SOFTWARE SUPPLEMENT
31 October 2020
WHY SELECTING A CLIENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IS LIKE CHOOSING A CAR It’s all about finding a system that suits your practice’s needs (a sportscar isn’t much use for a family of five) and is safe and secure, says atWORK’s Group Executive Business Development, Trevor Stacey.
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dviser forums are awash with discussion of which client management systems and technologies are ‘the best’. I thought I’d share some insights into what is always a complex decision with far-reaching consequences. Selecting a system is a little like shopping for a car. The system must suit your way of working and it should meet your practice’s needs. It’s essential to evaluate any system holistically and not be swayed by one or two snazzy features. (Electric seat warmers never served much purpose in a head-on collision!) Key considerations Systems are becoming more complex by the day and there are loads of issues to consider. Taking my atWORK hat off for a moment, here are a few of the factors I’d be taking into consideration if I were in the market for new software: • Reputation, track record and financial position (especially since COVID-19) of vendor
• What components does my business need and does the vendor offer these tools? • Openness to partnerships with other specialist vendors • Ability to adapt and adopt new services as they become available • Can I use my own branding on the system? Can I customise my reports? • Level of training and support (online chat, email, call centre) offered by the vendor • Ease of use and implementation. Peering ‘under the hood’ Once you’ve found a system that seems to tick most of your practice’s basic needs, it’s time to look ‘under the hood’ so to speak. Just like when you buy a car, the components that you can’t actually see are equally – or often, more – important. • Security When choosing the system that is going to house all your clients’ data, cybersecurity is a massive consideration. But, as we’ve seen
with the recent ‘Experian hack’, cybersecurity alone is not enough to prevent a data breach. True data security can only be achieved through the combination of cybersecurity and system security and integrity. If anything goes wrong, the buck stops with YOU, so it’s absolutely imperative to know that your chosen software partner conducts regular audits and is certified to POPI and GDPR standards. (Also, make sure the contract guarantees you your data back if you ever decide to move on.) • Support and adaptability It’s really important to know how deep your chosen provider’s support mechanisms go. These days, all the best systems use ‘open architecture’ that allows them to partner with third-party data services (AML and KYC services, for example) almost overnight. • Innovation COVID-19 has forever changed the world of business. Does the system you’re looking at offer a client portal, where clients can login to view and sign documents, review their investment portfolios and even hold virtual video meetings with you?
Instead of being beguiled by snazzy features (like a video rear-view mirror…have you ever?), focus most of your attention on the underpinning technology platform. It’s impossible for one company to be good at everything – which is why you need a platform with open system architecture that allows you to plug into the latest risk profilers (FinaMetrica), commission systems, KYC services, and antimoney laundering providers, to name but a few. The long and the short Now we come to the crux of the matter: Is the system easy to use? And will it save you and your clients time and money? The only way to answer these questions, of course, is to give the car a test drive. Contact me on 082 880 9477 to arrange your no-obligations trial of atWORK 6.
Trevor Stacey, Group Executive Business Development, atWORK
THE DASHBOARD OF THE FUTURE Electronic signatures empower a remote workforce.
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n the long-forgotten pre-COVID world, electronic signature solutions were considered a ‘nice to have’ by many South African businesses. Why not print and hand deliver documents for signature? After all, this is more secure… isn’t it? In a locked-down economy, the value of innovative technology certainly came to the fore as remote workforces endeavoured to ensure that it was business as usual. This was not only convenient, but essential to survival. It was in this environment that the proudly South African technology provider, Impression Signatures, developed a web-based Electronic Signature Dashboard – offering businesses quick access to eSignatures for themselves and their customers, within the necessary legal parameters and incorporating advanced security features. This Dashboard is not only fully compliant with the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act but
WHEN DOCUMENTS CAN BE SIGNED LEGALLY, FROM ANYWHERE, WITHIN A MINUTE OR TWO, THE PRODUCTIVITY BENEFITS ARE LEGION 4 WWW.MONEYMARKETING.CO.ZA
gives users the power to brand their tool and ensure optimum productivity. As the first African member of the global Cloud Signature Consortium, Impression’s digital and cloud signature products meet rigorous cybersecurity requirements and comply with the world’s most demanding electronic signature regulations. “The development of this Dashboard was driven by six key elements, essential to reliable eSignature/ document management: confidentiality, authenticity, accountability, non-repudiation, integrity and availability,” confirms Andy Papastefanou, founder of Impression Signatures. Whether users created the document or received it from another, it can be uploaded to the Dashboard online in virtually any format (PDF, Excel, Word, Image, PowerPoint). It will automatically be converted to a PDF document, ready to sign or send for signing and track. “We focussed on creating a tool that is straightforward, offers instant value and doesn’t require a user guide to operate. It is intuitive and simple, operating on a highly affordable monthly consumption model with no hidden costs,” adds Papastefanou. “Our goal is to help you get to your ‘yes’ quicker, while making the process of sending and signing documents convenient, legal and safe.” Once the user has logged in with Active Directory details, they can track and manage the signing, sending and finalisation of documents in a simple ‘email’ environment. Conveniently, the signee doesn’t
need to install any software, and will simply receive an email with a secure link, allowing them to sign and return the document – immediately. Consent is ensured with Active Directory Integration. “With no limitations to the number of signatures required, users can either send the document to all required signatories at once or set a workflow if the document must be signed in a particular order. The mobile-friendly tool is available on all web browsers,” confirms Papastefanou. Demand for this solution has grown exponentially across the board – from banks to insurers, retailers, government organisations and hospital groups. “In today’s world, it is essential that businesses save both time and resources. When documents can be signed legally, from anywhere, within a minute or two, the productivity benefits are legion,” says Papastefanou. Founded in 2011, Impression Signatures (an iOCO company) is the leading provider of e-signature solutions in South Africa. Our patented approach is locally created whilst committing to making this innovative technology available to the public, enabling true social inclusion to fully realise digital transformation in South Africa. For more information, visit Andy www.impressionPapastefanou, Founder, signatures.com. Impression Signatures
