Microsoft and Semansys develop Compliance Suite based on XBRL

Compliancy with corporate and regulatory reporting requirements facilitated through digital reporting using familiar functionality

 

Brussels – 16 November 2004 –Microsoft and Semansys, a leading vendor of software solutions for financial reporting and business monitoring based on semantics and XBRL, have developed Compliance Suite, a system providing full control of corporate and regulatory reporting processes, while leveraging the potential of digital reporting and XBRL. The system allows organizations to coordinate the teamwork involved in creating digital business reporting. The software is built to improve the quality and timeliness of the data through compliance monitoring, auditing and task management. The Compliance Suite combines the functionality offered by Microsoft Office, Microsoft SharePoint Portal Server and Semansys XBRL Composer into a familiar environment for collaborative digital reporting. The system is demonstrated on the 10th XBRL International Conference in Brussels, on November 16 and 17.

 

For the development of Compliance Suite, Semansys contributed its expertise on reporting and XBRL, while Microsoft contributed its knowledge about workflow processes. XBRL is an open standard based on XML, creating and electronically sharing business reports over the internet. The Compliance Suite is targeted for instance, at the SEC reporting of annual and quarter results, Because XBRL is used, the check can be performed in shorter time. It also supports the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), which will be compulsory from January 1st, 2005 for companies in the European Union, listed on the stock exchanges. The suite helps to determine the information risk and responsibility on record level, which significantly enhances transparency and administrative responsibility.

 

Creating a regulatory or corporate report is usually a team effort. Although companies nowadays are sufficiently equipped with sophisticated financial systems and tools, most reports are made using Microsoft Office. The flexibility of the Microsoft Office tools is unmatched and adding the reporting and structured output functionality extends the capabilities of Microsoft Office. Those who are responsible for delivering reporting compliant with corporate and regulatory standards will benefit from a system that combines the familiar productivity of Microsoft Office with the structure provided by XBRL. Semansys XBRL Composer, the standard application for digital reporting, can be used to tag the information handled in Office, according to specific reporting requirements. For coordinating tasks and documents Microsoft SharePoint Portal Server is used. The combination is a system that turns the traditionally unstructured reporting process into well managed teamwork with built-in compliance and which is open to auditing. The quality, speed, coordination and ‘audit ability’ of businesses can be improved while implementation is simple. The extensive experience Semansys gained in various closed loop implementations of digital reporting with XBRL has been used to further lower the threshold for implementation of XBRL. 

 

The solution provided by Semansys will be used by managers to decompose the extensive reporting tasks in various sub-tasks, simply by drag and drop. These tasks can be assigned to members of the team and particularly to the person best equipped to generate the data. Employees who need to contribute to the report will be prompted that a task is waiting for them. They can pick up the applicable part of the reporting definition and start generating the data. They can import data from source systems or manually edit and compose the data using familiar Microsoft Office functionality. The manager can monitor progress and assemble the entire report once the contributors are finished. The draft report can be automatically checked for compliance and all data can be traced to their source and history. After final examination, the manager can submit the report to the applicable recipient.

 

 

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

 

Microsoft Persdesk, tel: +31 (0)23 - 569 82 22, e-mail: mspers@monogram.nl

 

About Semansys Technologies

Semansys Technologies is a leading vendor of software solutions for financial reporting and business monitoring based on semantics and XBRL. The company offers a uniquely comprehensive solution that increases speed, quality and transparency in the exchange of information throughout ‘the financial supply chain’. The software helps regulators reduce risks and administrative burden. For preparers of business reports, Semansys provides easy to use and efficient reporting solutions. The use of open standards allows users of this software to deploy innovative real time business monitoring techniques such as daily balance sheets and continuous auditing. Semansys is closely involved in the development and global adoption of XBRL and realized the world’s first implementation of this standard. Semansys is based in Zoetermeer, The Netherlands. www.semansys.com

 

Semansys Technologies BV

Tel.: +31 79 343 5735

 

Contacts

Hans van der Meer - hansv@microsoft.com

Dirk Jan Hoekstra - dirk.jan.hoekstra@semansys.com