My plan of getting my new practice management software up and running by Monday was just too ambitious.
I just do not want to get behind with client work. I will, if I carry on spending more time on this. Friday is practice management day for me. So I spent a fair amount of time on WorkflowMax today.
I started of saying to myself hell WFM is no good. I carried on looking and working on the software and I did get really over whelmed by it.
After a great lunch followed by a long walk, my thinking began to change. I thought it needs to be done in stages and it is best I don't rush it. The stages as I see are:
1) Enter (import) Clients - Look at client data fields in WFM. Think about fields that need to be added so WFM can work for me. So far I have thought of Date of engagement, Annual Fees, mode of payment DD etc, DOB, Company authentication code, fields for more than one telephone number, email address and postal address and current engagement status.
2) For each client allocate jobs: Annual Accounts, VAT, Tax Returns etc. For each of these jobs allocate tasks - eg Chase client for info, Prepare accs, Finalise accs, client meeting.. Also dates tasks need to be completed.
3) Look at Leads (CRM) as I go along
So far my impression WFM will help. Having said that apart from Logical Office and TaxCalc hub, I have not used any other PM software. This is not much for me to go on.
Having spent time on WFM, I appreciate the points supporters of integrated software are making. I have started on this now, so I will finish!
Anyone starting a new practice get PM software sorted straight away. It will bring real benefits in the long term. Don't be like me!
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Replies (9)
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I'm glad I don't have to reinvent the wheel
Digita's software has already thought everything out to save me having to do it from first principles. They have also had many years to fine tune it.
Same with IRIS ...
... but being fully integrated everything is there, you just have to match clients with tasks.
As a thought, why not break it down, say start off with VAT and just put those client on, get the feel of it then add another group?
Number of fields
There's an incredible number of fields needed. Different types of entities have different fields.
Will carry on
I will carry on with WFM. Agree it is not out of the box usage.
Now I am not so over whelmed by it. I should be okay.
Peter, I thought you use spreadsheets and that works for you. You have not got round to set up PM on Digita?
I use Digita Practice Management
I use all of it except for time, invoices and deadlines. I have them set up on Excel and it's quite quick. Once I have some spare time I'll switch one or more to Digita.
Unsolvable
This whole issue seems to be the Achilles heel of every practice.
Spent hours yesterday
Thanks Tickers. It really is not easy. I spent a long time on it yesterday. I am beginning to see some light. Though it is a long way away.
I found this helpful. A bigger practice on the other side of the world implementing WorkflowMax.
I am determined to adpat WFM as much as I can to my way of working. It may mean a few weekends on WFM.
I also tried to contact a UK certified WFM partner - no response. This one I will have to do on my own.
On the plus side WFM does have helpful videos.
Timesheets
I thought you ditched the idea of using timesheets.
I would say this is more like what you need.
http://www.selestial.com/accountancy.html
http://www.hq4a.co.uk/
Workflowmax
We can help you implement WFM as we have optimised it in our practice over the last two years. We are also a certified WFM Advisor and qualified to install this in any business.
Give me a call on 02071837288 or email [email protected]
All the best