How Ask Dela Works
Ask Dela allows users to ask questions using conversational language instead of navigating through multiple screens or remembering specific report parameters. The assistant interprets the request and retrieves relevant information available to the user in the underlying Deltek system.
Users can also continue a conversation with follow-up questions when additional context is available. For example, a project manager might ask about a project and then request related information without restating every detail. This conversational approach can make project, contract, employee, vendor, and financial information easier to access.
For organizations using deltek as an ERP platform, Ask Dela can become an additional interaction layer around existing ERP data rather than requiring users to replace established accounting and project workflows.
Ask Dela in Costpoint
In Costpoint, Ask Dela supports interactions with information across areas such as contracts, projects, people, sales orders, vouchers, timesheets, expenses, and other supported records. Depending on the configured capabilities, users can ask questions about available data, draft emails, conduct certain assessments, and complete selected finance or administrative tasks.
Access is governed by Costpoint security permissions. Ask Dela operates within the user's authorized information context, so the assistant's responses and available actions are connected to the access rights already established in the application.
The Costpoint Microsoft Teams integration can extend this experience beyond the primary ERP interface. Users can interact with Costpoint information, enter time, approve supported workflows, and submit expenses from within Teams where those capabilities are enabled.
Finance and Accounting Use Cases
Ask Dela can support finance teams by making transactional and project information easier to retrieve during daily operations. Common use cases include checking financial records, reviewing project information, locating vendor or customer details, and supporting activities connected with time, expenses, contracts, and invoices.
For accounts payable teams, invoice processing can involve several stages, including invoice capture, extraction, validation, matching, GL coding, approval, and posting. Ask Dela can complement these workflows by providing conversational access to relevant Costpoint information and helping users retrieve the context needed for finance activities.
On the receivables side, cash application involves matching customer payments with invoices, remittances, deductions, or unapplied receipts. Conversational access to relevant customer and transaction information can help finance users investigate payment records and support accurate receipt handling.
ERP Integration and Financial Information Access
Ask Dela becomes more useful when organizations have clearly structured ERP data and well-defined security permissions. Finance teams should maintain consistent master data, accounting structures, project information, and user roles so natural-language queries can work against reliable underlying records.
Deltek Integration Finance describes the broader connection of Deltek financial information with other applications and workflows. Integration can connect ERP data with systems for payroll, procurement, reporting, customer management, expenses, banking, or other operational processes, creating a wider information environment for finance users.
When integrating AI capabilities into an ERP environment, organizations should define which activities are informational, which can initiate transactions, and which require explicit human approval. Clear workflow ownership helps users understand where Ask Dela fits within established accounting controls.
Best Practices for Using Ask Dela
Effective use starts with clear questions that identify the relevant project, contract, customer, employee, transaction, or financial subject. Specific terminology and useful context generally make it easier to retrieve the intended information.
- Use precise questions: Identify the project, customer, contract, transaction, or other relevant record when possible.
- Use follow-up questions: Continue from an existing subject when the conversation supports contextual follow-ups.
- Respect access controls: Keep Costpoint roles and organizational permissions aligned with each user's responsibilities.
- Review responses: Confirm important financial information against the underlying records before using it for significant accounting or business decisions.
- Standardize terminology: Use consistent project, contract, customer, vendor, and accounting terminology across finance workflows.
These practices help teams use conversational AI as a practical access layer while retaining established financial governance and review procedures.
Summary
Ask Dela Deltek is an AI-powered digital assistant that brings natural-language interaction to supported Deltek applications, including Costpoint. It can help users retrieve information, ask follow-up questions, support selected tasks, and work with project and financial data within established permissions. For finance teams, its practical value comes from connecting conversational access with accounting, project, contract, invoice, expense, and ERP workflows while maintaining appropriate financial controls and review processes.