AI-Risk-Assessment-for-Financial-Institutions

DataFetchr - Document Data Extraction Using Appian AI

Extracting intelligence from documents: Our hackathon journey

Lingeswaran Subramani | Lead Consultant | Feb 2025
The Challenge of Manual Data Extraction

Businesses today handle vast amounts of unstructured data hidden within contracts, invoices, financial statements, and regulatory documents. Extracting structured data or meaningful insights from these documents is often manual, time-consuming, and error prone. Many organizations still rely on employees to manually review, extract, and input data from documents. According to a McKinsey report up to 40% of the time spent on routine tasks in many industries is dedicated to data entry and processing. This process is prone to inefficiencies, human errors, and compliance risks, especially in sectors like finance, healthcare, and legal, where regulatory requirements are strict. In fact, a Deloitte study found that 43% of companies face significant compliance risks due to errors in manual data handling.

To address these challenges, our hackathon solution “DataFetchr” focused on leveraging Appian AI Skills to automate and streamline the document data extraction process. Appian’s AI-driven capabilities, such as Intelligent Document Processing (IDP), enable businesses to quickly extract and organize data from various document types, drastically reducing the time spent on manual data entry. By incorporating these AI tools, organizations can significantly minimize compliance risks, improve operational efficiency, and ultimately make faster, data-driven decisions.

Studies show that companies that adopt AI for document automation can reduce processing time by up to 80% , enhancing overall productivity. For example, Forrester reports that automation technologies can save businesses an average of $10 million annually by streamlining workflows and reducing operational costs.

Business Relevance – Why This Matters

Automating document processing is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity. Businesses across industries, from banking and healthcare to legal and compliance teams, face challenges in efficiently handling large volumes of documents.

By leveraging AI-powered document extraction, organizations can:

  • Reduce manual effort and human errors in data entry.
  • Enhance compliance by ensuring accurate record-keeping.
  • Accelerate decision-makingwith real-time data availability.
  • Improve productivityby freeing employees from repetitive tasks.
The Solution DataFetchr– How It Works

Appian AI Skills is a powerful AI-driven capability within the Appian platform that enables businesses to automate complex workflows, process unstructured data, and derive actionable insights. It integrates advanced machine learning models and natural language processing (NLP) to extract, validate, and analyze data from a variety of sources, such as documents, forms, and communications .

How Appian AI Skills Helped in Our Solution

Our team creates the solution named “DataFetchr” which leveraged Appian AI Skills to transform document-driven processes through intelligent automation. Keyways Appian AI Skills enhanced our solution:

  • Automated Data Extraction – The AI model identifies and extracts relevant fields from unstructured documents with high accuracy.
  • Intelligent Data Validation – AI-driven validation ensures that extracted data meets predefined business rules, reducing manual intervention.
  • Seamless Integration – Appian AI Skills integrates with existing enterprise systems, ensuring smooth workflows without the need for external AI models.
  • Chatbot & Conversational Insights – Extracted data is accessible via a chatbot, allowing users to query and gain insights without manually searching documents.
  • Scalability & Compliance – The AI engine processes high volumes of documents while maintaining compliance with industry standards.

By integrating Appian AI Skills, we significantly improved the efficiency of document data extraction, reducing processing time, enhancing accuracy, and making information more accessible to users. Our team built an AI-powered document extraction solution using Appian AI Skills that: :

  1. Extracts key data from uploaded documents automatically.
  2. Validates extracted information against predefined business rules.
  3. Allows users to review and make correctionsif needed.
  4. Creates structured requests based on validated data.
  5. Integrates with a chatbot to provide insights and further interactions with extracted information.

This streamlined approach eliminates the need for manual data extraction, ensuring a faster, more accurate, and scalable solution.

Key Features & Innovations

What makes our solution stand out?

  • AI-Powered Extraction - Uses Appian’s AI to identify and extract relevant data.
  • Smart Validation Engine – Ensures extracted data meets accuracy standards.
  • User-Friendly Review Interface – Allows business users to verify and correct information easily.
  • Automated Request Creation – Converts validated data into structured workflows.
  • Chatbot Integration – Enables conversational access to extracted insights.
Real-World Application – Enterprise Implementation

Our solution “DataFetchr” is applicable across multiple industries, transforming document-driven processes through automation and AI-powered insights. Here’s how it can benefit different sectors :

Banking & Finance – Automating Loan Applications & Compliance
  • Faster Loan Approvals - Extracts key details from financial statements, credit reports, and customer documents to expedite loan decision-making.
  • Enhanced Compliance & KYC Processing - Automatically verifies customer identities against regulatory databases and reduces errors in due diligence.
  • Risk Assessment & Fraud Detection - AI-driven analytics identify inconsistencies in loan applications, reducing fraud risks.
  • Seamless Integration with Core Banking Systems - Automates data input into loan processing systems, cutting down manual workload for bank employees.
Healthcare – Improving Patient Data Management
  • Streamlined Insurance Claims Processing - Extracts data from medical records and bills to speed up claim approvals.
  • Automated Patient Intake & Record Keeping - AI-driven document extraction simplifies new patient registrations and updates electronic health records (EHRs).
  • Regulatory Compliance & Data Security - Ensures healthcare documents meet compliance standards such as HIPAA by maintaining structured and secure data storage.
Legal & Compliance – Smarter Contract Management
  • Automated Clause Extraction & Risk Assessment - AI scans legal contracts for obligations, renewal dates, and liabilities, reducing the risk of non-compliance.
  • Faster Due Diligence & Audits - Quickly compiles relevant documents for audits, reducing manual effort.
  • Improved Searchability & Document Summarization - AI-powered search helps legal teams quickly find relevant clauses without scanning entire contracts.
Insurance – Efficient Claims Processing & Policy Management
  • Faster Claims Settlements - Automates data extraction from claim forms and supporting documents, reducing processing time.
  • Policy Document Digitization- Converts policy details into structured formats for easy retrieval and validation.
  • Enhanced Customer Experience - Customers receive faster responses as automation eliminates bottlenecks in claims approval.
Retail & Supply Chain – Enhancing Invoice & Vendor Management
  • Automated Invoice Processing - Extracts data from invoices and matches it with purchase orders to streamline accounts payable.
  • Supplier Onboarding & Contract Validation - AI ensures that vendor agreements are compliant and minimizes risks in procurement.
  • Inventory & Logistics Optimization - EAI analyzes delivery receipts and shipping documents to optimize supply chain operations. Our solution is applicable across multiple industries.
  • Banking & Finance - Automating loan application and KYC document processing.
  • Healthcare - Extracting patient details from medical records.
  • Legal & Compliance - Identifying clauses and obligations in contracts.
  • Insurance - Processing claims and policy documents faster.
Potential Benefits – Why Businesses Should Adopt This
  • 50%+ reduction in manual processing time.
  • Improved compliance and audit readiness.
  • Scalable automation for high-volume document handling.
  • Enhanced user experience with AI-assisted validation.
Taking it further

The potential for AI-driven document processing extends far beyond the current implementation. To maximize business value and industry-wide impact, consider :

Expanding AI Training to Handle Diverse Document Types and Languages

Businesses operate in multilingual environments and work with a wide range of document formats, from invoices and contracts to regulatory filings and compliance reports. Enhancing AI training models to recognize and extract data from various document types—regardless of structure or language—will improve accessibility and ensure broader industry adoption. This expansion will benefit global enterprises dealing with multilingual contracts, cross-border transactions, and region-specific regulations.

Integrating with Enterprise CRM & ERP Systems for Seamless Workflow Automation

To truly drive efficiency, AI-powered document extraction should seamlessly integrate with existing Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. This integration will enable automatic data population, reducing manual entry and ensuring real-time data synchronization across business functions. For industries like finance and supply chain management, this will enhance operational efficiency, improve customer engagement , and optimize business decision-making.

Leveraging NLP and Sentiment Analysis for Deeper Document Insights

Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Sentiment Analysis can take document intelligence to the next level by identifying key contextual meanings and business sentiments. This enhancement will allow businesses to detect tone, urgency, and contractual risks in documents such as service agreements and legal contracts. In financial services, this could help assess customer sentiment in loan applications or insurance claims, leading to better risk management and customer service strategies.

Implementing Predictive Analytics to Anticipate Compliance Risks

Compliance and regulatory adherence are critical across industries such as banking, healthcare, and legal services. By integrating predictive analytics, businesses can proactively identify compliance risks before they become issues. AI models can flag anomalies in financial transactions, detect missing regulatory clauses in contracts, or anticipate fraud patterns in insurance claims. This proactive approach will not only mitigate risks but also enhance regulatory reporting and decision-making.

Team Insights – Behind the Innovation

The hackathon was a huge learning opportunity for everyone involved. Each team member brought unique skills and perspectives, making the experience enriching and collaborative. Some participants focused on the technical implementation, exploring the depth of Appian AI Skills and discovering new ways to optimize document extraction. Others delved into the business side, ensuring that the solution aligned with real-world industry needs and compliance standards. The fast-paced environment encouraged creative problem-solving, with teams iterating quickly to refine their ideas. Despite challenges, the overall experience fostered growth, innovation, and a deeper understanding of AI-driven automation. The event not only highlighted the potential of intelligent document processing but also reinforced the importance of teamwork and adaptability in solving complex business problems. Reflecting on our hackathon experience, our team members shared their thoughts

  • "This challenge pushed us to rethink how businesses interact with documents. AI can truly revolutionize workflow automation."
  • "Building the chatbot integration was a game-changer—it makes data more accessible and actionable."
  • "Appian AI Skills proved to be a powerful tool in unlocking structured data from unstructured documents."
Conclusion

Our hackathon journey reinforced the power of AI-driven automation in transforming document processing. By combining Appian AI Skills with human validation and chatbot interactions, we built a scalable, intelligent, and user-friendly solution that can revolutionize how businesses manage data. The future of document intelligence is here-and we’re excited to be part of it! Companies like Yexle are at the forefront of driving digital transformation, leveraging cutting-edge technologies like Appian’s intelligent automation tools to revolutionize how organizations handle document processing.