Sage unveils AI-driven Copilot tool for finance teams

Sage has announced the launch of Sage Copilot for early adopters in the United Kingdom and United States as part of its latest Sage Intacct platform release.

The new generative AI tool is designed to help finance teams perform tasks such as budget variance analysis more efficiently, allowing them to focus on strategic growth rather than time-consuming manual processes.

Sage's "Secrets of Successful CFOs" report highlights the increasing adoption of AI among Chief Financial Officers, with 80% of CFOs employing AI to dedicate more time to high-value tasks. Additionally, 89% of these financial leaders report expanded responsibilities, emphasising the need for supportive tools in managing global complexities.

Enhancements to Sage Intacct include the Sage Copilot Variance Analysis feature, which offers real-time insights and alerts to help budget managers improve financial oversight. This tool enables users to identify discrepancies quickly, compare budgeted and actual figures, and access period-over-period data, thus streamlining decision-making processes without the need for manual analysis.

Sage Copilot also provides a search help feature to deliver conversational responses, enhancing productivity by allowing users to spend less time on routine tasks.

Dan Miller, Executive Vice President of Financials and ERP Division at Sage, stated, "Sage Copilot is a game-changer, enabling finance leaders to make smarter decisions and focus on driving long-term growth."

Additional enhancements to Sage Intacct include language accessibility improvements, with support for French-Canadian and Spanish (Spain) now in open beta, making the platform more accessible to a global audience. These improvements aim to reduce communication barriers and support efficient operations in diverse international markets.

Sage has also released new industry solutions, including enhancements to Sage Intelligent Time with features like time clocks and rate cards. These are intended to facilitate compliance with labour laws, ensure accurate time tracking, and simplify billing across sectors such as professional services, retail, and manufacturing, which contributes to profitability and growth.

Furthermore, Sage's integration with Continental Utility Solutions streamlines the flow of data between utility billing and financial management, empowering utility companies with comprehensive financial insights while reducing manual data entry tasks.

Sage Intacct now also includes expanded developer capabilities through its REST API using Open API Specification 3.0, offering developers the ability to create custom integrations easily. With interactive documentation and versioned updates, the platform aims to minimise integration challenges and help businesses tailor solutions to specific needs.

For users in France, a new localised feature called "manual lettrage" has been introduced, which aids in tracking general ledger account changes, producing accurate entries, and ensuring compliance with local financial regulations, thus reducing administrative tasks and improving efficiency.

These enhancements, with availability varying across regions, are designed to help small and mid-sized businesses by connecting them seamlessly with their customers, suppliers, employees, banks, and governments, facilitating increased productivity and growth opportunities.