Month-end close that runs in the same order, at the same time, every month
Month-end close is not difficult, but it is long, order-dependent and usually done after hours. Skip a step or run one out of order and the fix takes hours the next day. You walk us through your close calendar; we hand the rule-based steps to a robot that knows their order and timing and stops when a step returns something unexpected.
The real load: sequence and timing
A close is a chain of dependent steps. Each should start only once the previous one has finished correctly. Some can only run after a certain time, and some run first as a test, get checked, then run for real.
Done by hand, that means someone waiting at a screen in the evening, with the knowledge held in their checklist or their head. When that person is away, the close becomes a risk.
Steps a robot can take over
Which steps go to the robot depends on your close calendar. Typically the rule-based, repeated ones:
- Closing the current period and opening the next
- Closing open sessions and locks
- Closing completed work orders
- Running recurring entries and periodic allocations
- Running test runs and sending the results to the right person for approval
- Pulling and distributing pre-close and post-close checklists
Dependencies and stop points
The robot starts a step only if the previous one ended as expected. If a result is different or unreadable, it halts the chain, logs the state and notifies someone. Approval points can be built in: a calculation runs as a test, the result goes to the finance manager, and the real run happens only after approval. Judgement stays with people; repetition goes to the robot.
Estimates, valuations and accrual amounts remain human decisions. The robot can prepare the lists behind them and post the entry once the decision is made.
From a project
At a manufacturer, month-end close runs as one module of a platform that carries the repetitive SAP work of the finance, purchasing and production teams. Closing the period, closing open sessions, completing work orders and opening the new period happen in the right order at the right time. An operation with an unclear result is never repeated automatically; it waits for a person. The platform is covered by automated tests.
Questions
What happens if a step fails?
The chain stops there. The robot does not move on; it logs the state and notifies the right person. Once the issue is fixed, the close resumes and completed steps are not rerun.
Can the close run overnight?
Yes, that is the most common setup. The robot starts at a set time, waits at approval points and leaves a status report for the morning.
Do we need an additional SAP product?
No. The robot uses your existing SAP screens. If you already use SAP's own closing tools, the robot can work alongside them on the steps they do not cover.
Can the close be automated in an ERP other than SAP?
Yes. Period tasks, recurring entries and checklists move to a robot the same way in Dynamics 365, Oracle, IFS, Logo, Netsis or Mikro. Step names and order differ by ERP; the sequence checks, stop points and log stay the same.
Give us 30 minutes and one job.
Tell us about a repetitive task or a tool your team is missing. We'll tell you plainly what it needs. If it needs nothing, we'll say that too.
Free, 30 minutes, no commitment.