Accounting & Reporting AutomationPurpose
1.2. Minimize manual follow-up effort for accounting staff.
1.3. Maintain professional communication with clients regarding overdue accounts.
1.4. Enhance cash flow predictability and improve working capital for appliance parts suppliers.
1.5. Provide audit trails for all communications related to invoice reminders.
Trigger Conditions
2.2. No payment confirmation after X days since last reminder.
2.3. Invoice due date reached or exceeded.
2.4. Periodic schedule (e.g., daily check at 08:00 for new unpaid invoices).
2.5. Manual staff override to trigger reminder on selective invoices.
Platform variants
3.1. Twilio SMS
• Feature/Setting: Automate outgoing SMS reminders using the Messaging API; configure sender number and message template.
• Sample: “Reminder: Invoice #12345 is overdue. Please pay at your earliest convenience.”
3.2. SendGrid
• Feature/Setting: Use Transactional Email API; set up dynamic templates, sender, and recipient mappings.
• Sample: API call to send invoice reminder emails based on overdue status.
3.3. Slack
• Feature/Setting: Use Incoming Webhooks; route reminders to dedicated Slack channels (#accounts-receivable).
• Sample: POST to webhook of channel with invoice link and recipient details.
3.4. Microsoft Teams
• Feature/Setting: Configure Teams connector; auto-post reminders in relevant team channels.
• Sample: Use Teams API to send reminder cards for account staff review.
3.5. WhatsApp via Twilio
• Feature/Setting: Set up WhatsApp Business Messaging via Twilio API; personalize overdue reminders.
• Sample: API call with template message and invoice details.
3.6. Gmail
• Feature/Setting: Use Gmail API for automated personalized emails; configure OAuth, subject lines, and body templates.
• Sample: Automated draft with invoice details and payment link.
3.7. Outlook 365
• Feature/Setting: Utilize Microsoft Graph API to automate sending reminders from shared finance mailbox.
• Sample: Schedule and send emails with attachments (copy of invoice PDF).
3.8. Zoho Books
• Feature/Setting: Leverage Zoho Books API to fetch unpaid invoices and trigger reminders using built-in email/SMS features.
• Sample: API call to list overdue invoices and trigger reminders.
3.9. QuickBooks Online
• Feature/Setting: Use QuickBooks Online API to identify overdue invoices; send reminders using customer contacts.
• Sample: Configure workflow for ‘Send Payment Reminder’ event.
3.10. FreshBooks
• Feature/Setting: Automate reminders using FreshBooks API; select overdue invoices and trigger email reminders.
• Sample: POST to reminders endpoint with invoice IDs.
3.11. Xero
• Feature/Setting: Use Xero API to pull unpaid invoice data and initiate email reminders via connected accounts.
• Sample: API trigger on invoice due status.
3.12. Salesforce
• Feature/Setting: Implement process automation via Flow Builder or Apex; trigger reminder tasks or emails.
• Sample: Workflow rule for invoice object; send email notification action.
3.13. HubSpot
• Feature/Setting: Use HubSpot Workflows to automate emails based on property ‘invoice due date’.
• Sample: Create workflow for overdue payment status.
3.14. Mailgun
• Feature/Setting: Send automated reminders via Mailgun API; define sender domain and set up templates.
• Sample: POST to /messages endpoint with overdue invoice info.
3.15. Zapier
• Feature/Setting: Build Zaps to observe new/updated invoice status from ERP and notify via email, SMS, or CRM.
• Sample: Trigger when new overdue item appears, action to alert customer.
3.16. Pabbly Connect
• Feature/Setting: Set triggers for invoice status in source app; connect to SMS/email modules for reminders.
• Sample: Invoice overdue → Send WhatsApp/SMS/email notification.
3.17. Google Sheets
• Feature/Setting: Use Apps Script to monitor a sheet for unpaid invoices and auto-send Gmail reminders.
• Sample: Time-based trigger runs script; sends mail to customer listed.
3.18. Monday.com
• Feature/Setting: Set up automations to alert account reps and notify customers for overdue invoices via built-in email.
• Sample: Item status ‘Overdue’ → automatic email from workflow.
3.19. Trello
• Feature/Setting: Use Butler Automation to create follow-up cards for unpaid invoices and schedule checklist actions.
• Sample: Card with due date triggers reminder notification.
3.20. Notion
• Feature/Setting: Use automated integration (e.g., webhook/API or third party) to push reminders as Notion comments or database updates.
• Sample: Overdue invoice row triggers internal task or comment.
3.21. Stripe
• Feature/Setting: Use Stripe Billing API to monitor unpaid invoices and send configured reminder emails.
• Sample: Webhook on ‘invoice.payment_failed’ sends email via Stripe’s system.
Benefits
4.2. Reduces manual labor and eliminates human error in payment follow-up.
4.3. Maintains professional and consistent client communications.
4.4. Provides full audit trail and analytics for management.
4.5. Frees staff for higher-value accounting work and client service.