Property management platform Managed has unveiled a new OCR-powered automation tool designed to significantly reduce the manual burden of bill processing for property managers, with early adoption already accelerating across its customer base.
The new feature, Billie Assist, combines optical character recognition (OCR) technology with automation and artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline what has traditionally been one of the more time-consuming administrative property management tasks – manually receiving, entering, reviewing, and paying property-related bills.
For many agencies, the process has remained largely unchanged for years. Bills arrive electronically or by post, are manually uploaded into systems, entered by property managers, checked for accuracy and then processed for payment – often creating administrative bottlenecks and increasing the risk of human error.
According to Managed CEO Phil Tarrant, Billie Assist has been built specifically to eliminate much of this replaceable process for what he describes as the “next-generation agencies” that chose Managed.
“Accuracy and transparency are our core proposition,” Tarrant told REB. “This then translates into efficiency and greater profitability for our customers. Billie Assist advances that proposition, empowering our customers to focus on growth and high-value activities rather than manual administration.”
Advance automation driving efficiencies
The system enables bill issuers to send invoices directly to Billie Assist, which then automatically extracts and populates the relevant information into Managed. The platform then auto-fills bill data, reducing repetitive administration and error.
The only manual step in the process is a review stage, where property managers can cross-check accuracy via a split-screen view of the original invoice alongside the extracted data fields within Managed.
Bills can either be scheduled for immediate payment through the platform or saved for later action, with reminders promptly delivered through the Action Centre at the appropriate time.
Once the bill is scheduled, Managed will automatically process the payment on the due date, with no further action required from the property manager. A copy is automatically shared with the property owner via the owner portal, providing a clear paper trail and improved visibility over deductions relating to their investment property.
Technology that powers growth agencies
Tarrant said the release forms part of a broader push to remove manual administrative friction from property management workflows.
“Tools such as Billie Assist help agencies reduce repetitive tasks that contribute to workload pressure. Managed is built around delivering true automation solutions across the whole property management ecosystem, and this is why our customers consistently outpace legacy competitors.”
According to Tarrant, the adoption of Billie Assist has accelerated quickly following its launch. “Within the first three weeks of release, we’ve seen a fivefold increase in agency usage of the tool,” suggesting strong demand for new technology that simplifies day-to-day operational processes.
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