What's a synonym for excitement? It could just be... 'Digits.' You will see why during this two-part First Look feature as Murph explores this new accounting technology.
What is Digits?
For the longest time, I had no idea. I would see Digits at QuickBooks Connect or some other accounting event, and it was always a team of people in front of a flashy booth that really told you nothing. It made you wonder, "Are they just here to ask questions, rather than answer them?" I even remember asking someone working their booth if they would like to be interviewed; their reply came back, "We can't do that, we are not authorized to speak on behalf of 'Digits.'"
I thought, that's an interesting approach to marketing a product, an App, some software, or a service. I mean, I had no idea at all what 'Digits' was. So, for nearly two years, my ignorance continued... "What does Digits do?" "What are they pushing?" It seemed like they wanted people to try something, but what was it? It was like The Wizard of Oz1, "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain."
I must say, I had absolutely no idea what Digits was until Scaling New Heights this past June... then, "the curtain was drawn back and all was revealed."
Digits is the first end-to-end accounting platform purpose-built for the AI era. At its core is a proprietary Autonomous General Ledger®—a powerful engine that automates client bookkeeping, reporting, invoicing, and bill pay, helping firms eliminate repetitive tasks and scale more efficiently.
When you set out to build a totally new accounting platform (aka, a 'general ledger'), how would you do it?
There have been plenty of attempts, using the #1 above approach, at building a new accounting platform in the past. What you get is a new version of the same old thing with a few extra bells and whistles.
There have also been multiple attempts, using the #2 above approach, to produce a 'new general ledger.' But, while that may attract many people who liked or disliked specific aspects of all those other accounting apps, it also ends up the same old thing with a few more bells and whistles, a little AI glitz and glitter, and some troublesome problems trying to emerge in different ways of doing things in a single package.
However, a #3 (above) approach to a new accounting platform is almost unheard of, and honestly, brilliant. Somebody who started by asking the accounting community what they want, how they want it, what it should have, and what it shouldn't have. When did you last see that?
As End Users, we understand that the 'ask us first' approach is a critical difference in design because all too often we hear a developer anounce a product only to say, "how do you like what we've built for you" (without asking us first) and then trying to respond to the criticism by saying "then tell us how to tweak it."
A true #3 approach is unique. It requires a developer to put their faith and trust in the intended End User, first and foremost.
Faith and trust in the End User first, over the engineers and developers who always seem to say, "well, doing it this way is the fastest and cheapest way, even if it's not necessarily what the end user really wants or needs... they will get used to what we give them."
This unique approach also requires developers to put the End User foremost, "overlooking the profitability aspects and saying if we give the end user what they have told us they need, and most importantly want, the profits will come."
If you are tired of your accounting platform being built on an 'ask us after the fact' basis, then, with this long-winded explanation behind us, I will say, "Digits is the most exciting #3 approach to designing an accounting platform that I've seen since 'columnar pads2'!"
You can now see why this is a two-part First Look feature. I've already written more words (854) in this introduction than I typically write for an entire 'App Aware' article. However, I've only just begun to tell you about Digits, which, in fact, took the #3 approach to the design and development of their accounting platform.
What Digits is!
Now that we've thoroughly discussed how Digits got here, we can talk about what Digits is and where it is going in terms of future development.
As I mentioned earlier, Digits is the first end-to-end accounting platform purpose-built for the AI era. In other words, AI wasn't just added 'after the fact' into an existing platform, or even an updated one; it was built into the Digits platform from the ground up.
I think we've all come to recognize that what we have always called a 'General Ledger' or Accounting App is now called an "accounting platform" by everyone in the developer business. And I suspect that even if a new accounting app were released with every possible capability and functionality built into it, so that it was 'all encompassing', it would still be called a 'platform' upon which related Apps could be stacked.
In fact, it would likely be contrary to all those contributing end-users if the object of their desires when it comes to a new General Ledger didn't provide for their existing 'app stack' to be stacked upon. The following illustration represents just an example of a few of the various App connection capabilities available via Digits.
So, I'm not concerned with Digits calling itself a 'platform' when their core engine is an Autonomous General Ledger® designed to automate bookkeeping, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and reporting by eliminating routine, mundane, and repetitive tasks so that businesses can focus on business, and accountants can focus on being trusted advisors to their clients.
When we begin to explore the differences between Digits and other accounting solutions, it is key to remember that Digits is a native AI accounting platform. That quality permitted Digits to be uniquely designed with an entirely reimagined process for automating financial data and accounting functions. As a result, Digits is capable of accurately automating over 97% of transaction categorization with unmatched speed, accuracy, and transparency.
Digits Design is Technically Unique.
Critical to the unique design of Digits is the fact that it isn't reliant on outdated relational databases like traditional accounting systems; rather, Digits integrates3:
Those components work together to power the accounting workflows and capabilities—automating tedious tasks while keeping accountants, CFOs, and Controllers in control, including:
In addition, because Digits records every entry, auto-booked transaction, and every exception, users can be assured that a full audit trail with AI confidence indicators is available to meet any audit requirement or inquiry.
Agentic AI isn't an Add-on.
A paragraph back, or so, I mention AI Agents. I'm confident that we've all heard or read about 'agentic AI' and the creation of "AI-Agents" that handle activities and workflows. Within the accounting context, these AI-Bots can accomplish a multitude of routine tasks and even specialized functions. Digits has put these AI-agents to work to provide the tasks that an accounting system should provide, including:
And, all of this sophisticated AI-driven technology is accomplished faster, more accurately, and with greater clarity than occurs in manual accounting operations.
By automating tedious tasks, Digits enables businesses to focus on their customers and expand their operations more effectively. That same technology enables accounting firms to expand their practices and better serve their clients.
Before we conclude this 'Part 1' of our First Look at Digits, I think we need to explore at least one of the key functions that everyone, including clients and accountants, expects from their accounting platform.
Digit's Approach to Accounts Receivable.
Accounts Receivable is, at least in my way of thinking, one of those critical accounting functions that every accounting platform should incorporate. After all, a business won't stay in business long, no matter what business they are in, if they can't invoice clients and promptly receive payments.
From the Digits Invoices screen (shown below), users can create new invoices, track payment status, and manage receivables in one organized workspace. Why struggle with invoicing your clients? Digits' AI-Invoicing is automated to free up more of your time for growing your business, not processing invoices.
Digits' AI-Invoicing can generate invoices in seconds, pull in customer details, pricing, and payment terms with minimal input from you. And the 'AI' eliminates common mistakes, ensuring that every invoice is accurate and professional. Take 24-seconds to watch the video below to see just how fast Digits can build your next customer invoice.
(Video source: Digits)
Thinking you could possibly outgrow this new kid on the block? Not hardly, Digits AI-powered system grows right along with you, learning all the way. It has no problem handling an ever-increasing number of clients, transactions, and reporting requirements.
While you are focused on your next project, Digits' AI-Invoice Agent keeps tabs on your accounts receivable, knowing exactly when each invoice is received, viewed, becomes overdue, or is paid, using smart tracking and automated follow-ups.
Frictionless payment options mean little to no waiting for clients to pay you. For example, if you decide to use Stripe as an available payment option, Digits keeps track of your revenue data without manual entry once you've connected your Stripe account. Digits automatically imports your Stripe payment activity and tracks it within your ledger.
Why take valuable time away from your responsibilities to chase an unpaid invoice? The Digits' AI-Invoice Agent automatically sends gentle reminders to your customers regarding their outstanding invoice(s). If the invoice remains unpaid, the Invoice Agent escalates the follow-up to get those invoices paid, reducing your outstanding A/R and improving your cash flow.
Plenty More to Come about Digits in Part 2.
Tune in to Insightful Accountant tomorrow for the conclusion of this First Look@Digits. In the meantime, if you want more information, head over to the Digits website. From there, you can sign up for a free trial or learn more about becoming a Digits Partner.
Footnotes and Disclosures
Footnotes:
1 - The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), and based on the 1900 novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum.
2 – 'Columnar Pads', for an explanation of columnar pads, see my article titled: "Mind of Murph: What's Next for Accounting" published by Insightful Accountant on September 10, 2025.
3 - Caution: some readers may find this description of the technical aspects of Digits a bit too "techy," but sorry, it's important to those of us (like me) who love the "techy stuff."
Disclosures:
Some feature content, including graphics, adapted from Digits supplied materials, including IA's First Look/App Aware survey submission. Content adapted by Insightful Accountant from Intuit sources is furnished for educational purposes only.
As used herein, Digits® and Autonomous General Ledger® are registered trademarks of Digits Financial, Inc., a privately-held, private-equity financed, corporation headquartered at 1015 S. Fillmore Street, San Francisco, California, USA, 94115.
Any other trade names or references used herein may refer to registered, trademarked, or copyrighted materials held by their respective owners; they are included in the content for informational and educational purposes only.
This is an editorial feature, not sponsored content. No vendor associated with this article has paid Insightful Accountant or the author any form of remuneration to be included within this feature. The article is provided solely for informational and educational purposes.
Note: Registered Trademark ® and other registration symbols (such as those used for copyrighted materials) have been eliminated from the articles within this publication for brevity due to the frequency or abundance with which they would otherwise appear or be repeated. Every attempt is made to credit such trademarks or copyrights within our respective article footnotes and disclosures.