Certify - Detailed Review
Finance Tools
Certify - Product Overview
Introduction to Certify
Certify is a cloud-based expense management solution that simplifies and automates the process of tracking, managing, and reporting expenses for organizations of all sizes.
Primary Function
The primary function of Certify is to streamline expense management by eliminating the need for paper receipts and spreadsheets. It offers automated expense reporting, prescheduled and auto-generated expense report creation, and mobile capabilities that make it easy to log expenses on the go.
Target Audience
Certify is designed to serve a wide range of businesses, from small and medium-sized enterprises to large corporations. It is particularly useful for companies with employees who frequently incur business expenses, such as those in sales, marketing, or business development roles. The software caters to different business needs through its various package options, including Certify Now for smaller businesses, Professional for mid-sized companies, and Enterprise for larger organizations.
Key Features
- Mobile App: Certify offers a mobile app for iOS and Android that allows employees to easily upload receipts by taking a picture of them. This feature makes expense tracking highly practical and efficient.
- Automated Expense Reporting: The software automates the expense reporting process, reducing the manual work involved in creating and submitting expense reports.
- Centralized Dashboard: The main dashboard provides a comprehensive view of all expenses, allowing for easy management and tracking of each user’s information and approval requests.
- Certify Wallet: This feature enables precise tracking of expenses by organizing users into relevant departments within the software.
- Travel and AP Programs: In addition to expense tracking, Certify offers supplementary features such as travel and accounts payable programs to provide a more comprehensive financial management solution.
- Security and Support: Certify ensures data security with Symantec SSL certification and offers comprehensive support through its website and other resources.
Overall, Certify is a user-friendly and efficient tool that helps businesses manage their expenses more effectively, saving time and improving financial visibility.
Certify - User Interface and Experience
User Interface of Certify
The user interface of Certify, now part of Emburse, in the finance tools and expense management category is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, although there are some nuances and areas for improvement.
Interface Components
For the web-based version of Certify, the interface is organized into several key areas:
- Menu Bar: This contains various menus with functions and commands necessary for tasks within Certify.
- Toolbar: Provides quick access to actions such as managing requirements, maps, processes, data, variables, results, applications, projects, users, and extensions. The availability of these buttons depends on the task selected in the Navigation pane.
- Navigation Pane: Displays a hierarchical tree structure of the Certify window, allowing users to select nodes that update the information in the Summary pane.
- Summary Pane: Located on the top right, this pane shows dynamic information based on the selected node in the Navigation tree. It offers shortcut menus for available actions.
- Details Pane: Appears at the bottom right and contains tabs related to the selected item in the Summary pane, providing detailed information and shortcut menus.
Ease of Use
Users generally find Certify easy to use, especially for its core functions such as capturing and managing expense receipts. Here are some key points:
- The mobile app, now known as Emburse Professional, allows users to capture receipts with their smartphones and automatically fill out and categorize expense entries using AI. This feature is highly praised for its convenience and efficiency.
- The interface is described as intuitive and organized, making it easy for users to find and manage their expenses, including submitting reports and tracking reimbursement status.
User Experience
The overall user experience is generally positive, with several notable aspects:
- Convenience: Users appreciate the ability to upload receipts via email or through the mobile app, which simplifies the expense reporting process.
- Automation: The auto-fill feature and automated expense categorization are highlighted as significant time-savers and error-reducers.
- Transparency: The system provides real-time visibility into expense status and approval workflows, enhancing transparency and efficiency.
Areas for Improvement
Despite the positive aspects, there are some areas where users have reported issues:
- Mobile App Glitches: Some users have experienced glitches with the mobile app, such as difficulties in uploading receipts, inconsistent behavior, and poor design choices.
- Customization and Reporting: There have been comments about limited options for customization and advanced reporting features, which some users find lacking.
In summary, Certify’s user interface is designed to be user-friendly and efficient, particularly for expense management tasks. While it excels in convenience and automation, there are some areas, especially in the mobile app, that could benefit from further improvement.
Certify - Key Features and Functionality
Certify: Overview
Certify, a web-based expense management and invoicing software, offers several key features that streamline financial processes, particularly in expense tracking and management. Here are the main features and how they work, along with their benefits and any integration of AI:
Expense Tracking
Certify allows users to track expenses efficiently through its mobile app and web interface. Users can upload receipts electronically, eliminating the need for paper receipts and spreadsheets. This feature automates the expense reporting process, making it easier to manage and analyze expenses.
Automated Expense Reporting
The software features prescheduled, auto-generated expense report creation. This automation saves time and reduces the manual effort required in creating, approving, and reimbursing expenses. AI plays a role here by automatically categorizing expenses and generating reports based on the uploaded receipts.
Electronic Receipt Capture
Users can capture receipts using their mobile devices, which are then automatically uploaded to the system. This process is facilitated by AI-driven image recognition technology that extracts relevant information from the receipts, such as dates, amounts, and categories.
Travel Booking
Certify integrates travel booking capabilities, allowing users to book travel directly within the platform. This integration helps in tracking travel-related expenses more effectively and ensures that all travel expenditures are accounted for in the expense reports.
Approval and Reimbursement
The software streamlines the approval and reimbursement process by providing a clear workflow. Managers can approve or reject expense reports electronically, and the system can automate the reimbursement process once approvals are received. AI helps in flagging any discrepancies or policy violations, ensuring compliance and accuracy.
Financial Reporting and Analytics
Certify offers comprehensive financial reporting and analytics tools. These tools provide insights into travel and expense spend, helping organizations make informed financial decisions. AI-driven analytics can identify trends, anomalies, and areas for cost optimization, enhancing financial management.
Mobile Capabilities
The mobile app allows users to upload receipts, create expense reports, and manage expenses on the go. This mobility ensures that expenses are recorded and reported in real-time, reducing the likelihood of lost receipts or delayed reporting.
Integration and Compliance
Certify integrates with various accounting systems and ensures compliance with financial regulations. AI helps in enforcing company policies and regulatory requirements by automatically checking expense reports against predefined rules and guidelines.
Conclusion
In summary, Certify leverages AI to automate and streamline various aspects of expense management, from receipt capture and expense reporting to approval and reimbursement processes. This automation and integration of AI enhance accuracy, reduce manual effort, and provide valuable financial insights.
Certify - Performance and Accuracy
Performance and Accuracy of Certify in Finance Tools
Automation and Efficiency
Certify is highly effective in automating the expense reporting process, eliminating the need for manual data entry, lost paperwork, and slower approval workflows. The software integrates seamlessly with various systems, including QuickBooks, SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics, and Salesforce, which enhances its efficiency and usability.Receipt Parsing and Data Accuracy
The Certify ReceiptParse feature automatically extracts data from scanned receipts and fills in up to 15 expense fields. While this feature is generally accurate, some users have reported that it doesn’t always autofill the correct information, requiring manual corrections. This indicates a need for occasional human oversight to ensure accuracy.Expense Reporting and Approval
Certify’s ReportExecutive automates the expense reporting process, sending reminders to employees to review their expenses and submit reports for approval. The system allows for a clear approval chain with set limits, ensuring that expenses are properly vetted before reimbursement. This process is streamlined and efficient, but it does require some initial setup to define the approval parameters.Data-Driven Decision Making
Certify enables finance teams to collect better data more frequently and reliably, which is crucial for making data-driven decisions. The software provides actionable dashboards and analytics, such as the Expense Detail Review, that offer comprehensive insights into expense report status, processed status, expense types, and more. This helps finance teams to focus on strategic and high-impact work.Limitations and Areas for Improvement
- Learning Curve: Some users have noted that Certify requires a bit of a learning curve, although they become more comfortable with it over time.
- Data Quality: Like many AI-driven systems, Certify’s accuracy relies heavily on the quality of the data it processes. Inaccurate or incomplete data can lead to flawed outcomes, so ensuring high-quality data is essential.
- Integration Challenges: While Certify integrates well with many systems, integrating AI systems with existing financial infrastructure can sometimes be complex and time-consuming, especially with legacy systems.
Cost and Implementation
The implementation of Certify, especially the Professional and Enterprise editions, can involve significant costs, including the need for data storage, computation, and model deployment infrastructure. This can be a barrier for smaller firms due to the high licensing fees and implementation costs.Conclusion
In summary, Certify performs well in automating expense management, providing accurate data extraction, and facilitating efficient approval processes. However, it may require some manual corrections for receipt parsing, has a learning curve, and depends on high-quality data for optimal performance. Additionally, the cost and integration challenges need to be considered, especially for smaller businesses. Certify - Pricing and Plans
Pricing Structure for Emburse Certify
The pricing structure for Emburse Certify, an AI-driven expense management tool, is straightforward and catered to different business sizes. Here’s a breakdown of the plans and their features:
Certify Now
- Price: $8 per user per month
- Target Audience: Small businesses with 1-25 employees
- Features: This plan includes essential expense report software with self-service, online setup.
- Implementation: Self-service online setup.
Professional
- Price: Custom quotation based on the needs of the business
- Target Audience: Small and medium businesses with 25-200 employees
- Features: Advanced expense management with full service implementation, which is completed within 30 days.
- Implementation: Full service implementation under 30 days.
Enterprise
- Price: Custom quotation based on the needs of the business
- Target Audience: Large businesses with over 200 employees
- Features: Best-in-class expense management with full service implementation tailored to the business’s specific needs.
- Implementation: Custom implementation based on the business’s requirements.
Free Trial and Free Plan
- Free Trial: Available for users to test the service.
- Free Plan: No free plan is offered by Emburse Certify.
This structure allows businesses to choose a plan that fits their size and needs, with the option for custom plans for larger or more complex organizations.
Certify - Integration and Compatibility
Emburse Professional Overview
Emburse Professional, formerly known as Certify, is a finance tool that offers integrated solutions for travel, invoice, and expense management. It integrates seamlessly with various other business tools to enhance productivity and efficiency.
Integrations
Emburse Professional integrates with several key financial and business applications. Here are some notable integrations:
QuickBooks and NetSuite
Through platforms like Celigo, Emburse Professional can sync expense reports with these popular accounting systems, streamlining financial processes and reducing manual data entry.
Invoice and Expense Management
The platform allows for the management of expenses and invoices in one place, automating many manual tasks and providing better control over cash flow.
Compatibility Across Platforms
Emburse Professional is designed to be compatible with a variety of systems and devices:
Cloud-Based Access
The platform is cloud-based, allowing users to access and manage travel, invoices, and expenses from any device with an internet connection, including desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
Operating Systems
While specific details on operating system compatibility are not provided, the cloud-based nature of the service suggests it can be accessed via any modern web browser on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices.
Third-Party Integrations
The integration with other business tools like QuickBooks and NetSuite indicates that Emburse Professional is compatible with a range of financial and accounting software, making it versatile for different business environments.
Ease of Integration
The integration process is facilitated by platforms such as Celigo, which offers pre-built connectors and integration apps. This makes it easier to set up and start using Emburse Professional with other business applications without the need for extensive coding or development.
Conclusion
In summary, Emburse Professional is highly integrable with various financial and business tools, and its cloud-based access ensures compatibility across a wide range of devices and operating systems. This integration capability helps in automating financial processes, increasing productivity, and providing better spend control and data visibility.
Certify - Customer Support and Resources
Support Channels
If you encounter issues or have questions about Certify’em, you can submit support questions via email. The recommended approach is to first refer to the FAQ page and Help Center, as many common questions may already be addressed there. If you still need assistance, you can write to certifyem-support@gleeda.net.
Email Support
Email support is available, particularly for subscribers of the Gold and Platinum plans. While users of the FREE plan may not have guaranteed support, the team will try to answer questions when possible. When reaching out, it is helpful to include a link to your published Google Form (URL that ends with “/viewform”) and ensure that Automatic Certification is turned ON.
Feedback
If you have constructive feedback or ideas, you can also send them to the same email address, certifyem-support@gleeda.net.
Additional Resources
Given the specific context of Certify’em and the lack of detailed information on a “Finance Tools AI-driven product category” directly associated with Certify’em, these support options and resources are the primary avenues available for assistance. If you are looking for AI-driven finance tools, you might want to consider other certifications or resources such as those offered by AI CERTs or Corporate Finance Institute, which provide specialized training in AI for finance.
Certify - Pros and Cons
Advantages of Certify (now Emburse Professional)
User-Friendly Interface
Certify is widely praised for its intuitive and easy-to-use interface, making it simple for employees to manage and track expenses without extensive training.
Automated Expense Management
The software automates many manual tasks, such as generating expense reports, categorizing expenses, and integrating credit card transactions. This saves time and increases productivity for both employees and finance teams.
Mobile App
The mobile app is highly regarded for its convenience, allowing users to capture receipts on the go and upload them directly to their expense reports. Features like emailing receipts to a dedicated address for automatic upload are particularly appreciated.
Real-Time Visibility
Certify provides real-time visibility into expense status and approval workflows, enhancing transparency and efficiency in the reimbursement process.
Data Insights
The software offers actionable data insights, helping finance teams to better manage spending, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions. It also supports advanced analytics for deeper insights into spending patterns.
Policy Compliance
Certify helps increase policy compliance by automating checks for out-of-policy spend and ensuring that all expenses are aligned with company policies.
Disadvantages of Certify (now Emburse Professional)
Technical Issues
Some users have reported technical glitches, such as the system freezing, losing information, and issues with automatic credit card imports. These glitches can be frustrating and time-consuming to resolve.
Manual Processes
Despite automation, some aspects of the software remain manual. For example, users often need to upload receipts one by one, and these receipts may not filter into the same report automatically. This can make creating expense reports more labor-intensive than expected.
Customization Limitations
There are limited options for customizing expense policies and approval workflows, which can be a drawback for organizations with specific needs. Additionally, the reporting functionality, while useful, lacks some advanced features and analytics.
Integration Issues
Some users have experienced difficulties with integrating Certify with other financial software, such as QuickBooks. This can lead to manual input and duplicated work, particularly with data that doesn’t transfer correctly.
Security and Stability
A few users have mentioned concerns about the security and stability of the mobile app, including instances where the app stops working or fails to save uploaded receipts.
Implementation Challenges
There have been reports of poor implementation experiences, including lack of follow-up from the implementation team and unexpected implementation fees. This can lead to a difficult onboarding process for new users.
Certify - Comparison with Competitors
Certify
- Automated Expense Reporting: Certify is known for its automated expense report creation, eliminating the need for paper receipts and spreadsheets. It offers prescheduled, auto-generated expense reports and mobile capabilities.
- Comprehensive Reporting and Analytics: It provides a full suite of on-demand reporting and analytics, giving insights into travel and expense spend.
- Optical Character Recognition (OCR): Certify uses OCR for receipt image submission and expense itemization.
- Approval Workflow and Compliance: The platform includes an approval workflow and ensures compliance with expense policies.
Alternatives and Competitors
Webexpenses
- Customization and Training: Webexpenses is praised for being easier to customize and better at training compared to Certify. It offers a more personalized service through its online and mobile expenses app.
- Innovative Approach: Webexpenses is more innovative and transparent, with a bespoke approach that avoids the ‘one-size-fits-all’ model.
- Implementation: It is also easier to implement than Certify.
Expensify
- Ease of Use and Customization: Expensify is known for being easier to use and customize. It helps track expenses, reimburse employees, manage corporate cards, send invoices, pay bills, and book travel, all at a rapid pace.
- Transparency: Expensify is more transparent, although some users find it less reliable than Certify.
- Multifunctional: It offers a wide range of functions beyond just expense tracking, including managing corporate cards and booking travel.
Other Considerations
- Features Comparison: All three tools (Certify, Webexpenses, and Expensify) offer core features like expense detail tracking, receipt image submission, OCR, and approval workflows. However, Webexpenses and Expensify stand out for their ease of customization and use.
Unique Features of Certify
- Automated Expense Reporting: While all tools automate expense reporting to some extent, Certify’s prescheduled and auto-generated reports are particularly noteworthy.
- Compliance: Certify’s strong focus on ensuring compliance with expense policies is a significant advantage.
Potential Alternatives
If you are looking for alternatives that offer more customization and ease of use, Webexpenses and Expensify are strong contenders. Here are some key points to consider:
- Webexpenses: Ideal for those needing a highly customizable and innovative solution with better training support.
- Expensify: Suitable for those who want an easy-to-use platform with a wide range of additional financial management functions.
Each of these tools has its strengths and weaknesses, so it’s important to evaluate them based on your specific business needs and preferences.
Certify - Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions about Certify
What is Certify and what does it do?
Certify is a web-based expense management and invoicing software that helps companies of all sizes manage their expenses efficiently. It automates the process of tracking, approving, and reimbursing expenses, and also allows users to book travel and analyze spending.How does Certify simplify expense tracking?
Certify simplifies expense tracking through its mobile app, which allows employees to log expenses on the go by taking pictures of their receipts. The app also features auto-fill capabilities and a detailed interface for easy data entry. This eliminates the need for paper receipts and spreadsheets.What are the different package options available for Certify?
Certify offers three package options:- Certify Now: This is the entry-level option, suitable for businesses with 1-25 employees, priced at $8 per user per month.
- Professional: This package is for companies with 25-200 employees and includes more advanced tools for managing expenses.
- Enterprise: This is for larger companies with over 200 employees and offers customized solutions with annual fixed pricing.
How user-friendly is the Certify software?
Certify is known for its ease of use. The software includes an instructional wizard to help with setup, and the main dashboard allows for centralized management of all tools and functionality. The mobile app is particularly user-friendly, enabling employees to manage expenses from anywhere.What kind of support does Certify offer?
Certify provides comprehensive support, including full-time email support for registered users who have purchased a license key. Support operates during office hours on weekdays and has some coverage on weekends. Additionally, users of the free Community Edition can get support via the community forum.Can Certify integrate with other financial systems?
Yes, Certify can integrate with other financial systems. It offers seamless integration capabilities, which help in streamlining expense reporting and financial workflows. This integration ensures that financial data is accurately and efficiently transferred between systems.How secure is Certify?
Certify is safe and secure, featuring Symantec SSL certification. The software ensures that all data is protected, and the background service runs securely to manage expenses without any significant security risks.What additional features does Certify offer beyond expense tracking?
In addition to expense tracking, Certify offers features such as travel booking, accounts payable (AP) programs, and detailed financial reporting. These features help businesses gain insights into their spending and manage their finances more effectively.How does Certify handle approval and reimbursement processes?
Certify streamlines the approval and reimbursement processes by allowing managers to check approval requests and track each user’s information via the Certify Wallet. The software automates many steps, reducing the time spent on these tasks and improving efficiency.Is Certify suitable for small and medium-sized businesses?
Yes, Certify is highly suitable for small and medium-sized businesses. The Certify Now package is specifically designed for smaller ventures, offering all the necessary tools to improve efficiency and manage expenses effectively. Certify - Conclusion and Recommendation
Final Assessment of Certify in the Finance Tools Category
Overview and Benefits
Certify, offered by Emburse, is a comprehensive finance tool that automates and streamlines various financial processes, including expense reporting, accounts payable, and business travel management. Here are some key benefits and features that make Certify a valuable tool in the finance sector:- Expense Management: Certify Expense simplifies the expense reporting process by automating tasks such as expense report creation, spend requests, and card issuing workflows. It also includes mobile receipt capture, integrated audit capabilities, and customizable approval workflows.
- Accounts Payable Automation: Certify AP is a web-based solution that automates the entire invoice lifecycle, from requisition to payment. This includes features like invoice processing, purchase order matching, vendor management, and payment processing. It eliminates paper-based processes and enables remote work by handling approvals online.
- Global Payments and Multi-Currency Support: Certify supports electronic payments in over 100 currencies, making it suitable for international businesses. It also offers features like trip tracking, mileage calculators, and spend analytics.
- User-Friendly Interface and Support: The platform includes a mobile app for easy receipt submission and approval, actionable dashboards for spend optimization, and comprehensive reporting and analytics. Additionally, it provides free training and live support.
Who Would Benefit Most
Certify is particularly beneficial for several types of organizations and users:- Growing Organizations: Companies with more than 25 employees can significantly benefit from the Professional plan, which includes all the features of the basic plan plus additional functionalities.
- Finance Teams: Finance professionals can gain greater visibility into company purchases, manage spend more effectively, and automate repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on strategic activities.
- Remote Workers: The online approval processes and mobile access make it feasible for remote workers to manage and approve expenses and invoices efficiently.
- International Businesses: With support for over 140 currencies and global payment capabilities, Certify is ideal for businesses operating internationally.
Recommendation
Based on the features and benefits outlined, Certify is a highly recommended tool for any organization looking to streamline their financial processes, enhance spend control, and improve operational efficiency.- Automation and Efficiency: Certify’s automation capabilities can significantly reduce the time spent on manual tasks, allowing finance teams to focus on more strategic activities.
- Comprehensive Features: The platform offers a wide range of features that cater to various financial needs, from expense reporting to accounts payable and global payments.
- User Support: The availability of free training, live support, and a user-friendly interface makes it easier for organizations to adopt and use the software effectively.