Comparison · Light vs Basware
Light vs Basware
Basware automates the invoice lifecycle for organisations that run one or more ERPs: invoice capture, coding, matching and approval, an e-invoicing network for sending and receiving compliant invoices, and e-procurement. Light is one agentic ledger where bills, vendor payments, billing and consolidation sit in the same books.
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Light and Basware, compared
| Feature | Light | Basware |
|---|---|---|
| General ledger and accounting system of recordBasware: processes supplier invoices and sends them to SAP, Oracle, Microsoft or another connected ERP, where the general ledger lives | Yes | No |
| One system for spend and the general ledgerBasware: runs purchasing and invoice processing alongside the ERP, which it complements rather than replaces | Yes | No |
| Group consolidation and intercompany eliminationsBasware: gives one view of invoices across every entity, ERP and geography; consolidation runs in the connected ERP | Yes | No |
| Accounts payable and vendor bill payBasware: captures, codes, matches and approves supplier invoices, which flow into the ERP ready for payment | Yes | Yes |
| Accounts receivable and customer invoicingBasware: delivers invoices from your existing systems as compliant e-invoices over Peppol and 70+ formats | Yes | Yes |
| Subscription billing and deferred revenueBasware: sends invoices created in your ERP or billing system; billing and revenue recognition stay there | Yes | No |
| Financial statements (P&L, balance sheet)Basware: Basware Insights reports AP KPIs, processing times and benchmarks; financial statements come from the ERP | Yes | No |
4 week implementation
KPMG global partnership
Remove 4+ tools
700+ apps
The world's most demanding finance teams run on Light.
Put payables on the ledger
Basware captures, codes, matches and approves supplier invoices, then sends them into your ERP ready for payment. Light's agents capture, code and post bills inside its own ledger, and approved bills pay from your own bank accounts on local rails in 80+ countries.
- 01
Bill customers in the same books
Basware delivers invoices created in your existing systems as compliant e-invoices. Light also handles customer invoicing, contract-based billing and deferred revenue, so the P&L and balance sheet come from the system that holds the bills.
- 02
Run every entity on one ledger
Basware gives one view of invoices across every entity and ERP, with consolidation running in the ERP. Light holds every entity on one ledger and consolidates as transactions post, with intercompany eliminations included.
When to choose Light
- 01
The ledger is included
Light is the system of record: spend, AP, AR and the general ledger in one platform, with no ERP decision left open.
- 02
Pay suppliers from the ledger
Approved bills pay from your own bank accounts on local rails in 80+ countries.
- 03
Group accounts, not a dashboard
Consolidated financial statements come from the ledger itself, across every entity and currency.
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fastest growing companies
See how finance teams run lean and global on Light.
Read customer stories-
“We evaluated several vendors. Light won because it covers our full finance stack, revenue, AR, AP, expenses, and consolidation, without stitching together a patchwork of point solutions.”
Tanja, Director of FinanceOmnea -
“Even though we’re three entities, it’s like I’m running a finance department for one entity.”
Thobias, Finance ManagerAlva Labs -
“I really like that Light’s AI already gives me suggestions, GL accounts, cost centers, tax codes. I don’t have to start from scratch.”
Cédric, Finance ManagerOper Credits -
“Nine times out of ten the AI matches everything and posts it to the right account. One click and you’re done.”
Jeppe, CFOKeyShot
Built for the daily work
Bills through to payment
Capture invoices, route approvals and pay vendors from the same system.
Room to grow
One ledger built to handle billions of transactions across your business.
Trace every number
Open a report and drill straight into the transactions behind it.
Spending, under control
Expenses, vendors and cards connected to your ledger.
Expenses
Collect receipts, approve expenses and track spend as it happens.
Vendors
Keep supplier details, bills and approvals together. Apply your purchasing rules as work moves through.
Cards
Issue cards for employees and vendors. Pay with Apple Pay or Google Pay. Send receipts through Slack, Teams or email.
Frequently asked questions
Is Basware a general ledger?
No. It automates invoice processing, e-invoicing and procurement and sends approved invoices into the ERP, where the general ledger lives. Light is the general ledger itself.
Does Basware consolidate entities?
It gives one view of invoices across every entity, ERP and geography; the books and the consolidation stay in the ERP. Light consolidates every entity on one ledger as transactions post.
When does Basware fit?
When you run SAP, Oracle or several ERPs, process a high volume of supplier invoices, and need e-invoicing and compliance across many countries without changing the ERP.
Does Light pay suppliers?
Yes. Approved bills pay from your own bank accounts on local rails in 80+ countries, and each payment posts to the same ledger as the bill.
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