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Transforming audit and finance: The AI revolution with Datasnipper


Discover CEO Vidya Peters’ insights on AI’s impact in audit & finance, customer-first innovation, and the evolving auditor role.


In brief:

  • Vidya Peters, CEO of DataSnipper, shares how AI transforms audit & finance, enabling professionals to focus on strategic, high-value work.
  • With early support from EY, DataSnipper evolved from an Excel plug-in to a global AI-platform, driven by customer-centric innovation.
  • Peters emphasizes clarity, agility, and human oversight as key to scaling AI responsibly and redefining the auditor’s role.

As organizations race to streamline operations and enhance precision, artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a buzzword— it’s a game-changer. At the forefront of this transformation stands Vidya Peters, CEO Intelligent Automation, AI Driven Innovation at DataSnipper, who has redefined the landscape of audit and finance. With a keen understanding of the challenges faced by professionals in these sectors, Peters has spearheaded initiatives that leverage AI to simplify complex processes, making them more accessible and user-friendly.

“AI allows professionals to focus on strategic aspects of their work, such as advising clients and making informed decisions,” Peters asserts. This statement encapsulates her vision for the future of auditing— a future where technology empowers auditors to transcend mundane tasks and engage in higher-level strategic thinking. Under her leadership, DataSnipper has evolved from a simple Excel plug-in to a powerful AI-driven platform, revolutionizing the way audits are conducted.

What inspired you to join DataSnipper?

“When I first met the founders of DataSnipper, I was impressed by their vision. They started the company to solve a problem faced by auditors who were overwhelmed by tedious tasks. After trying the product, I realized its potential to simplify the auditing process, making it accessible and user-friendly. This inspired me to join the team and contribute to something special.”

Can you tell us about the power of AI in the world of audit and finance?

“AI has become a transformative force in audit and finance, enabling teams to work more efficiently and effectively. By automating mundane tasks, AI allows professionals to focus on strategic aspects of their work, such as advising clients and making informed decisions. This shift not only enhances productivity but also makes the profession more appealing to new talent.”

AI is not just a tool; it's the catalyst that will redefine how we approach audit and finance, unlocking unprecedented levels of efficiency and insight.

How is AI integrated into your services?

 

“AI is central to our offerings, enabling us to streamline processes for audit and finance teams. By automating data identification, matching, and document analysis, we can significantly reduce manual work. This allows professionals to focus on strategic tasks, ultimately making the industry more appealing to new talent.”

 

We are curious to know how DataSnipper has transformed from an Excel plug-in into an AI-empowered platform for finance and audit teams.

 

“Our focus has been laser-sharp on solving more and more problems for our customers, and we have discovered that AI has been an invaluable resource in enabling us to do this much faster and more effectively. We have integrated AI into as many aspects of the customer user flow as possible, whether it's collecting data from clients and providing insights right away, or extracting data by pre-recognizing the type of document, or analyzing multiple documents simultaneously. You can pose dozens of questions across numerous documents and have all the evidence compiled for you. This capability saves our customers countless hours of manual work, allowing them to focus on delivering higher quality audits and building better relationships with their clients.”

 

What key factors contributed to DataSnipper's growth from a startup to a successful global company?

 

“The early support we received from remarkable customers like EY, KPMG, Deloitte, and PWC has been instrumental. They went on to recommend us to their clients. My advice would be to identify those early customers who believe in your product and provide valuable feedback, as this will enable you to continue improving it. Once you win them over, others will follow.”

 

How does DataSnipper ensure that it remains close to its customers during product development?

 

“At DataSnipper, we prioritize customer feedback throughout the development process. We engage directly with customers to understand their needs and challenges. This close collaboration allows us to iterate on our product based on real-world insights, ensuring that we are solving the right problems effectively.”

 

As DataSnipper grows, how do you maintain this customer-centric culture?

 

“Maintaining a customer-centric culture is crucial as we scale. We encourage our productmanagers to think like entrepreneurs, focusing on the needs of our customers. By fostering a culture of agility and responsiveness, we ensure that our team remains connected to our customers, even as we grow.”

 

What pivotal decisions contributed to DataSnipper's growth into a unicorn?

 

“Relentless execution and clarity of strategy have been key to our success. We focus on what we will build and, equally important, what we will not pursue. This clarity allows us to allocate resources effectively and maintain momentum. Additionally, attracting the right talent has been essential in driving our growth.”

 

How do you measure success beyond financial metrics?

 

“One of the key metrics we monitor is the Net Promoter Score (NPS), which reflects customer satisfaction and loyalty. This metric provides valuable insights into whether our product is loved and used by our customers. While growth metrics are important, NPS gives us a deeper understanding of our customers' experiences.”

 

What challenges have you faced in international expansion?

 

“Expanding into the U.S. market has presented unique challenges due to cultural differences and varying pay scales. It's essential to make strategic hires who understand the local market and can help build a successful presence. In contrast, expanding into Asia has been more complex due to the diverse languages and market needs across the region.”

In the age of AI, the role of auditors is evolving from number crunchers to strategic advisors, empowering them to deliver higher quality audits and forge stronger client relationships.

What skills do you look for in your team to support global operations?

“We prioritize hiring individuals who have experience in companies similar to ours in size and scale. It's important to find self-starters who are intellectually curious and can thrive in an ambiguous environment. Additionally, we emphasize the importance of reference checks to ensure that candidates have a proven trackrecord of success.”

How do you approach diversity and internal culture within your organization?

“As our organization has rapidly grown, we've embraced diversity, with employees from over 60 nationalities. However, this growth has also led to challenges in maintaining a cohesive culture. We strive to focus on our shared values and foster an inclusive environment, regardless of geographical location.”

Are there plans to expand beyond audit and finance?

“For now, we are focused on serving external auditors and their clients, ensuring that we provide specialized solutions. By concentrating on this niche, we can deliver exceptional value and maintain our commitment to quality.

How do you see AI changing the role of auditors in the future?

“AI will empower auditors to move beyond mundane tasks and engage in higher-level strategic thinking. While some may worry about the impact of AI on traditional roles, history shows that professionals can adapt and leverage technology to enhance their capabilities. The goal is to create a more dynamic and fulfilling work environment.”

What measures do you take to ensure the accuracy of AI-generated insights?

“Accuracy is critical in audit and finance. We continuously test and validate AI output, recognizing that human oversight is essential. By combining AI's capabilities with human expertise, we can maintain the integrity of our work and build trust with our clients.”

What’s next for your AI-services? How do you envision their growth or development in the coming years?

“All of our future products will be AI-powered. We are committed to working closely with our customers to identify the next problems we can solve, whether in disclosures testing or developing agents for deeper analysis and more asynchronous work within the audit workflow.

I believe that AI has truly expanded the possibilities of what we can achieve today, and I think it’s going to be incredibly exciting.”

As Vidya Peters continues to lead DataSnipper into new territories, her commitment to innovation and customer-centricity remains unwavering. The integration of AI not only streamlines processes but also redefines the role of auditors, making the profession more dynamic and fulfilling. Her insights make it clear: those who invest in technology are not only building a future founded on trust and a sustainable audit and finance landscape but also strengthening their competitive edge in a rapidly evolving market. “It's important to embrace change and leverage technology to enhance our work. By focusing on customer needs and fostering a culture of innovation, we can create a brighter future for the audit and finance profession.”

EY has a long-standing track record of collaborating with the world’s most ambitious entrepreneurs to support and accelerate their path to market leadership. The collaboration of Datasnipper with EY was instrumental in shaping the strategic direction of their business, as co-founder Maarten Alblas shared in a previous article: “We started with a pilot at EY Netherlands, which turned out to be a success. The product kept improving and quickly gained traction among auditors because it delivered real value and significantly sped up their work. Thanks to the international structure of audit firms, our tool rapidly gained popularity worldwide. This led to exponential growth. But with every step we take and every development we implement, we still ask ourselves: what does the auditor need?”

This customer-centric foundation remains at the heart of their strategic decision-making and has guided them to the success they enjoy today.



About DataSnipper

DataSnipper is a Dutch-founded company specializing in innovative solutions for the audit and finance sectors. The company focuses on streamlining the auditing process through advanced technology, making it easier for professionals to perform their tasks efficiently. Under the leadership of Vidya Peters, DataSnipper has established itself as a leader in the industry, committed to enhancing the auditing experience through AI-driven solutions.




Summary

Vidya Peters, CEO at DataSnipper, shares how AI is reshaping audit and finance by eliminating repetitive tasks and empowering professionals to think strategically. With early support from EY, the company scaled from a simple plug-in to a global AI platform—driven by customer feedback, clarity of vision, and a relentless focus on value.


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