Today's Technology for Tomorrow's Firm.
Issue link: https://cpapracticeadvisor.epubxp.com/i/49996
Reviews For Your Firm PORTALS REVIEW SECTIONS FIRM USER EXPERIENCE • System Setup & Ease of Use • Customization/Firm Branding • Number of Firm Users/Client Users • Security/Admin Roles • Compliance & Business Continuity CLIENT USER EXPERIENCE • Ease-of-Use/Navigation • Integration of login fi eld on fi rm website? Integrations with any client apps? • Two-way sharing or one-way? • Ease of password reset? PORTAL CAPABILITIES • Documents/Files Sharable • Folder/Structure Management • Tracking/Alerts to Notify Firm Users of Activity • Automated File Retention/Removal • System Security TECHNICAL ASPECTS • Size of storage, pricing of transfer capacity? Does it include both uploads and downloads in the measurement? • Browsers/Mobile Device Support • Integration w/professional programs • Integration w/other productivity programs HELP/SUPPORT • Built-in support features • Support Website/Documentation • Live Phone & Web-based Support SUMMARY & PRICING The Possibilities of Portals Enhancing Firm & Client Productivity F BEST FIT Firms wanting secure client file sharing functions with integration into other CCH programs, along with fi le versioning and automated retention and expiration capabilities. STRENGTHS • Can be used on all major browsers and platforms • Strong security customization • File versioning for online edits to shared documents 800-739-9998 18 January 2012 • www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com ifteen years ago, email revolutionized the way accounting fi rms interact with their clients. Online technologies have further changed how we send and receive documents and files to friends, family, business service providers and part- ners. Unfortunately, many people fell into the false belief that their email and online communications were safe and, as a result, developed bad habits that could potentially lead to exposure of the information. New laws and regulations are being enacted at the federal and state levels, and some are severe, such as the potential for a $10,000 per incident fi ne in Massachuset s. T ose professionals who continue to use these methods of transmit ing sensitive information to their clients risk not only the potential exposure of that data, but perhaps even the future of their fi rm. Portals designed specifi cally for tax and accounting fi rms and businesses have been around for more than a decade now. Basic solutions allow cli- ents to upload a fi le, such as a scanned copy of a 1099 or K-1, into a secure workspace for the fi rm to retrieve it. In turn, the fi rm can upload fi nal copies of a client's tax returns or fi nancials. T e exchange functions are also useful for write-up processes since bookkeeping data fi les can also be shared this way, eliminating the need to transfer the information to disk. More advanced portal systems off er greater integration with the programs that tax and accounting professionals already use. Some allow for the auto- matic upload of certain types of docu- ments to the client's secure portal. Other advanced features include the ability to allow clients to input data, such as employee hours and informa- tion, and have it transfer into the profes- sional payroll system. Another emerging trend that uses remote application service providers lets fi rms off er clients access to programs such as Microsoſt Offi ce, QuickBooks, Sage Peachtree and others. Perhaps the least important thing about portals is what you call them. T e odds are pret y high that you are already using them … and so are most of your clients. If you use online banking or manage investments or your retirement plan online, you are actually accessing a secure area that your fi nancial institu- tions have set up, which is essentially a CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business – ProSystem fx Portal 2012 OVERALL RATING • Customizable fi rm branding • Automated file retention and expiration POTENTIAL LIMITATIONS • No integration with client apps SUMMARY & PRICING For fi rms using ProSystem fx for tax compliance, document man- agement and other functions, ProSystem fx Portal should be a definite addition. It provides excellent integration and enhanced functionality with those programs. For other fi rms, it can also work as a stand-alone client portal utility, offering strong customization and user access privileges, along with file ver- sioning and configurable auto- mated document retention and expiration functions. Pricing is based on tiered annual subscrip- tion packages starting at $950 annually. FIRM USER EXPERIENCE CLIENT-SIDE INTERFACE PORTAL CAPABILITIES TECHNICAL ASPECTS HELP/SUPPORT Read the full review of this product exclusively online at www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com/10457799 www.cchgroup.com/portal portal. Portal, online account, secure sharing site … potato. What you call it doesn't really mat er. Convenience for the user (you), and an automated system for the provider (your bank): That's exactly what a portal is. And when you provide them to your clients, it gives a more stream- lined approach to get ing information from your clients, while giving them anytime access to many of the things they need. This is the first year we've done a review of portal systems. For those con- sidering portals for the first time, I'd recommend paying special at ention to the programs and workfl ow processes your fi rm currently has in place. You'll also want to consider the needs of your clients and the types of fi les they will likely want to access and send. ● Isaac M. O'Bannon, Technology Editor