Given the rapid speed at which worldwide companies are evolving, you may feel pressured to overhaul your practice and modernize it. Fortunately, it’s not as complicated as it looks, thanks to accounting practice management software that are all available online. By going paperless, using project management for accountants, and looking for novel ways to handle your clients and staff, you’ll be on the way to improving your processes and increasing your efficiency.

Modernizing your firm holds many benefits. For instance, when your clients have a consistently positive experience with your firm, the more likely they’ll return and continue paying for your services. They’ll even share the top-notch service they received from you and recommend you to their network, expanding your client base even more. As the goal of modernizing is to optimize your processes and improve efficiency, your team and clients alike will benefit.

Modernizing Outdated Areas of Your Firm

Here’s what you need to know about modernizing outdated areas of your firm:

Optimizing Client Communication

You’ve likely had to wait on your client to send you necessary documents for their case at some point, consisting of seemingly endless emails, phone calls, and hours spent looking for papers that you’ve put away. As a result, you’ll have to hit the pause button on your client’s case each time you require more information from them, particularly when their schedule doesn’t correspond to your office hours.

Fortunately, using software designed specifically for accounting CRM or customer relationship management can do wonders for this aspect. You can securely send each other notes, requests, files, and questions, which means you won’t risk having unanswered emails in your inbox. Using this software also comes with increased client transparency since they can track their case’s progress even when you aren’t constantly communicating updates. Additionally, thanks to accounting practice management software, you can also increase your cash flow by offering online payment through the portal, ensuring punctual payments.

Improving Documentation Storage

Every accounting firm is familiar with wrangling dozens of tabs and multiple programs running at once on the computer. You probably have drawers full to the brim with paper clips and staplers, and your file cabinets are bursting to the seams with copies upon copies of documents. Not only is this a storage nightmare, but it’s also expensive, as you’ll keep having to purchase paper to maintain your document storage system.

Luckily, modernizing this area will not only cut costs but improve efficiency. Going paperless is another benefit of using accounting firm practice management software to store your documents on the cloud, which means you don’t have to dive through stacks of paper to find the information you need. You can access this data any time, anywhere, as long as you and your team have a strong Internet connection. Since the cloud updates real-time, you don’t have to worry about sifting through seven versions of the same document; the latest version is always the one you’ll access.

Enhancing Client Information Management

As someone running an accounting firm, you deal with a large amount of client information. It can be incredibly overwhelming at such high volumes, especially when you have to contact them constantly to get their information. Fortunately, modernizing your firm involves improving this process and making it more efficient.

For example, you can use a digital client organizer or a survey, which takes the tedious work out of collecting their information. You won’t risk irritating your client by asking redundant or irrelevant questions, and you’ll have only the most important data you need. With a practice management software, you can also maintain a current contact list containing only accurate and up-to-date information about your clients.

Conclusion

Upgrading your firm’s technology stack will produce enormous benefits for your staff and clients. Apart from eliminating some expenses, thereby increasing your savings, you’ll also be processing requests more expeditiously. By modernizing your firm, you’ll be well on the way to becoming the most competitive practice in your area.

Financial Cents is an easy-to-use accounting practice management software containing everything you need to manage your staff, scale your firm, and meet your deadlines. With our cloud-based solutions, you can create checklists, track time, delegate tasks to your team, and so much more. Start your free trial today!