CaseWare in Ontario offers IDEA, a data analysis and data extraction tool supporting audit processes. The vendor states IDEA integrates with various solutions to make obtaining and exporting data easy, such as SAP solutions, accounting packages, CRM systems and other enterprise solutions for a single version of the truth.
N/A
MindBridge Platform
Score 9.2 out of 10
N/A
MindBridge Ai Auditor is an AI powered auditing & financial risk assessment platform, from the company of the same name in Ottawa.
One example of specific scenario in [CaseWare] IDEA is the ability to run samples separately and then based off of the results, compare and contrast the values recorded and easily discern if there are any variables or discrepancies within the data itself. Also, we can test journal entries with certain parameters to check the audit for any issues that may arise pertaining to the criteria. By testing, we are able to make sure the data is accurate and sufficient.
MindBridge [Platform] is an excellent tool to use to gain additional comfort over client's data. The key areas it helps with are analytical procedure risk and inherent risk, but depending on the data you have, it can also be able to assess control risk to a degree. It's a very malleable tool that can be made to fit your client, however, it does require upfront work (as the implementation of any new technology would). The tool may not be scalable for audit work that is very low-risk and requires little hour input in the first place as it may add more hours in the long-run than the normal audit would incur. Our team has used these low-risk audits in our implementation, however, to corroborate the results we get, which we felt has helped us achieve our successes with the tool.
Can use on large quantities of data and quickly analyze them.
Uses logic that can be followed if one is an auditor. I, for example, could understand the logic in a number of samples, i.e how the number of samples thrown changes when risk changes from low to moderate in proportion taking in consideration the materiality.
Other audit firms are using 2 software for the process that IDEA alone can do. So IDEA has a definite advantage here.
Using the output from MB AI we have been able to reduce the inherent risk and analytical procedures risk assessments in our audits which have reduced our substantive testing sample sizes.
The output from MB AI allows us to focus on the medium risk and high risk transactions that were recorded in the general ledger during the year.
Our younger, more technologically advanced team members really enjoy working with MB AI.
The only reason I do not give this a 10 is that I would like a deliverable risk report. This would enable me to offer additional services to my non-audit clients.
My experience with customer support may different since I started using the application early on. I am also providing continuous recommendations for improvement or additional features. They have always been available when I needed them and they actually listen and value my opinion. They have implemented many of our recommendations and asked for our input on possible new features.
I have used Microstart and would definitely vote for IDEA because IDEA combines what Microstart does with the help of one/more softwares. Where Microstart just gives a number of samples, IDEA selects the number of samples based on materiality, risk, and other factors. It selects those samples from the population leaving out line items that are invalid/ zero. I would prefer using IDEA any day.
