Show and Tell: Modernising the Accounts Receivable E86 Form

In this Show and Tell, I demonstrate the new Accounts Receivable E86 form. It replaces the existing Excel form used to raise an invoice on the finance system.

The new form continues to feed the existing Blue Prism Robotic Process Automation (RPA), while making the process much easier for form users and the Accounts Receivable team.

Improving the user experience

The old form had become difficult to use. Staff often needed to refer to separate guidance documents and spreadsheets to find the information they needed. Some users also experienced problems opening the form after moving to Windows 11.

It was also easy for users to input incorrect information, which would cause issues for the Accounts Receivable team. These issues created extra work and led to avoidable errors.

The new form focuses on making things simpler. Users can securely sign in using their email address, search for customers directly within the form, and benefit from automatic checks that help prevent mistakes. VAT values are calculated automatically and users can review everything before they submit it.

The project was delivered as a minimum viable product, focusing on the improvements that would provide the greatest benefit in the shortest time. This allowed us to replace the old form quickly while still delivering a significantly better experience.

Supporting the Accounts Receivable team

The new form gives the Accounts Receivable team better visibility of submissions. A new dashboard shows where each request is in the process and helps staff identify the cases that need attention.

Many requests can now be processed automatically through the Blue Prism automation, reducing manual effort and speeding up processing times.

During development we also discovered that many of the financial codes available in the old Excel form were no longer valid. The new approach makes it easier to keep this information up to date and reduces the risk of incorrect selections.

Feedback during the session highlighted the benefits of moving away from macro-enabled spreadsheets and towards modern digital services. Colleagues spoke positively about the improvements for users and the reduction in support issues.

Watch the demonstration

Watch the Digital Show and Tell: Modernising the Accounts Receivable E86 form video to see a full walkthrough of the new form, the design decisions behind it and the benefits it brings to staff and the Accounts Receivable team.