IRIS GPM

IRIS GPM

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We currently run IRIS for our accounts, tax, and time recording systems and a seperate data base within Microsoft Access. We are thinking of moving over to IRIS GPM for our entire office database, especially since the introduction of the new data mining facilities within it. Does anybody have any experience of the system either good or bad?
Stuart Emerson

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By AnonymousUser
07th Mar 2003 18:50

Genesis
I believe that Iris bought this module from a firm of Accountants it was called Genesis and was well regarded. Iris bought it a few years ago but from what you say it doesn't look like they have integrated it at all.

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By User deleted
09th Mar 2003 01:46

Go for it
Stuart, GPM comes into its own once you have a number of people dealing with client affairs and so this may be the reason why David has found it of limited value.

In each of our offices we have perhaps 3-5 fee earners and having all client information AND the current state of play on all work available across the network has increased efficiency many times over. JH is right over the origins of GPM but in our experience it is not only very well integrated but is also the front end of our client services.

If a client calls/emails I can call up any detail I want, can let him/her know what we still need to finish the accounts, when I expect to have the tax return out to them to sign, how much they owe us etc etc. Afterwards I can set a task for anyone in the office to do something on that client’s affairs or just leave a note on the particular job for my colleague to pick up next time they work on the client (this facility has replaced the use of Outlook tasks).

I agree with David that Automail is not all it should be but this has nothing to do with GPM. GPM came out long after Automail and its efficiency has put Automail in the shade, so yes Iris ARE now working on a more Wordy improvement to Automail.

GPM has been out now for a couple of years and being early users we have seen the benefit of feeding back suggestions & wish lists to Iris, they really do listen to their users, in fact that’s how Data Mining was developed.

The fact is that most accountants now use software to do the boring stuff, sorry “client work” and most suppliers now produce reasonable software for that purpose so if they are to stay in business the suppliers have to provide more “added value” stuff to us and so client, staff & practice management are obvious add-ons.

Iris used our office for a GPM case study last year and I am only too happy to discuss the software in more detail (including what it can’t do) over the phone. I get nothing from Iris as we offer general advice & consultancy services to other firms in practice management methods whether they are Iris users or not.

Email me on [email protected] for details but whatever, as you are already such an Iris user, keep your client database where it is, you won’t regret it.

Cheers
Paul

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By newmoon
07th Mar 2003 06:48

It's alright ... but
I'm a sole practitioner and use it on a stand-alone pc so have no experience of networking it.
I find it useful, and as you say the data mining is a big improvement.
It still has some way to go, however. For instance I think it is let down by not being able to access or view non-Iris files (e'g' Word and Excel)from within the database.
I'm told this will happen, but it will probably be 12 to 18 months away (to me Iris software development seems to work on VERY long timescales).
It doesn't interact with the accounts or tax module data (i.e. you cannot access accounts or tax returns from the GPM module - you have to open the particular module) but does share and manage the basic client data.
The Automail facility is useful for mass mailing, and will link with other modules to generate standard letters. However I stopped using this facility as it resulted in having mail generated by Automail and Word filed in different locations which to me creates more problems than it solves.
You cannot access a list or the actual letters sent to clients via Automail through GPM, which is another downside. Also if you are used to Word, Automail is a bit restricting (things like you cannot justify text). However its macro facilities are excellent for things like engagement letters.
To summarise the software is OK, but I suspect still a long way behind something like Rapport. I have an aversion to running two databases, but do seriously consider changing to something more all encompassing. Writing this has set me off that line of thought again!

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