Over the last decade, there’s been a Cambrian explosion of business apps. Great news for firms and clients alike. Back-office apps are doing more and looking better, with some resembling our favorite consumer apps. And for all things client-facing — sending messages, sharing and storing files, signing documents, tracking tasks, etc. — there’s an app for that. Several apps actually.
Having multiple apps to choose from for every business need is a good thing. But installing an app for every single thing will make life harder for you and your clients. App overload will start to clog workflows, confuse clients, and hurt your bottom line. So, how many apps is too many?
While there’s no magic number, being a smart shopper will help you curate the right balance of innovation, efficiency, client experience, and cost. If you’ve ever had to swap back and forth between multiple platforms for everyday tasks — like hopping between email, file storage, and eSignature apps just to get a form signed — you know firsthand that simply adding more apps doesn’t always result in a better workflow or client experience. And those subscription fees start to add up.
Before you install it, or encourage employees and clients to adopt it, ask yourself this: “Will this app simplify processes or make them more complex?” Whether it’s internal or client-facing, choosing all-in-one-style apps that can do several things as good as or better than their discrete, one-trick counterparts is the key to building a lean and mean tech stack. The goal is to modernize using the smallest number of apps possible.
QuickBooks Online is a good example of an all-in-one-style app that simplifies things. Its clean and easy interface, for browser and mobile, streamlines a bundle of accounting processes while offering security and convenience in one ergonomic package. Gusto is another noteworthy example. It started out as just a payroll play but has expanded its footprint to include HR tools and resources.
For your client-facing stack — your digital front office — remember that every app you add also adds another check-in burden for your clients. The more apps your clients have to juggle, the more tasks they’ll drop. Luckily, there are all-in-one front office platforms like Liscio that combine streamlined communication, secure file sharing and storage, organization, and more under one roof for a more client-friendly online experience.
When assembling your ultimate build, start with a clean slate. Outline your goals. If you value convenience, security, cost, ease of use, and client experience, pick do-more solutions that check multiple boxes instead of discrete apps that check just one at a time.
Make sure to check out the webinar "Secure File Sharing Best Practices," today, March 24 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, presented by Liscio CEO Chris Farrell. You can register here.
Chris is also presenting a webinar panel today March 24, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on remote work during the age of COVID-19. You can register for that webinar here.
Author Bio: Chris Farrell is co-founder and CEO of Liscio. He’s a seasoned technology executive with more than 20 years of leadership experience in finance and accounting. Chris served as the CEO of Nexonia, Inc., the parent company of the Nexonia, Tallie, ExpenseWatch, and SpringAhead brands. His experience as a founder of Tallie and SpringAhead gives Liscio a proven leader with a successful track record scaling up startup technology platforms for professional services. Chris earned his CPA in the heart of Silicon Valley at Arthur Andersen in 1996 and his MBA at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management in 2004.