Artificial intelligence is everywhere these days.
But behind all the hype, one question keeps coming up:
To learn more, read our guide: Artificial Intelligence and Debt Collection, and check out our debt collection software.
👉 Are we really talking about AI… or just advanced automation?
In the field of debt collection, the issue is even more strategic.
Faced with cash flow pressures, the complexity of customer portfolios, and the need for operational efficiency, companies are seeking concrete solutions.
It is in this context that we are organizing our next webinar on the application of AI to debt collection.
Why this webinar?
Today, many companies claim to use AI.
But not all approaches are created equal.
At Aston, we’ve made a clear choice:
👉 to build truly useful AI based on domain expertise and data.
The purpose of this webinar is to:
- clarify what AI really is
- distinguish between promises and actual practices
- show real-world examples
What's on the agenda
We will structure this webinar around four main questions:
1. What is “true” AI?
We’ll take a closer look at technological developments:
—from Big Data to agent-based AI, including data lakes.
The goal: to understand what intelligence really is… and what it isn’t.
2. How do you build business AI?
We will share our approach:
- development of proprietary AI
- controlled environment
- Integration of Aston’s expertise
👉 AI is only useful if it understands your business.
3. What is AI capable of today?
We’ll give you a hands-on demonstration:
- AVA Support: Smart Support for Users
- AVA Recommendation: Data Analysis and Suggested Actions
👉 Use cases that can be directly applied to everyday life.
4. How far can AI go in the future?
We will discuss upcoming developments:
- Agent-based AI
- Advanced Recommendations
- multi-client analysis (anonymized data)
- decision automation
This raises a key question:
👉 Would you be willing to let an AI guide some of your actions?
AI and Debt Collection: Key Takeaways
The webinar is over, but the questions it raised are still relevant. Here are the key takeaways for distinguishing between true AI and simple automation in debt collection software.
Automation or Artificial Intelligence: What’s the Difference?
Automation applies predefined rules: sending a reminder 10 days after the due date, switching to mail after two unanswered emails, and matching a payment to an invoice. This is already very useful, but the software always does the same thing in the same situation.
Artificial intelligence goes a step further: it uses your data (payment history, past late payments, disputes, amounts, customer sector) to assess risk, assign a priority, or suggest the next step. It helps you make decisions, whereas automation simply carries out tasks.
How AI Is Already Making a Difference in Our Daily Lives
- Prioritize follow-ups: Focus first on the customers and invoices that are most important for cash flow.
- Anticipating Delays: Identifying customers whose payment behavior is deteriorating before an invoice becomes overdue.
- Suggest the right course of action: the right channel, the right time, and the right tone, depending on the client.
- Supporting teams: answering user questions and summarizing the status of a customer account.
That’s the roleof AVA, Aston AI’s artificial intelligence: AVA Support assists users, while AVA Recommendation analyzes data and suggests actions.
Its Limitations: What You Need to Know
- It depends on the quality of the data: a poorly maintained ERP system or an incomplete history results in less reliable recommendations.
- It does not replace customer relations: negotiations, disputes, or litigation are still decisions made by people.
- It must remain understandable: a recommendation must be something that the team can explain and validate. The European AI Regulation (AI Act) is aligned with this approach.
5 Questions to Ask a Publisher Who Talks About AI
- What data does AI rely on, and does your data remain yours?
- What does it actually do? Ask for examples specific to your industry—not just a general promise.
- Can you understand and reject a recommendation?
- Where is the data stored, and who has access to it?
- How should we measure results: DSO, delays, or time spent by the team?
For more information: our comprehensive guide to “Artificial Intelligence and Debt Collection ” and our comparison of debt collection software.
Practical Information
This webinar took place on Thursday, April 16, 2026 (11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., online).
Would you like to see AVA in action with your own data? Contact our team for a demo.
