The increased efficiencies gained by moving near-cash processes to a shared services center directly impacts an organization's bottom line. When an organization can post an AP invoice quickly, it can negotiate better purchasing terms and larger early payment discounts from its vendors. When an organization can complete AR cash applications faster, it has more cash on hand, fewer write-offs and much greater customer satisfaction. Visibility into these opaque processes to better project cash flow is a tangible benefit of optimization. Organizations cite improved cash flow as a major influencer of the move to shared services, particularly as it enables organizations to contribute towards funding new innovations and business transformations. According to a recent study by IBM on shared services centers "improved cash flow can fund the cost of transformation while driving ongoing innovation and sustainable performance improvements that can translate into lasting shareholder value for the entire business" (IBM, Dec 2011).