Unit4 unveils Ava AI agent to automate ERP workflows in Teams

Unit4 has launched its Advanced Virtual Agent (Ava), a conversational artificial intelligence agent designed to automate enterprise resource planning (ERP) workflows.

Ava is integrated with Unit4's ERPx platform and Microsoft Teams, offering organisations a central AI interface that aims to facilitate collaboration, provide personalised recommendations, and supply contextual assistance to users within ERP environments.

The release of Ava is considered by Unit4 as a step toward automating half of all ERP tasks, part of its ongoing pursuit of self-driving ERP systems. Ava is intended to serve as an intelligent work companion, building upon Unit4's previous experience in digital assistant technologies.

The agent is positioned as a unified access point for ERPx users, replacing multiple siloed AI agents with a single interface for enhanced consistency and clarity. Ava will centralise the orchestration and coordination of workflows, aiming to enable users to focus on tasks that require uniquely human input while improving productivity.

Claus Jepsen, Chief Technology Officer at Unit4, said: "It is clear AI is going to dramatically change how users interact with ERP systems, as it will enable people to focus on more meaningful and rewarding work. Ava isn't just smart - it's pragmatic, purposeful and deeply attuned to the real challenges people face. That's why we have built Ava as one interface and agent, as this will create an integrated platform making it easier to add functionality and avoid siloed AI Agents."

According to research commissioned by Unit4 from IDC, AI adoption within enterprise software is progressing through three phases. The first phase sees AI used as an agent for functions such as task management, contextual help, and data searches, which Ava currently provides. In the next phase, AI acts as an advisor: Ava contributes through activities such as identifying anomalies in payroll, offering suggestions for invoice approvals, and assisting with project creation.

The company's ultimate vision for Ava involves the agent assuming more autonomous responsibilities, including centralised orchestration and coordination of workflows between ERPx and Microsoft Teams, intelligent automation for routine tasks, augmentation with tailored insights and recommendations, and proactive as well as predictive capabilities to identify potential issues and optimise workflows toward business objectives.

The initial integration of Ava with Microsoft Teams reflects the tool's widespread use among Unit4's customer base. Users can converse naturally with Ava in Teams, allowing the AI to translate these interactions into specific ERP workflow tasks. The agent's functionality is supported by Unit4's microservices and cloud-native architecture, providing the interoperability required for Ava to interface effectively with ERPx. The system's open API approach is intended to allow rapid expansion of AI features as technology advances.

Mickey North Rizza, Group Vice President, Enterprise Software at IDC, highlighted the importance of integrating AI within modern enterprises. Rizza stated, "The journey into the digital world is neither stale nor stagnant - AI has brought a greater urgency to modernise and transform quickly. IDC finds that 47% of organisations are creating an AI-ready workforce that uses AI assistants, advisors, and agents to boost business success. With AI coming to the forefront, organisations must understand where their journey is headed and the various pathways to success." 

Rizza added, "The journey is multidimensional, but the promise of a new digitally savvy enterprise is at the heart of modernisation and transformation."

Unit4 plans to extend Ava's integration with additional collaboration tools beyond Microsoft Teams in the future. The company intends for the agent to adapt as new AI capabilities become available, maintaining a centralised platform for interaction within the ERP environment.