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Accounting and Technology

Benefits of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in Finance

by Yooz the 09.23.2020

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Robots are everywhere these days. There are robotic arms swiveling around in cages that weld and paint car bodies at a dizzying clip. Collaborative bots zip around modern warehouses alongside human workers, helping them speed up picking, packing, and even shipping to customers. And let's not forget the growing number of people welcome robotic vacuum cleaners into their homes.


However, physical robots aren't the only ones helping out. When we look into the realm of accounting and technology, it's clear that cutting-edge finance and accounting departments are also making room for the tireless army of invisible, software-based bots to help them boost performance and streamline their business' Accounts Payable process.


In fact, robotic process automation in finance and in accounts payable functions has a lot of potential to unlock significant cost and time savings, increase a company's overall efficiency, and give employees and their managers valuable and actionable insights that affect the bottom line. It has the ability to impact industries more than anyone could have guessed.


For example, one case is with companies delegating simple and increasingly complex tasks to small programs that go to work independently and intelligently. Using RPA in this way is now such a growing trend that it has engendered its own research outfit, the Institute for Robotic Process Automation and Artificial Intelligence (IRPAAI).

 

Defining Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in Finance

 

But what is RPA? In a nutshell, Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a form of business process technology, one that allows a company to configure software or a 'invisible robot' to mimic back-office tasks of human workers including capturing and interpreting data, filling in forms, moving files, and other basic, repetitive tasks across applications. RPA also has the ability to launch and operate other software, with it's actions triggering responses and communications with other digital systems.


Needless to say, any company that uses significant amounts of human laborers for these repetitive processes can both boost capability and save time and money by using RPA software.


This is something that is particularly true for the accounts payable process. Automation has, of course, been the name of the game for a while now, with Optical Character Recognition (OCR) augmenting or replacing manual entry. But the implementation of RPA goes further than scanning invoices or purchasing orders and turning them into a file because these invisible bots have the capability to get multi-step tasks done without human intervention.

 

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RPA for Accounts Payable Teams: From Invoices to Inquiries

 

RPA accounting powered workflows on Yooz's invoice and payment process automation platform is able to ingest invoices, add data to a database and manipulate it, exchange information with other applications such as an ERP or CRM system, and even trigger complex actions such as flagging suspicious items for human review, responding to a query or initiating a chat with a supplier up to the point where a human expert should step in.


What's more, RPA in finance is no longer the domain of large banks or other companies with big IT budgets. Since Yooz is a completely cloud-based platform, we give every small and medium-sized business equal and affordable access to use our powerful RPA tools. Even better, Yooz is constantly finding new ways to continue improving the system by incorporating the latest in machine-learning and artificial intelligence. This allows an AP team to utilize purchase to pay automation for its entire workflow easily and quickly - and keep it automated with the latest technology - by using our invoice and payment process automation software.


The Yooz Accounts Payable automation software includes features that:

 

  • Automatically process invoices regardless of the file type or how it's formatted allowing more flexibility in the way banking and transactions are handled.
  • Read, understand, and index each word in a document for later searches and retrieval.
  • Assigns the correct GL codes and handles multiple currencies like an experienced AP clerk does on a daily basis.
  • Routes invoices to the right human to approve them or flag outliers for further review.
  • Generates real-time insights to lock in early-pay discounts and reports to optimize cash flow that will benefit the entire company's costs.

 

80% of Finance Leaders Want to Implement RPA Systems into Their Business Process

 

It's no wonder then that "around 80 percent of finance leaders have implemented or are planning to implement RPA", according to IT consultancy Gartner.[1] They estimate that 89 percent of finance robotics is "...evolving from simple individual task automation to full process automation that could improve the accuracy of financial analysis and forecasts".


RPA is just beginning to transform the finance process for companies everywhere.

 

What Could the Impact of RPA Mean for a Business' Accounting Office?

 

If RPA is transforming the finance process, what does this mean for the accounting department? The answer is simple. Once a company turns to Yooz's intelligent, self-learning platform, they can bank on being well on their way to end-to-end invoice and payment process automation. They'll have a new outlook on what it means to be hands-free and streamlining the Accounts Payable process.


Some of the benefits?


RPA helps companies manage risk and meet common compliance standards automatically and accurately, creating a digital audit trail that is easily accessed at any moment. In fact, RPA systems, Gartner points out, have the same level of security and access as a person to handle and act on data, but with one key distinction; they can work without interruption. The end state sounds like a job description from a science fiction film: "A robot full-time employee (FTE) works at least 20 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year."


If maintaining a constant quality output isn't enough, on average RPA technology costs one-third of the cost of an onshore employee and one-fifth the cost of an offshore employee. But these - security, data accuracy, processing time, and cost - are just a few of the obvious benefits of RPA to the Accounts Payable process.


Don't make the mistake of thinking this means that RPA robots are job killers who take away the need for any human interaction in the business, specifically the accounting department. In reality, RPA robots have the completely opposite effect in the financial realm. Their job is to merely excel at taking over routine and repetitive tasks of the traditional manual process and improve efficiency and accuracy in a modern, hands-off form. Exactly the work that most, if not all, Accounts Payable clerks would happily trade in for work that really challenges them such as tracking down fraudulent submissions or building relationships with suppliers and partners.

 

RPA software provides a service, it doesn't replace. Instead, it gives Accounts Payable and Finance staff the opportunity to provide deeply human and therefore valuable input in the finance department.


If you are ready to see how RPA and Yooz can power a digital transformation in your invoice and payment process schedule a call with one of our AP automation experts today!

 

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FAQs

How can robotic process automation improve efficiency and accuracy in finance-related tasks such as invoice processing and reconciliation?

Robotic process automation (RPA) enhances efficiency and accuracy in finance tasks by automating repetitive, rule-based processes like invoice processing and reconciliation. Yooz's RPA capabilities streamline these tasks by automatically capturing, extracting, and validating invoice data, reducing manual errors and accelerating processing times. By leveraging AI and machine learning, Yooz ensures accuracy by intelligently matching invoices with purchase orders and receipts, improving overall financial data integrity.

What are the typical implementation challenges and considerations when integrating robotic process automation into finance operations?

Typical implementation challenges and considerations when integrating RPA into finance operations include data security, system compatibility, change management, and employee training. Yooz addresses these challenges by offering robust data encryption and compliance features, seamless integration with existing ERP and financial systems, comprehensive change management support, and user-friendly training resources. Additionally, Yooz's dedicated customer success team provides ongoing support to ensure a smooth transition and successful implementation.

Can robotic process automation be customized to fit specific finance processes and requirements within our organization?

Yes, Yooz's RPA solution can be fully customized to fit specific finance processes and requirements within your organization. Yooz offers flexible configuration options, allowing you to tailor workflows, approval hierarchies, and processing rules to align with your unique business needs. Whether it's adapting to industry-specific regulations or accommodating internal policies, Yooz ensures that its RPA solution meets your organization's specific requirements while maximizing efficiency and accuracy.

What are the potential cost savings and return on investment (ROI) associated with implementing robotic process automation in finance?

Implementing RPA in finance operations with Yooz can result in significant cost savings and ROI. By automating manual, time-consuming tasks, organizations can reduce labor costs, minimize errors, and accelerate processing times. Additionally, improved efficiency and accuracy lead to faster invoice approvals, optimized cash flow management, and enhanced vendor relationships. Yooz's RPA solution provides measurable ROI through reduced processing costs, increased productivity, and improved financial performance, making it a valuable investment for organizations seeking to modernize their finance operations. 

 
 

 

Sources

[1]

https://www.gartner.com/en/finance/insights/robotics-in-finance

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