ABBYY, Desktop Imaging automate NZ council rebates, invoices
ABBYY and Desktop Imaging have deployed document automation systems for Wellington City Council and Fire and Emergency New Zealand, with the projects focused on rates rebate processing and invoice handling.
The work centres on document AI and workflow automation tools that parse and validate information in forms and invoices. The two organisations cited regulatory requirements and administrative workloads as drivers for change.
Rates Rebates
Wellington City Council revised its rates rebate process after new mandates from the Department of Internal Affairs in early 2025. The council previously ran the process manually.
The council implemented ABBYY Document AI through Desktop Imaging's DI Automation: Rates Rebate Service. Desktop Imaging said the system automates form validation, eligibility checks, reporting and document retention.
Desktop Imaging said more than 800 applications have been processed with no manual data entry. The company said the council reached 100% compliance.
The project used a cloud deployment model. Desktop Imaging said implementation took days after planning and testing, and it said the council did not need additional IT infrastructure for the deployment.
"By using purpose-built AI for intelligent automation, Wellington City Council have eliminated manual bottlenecks and ensured every application is processed accurately and on time," said Stephen Beighton, Director, Desktop Imaging. "Our expertise in New Zealand local government processes was invaluable in customising the solution to meet Wellington City Council's specific requirements and Department of Internal Affairs compliance standards. It's the kind of innovation all councils should be adopting to better serve their communities.
Invoice Processing
Fire and Emergency New Zealand processes tens of thousands of invoices each year across more than 650 stations. It said manual handling and legacy systems created delays and errors. It also cited compliance risk.
The organisation deployed ABBYY Vantage as part of Desktop Imaging's DI Invoicing cloud service. The companies said the system captures, classifies and extracts invoice data. It then feeds that data into the DI Invoicing validation engine.
Desktop Imaging said the validation stage applies business rules, fraud checks and Inland Revenue Department compliant workflows. The company said the result included reduced manual processing and faster payments. It also pointed to real-time compliance and the ability to scale without adding infrastructure or staff.
FENZ linked the work to payment time reporting requirements. It said it wanted a packaged approach with a short deployment timeframe.
"Improving accuracy and speed were top priorities for FENZ as we needed to adhere to new payment time reporting requirements. But we also wanted an 'off-the-shelf' solution that could be deployed quickly without adding complexity" said Kris Elliott, Solutions Specialist, Desktop Imaging. "By deploying ABBYY technology as an integral part of our DI Invoicing service for customers like FENZ, we improved accuracy, data quality, compliance, and speed. The outcomes have been immediate - faster payments, greater transparency, and more time for their teams to focus on supporting the communities they serve."
Vendor Context
ABBYY sells document processing software and related automation tools. Desktop Imaging provides document management and automation services in New Zealand, including scanning and invoicing workflows.
"The tangible benefits citizens in New Zealand receive are a testament to the power of AI-powered automation and the collaboration between ABBYY and Desktop Imaging," said Bruce Orcutt, Chief Marketing Officer, ABBYY. "By leveraging industry-leading intelligent document processing and workflow automation solutions to automate critical processes, citizens now receive faster rates rebates, smoother payments, and more reliable access to essential services. By using our joint solution, government agencies can leave the digital transformation to us so they can focus on serving their constituents."
Desktop Imaging said it expects more public sector organisations to review manual document workflows as compliance requirements expand and cloud delivery models shorten deployment timelines.