Date: 04.11.2025 (2025-11-04)
Alexander Plenk (04.11.2025) • COLD OUTREACH • https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanderplenk/ • CFO at Johner Institut (90ppl) and Board of Directors for Johner Institute North America Inc. (5 ppl) • My message: • Ich bin auf Ihr Profil gestossen, da ich Hr. Prof. Johner aus meiner Zeit bei Vara (KI in der Radiologie) kenne und wir auch Kunden des Johner Institut waren. • Wir entwickeln proprietäre KI-Modelle für Controlling & Accounting, die auch für komplexe Fälle trainiert sind - etwa mehrere Purchase Orders auf einer Rechnung, Price-Variance-Tolerances bei Lieferanten etc. Ziel ist eine ~60% Automatisierung in AP/AR und auch 50% weniger Aufwand beim Closing & Reporting - ohne neues SaaS-Tool, direkt integriert in bestehende Systeme (auch ohne API) und angepasst an aktuelle Prozesse. • Aufgrund Ihrer Erfahrung, würde ich gerne Ihr Feedback zum Konzept bekommen (kein Verkaufsgespräch) - gerne einfach 15min per Telefon. Würde mich sehr freuen!
Notes: • Notes: • They do not use AI for finance • Search for Gesetzestext -> rather edge cases • Often not really good • Often hallucinate • Currently he is deep into accounting -> also involved operationally - especially in accounting and controlling • Magic wand: • They do not have an ERP -> different tools for different Anwendungen -> better and worse communication -> manual bridges • Solutions: • Example 1: Zeiterfassung tool, invoicing tool, • Invoicing tool gives drafts -> they only have to insert Beraterstunden -> partly automated but still manual work • System should do the work and human should review (80/20 principle) • Example 2: AP & AR: e-invoice -> all data is included -> e.g. Leistungszeitraum -> Datev does not detect Leistungszeitruam -> nicht Periodengerecht -> manual correction is necessary (e.g. SaaS abo) -> accruals • He thinks e invoice should have the info -> Steuerberaterversion should be able to do it correctly • They use Candis -> transfer to Datev -> in Datev it is not recognised yet • Team size: 6 ppl in finance • 5.0 FTEs (he called it Mag) • They do Faktuierung • Kostenstellenzuordnung: nicht viele Fehler • Skontomanagement: with their suppliers it is not really relevant • He likes the idea is good -> he thinks that many companies do not do it because of resource reasons • Either large providers with offers, freelancer with good relationships • New tools: • He does a detailed review of finance processes -> he checks out many providers • Lucanet, Agicap • Feedback re flowchart: • Zahlungsvorschlagsliste • Freigabeprozess fehlt -> department does the Freigabe -> check contracts to check responsible person and Kostenstelle • When everything is freigegeben -> Zahlungsvorschlagsliste erstellen -> final review -> POC does final check to pay • Current: manual payment via online banking -> payment from Datev directly • Final review should not be done with a human • Ein und Verkauf ist getrennt -> same company -> maybe synch between the two • He said if questions i should contact him but it does not look as if they are a good potential customer • AP Flow: • Quite automated -> Candis press a button • OCR works very good -> with e-Rechnungen it is very good • Automation: • See above • Biggest objections / challenges in his daily life? • • Most valuable flows for him? • • Context: team setup? internal and external? • • Which tasks are the biggest pain? With magic wand -> what would he solve? • • Which tasks would he focus on? • • Do they already have automations? Which ones? How well do they work? • • Which companies would he target? • • General feedback to pitch? •