Date: 01.10.2025 (2025-10-01)
Dimas Urgal (01.10.2025) Context: • https://www.linkedin.com/in/dimas-urgal-b9298576/ • Was with Rory at Yababa • They are 110 people -> Fusion energy • Munich -> Oktoberfest
Intro: • Working on an automation platform - similar to Zapier, n8n, UIPath, make.com • Disclaimer: early, discovery phase -> some questions, please be honest
Context: • Team size and which roles? • 2 ppl now; 3 more time • Which tools are they using? • Coupa: procurement & supplier manager • Rydoo: expense management • Datev • Vena: FPNA; reporting & controlling • Slack • Google workspace (also Cloud Computing) • ChatGPT • They tried SAP - but not relevant
His Experience & Current Practices • Day-to-day reality: What are the most admin-heavy processes in his finance role (invoices, reconciliations, reporting, payroll, compliance, audits)? • • Is he automating today? If yes, which tools (Excel macros, Zapier, RPA, ERP features)? • If yes: who does it? Which tools? What works? What does not work? • Coupa to integrate with Datev and back -> middleware self developed; SFTP back to Coupa • Reido: open API -> integrate with Datev; middleware back to Reido • Vena: integrated with Excel -> big table -> • It is built in Excel • He needs to update the report every month -> macro • IT team developed it • If no, why not (cost, complexity, lack of time, no clear ROI)? • More processes to automate: • Big gap for legal documents (they tried Fynk: proposal is amazing but delivery not) • They test them every year • They get 20 NDAs per week • Keep on top of contracts • Accounting: they are working with n8n • They reach out to n8n and Rocket Finance and internally to get the cost estimation • Invoice -> book to Datev -> see what is invoice is about -> check database for expense line -> add to cost center -> saves 10 to 15min per invoice • Problem: integration of ChatGPT to Datev does not work -> they talk to n8n • n8n has a Datev integration • Bank reconciliation • Cash report: categorise expenses • Revisions of invoice -> is the biggest thing -> 500 per month - but they are small • How much is paid • Onboarding of new employees and offboarding -> 2nd largest task • Gather information and make sure it is correct • Other automation: • It is mainly him doing automations -> he thinks he is mainly the only one doing automation • Finance Accounting, Legal, HR, IT • Legacy systems: does he deal with them (accounting tools, banking interfaces, HRIS, ERP)? How painful are integrations? • Successes & frustrations: if he had a “magic wand,” what would he automate first? • Ask if he can introduce you to 3 peers in similar roles (finance leads in other startups). • Other: • If I develop sth. that integrates with Datev that would make a lot of money • Make it super stable • Datev has an API now • Problem with the API: n8n authorisation is the problem • ToDo: use Datev Online -> it is easier • There is another solution • Datev: • Better UI for Datev he would pay for; • It is cheap • 40 USD per quarter; other tools are very expensive • He would pay for a service that keeps the Datev API online -> there are services that do that • They pay for outsourced service that they pay for every corrected invoice • FPNA side • Forecast -> they change it every two months because high growth • Analysis of the cost via agent -> how much did I pay for a certain supplier -> search of agent in Datev • For other companies: • Travelperk: automated reporting -> check it out! • Check out Finance Rocket -> they promise but they are not • He is open to help • He can do one intro -> FUP with him