Tech news: Big Four firms announce strategic alliances

Big Four firm KPMG announced its audit practice is embedding the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform within KPMG Clara, its global smart audit platform that brings together data and analytics, artificial intelligence and automation, collaboration capabilities and audit workflow. KPMG uses Databricks to deliver data, analytics and AI solutions across the firm, working with Databricks to leverage its Data Intelligence Platform. The platform combines data warehouse and data lake capabilities, storing unstructured data such as photos, presentations and other file formats with the ability to deliver structured views based on user requirements. … Big Four firm Ernst and Young announced an alliance with Docusign, an intelligent agreement company. The alliance leverages Docusign CLM (Contract Lifecycle Management) and EY US contract intelligence services to offer intelligent agreement management solutions to help organizations connect and automate how agreements are created, committed to and managed. The partnership also helps develop the necessary technology to support EY Law managed services offerings. In addition, Docusign will help scale the EY US contract intelligence offerings. EY France also announced a partnership with global cloud platform and automation solutions provider Esker. The alliance has the goal of offering companies support for managing the emergence of disruptive technologies and regulatory changes such as the French e-invoicing reform and the implementation of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. … Big Four firm Deloitte has partnered with Bloomberg Tax & Accounting to publish a new Tax Management Portfolio, Taxation of Cryptocurrency and Other Digital Assets, No. 190-2nd, which is now available on the Bloomberg Tax Research platform. Portfolio 190 examines the U.S. federal income taxation of digital assets, including cryptocurrencies. It provides an analysis of the classification of digital assets for tax purposes and offers an overview of the digital asset ecosystem, tax guidance to date and the accounting treatment. It also delves into the tax implications of using, dealing, trading and investing in digital assets, and addresses tax questions raised by digital asset transactions. It also discusses the potential consequences of activities and transactions undertaken by certain types of investment entities, outlines the necessary information reporting standards and provides an overview of select international and state tax considerations surrounding digital assets.

SaaS AR automation platform Bill360 will introduce its end-to-end accounts receivable automation solution on June 16. The solution, which can sync with existing accounting software such as QuickBooks and Xero, typically within an hour, gives users access to receivables assessment and reporting via reminders or triggers. Embedded payment options include cards, ACH and "buy now, pay later" financing. It also offers funding for large value payments, branded buyer engagement portals, predictive analytics with AI tools, and live U.S.-based support for accountants and end users. The company, based in Tampa Florida, launched its SaaS-based, AI-powered platform in August 2023 and has built a roster of 7,000 users at small to medium-sized B2B companies.

Enterprise risk management platform Certa announced a set of updates that include new generative AI capacities, a plug-and-play ESG module and user interface upgrades. The generative AI, which is woven throughout the solution, features workflow design using natural language, a questionnaire responder for third party responses, and automated risk assessment from contracts, SOC2 documents, ESG reports and more. The new ESG modules integrate into existing workflows, enabling businesses to comply with global standards like the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, EU Deforestation Regulation and Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. The platform also enables organizations to prepare for ESG regulations from the SEC and California. The modules also offer Scope 3 emissions tracking and reporting to meet sustainability goals. The redesigned user interface is centered around navigation and functionality, including a refreshed library of drag-and-drop templates and user tools.