The Best Financial Automation Software Tools

Financial automation is a game-changer for business owners, finance departments, freelancers, or pretty much anyone dealing with the numbers on a daily basis.

Doing so saves time, reduces errors, and overall just makes life a whole lot easier.

But not all financial automation tools are created equal, so it can be difficult to know what each of the tools can do and which ones are right for you.

So to help you get it all figured out, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 financial automation tools, and we’ve paid that with some useful information to help you make the most informed decision possible.

In this article, we’ll cover:

• Top 10 financial automation tools
• What is financial automation?
• What financial processes should be automated?
• What are the benefits of financial automation?
• Examples of financial process automation
• Financial automation software features

Top 10 financial automation tools

Quickbooks

QuickBooks, developed by Intuit, serves as a versatile financial automation tool, streamlining tasks like invoicing, expense tracking, and payroll. With automated features, it enhances accuracy, reduces manual efforts, and provides real-time insights, empowering businesses to efficiently manage their finances and focus on strategic growth.

Key features:

• Invoicing: Creates and sends professional invoices to clients.
• Expense tracking: Monitors and categorizes business expenses.
• Financial reporting: Generates comprehensive financial reports.
• Tax preparation: Helps prepare and organize tax-related information.
• Bank reconciliation: Matches transactions with bank records for accuracy.

Pros:

• Integrates with Shopify, Xero, Squarespace, ShipStation, and more.
• Helps with expense management.
• Manages billing and tracks payments.
• Tracks billable hours for projects or clients.

Cons:

• Some advanced features lack customization options.
• Some users express concerns about data security in the cloud-based version.

Xero

Xero is a dynamic financial automation platform that simplifies tasks such as invoicing, expense tracking, and reconciliation. With real-time updates, seamless integrations, and user-friendly interfaces, Xero empowers businesses to automate financial processes, enhance accuracy, and gain actionable insights for informed decision-making.

Key features:

• Online payments: Accepts online payments through various gateways.
• Payroll management: Handles payroll tasks, including taxes and deductions.
• Inventory management: Tracks and manages inventory levels.
• Multi-currency support: Handles transactions in various currencies.
• Tax preparation: Helps organize tax-related information for filing.

Pros:

• Integrates with Google Drive, Microsoft Excel, PayPal, Dropbox, and more.
• Matches transactions with bank records for accuracy.
• Helps with expense management.
• Tracks project profitability.

Cons:

• Not as suitable for larger businesses with complex needs.
• Additional features or add-ons may increase overall costs for users.

Netsuite

NetSuite Financial Management is a comprehensive cloud-based solution that streamlines financial processes for businesses. It encompasses accounting, financial planning, and reporting, providing real-time insights. With features like automated workflows and customizable dashboards, NetSuite enhances efficiency and facilitates informed decision-making for organizations.

Key features:

• Unified platform: Integration of financial processes into a single, cohesive platform.
• Real-time visibility: Provides up-to-the-minute insights into financial data.
• Automated workflows: Streamlines and automates financial tasks.
• Multi-currency management: Supports transactions in various currencies.
• Billing and invoicing: Efficient billing and invoicing capabilities.

Pros:

• Integrates with Salesforce, Shopify, Cube, WooCommerce, and more.
• Ensures accurate revenue recognition in compliance with standards.
• Offers comprehensive financial planning tools for forecasting and budgeting.
• Helps adhere to tax regulations with automated features.

Cons:

• The reporting capabilities are limited.
• It takes time to learn all the features.

Microsoft Dynamics

Microsoft Dynamics is a robust solution for financial automation, encompassing features like invoice processing, budgeting, and reconciliation. With seamless integration and cloud-based accessibility, it automates financial workflows, enabling organizations to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and overall financial management.

Key features:

• Financial management: Comprehensive tools for managing financial processes.
• Invoice processing: Streamlines and automates the invoice approval workflow.
• Budgeting and forecasting: Plans and analyzes budgets for informed decision-making.
• Reconciliation: Automates and optimizes reconciliation processes.
• Multi-currency support: Handles diverse international transactions seamlessly.

Pros:

• Offers robust protocols for data protection and user permissions.
• Maintains detailed logs for transparent and traceable processes.
• Manages projects, budgets, and resources effectively.
• Efficiently handles purchase orders and procurement processes.

Cons:

• It’s only available as part of the 365 suite.

SolveXia

SolveXia is an innovative automation platform that revolutionizes data-centric processes. With its drag-and-drop interface and powerful automation capabilities, SolveXia empowers businesses to streamline complex tasks, automate data workflows, and enhance operational efficiency, driving digital transformation and agility in decision-making.

Key features:

• Process automation: Streamlines and automates complex data-centric tasks.
• Data integration: Connects and synchronizes data across various sources.
• Workflow customization: Tailors workflows to specific business processes.
• Rule-based automation: Implements rules to guide automated processes.
• Data transformation: Manipulates and transforms data for analysis and reporting.

Pros:

• Ensures accuracy through validation checks.
• Creates and customizes forms for data input and validation.
• Leverages AI for continuous process improvement.
• Automates document generation and processing.

Cons:

• Some of the integrations don’t work very well.

BlackLine

BlackLine is a leading cloud-based accounting automation platform, revolutionizing financial close processes. It streamlines accounting operations, offering unparalleled efficiency and accuracy. Embracing automation, it transforms complex tasks, empowering finance professionals to focus on strategic insights, ensuring precision and compliance in financial reporting.

Key features:

• Account reconciliation: Streamlining and automating reconciliations.
• Financial close management: Managing and automating the close process.
• Journal entry management: Tracking and managing journal entries.
• Intercompany transaction management: Handling intercompany transactions.
• Variance analysis: Analyzing differences and variances in financial data.

Pros:

• Controls access to sensitive financial data.
• Enforces financial control and governance.
• Automates matching and reconciliation tasks.
• Generates reports for regulatory compliance.

Cons:

• Not suited for small businesses.
• The implementation process takes a while.

Aico

Aico is a leading provider of AI-driven solutions for financial crime detection and prevention. Their innovative platform uses advanced analytics and machine learning to enhance compliance, reduce risks, and safeguard businesses from fraudulent activities, ensuring a secure and compliant financial environment.

Key features:

• AI-driven fraud detection: Utilizes advanced analytics and machine learning for fraud prevention.
• Financial crime compliance: Ensures adherence to regulatory and compliance standards.
• Risk reduction: Mitigates financial risks through proactive detection measures.
• Transaction monitoring: Analyzes and monitors financial transactions for suspicious activities.
• Alerts and notifications: Users receive real-time alerts for potential fraudulent activities.

Pros:

• Implements measures to prevent money laundering.
• Analyzes patterns and behaviors to identify anomalies.
• Creates profiles to identify normal behavior and detect deviations.
• Resolves and links disparate data for accurate customer profiles.

Cons:

• Approval workflows can be inflexible.
• Come organizations have experienced problems with implementation.

Joiin

Joiin is a powerful financial reporting and consolidation software that simplifies the process of aggregating data from various sources. With a user-friendly interface and robust collaboration features, Joiin enables businesses to create accurate, consolidated financial reports efficiently, fostering informed decision-making and financial transparency.

Key features:

• Financial reporting: Creates accurate and customizable financial reports.
• Consolidation: Aggregates data from multiple sources for unified reporting.
• Audit trails: Maintains detailed logs for transparent and traceable reporting.
• Scenario modeling: Tests and analyzes different financial scenarios for planning.

Pros:

• Presents data through charts and graphs.
• Automatically converts and displays amounts in desired currencies.
• Integrates budgeting processes with financial consolidation.

Cons:

• It’s not as customizable as other similar tools.

Planful

Planful, formerly Host Analytics, is a cloud-based performance management platform. It empowers businesses with robust financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting tools. With real-time analytics and collaborative features, Planful enables organizations to optimize decision-making, drive agility, and achieve strategic financial goals.

Key features:

• Financial planning: Comprehensive tools for strategic financial planning.
• Budgeting and forecasting: Plans and analyzes budgets for informed decision-making.
• Real-time analytics: Generates customizable reports for data-driven insights.
• Financial close management: Streamlines and optimizes the financial close process.

Pros:

• Leverages artificial intelligence for continuous improvement and efficiency gains.
• Adapts and grows the system according to evolving business needs.
• Aggregates data for unified reporting across the organization.

Cons:

• There is a learning curve, and the training videos don’t always explain everything well.

Vena Solutions

Vena Solutions is a leading provider of cloud-based Corporate Performance Management (CPM) software. With robust financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting capabilities, Vena empowers businesses to achieve data-driven insights, streamline processes, and enhance decision-making, fostering agility and growth in financial management.

Key features:

• Workflow automation: Streamlines and automates business processes for efficiency.
• Data integration: Connects and synchronizes data across various sources.
• Multi-scenario modeling: Tests and analyzes different financial scenarios for planning.
• Data versioning: Manages and tracks changes in financial data over time.

Pros:

• Creates accurate and customizable financial reports.
• Plans and analyzes budgets for informed decision-making.
• Offers secure and scalable access to financial data.

Cons:

• It’s dependent on Excel.

What is financial automation?

Financial automation is a method of using technology and software to streamline and automate various repetitive tasks and manual processes. This can involve automating repetitive tasks such as data entry, invoice processing, bill payments, budgeting, reporting, and investment management.

By automating these processes, businesses and individuals can save time and reduce the potential for errors.

Financial automation can help businesses and individuals improve efficiency, reduce errors, save time, and gain better control over their finances. It can also provide insights into financial trends and patterns, enabling better decision-making. Additionally, automation can help ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and improve overall financial management practices.

Examples of financial automation tools include: 

• Accounting software
• Expense management systems
• Automated bill payment services
• Robo-advisors for investing
• AI-driven financial planning platforms

What financial processes should be automated?

1. Invoicing and billing: automating the process of creating and sending invoices can help reduce errors and save time in the billing cycle.

2. Expense management: automating the tracking and approval of employee expenses can streamline the reimbursement process and improve accuracy.

3. Payment processing: automating the handling of payments from customers can speed up the collection process and reduce the risk of errors.

4. Budgeting and forecasting: automating the process of consolidating financial data and generating forecasts can improve accuracy and save time for finance teams.

5. Reconciliation: automating the matching of financial transactions to ensure accuracy and identify discrepancies can help prevent errors and save time.

6. Reporting: automating the generation of financial reports can save time and ensure that information is consistently and accurately presented.

Automating these financial processes can help organizations improve efficiency, reduce errors, and free up finance teams to focus on more strategic activities. By leveraging technology to automate these processes, businesses can also gain better visibility into their financial health and make more informed decisions.

What are the benefits of financial automation?

Time-saving

Automation in finance reduces the time spent on manual data entry and processing, allowing employees to focus on more strategic and value-added tasks.

Reduced errors

Automation reduces the risk of human error in financial processes, leading to more accurate and reliable financial data.

Improved efficiency

Automated financial processes can be completed more quickly and with less effort, increasing overall efficiency within the organization.

Cost savings

By streamlining financial processes and reducing the need for manual intervention, businesses can save on labor costs and improve their bottom line.

Better decision-making

Automation provides real-time access to financial data, enabling faster and more informed decision-making.

Compliance and control

Automated processes can help ensure compliance with regulations and internal controls, reducing the risk of errors or fraud.

Scalability

As businesses grow, automated financial processes can easily scale to meet increased demand without the need for significant additional resources.

Enhanced visibility

Financial automation provides greater transparency and insight into financial data, allowing for more accurate forecasting and planning.

Examples of financial process automation

• Invoice processing: Use of software to automate the receipt, approval, and payment of invoices, reducing manual data entry and human error.
• Expense management: Automated systems for tracking employee expenses, submitting reimbursement requests, and approving payments, streamlining the reimbursement process.
• Payroll processing: Utilizing software to calculate employee wages, deduct taxes and benefits, and disburse payments, reducing the time and effort required for payroll.
• Budgeting and forecasting: Automated tools that analyze financial data to create accurate budgets and forecasts, improving decision-making and financial planning.
• Accounts payable and receivable: Automation of accounts payable and receivable processes, including invoice tracking, payment scheduling, and collections management.
• Financial reporting: Using software to automatically generate and distribute financial reports, saving time and ensuring data accuracy.
• Transaction processing: Implementation of automated systems to process financial transactions such as deposits, withdrawals, and transfers with minimal human intervention.

Financial automation software features

Automated expense tracking

The software should have the ability to automatically track and categorize expenses, saving time and reducing errors.

Invoice generation and management

The software should be able to generate, send, and manage invoices automatically, streamlining the invoicing process for businesses.

Budgeting and forecasting

The software should have robust budgeting and forecasting tools to help businesses plan and manage their finances more effectively.

Bank reconciliation

The software should automate the bank reconciliation process, matching transactions and ensuring accurate financial records.

Payroll processing

The software should offer automated payroll processing, including tax calculations and direct deposit capabilities.

Financial reporting

The software should provide a range of customizable financial reports to help businesses track their financial performance.

Integrations with banking and accounting systems

The software should seamlessly integrate with banking and accounting systems to provide a comprehensive financial management solution.

Compliance and security features

The software should have built-in compliance tools and security features to ensure the protection of sensitive financial data.

Audit trail and documentation

The software should maintain an audit trail and provide documentation for all financial transactions, enhancing transparency and accountability.

Workflow automation

The software should automate repetitive finance tasks, improving efficiency and freeing up time for more strategic financial activities.