The use of spreadsheets as a core tool for financial reporting and data analysis creates significant challenges, particularly with regard to data accuracy and visibility. The latest generation of spreadsheet automation tools addresses these challenges by supporting the familiar Microsoft Excel interface and application functions with direct, dynamic integration to the host general ledger system, ensuring that financial analysts and other professionals are always working with the latest data.
With Bottomline's spreadsheet automation solution as a powerful Excel add-on, real-time data from your JD Edwards or Oracle General Ledger is made available directly into Excel for faster, more convenient financial analysis — no manual data dumps or re-keying of data required. By eliminating data delays and manual intervention, organizations build a stronger foundation for more accurate, professional-looking financial statements.
Complementing other business intelligence and reporting tools in which organizations have invested, Bottomline Active Spreadsheet Server™ provides true spreadsheet automation by transforming Excel into a tightly integrated analytical tool where users can retrieve, manipulate and present all levels of information within Excel. This information is instantly updated with real-time data from the general ledger each time a user opens or re-calculates the Excel spreadsheet, allowing users to focus on financial data analysis rather than data time-consuming collection. Users can also automate the distribution of financial information via print or email, or send to a secure archive for rapid distribution — all with the single click of a button.
Through complete spreadsheet automation organizations can:
- Eliminate the need for IT or finance "super-users" of Excel to continuously build and revise financial spreadsheets for updated reporting
- Reduce the time required for third-party accountants or other consultants to collect financial data, allowing them to focus on more important data analysis
- Consolidate reporting, account inquiry and journal inquiry into one user-friendly application
- Complement existing business intelligence and data warehouse management tools
- Produce executive-quality reports that can easily be distributed via print or email
- Drill down to real-time general ledger balances and other data directly from Excel
- Increase the efficiency and timeliness of your organization’s budgeting process
- Eliminate the need to manually download, re-key or export ERP balance or transaction-level data
- Dramatically reduce the number of days needed to close monthly or quarterly account booksr allows for the automated electronic delivery of key business information to your critical users, eliminating the time-consuming tasks of printing, copying or creating email attachments.