How to successfully automate your financial operations

Without a doubt, finance automation is revolutionising the way businesses handle their financial processes. There’s still however, an understandable hesitation when it comes to fully embracing automation in the finance function. It comes down to change management, implementation costs, security concerns and also worries related to personal redundancy. It's important to understand that automation is not intended to replace human effort but rather to complement it. In this article, we will explore the steps to successfully implement finance automation in your organisation and the critical role of human oversight in finance automation to empower finance professionals to focus on company growth and strategy.

Finance automation can understandably raise some concerns within a department. A thoughtful approach to change management is necessary, both financially and in terms of human resources. As a result of the automation of manual processes, concerns may also arise within the broader organization regarding possible job redundancies. The legal and compliance teams may also express concerns regarding security, especially since certain day-to-day operational decisions are delegated to automated systems, prompting questions about error detection and timely correction.

Finance automation originated as a solution to enhance efficiency and speed, not to replace human expertise. In sectors such as finance, plagued by skill shortages and inefficiencies, automation can serve as a valuable ally. When implemented with precision and care, it can deliver favorable outcomes for both teams and the company's bottom line.

Finance automation is not meant to replace human effort but to complement it. Automation is a tool that allows finance professionals to focus on company growth and strategy. Therefore human oversight is critical at various stages of automation:

Setting up: Human expertise is required to configure automation systems according to business requirements like defining the right workflows, patterns and controls.

Approvals: Decisions that impact finances, such as payment approvals, still require human intervention.

Reviewing and Monitoring: Finance professionals must continuously monitor automated processes to ensure smooth operation in the long run and course-correct in case of potential mistakes.

In addition to oversight, security should be considered. Automation tools are continually improving in reliability and functionality. Trustworthy automation tools should offer features like embedded notifications and approvals to prevent fraud and errors, ultimately protecting your company's funds.

Synergy between technology and human expertise is the key to success. Automation tools can aggregate, consolidate, and sanitise financial data, but human judgement is key to turning data into insights. While automation simplifies data collection and presentation, finance teams can focus on analysis and decision-making.

Embracing finance automation and getting a positive ROI involves careful planning and execution. Here are some steps to get started:

1. Clean up your processes

Before implementing automation, it's imperative to clean up existing processes. Placing advanced technology into a flawed process will only yield unsatisfactory results. By thoroughly reviewing your accounting procedures, you can identify areas that could benefit from automation and ensure a positive impact on efficiency. Ultimately, automation should save time; if it doesn't achieve this, it's time to reassess. Automation should never burden your budget, overwhelm your team, or require extensive workarounds; if it does, it's not serving your business effectively.

2. Tailor to your business

When implementing a finance automation tool, it's essential to remember that automation should seamlessly integrate into your existing workflow. This is where partnering with tech providers like Fyorin, offering the flexibility to tailor automation to your specific needs, becomes crucial as it enables your finance processes to scale efficiently.

3. Collaborate with Experienced Partners

Consider collaborating with companies like Fyorin, which have experience implementing automation at scale. Financial partners like Fyorin can help you streamline multiple financial operations, manage transactions in various currencies, and optimise efficiency at scale.In the past, we have helped companies across various industries - from aviation, affiliates to SaaS and technology companies streamline their financial operations by implementing automated processes through our unified platform.

In conclusion, finance automation should enhance, not replace, human expertise. Building trust in automation involves addressing change management, costs, and security concerns. Precision in implementation and vigilant oversight are key, and it's crucial to streamline existing processes, customize automation tools, and collaborate with experienced providers like Fyorin for seamless integration. Finance automation empowers professionals to focus on growth, making it a valuable asset in today's dynamic business landscape.

If you are ready to automate your financial operations, visit fyorin.com or contact us at: [email protected]