Estandarización de procedimientos críticos y resolución de casos en el área de Cuentas por Pagar de Forward Air durante la transición operativa internacional

Abstract

This report documents the professional practicum carried out between February and May 2026 in the Accounts Payable department of Forward Air, a U.S.-based logistics company that, following its integration with Omni Logistics, manages its financial processes from Bogotá through Lean Solutions Group. The practicum took place within the Issue Resolution Team (IRT), as an Accounts Payable Specialist – Regional Contact. During the final phase of an international operational transition begun in 2025, the department exhibited structural weaknesses: undocumented processes, up to 406 problematic invoices active simultaneously in SAP Concur, and overdue balances with strategic vendors. An improvement plan was implemented to standardize and control critical processes through standard operating procedures (SOPs), five training sessions for the India and Mexico teams, and direct resolution of critical vendor cases. Results are verifiable: the discrepancy with E&A TransPros was reduced from $104,653.84 to $10,428.26 (a 90% improvement); a consolidated payment of $61,058.49 was processed, covering 23 outstanding invoices from East Coast Warehouse; and the RF Transport case, exceeding $370,000 USD in accumulated invoices, was identified and escalated. These outcomes confirm the measurable impact of process standardization on the operational efficiency of a global logistics organization. Key Words: accounts payable, process standardization, operational transition, vendor management, critical case resolution.