‘Apps offer more width to technology savvy clients’
MyFirmsApp, the global number one developer of custom Apps for Accountants and Bookkeepers, announced today that the Manchester Accounting firms, Towne&Co, which is a specialist IR35 Contractor Accountancy and Tax Practice and Semilliam, which is a full scope general Accountancy and Tax Practice, have both selected the company to develop custom branded mobile Apps. The two practices are set to benefit from the comprehensive OneApp platform with in-built tools and integrations to deliver tailored mobile versions of their businesses.
Stephen Towne, Director of both practices, believes Apps are vital for future success and that they provide the most relevant and convenient way to communicate with clients. Mobile Internet access has soared in recent years and Smartphones and Tablets are now the most popular way to browse the Internet with Apps an essential part of the experience. He comments: “Technology savvy clients need ‘more width’ and the ability to work on the move and Apps deliver that level of mobile communication.”
The Custom branded Apps developed by MyFirmsApp provide a range of benefits including direct and instant messaging to the clients’ home screens on their Smartphones. These ‘push notifications’ provide the perfect solution to one of the most common communication challenges, according to Stephen, of ‘clients not reading their emails’ and can be tailored to individual or groups of clients.
‘Push Notifications’ can be created easily and if the accountant prefers to do nothing at all, they can be generated automatically using Automated Client Engagement (ACE). These instant messages have a 93% open rate and they are read, typically, within minutes of delivery. They provide an opportunity for firms to automate the distribution of content, ranging from reminders about tax deadlines to news on services.
Stephen adds: “One of the key benefits of the App is that through its integration with Receipt Bank, it allows clients to photograph their documents and literally ‘squirt’ them through to us in an Excel format. It is this capability that will help us to create further efficiencies and make our process even more streamlined. Our play in the market is volume and for that, we need to become as efficient as possible.”
The App is also set to help manage GDPR compliance. Stephen explains: “Every client will download the Apps as a term of doing business with us and the ‘Accountant’s Control Panel’ will ensure all client data is totally secure and a complete audit trail demonstrates that the correct steps have been taken.”
Stephen’s advice to other firms considering an App is that ‘the fixed fee of between 50p and £1 per client per month is a small price to pay to ‘proactively deliver branded valuable information to clients.’ “You have the ability to let your clients learn from you,” he says. “It allows accountants to communicate for all the right reasons and will help to prevent clients leaving. The main reason given when clients leave is always a lack of communication: it is never price-driven.”
Stephen describes the process of designing the Apps as ‘pain-free’ and he goes on to say that ‘MyFirmsApp offers a great service and they make it all so easy.”
Dan Richards, Head of Sales, MyFirmsApp said: “We are thrilled to be working with Stephen and his teams. Both Apps will resonate across many aspects of their businesses including Making Tax Digital; saving time for both the firms and their clients. The OneApp platform is uniquely placed to facilitate mobile communication with clients and it is proven to be 5x more effective at reaching recipients than email, it opens a powerful marketing channel, and creates a powerful digital and mobile relationship. The team is looking forward to working closely with Towne&Co and Semillian, as we do with all clients, so they get the very most from their Apps.”
