Accountants going digital: say goodbye to in-person meetings
Like most service-based businesses, Covid forced many accountants online – unfamiliar territory for many who traditionally offered financial advice to clients in person at the office before the pandemic. Each industry has faced its own unique set of challenges. Those willing to quickly adapt and embrace new technologies have only flourished in the new world.
The truth is the future of accounting is online. Post-pandemic consumers expect businesses to be digitally accessible, including their accounting firms. Gone are the days when customers had to drag a box of financial paperwork into their accountant's office. And those who disagree could be left behind.
But don’t fret; greater technical acumen paired with years of expertise in your field will enable you to reach new customers from anywhere in the world. You no longer need a firm handshake for first impressions. There are new ways to impress your customers from the minute they log on to meet you. Here’s what we think every accountant should be doing to stay relevant.
Leverage new and emerging technologies
Dealing with clunky technology or switching between tools is frustrating for you and your customers. But there are browser-based technologies available that enable you to manage data, automate processes and connect with your customers in one place.
But not every solution will be right for you and your business. Before committing to technology that you could be stuck with for years, paying exuberant fees, do a little bit of research. Here are a few of the things we think you should look out for:
- Check it’s being used by other accountants
- Ask for a demo or a free trial to see if it’s right for you
- Read customer testimonials
- Find out how much it costs and what happens if you want to cancel
- Make sure it’s easy for you and your customers to use
At Expertli, we’ve created our tools for accountants. We’ve made it easy for you to get as much information about how it works to make an informed decision. And if it turns out it’s not right for you, you can cancel anytime.
Meet your customers where they are, online
The pandemic has fast-tracked the move to digital for many accountants, and it’s what customers want. But moving your meetings online doesn’t mean you need to lose the connections with your customers you value so much. In fact, it can bring you even closer to them than before.
When you're explaining difficult concepts like capital gains on cryptocurrency, it’s often much easier to have those conversations face-to-face rather than over the phone. And the obvious answer is video chat, but if you’ve ever sat through a presentation online, you know how difficult it is for people to stay engaged.
Here are some of the things you can do to keep your clients listening and coming back for more advice:
- Use video chat instead of making a call
- Allow your customers to collaborate and contribute to the conversation
- Share your screen so your customer can see what info you're capturing
- Repeat back what you’ve heard to show you’re also listening
- Avoid back and forth by making it easy to share information in an online workspace
- Follow up with a recap of the conversation – this could be a video recording, PDF copy of your session or an email.
How you present yourself to customers in the real world matters, and so does your online presence. Creating an impression online experience for your customers could be the difference between those customers coming back or recommending your service to others.
Use collaboration tools for creative problem-solving
Many business customers spend time with their accountant discussing things like finances, deductions, expenses and cash flow. But it's not always an easy conversation when there’s complex decision-making and difficult tax concepts to understand – which the average client often struggles with.
We’ve been told by many accountants they often draw using pen and paper or a whiteboard to support complex concepts during client meetings. By using online collaborations tools, accountants can visually break down tax concepts, making it both easier and more engaging for the client. At Expertli, we’ve designed a two-way collaboration tool, so you and your client can both contribute to the conversation – you can draw, write and type on our virtual whiteboard without ever leaving your home.
Now, that’s one way to impress your customers.
Using Expertli to move your accounting business online
Expertli’s solution enables accountants to increase customer connection, collaboration and conversion from a virtual workspace. Working with accountants and other service and sales industries, we’ve built tools and software suited to your unique set of customer challenges.
Our goal is to deliver a digital experience that’s even more engaging than being in the same room as your customers. Accountants using Expertli can serve their customers from anywhere – see the difference for yourself.
Traditional accountants
- Time-wasting in-person meetings at the office
- Pen and paper drawings of difficult tax concepts
- Unsecure emails and communication channels
- Printed copies of receipts and tax statements
- Switch between phone, email and in-person meetings to provide financial advice.
Accountants using Expertli
- Connect face-to-face from anywhere, anytime, on any device
- Visually breakdown complex tax concepts through shared whiteboard and collaboration tools
- Generate a take-home PDF copy of your session
- Share confidential data in a secure workspace
- Type, write, draw and annotate digital documents
- Manage each client relationship in one place
As more customers demand access to services online, more and more industries seek tools that will enable them to seamlessly perform their job (as they did pre-pandemic) and connect with customers no matter where in the world they are. And Expertli is here to shape the future of that technology, elevating accountants in new and empowering ways.
Ready to drastically improve your customer experience? Chat with the Expertli today or request a free demo.