Your Top Financial Edge NXT November Product Update Briefing (PUB) Questions Answered 

Justin Ward
Justin Ward Blackbaud Employee
Tenth Anniversary Kudos 5 Participant Facilitator 1
in Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT® Blog
team.png

Estimated read time: 15-20 minutes

At Blackbaud, we understand that your nonprofit's financial operations play a vital role in achieving your mission. Managing those processes isn’t just about compliance and efficiency—it’s about making an impact in your community.  

During the November Financial Edge NXT Product Update Briefing (PUB), your questions and feedback highlighted the challenges you face and the opportunities to make your work more efficient and meaningful. We’re here to provide answers, clarity, and solutions to help you focus on what matters most. 

Below, we’ve compiled answers to your top questions. If you’re wondering about updates, features, or what’s coming next, you’ll find it all here. 

1. How is Blackbaud addressing the performance issues and delays in webview? 

We understand the frustration that comes with lag times and slow navigation. Our team is actively working on performance improvements, including faster navigation, better report generation, and a modernized homepage. 

System enhancements in Financial Edge NXT now deliver faster, more reliable performance. Improved data handling allows quicker report and invoice processing, even under heavy usage. Asynchronous workflows for tasks like reporting and payments reduce delays, fostering uninterrupted productivity. These updates reflect a user-centered approach, incorporating your valuable input to ensure the platform meets evolving needs effectively. 

The following performance improvements are being rolled out now and within the next three months: 

  • Faster performance with refactored data retrieval and optimized processing endpoints 
  • Smoother workflows through asynchronous processing for payment and reporting tasks, reducing system timeouts and interruptions 
  • What is asynchronous processing? It’s the “how” that allows us to reduce timeouts and interruptions and improves continuity in the system. 
  • Enhanced check alignment with improved precision controls, making it easier to adjust and print accurately every time 
  • Streamlining imports with a redesigned process that runs more efficiently, even alongside other active operations 
  • Modernizing infrastructure to reduce legacy dependencies, resulting in quicker invoice and report load times, making your daily tasks quicker and more efficient! 

2. What’s happening with report previews and scheduling? How are you addressing feedback on the new report generation process? 

You’ve shared your feedback on the challenges with the current report generation process, particularly the lack of a preview option. Our team is actively working on this enhancement, and a new solution for previewing reports is expected to launch in early 2026.

Additionally, Report Scheduler now allows reports to be shared with non-Blackbaud users, such as program managers or board members, making it easier to keep all stakeholders informed.   

3. What’s the timeline for Allocations to be fully functional in webview? 

For our continued efforts in modernization and end-to-end workflows in webview, we have recently released Allocations add/edit workflows (Direct Cost, Indirect (Revenue, Expense, Misc) to allow you to quickly spread expenses, or interest earned across endowments, using templates that can be used repeatedly with the goal of reducing the time it takes to close your periods each month.   

The upcoming releases to webview (~3 months) in Allocation Management reflect our commitment to addressing the nuanced financial needs of nonprofit organizations. With running allocations, such as Indirect Cost Allocation, finance teams will gain critical tools to distribute expenses efficiently and transparently in webview. These releases bring us one step closer to full availability of Allocation Mgt. in webview. 

4. When will Receivables be fully available in webview? 

We’re making great progress on bringing all Receivables functionality to webview. Features like charges, refunds, and invoice printing are already available. Upcoming releases to webview in Receivables--Recurring Invoices and views for 3rd Party Billing, and Sales Tax are planned for the next ~3 months.

Looking further out, the remaining capabilities, including full functionality of 3rd party billing and the ability to email invoices with Blackbaud Integrated Payments, are expected to roll out within the next several months. 3rd party capabilities will begin rolling out in January and continue throughout Q1. 

We'll also be adding support for our customers who use sales tax and our Canadian customers who use Accounts Receivable, starting in the second quarter. We will continue to call out these regional differences on the Total Web Solution page. Until then, you’ll still have access to these available features in Receivables in database view.   

5. What’s the timeline for WebPurchasing to be fully available in webview? 

The full WebPurchasing workflow is being modernized and centralized into the Expense Management area in webview. Requisitions are currently in development, with updates expected over the next 6–12 months. These enhancements will provide a more efficient, integrated workflow, allowing you to manage requests, approvals, and purchases in one place. Keep in mind that this is independent of the Total Web Solution timeline, as WebPurchasing does not exist in database view.  

6. What’s the status of adding more bank reconciliation automations? 

We’re actively reviewing bank reconciliation process and developing AI-powered tools to match transactions, flag discrepancies, and automate reconciliation workflows. These capabilities are expected to roll out in phases   within the next 6–12 months, simplifying your processes and helping you close periods faster. 

7. Does Payment Assistant™ support multiple bank accounts? What other updates were made recently to Payment Assistant? How can I sign up? 

Yes! You can now manage payments seamlessly across multiple banks with advanced tools that reduce administrative burden and improve operational precision, giving your team the time to focus on higher-value tasks. 

Ensure accountability at every level with passthrough agreements that enhance transparency and safeguard critical transactions, empowering your organization to maintain trust and compliance. In addition, we have been actively working to move delivery of remotely printed checks down to 8 business days! Other updates include:  

  • Automatic enrollment in ACH if enrolled in EFT sharing and bank account details are sent.  
  • Ability to see credit memo details on payment remittance 
  • Initiate stop payments in product  

Sign up for Payment Assistant here! Note: Payment Assistant is currently only available in the US. We will keep you updated for a future release for Canadian customers. 

8. What is AI-powered Document Intelligence? How can I get signed up for Document Intelligence for Expense Management? When will it be available for AP Invoices outside of Expense Management? Where are invoices saved with AI-Powered Document Intelligence?  

Now available in EAP for Expense Management workflows of Invoice Requests and Credit Card Feeds. Effortlessly upload your invoices in any format (PDF or an image), and we will use AI-powered document intelligence to extract the key information and generate the invoice in Financial Edge NXT for you. Our AI-Powered Document Intelligence Scanning will streamline your workflow, providing quicker, more accurate results. With advanced AI technology, you can reduce the risk of costly mistakes and improve the accuracy of your financial documents. 

Sign up to join the Early Adopter Program for Document Intelligence for Expense Management here.  

Next up in the EAP for Document Intelligence is to bring this functionality into your regular Accounts Payable Invoicing workflows (~3 months). Our AI-Powered Document Intelligence Scanning will streamline your workflow, providing quicker, more accurate results. 

Invoices processed through AI-Powered Document Intelligence are saved as attachments within your Financial Edge NXT Invoice records, ensuring they are easily accessible and securely stored. Unlike third-party solutions, this feature is fully native to Financial Edge NXT.   

9. How secure is my data with AI tools built into Financial Edge NXT? How can I learn more about Blackbaud’s privacy practices? Where can I learn more about Blackbaud AI? Can we disable AI-powered features like chat if we don’t want to use them? 

Your data security is our top priority. AI features, including Document Intelligence, operate within a closed environment, and all data is securely processed in compliance with strict security standards. You can also explore our new Trust Center to access SOC reports, security white papers, and more. 

Blackbaud AI operates as a closed Large Language Model (LLM), ensuring that customer data is securely contained within individual accounts and is not shared broadly or across different customers.  

Please visit the Privacy Resource Center for additional details:  https://docs.blackbaud.com/privacy/   

Check out  https://www.blackbaud.com/ai  and  https://www.blackbaud.com/intelligence-for-good  for more information about Blackbaud AI. 

Yes! All AI-driven features, including chat, are opt-in. You’ll have full control over which tools you use, ensuring you can adopt what works best for your organization. 

10. What are the Closing Assistant and GL Overview Action Hubs, and how do I use them to streamline month‑end close? 

The GL Overview introduces Action Hubs—tiles that surface critical tasks and insights in one place—alongside a Modern Homepage and Left Navigation to simplify access. Within these hubs, the Closing Assistant guides period‑end workflows to reduce errors and help teams close with confidence.

Access them from the GL Overview area in webview: use the Left Navigation to get to the GL Overview and launch the Closing Assistant tile when you’re ready to close. 

11. What does Chat for Blackbaud AI do, and who can use it today? 

Chat for Blackbaud AI lets finance teams ask natural‑language questions and receive instant, actionable responses (e.g., record search, record summaries, and the ability to create and schedule new reports). Paired Help and Navigation assistance helps users find answers and navigate directly to where they need to go to complete their work. This capability is available now to Early Adopter Program (EAP) participants in the US and Canada.   

12. How will Import Smart Mapping improve our data‑import process? 

Import Smart Mapping automates field mapping during imports and provides a confidence score to help users verify accuracy before committing data. The goal is to reduce repetitive work and bottlenecks, so finance teams can focus on higher‑value tasks. This enhancement is planned in the “Next ~3 months” window and is in development across US and Canada. 

13. What is Blackbaud AI Anomaly Detection, and when will it be available? 

Anomaly Detection uses AI to surface unusual patterns or potential issues in financial data, helping teams act quickly to maintain financial integrity and improve confidence in reporting. It is slated for EAP and currently in development for US and Canada. 

14. What’s the current plan for transitioning remaining database view features to webview? What training resources are available for the new webview features? 

We remain committed to transitioning all major functionality to webview as part of our Total Web Solution (TWS) initiative. Features like receivables full workflows, full allocations workflows, and others are in active development and will continue rolling out through mid-2026. Database view access will remain available for these tasks until they’re fully migrated. We will continue to keep you informed about these exciting changes in a variety of ways including:  

  • Monthly emails: we will continue to give you a 3-month view of items being moved exclusively to webview, through the end database view.  
  • In-product notifications: including the homepage when you log into Financial Edge NXT, along with banners within different areas of the solution. Ensure you’re taking the time to read about these updates as they come in, so you know what to expect and when! 
  • The Financial Post on the Community: Subscribe to stay informed about all things Financial Edge NXT. On the first Thursday of every month, you’ll get the latest Financial Edge NXT news on everything from current projects and initiatives to release information and much more with The Financial Post! 
  • Bookmark the Total Web Solution page to track detail and timelines. That page and your What’s New notifications in-product will help you see when feature changes will affect you. 
  • Check out the Total Web Solution – Out of Scope Knowledgebase solution to know what to expect. 

Blackbaud University offers a variety of updated courses tailored to the new workflows in Financial Edge NXT. Explore the training curriculum for webinars, eLearning modules, and hands-on labs to help your team make the most of these features. 

We continually update the curriculum with new courses to best fit your organization’s needs, so remember to bookmark the training curriculum for Financial Edge NXT. 

Your Voice Matters   

Your questions and feedback are essential in shaping the future of Financial Edge NXT. As we continue to refine and develop the platform, your input ensures we’re meeting your needs and helping you achieve your mission. Thank you for being part of this journey—your work inspires us every day!  

If you have additional questions or suggestions, don’t hesitate to reach out. Together, we can continue to make Financial Edge NXT a platform that supports your critical work.   

Missed the November Product Update Briefing? Watch it on-demand and explore additional resources to stay ahead of what’s coming next. Stay tuned for more updates and thank you for all the incredible work you do! 

 

Categories