This FAQ explains how AI reduces manual effort across journals, reconciliations and approvals, with audit-ready documentation and clear controls.
Q: How could this intelligent close be integrated with SAP? Is Aico already connected to the AI to run an intelligent close?
A: Yes, Aico connects in real time to both SAP ECC, S/4HANAand other ERP systems. Aico’s AI features are embedded in the close process today, they support journal validation, evidence review and anomaly detection across modules like journals, reconciliations and intercompany.
Pullout
Aico connects in real time to both SAP ECC, S/4HANA and other ERP systems.
Q: Have you tested these solutions with SAP S/4HANA already?
A: Aico is fully compatible with SAP S/4HANA and is live in multiple customer environments with both ECC and S/4. In terms of the AI component this is not dependent on the ERP. For example, Aico can automate programs and reports from S4 and send these to the AI model with associated instructions in the same way it could do that for ECC or even by retrieving a report from a file share and asking AI to analyse that.
Q: If I have more ECC systems, how does the solution work? Can I manage it from one console?
A: Yes, Aico connects to multiple SAP ECC, S/4HANA or other ERP instances simultaneously. All data is consolidated in one user interface where the finance team can manage processes end-to-end.
Q: Can AICO easily connect to NetSuite?
A: Yes, Aico is ERP-agnostic and can integrate with NetSuite via its standard SOAP APIs or file-based methods, depending on the client’s infrastructure.
Q: Does Aico also cover the cost accounting tasks in the closing process?
A: Aico focuses on Record-to-Report automation. It can support indirect cost allocation and accruals where they intersect with journal entries.
Q: Are we not adding complexity by posting journals in Aico?
A: On the contrary. Aico removes complexity by allowing finance users to prepare, validate and submit journals. It delivers live validations, approval workflows and supporting documentation into a single, user-friendly interface.
Q: Have all these AI use cases already been tested and developed in companies in practice? Or are some still in the ‘potential’ stage?
A: Many use cases shown in the webinar are being tested with customers - including AI validation of journal entries, evidence review and automated anomaly detection. Some advanced features like forecasting or predictive controls are under active development.
Q: How can AI validate correctness of the journal evidence in a way that isn’t rule-based?
A: Aico’s AI doesn’t rely solely on static rules. It understands context; comparing journal descriptions, amounts and accounts with the attached evidence and flagging semantic mismatches or inconsistencies that wouldn’t be caught by simple rules.
Q: Can AI summarise values and check if those align with totals or must totals be explicitly provided?
A: AI can extract and summarise values from supporting documents and compare them to the journal totals. Totals don’t have to be pre-calculated manually.
Q: Can AI analyse not only supporting documents but also trend deviations from previous periods?
A: Yes, Aico’s AI is being trained to identify anomalies and deviations from historical patterns, helping finance teams catch errors or outliers early in the process.
Q: Will external auditors accept AI-generated closing entries?
A: Yes, as long as the process includes human review and documentation. Aico’s AI perform the control, and the user can always review and approve. The system maintains a full audit trail of all actions.
Q: How does materiality affect the use of AI in the close?
A: Auditors focus on materiality. For example, a EUR1,000 journal entry in a EUR10 billion business is less critical than a million euro posting, so scrutiny is directed to higher value items.
Q: Can we control when entries are sent to AI and why limit it?
A: Yes. In Aico, you can set value thresholds so AI checks, such as evidence suitability, only run above a defined amount. Sending data to an AI model carries a cost which can add up for organisations posting tens of thousands of journals each month, so thresholds ensure value for money.