Your Top Questions from Our Latest Product Update Briefing (PUB)

Nikki Baldwin

At our latest Financial Edge NXT Product Update Briefing, we shared a lot—new AI innovations, continued investments in performance and automation, and a clear view of where the platform is heading.

But as always, the most valuable part wasn’t what we presented. It was what you asked. Your questions tell us exactly where to go deeper. So, we’ve pulled together the most common themes and added more context based on what we shared during the session.

When will the new AI-powered features be available?

If there was one theme across nearly every question, it was this: When can I start using these?

New/Available Now (Early Access)

Capabilities like Document Intelligence, AI Chat, and Smart Import Mapping are already available today (with some offered through Early Adopter Programs).

These are designed to help you start reducing manual work right away—whether that’s:

• Automatically creating draft invoices from documents
• Quickly finding and summarizing records without navigating the product
• Streamlining imports with AI-powered field mapping that reduces manual effort and improves accuracy

Request to sign up for the early adopter programs here:

• Document Intelligence Interest Form
• Blackbaud AI Chat Interest Form

Available Today (Generally Available)

In addition, some AI-powered capabilities are already fully available today, like Smart Import Mapping.

This allows the system to automatically match import fields—even when formats don’t align exactly—reducing manual setup, minimizing errors, and speeding up data imports.

https://blackbaud.wistia.com/medias/pfozhya5rs/manage

Coming NextOver the next few months, you’ll see those same experiences expand. That includes things like inbox automation for invoices—so documents can flow directly from email into your AP workflow—and early versions of Smart Reconciliation (EAP) that begin simplifying how you match transactions and identify exceptions during close.

Looking AheadLonger term, these features evolve into something more powerful: a system that doesn’t just assist, but anticipates—surfacing insights, reducing the need for manual analysis, and helping your team act faster with more confidence.

This means you don’t have to wait for a single “big release.” You’ll continue to see steady improvements that give you time back with every iteration.

Check in with your Account Executive to ensure you’re on one of the latest packages so you can get access to AI innovation!

How is AI actually helping reduce manual work?

A lot of questions weren’t just about what AI is, but what it actually does for me day-to-day.

The simplest way to think about it is that AI is being applied to the most repetitive, time-consuming parts of your workflows. For example, with Document Intelligence, invoices no longer need to be manually keyed in. The system extracts the key details and creates a draft record for you, so your role shifts from data entry to review and approval.

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With Smart Mapping, imports don’t require perfect formatting or tedious field matching. The system automatically aligns fields—even when names don’t match exactly—and highlights anything that needs a closer look.

And with AI Chat, instead of searching through screens or reports, you can simply ask a question and get a summary or find a record instantly.

Individually, these save minutes. Together, they give hours back—especially during busy periods like month-end close.

What improvements are being made to performance and reporting?

Another major theme we heard: “Can the system keep up with the work we’re doing?”

That’s why a significant portion of recent investment has focused on performance at scale.

New

You may already notice that reports no longer block your work while they run. That’s because long-running reports now run asynchronously with visible status updates. At the same time, improvements to payment processing, invoice entry, and imports mean the system stays responsive, even when you’re working with large volumes of data.

These changes may feel subtle, but they fundamentally change how your team works. Instead of waiting, you keep moving.

Coming Next

Next, we’re building on that foundation with report scheduling and grouping (Queue), so recurring reports are automatically generated and delivered without manual effort.

The outcome is simple: less waiting, less manual coordination, and more time focused on analysis—not administration.

We’re also introducing Chart of Accounts Health Advisor (Early Adopter Program)—a new capability designed to help you better understand the structure and effectiveness of your chart of accounts. It surfaces insights into segment usage, consistency, and potential structural risks, so you can proactively identify areas for cleanup or optimization before they impact reporting accuracy or performance.

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How are reconciliation and close processes improving?

Closing the books is one of the most critical—and often stressful—times for finance teams. So, it’s no surprise that this came up frequently.

New

With the GL Reconciliation Tracker, in limited availability, you now have a centralized way to see what’s been reconciled, what’s still in progress, and where attention is needed—without relying on spreadsheets or manual tracking. This alone helps teams stay aligned and identify bottlenecks earlier.

Coming Next

From there, we’re introducing workflow improvements through Smart Reconciliation, making it easier to focus on what matters by clearly highlighting matched vs. unmatched transactions.

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Looking Ahead

Longer term, reconciliation becomes more exception-driven. Instead of reviewing every transaction, the system automatically matches what it can and surfaces only what needs your attention. The result is faster closes, fewer surprises, and greater confidence in your numbers.

What’s changing in Accounts Payable and Payments?

Many of you asked about AP specifically—and for good reason. It’s one of the areas with the most opportunity to reduce manual effort.

Today, Payment Assistant™ enhancements are already helping streamline vendor payments—from enrolling vendors in ACH to handling refunds and reissues without leaving the product. At the same time, Document Intelligence is reducing the effort required to get invoices into the system in the first place.

Coming Next

Next, those workflows become even more connected. With Automated Deposits—an integration between Financial Edge NXT, Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT®, and Blackbaud Integrated Payments—data flows seamlessly across fundraising, payments, and finance, eliminating the need for spreadsheets or manual reconciliation between systems.

Yeah I was trying to do that throughout the doc when specific features were mentioned. See above with Payment Assistant, GL Reconciliation Tracker, Chart of Accounts Health Advisor, etc.

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Looking AheadFrom there, we’re exploring what happens when these pieces come together—where AI can help coordinate payment decisions based on timing, cash flow, and organizational rules (while still keeping humans in control). This is where AP begins to shift from reactive processing to proactive management.

Will the web experience fully replace database view?

Yes—but in a way that prioritizes your success, not speed for the sake of it. We’ve extended the timeline for database view through the end of 2026 to ensure every organization can confidently complete the transition.

In parallel, more capabilities—like purchase requests and receivables workflows—are continuing to move into web view, reducing the need to switch back and forth.

The goal isn’t just parity—it’s a better experience overall, where workflows are simpler, more connected, and easier to manage.

https://blackbaud.wistia.com/medias/t3bbuc94u0/manage

Will there be a safe way to test and learn these features?

Yes—and this is an area we’ve invested in intentionally. Through Blackbaud University, you can access Sample Database Labs, where you can safely test features, practice workflows, and build confidence without impacting your live data.

This gives your team the ability to:

• Explore new capabilities at your own pace
• Validate how workflows will work in your environment
• Build skills before adopting changes in production

And with Early Adopter Programs, you also have opportunities to test features earlier, while helping shape how they evolve.

What This Means for You

If we step back, your questions point to a bigger shift happening in Financial Edge NXT:

• Work that used to be manual is becoming automated
• Processes that were reactive are becoming proactive
• And the system is evolving from a tool you use to a partner that helps you operate
• Greater visibility and confidence in your data, so you can trust what’s driving your decisions and reporting

But just as importantly—you’re still in control.

That balance—automation with oversight—is what allows finance teams to move faster without sacrificing trust, accuracy, or accountability.

Missed the PUB live? No worries, catch up on demand here.