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My Sunday ramblings

11th Aug 2013
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My week can be summed as a being a Xero week. There was Xero certification, other Xero webinars and the killer was and is WorkFlow Max. I want get this up and running ASAP since it will make a real difference to my practice. 

Of course, there was client work but Xero did pull me away from this. I did gain a fair bit out of Xero webinars. I have really bought into the Xero concept. I even put my normally tight self aside and booked myself Xerocon on 25/09. I paid to hear about Xero!  

At the time of booking I had to give my T shirt size since all participants will be given Xero a T shirt. I rather pay less than have a T shirt. It is going to a charity shop. It may end up in some third world country!  Please Xero don't give a wad of papers and other complimentary stuff on the day.

I am a closet Eco-Warrior! Having said that I use an Air Con unit only because my office is next to a room with a massive telephone exchange unit that gives out so much heat. 

WorkFlow Max has really got under my skin now. I love it because I can see it's potential. I also find it annoying since as soon as I have thought about resolving one issue three issues come in my head. I know I will not get it be perfect. It will be a good PM software. With Xero introducing cloud based working papers WFM's usefulness, I have no doubt, will increase further.  Kiwi's always get it first! 

Implementation  of WFM will be an early evening and weekend activity now. Client work needs to be done. 

I intend to get to the office by 8am this week. Since I cycle I need about half hour to get into work. So work will start at 8:30am. Half hour break for lunch since it is a fast day. Then finish on the dot at 5pm. My intention is to work hard when I am in the office.

I really want to stop working weekends. At the same time when I don't work. I just want to work. Expansion of my business is always on my mind. Anything else just does not interest me. I am a right boring sod! Hey that's me and I ain't changing!  I have more than enough hang-ups on my plate.  

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Replies (9)

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By petersaxton
11th Aug 2013 23:34

There's a wheel already invented

It's name is HQ and not WFM.

What's the point of spending ages getting WFM to a tenth of the effectiveness of HQ?

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By User deleted
12th Aug 2013 16:48

@FirstTab ...

... a happy man is one whose work and fun are teh same thing. Nothing wrong with your business being your leisure as well as your work time.

I tend to work evenings and week-ends mainly because you get more done as you have no distractions by way of phone calls and visitors (although I work at home those times). This is the beauty of self-employment - tomorrrow I am off, taking my son to fly his remote control helicopter in the morming and to the Wetlands centre at Barnes with my camera in the afternoon, and Thursday we have a family birthday so will be off again then too.

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Kieran Phelan
By KPEM online
12th Aug 2013 19:42

@peter
Have HQ sorted the issues in the work flow part of their system? I used HQ for a while but found quite a few issues in functionality. Good screen layouts, all the key database fields you need, but the work flow parts had issues regarding reminders in my experience, such as undue difficulties in changing reminder dates, tasks not repeating, reminders not flagging.......... Maybe that's just my experience a few years ago though, perhaps it has been tidied up now. Just got the feeling some parts were "work in progress"

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By petersaxton
12th Aug 2013 20:26

I don't know

I was shown a demo but I haven't used it myself. I just thought that software set up for accountants would save FT a lot of time. If he considers it that's a good question to ask.

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Replying to Accountant A:
Kieran Phelan
By KPEM online
12th Aug 2013 20:45

HQ

petersaxton wrote:

I was shown a demo but I haven't used it myself. I just thought that software set up for accountants would save FT a lot of time. If he considers it that's a good question to ask.

FT would certainly save time in the setup. I trialled WFM too and thought it needed much more tweaking than HQ. Another cloud system Glide looks good but again seems to me to be a Work In Progress. Both HQ and Glide are better than WFM in my opinion, WFM big selling point is Xero integration, but that is a given when you consider Xero purchased WFM. And the integration is sales invoicing only I think?

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FT
By FirstTab
12th Aug 2013 20:55

Not ignoring

I will respond on the points raised. Just have a lot on. 

Thanks for the comments made. 

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FT
By FirstTab
12th Aug 2013 22:24

Other PM software

As most will agree, we do not yet a perfect PM software. I do not think they would be one since we all have different needs. 

I did look at HQ for accountants some time ago. I also went through  a demo. The reasons I decided against it were:

1) No integration with Word and Excel. 

2) No integration with Gmail/Gmail calender

3) Expensive

I have looked at other PM software outlined in my previous blog, for the money I just did not think they met the mark. I also need a Lead Management system, some of PM software did not have this.  

I did put in further work on WFM this evening. At this stage I think it can work. I agree it does not have all fields that are required. All I have to do is look at the fields in other PM software made only for accountants and check my fields against theirs to make sure I have not missed anything.

Also I do not have to pay anything for WFM as long as I remain a Silver Partner.

I have used PM software specifically for accountants - it had so many bugs. Please don't ask me to name it. I used this software a few years ago. It may have changed now.  

 

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Kieran Phelan
By KPEM online
12th Aug 2013 22:56

@FT
Hi First Tab,

I think HQ does integrate with gmail mail and calendar. Certainly for calendar as it did when i used it. The text message functionality is pretty cool too. But you're right, nothing quite ticks all the boxes for accountancy PM just yet, especially online.

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By petersaxton
13th Aug 2013 04:42

My advice

"All I have to do is look at the fields in other PM software made only for accountants and check my fields against theirs to make sure I have not missed anything."

That's what I was thinking.

One alternative is to get somebody to write software for you that does exactly what you want. I would suggest getting them to use software that is very common so you are not tied in to a few programmers. I'm sure it would only cost a few thousand pounds at the most. I would prefer them to charge on an hourly basis and keep you updated on the costs so you could easily pull them if it's too much and switch to somebody else.

I will try to get my client work up to date and then my two priorities are:

Design a new website - my latest preferred solution is http://www.blackfoot.co.uk/ which has some fantastic software http://www.blackfoot.co.uk/hosting/plan/site-builder/ It has a good list of features.

I saw a demo for Digita's Web Builder but at £50 per month I would rather pay Blackfoot £50 per year and write my own.

The other alternative would be to use NetObjects Fusion. I could start off with the free version http://netobjects.com/html/free-website-design-software.html and upgrade to the paid version if I need it.

Previously I have used Dreamerweaver or Web Expression.

When I get my website up I would consider blogging, newsletters and social media.

Transfer my Excel based work to Digita Practice Management - Invoices, Timesheets and Deadlines

Will I have ever get round to all of the above??

 

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