Although accounts payable and trade payables are at times used interchangeably, they refer to, albeit similar, but slightly different situations. Trade payables refer to all debts a company owes only for inventory-related goods. Accounts payable includes all short-term debts.
For example, if a restaurant owes money for food ingredients and drinks/beverages they are part of the inventory, and thus part of trade payables. Cleaning services or washing staff uniforms would fall into the accounts payable category. Both of these debts would fall under accounts payable, and most companies combine both under the accounts payable category.
"Automated processing hassignificantly increased our overall efficiency, shortened payment cycles and helped to improve the manageability of transactions."
AP Supervisor | Landstar System Inc.