an invoice line to the project, grant, job or work order it supports, so costs can be tracked against that project's budget.
→Quantity variance is the difference between the number of units billed on an invoice and the number ordered or received.
→Bring a small sample of real items. We will show what Flo handles on its own and where it hands over to your team.
