Published · The automation team at Gentle Reminder

Getting started

What to send us for a feasibility check

A short pack of real files beats a long questionnaire. Here is the minimum that lets us say yes, no, or not yet.

We do not need your entire archive. We need enough examples to see whether the layouts are repeatable, whether your Excel rules are clear, and what "done" looks like for your next step. Suitable prospects then get a tailored working example and a short video before full implementation. That path is how our PDF and Excel workflow offer is sold.

1. A handful of sample files per layout

Send a few PDFs (or Excel inputs) for each template family you care about. Three to five per layout is usually enough. Include at least one slightly awkward file if you have one: missing fields, odd dates, or a line that your team always has to fix by hand.

Redact what you must. We do not publish client names, GSTINs, or bill numbers on the site, and we do not need secrets that are unrelated to the fields you want automated.

2. The Excel master or rules you already check against

If your team reconciles against a sheet, send a scrubbed copy of that sheet or a clear description of the keys and comparisons. Which column is the line ID? Which fields must match? Which source should win when PDF and Excel disagree?

If there is no master yet, say so. We can still extract. Reconciliation value shows up when the rules already exist in someone's head or spreadsheet.

3. The output you need

Describe or attach an example of the file your next step expects: CSV columns, Excel layout, XML shape, or import template. "Something in Excel" is too vague. "These twelve columns in this order for our accounting import" is enough to scope.

4. Who reviews exceptions

Name the role, not necessarily the person. Accounts payable, ops, or a shared inbox. The workflow should flag missing fields, failed calculations, and master mismatches for that role. If nobody owns exceptions, automation only moves the mess.

What happens next

  1. We review the enquiry and the samples.
  2. We assess feasibility and map the work to a typical tier where we can.
  3. For suitable prospects we prepare a tailored working example and share a short video or another presentation format you prefer.
  4. We discuss implementation scope and an itemized quote.

You can start from the document automation assessment or the enquiry form on the workflow page. Email is fine for the files themselves.

What not to send yet

  • Every historical file from the last five years
  • Passwords to live ERPs unless we have already agreed a secure path
  • Documents that are mostly blurry photos when you can still ask the sender for a text PDF

Clear text-based PDFs give the most dependable results. If scans are unavoidable, say so early so we can talk about OCR where quality allows.

Have the pack ready?

Send samples, master rules, and the output shape. We will tell you what looks feasible before you commit to full build.

Assess Your Workflow