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mTrio 2017 product snapshot

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24th Mar 2017
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When she introduced mTrio in late 2016, Chippenham-based accountant Jessica Pillow explained that she wanted a practice management application that worked the way she did. The result is a system that integrates with Dropbox, Xero, Digita and the other software she uses on top of the Salesforce.com application  platform.

At its heart, mTrio operates as a central practice database and marketing platform that pulls together different apps such as Mailchimp, Dropbox and Google Drive in one place. The program has been built using the tools available from the Salesforce.com system, which enables it to run on iOS,Android and Windows and mobile devices.

Current integrations link mTrio to Digita, TaxCalc, Sage One and Xero - with more on the way as customers request them.

The Salesforce platform is a key element of mTrio’s sales proposition. Users don’t get the full Salesforce CRM package, but the approach allows mTrio to take advantage of its security, reporting messaging and integration capabilities. The Force.com backbone allows mTrio to run on iOS, Android and Windows mobile devices and gives the developer instant access to continuing R&D by the platform developer into areas like machine learning.

“It means we can focus our software on the needs of modern accountancy practices,” said Pillow.

Strengths

  • mTrio is designed around key practice tasks, allowing the practitioner to set up tax, accounts and other processes by defining the steps required to tackle them. The software lets you program in different actions, so for example a text or email will be sent to the person who should review a job when it is completed.
  • Planning calendar: Tasks can be assigned to colleagues by dragging and dropping them into the calendar. Over time the software learns the way your practice runs, so it will know that a trial balance should take 30mins - and alert you if someone is struggling to keep up with that time frame.
  • Dashboards present role-specific views with to-do lists tailored for each individual.
  • Onboarding is a particular strength. Adding someone new to the database automatically sends them a welcome text, creates a client in Xero and opens a client folder for them in Google Drive. A job that used to take half an hour can be completed with one click, the developer claims.
  • Email integration means that firms using Gmail or Microsoft Outlook 356 can automatically save messages to client records in mTrio, so anyone within the team can see where things stand.
  • Text messaging is supported via normal SMS and the Salesforce Chatter messaging program. Tasks can be programmed to message the person who needs to review or pick up the job when it changes stages.
  • As part of the initial implementation, mTrio helps firms organise and import their existing data into the system for £39/user.

Weak spots

  • In common with many workflow tools, mTrio relies on team members manually entering task completions and time expended on the work. The software workshop panel questioned why this process wasn’t automated. For the moment, this functionality depends on the available of suitable outbound APIs from third parties.
  • For all the API links it supports to other applications and Companies House, the developer is still getting to grips with the APIs needed to access HMRC’s Making Tax Digital systems. During the early part of 2017 mTrio had not yet scoped out a workflow for quarterly reporting.
  • Having launched in autumn of 2016, mTrio is still finding its finding its feet and recruiting its first wave of users. Several features and integrations requested by participants in our workshop are still works in progress.

Pricing

£39 per user per month, with an additional £39 set-up cost per user.

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For a detailed comparison of best practice management software for accountants and individual software user reviews, visit AccountingWEB’s Practice Management Software category page in Software Reviews.

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Replies (3)

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Jason Grant FCA
By yaakovgrant
30th Mar 2017 12:12

Thank you Richard.

"For all the API links it supports to other applications and Companies House, the developer is still getting to grips with the APIs needed to access HMRC’s Making Tax Digital systems. During the early part of 2017 mTrio had not yet scoped out a workflow for quarterly reporting"

What info does HMRC require from PM software, timesheets, billing?

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Replying to yaakovgrant:
Man of Kent
By Kent accountant
03rd Apr 2017 21:59

"...the developer is still getting to grips with the APIs needed to access HMRC’s Making Tax Digital systems..."

Bit difficult given no-one has seen HMRC's MTD systems - its only just about to be trialed.

And, no-one is certain when, how and what information is going to have to be reported just yet.

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By nmprobinson
01st Apr 2019 20:47

Is this available still?

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