How to Digitize Accounting and Payroll?

For accountants and payroll managers, technology has become an essential lever for improving efficiency. As explained by Charles Kremer, Head of the APSAL/GESALL Department at Proximus NXT, digital tools should help reduce manual data entry, support business management through reporting, and facilitate the exchange of information.

The professions of accountant and payroll manager are currently under increasing pressure. At the heart of the organization, these essential administrative functions must comply with constantly evolving regulations while also responding to employees’ demand for faster access to accurate information.

“To meet future challenges, these professions must rely on digital technologies,” says Charles Kremer, Head of the APSAL/GESALL Department at Proximus NXT. APSAL is the payroll software solution developed by Proximus Group’s subsidiary in Luxembourg. GESALL, on the other hand, is an accounting management tool.

“In this context, we have developed strong expertise by offering solutions tailored to the Luxembourg regulatory environment, enabling our clients to use software that complies with current legislation.” By continuously updating these tools whenever necessary, the software provider demonstrates how digitalization can simplify compliance management for finance professionals.

Digitizing and Automating Processes

More broadly, digital technologies enable the full dematerialization of accounting and payroll processes.

“When it comes to payroll calculation, it is now possible to directly feed relevant data into the calculation engine by interfacing it with time management or attendance systems, or with HR information systems. Once the payslip is generated, it can also be distributed digitally using solutions that ensure a high level of confidentiality,” explains Charles Kremer.

Today, out of the 200,000 payslips generated each month using APSAL, 25% are distributed electronically via partner solutions such as UnifiedPost and Regify.

To support organizations in this transition, Proximus NXT relies on partner solutions that can be integrated with its software. “In accounting, one of the main challenges is to reduce manual data entry. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) tools applied to scanned documents, such as supplier invoices, allow data to be automatically converted into accounting entries and directly integrated into the management system,” he continues.

“This approach reduces paper usage, eliminates duplicate data entry, facilitates information exchange, and minimizes the risk of errors.”

Bringing Departments Closer Together

Such a transformation helps bring together different departments within the company—HR, sales, procurement, accounting, and management—by facilitating information sharing.

“All departments can rely on up-to-date information. The implementation of new processes around accounting software enables smoother operations and greater efficiency,” says Charles Kremer. “The biggest gains come from reducing data entry time. The goal is to feed the entire value chain by entering data only once.”

This transformation of accounting and payroll systems also supports business management. Information can be processed much faster and made available to management teams through dashboards.

“Clients can access daily analytical insights and make decisions based on the most complete information possible,” adds the manager.

An Open Approach

However, such automation projects must be carefully defined from the outset. Not all processes can be automated. In addition, to ensure a return on investment, the volume of documents handled within the organization must be sufficiently large.

“Every organization is different. By adopting an open approach, working with the right partners, and implementing the most suitable solutions for our clients’ situations, we can meet their specific needs,” says Charles Kremer.

“We are able to build interfaces with various software solutions. We are also continuously strengthening our expertise around our two core products, evolving them to constantly improve our clients’ efficiency.”

APSAL is the payroll software solution developed by Proximus Group’s subsidiary in Luxembourg. GESALL is an accounting management tool.