
On 23-24 May, Accountex – the UK’s biggest accountancy exhibition – will be held at London ExCeL. Here’s a first look at what’s new from some of the exhibitors for 2018, to help you plan your visit
Visitors will be among the first to see a host of new products, technology, services, compliance and information services from 228 exhibiting companies. Registration at the show is free, so organise your Accountex tickets in advance to avoid queuing.
Croner-i Tax and Accounting, the UK’s largest provider of accounting, audit and tax information, recently introduced Croner-i Small Practice Packages. Specifically designed for the small practice accountant, they cover tax and accounting information with helpful time saving tools. Visit the stand to find out more about the tax, accounting and audit products, including CPD offering and details about Accountants in Industry conferences. Croner Taxwise, a leading provider of fee protection, HR and employment law specialists, professional advice lines, and tax and VAT consultancy experts will also be exhibiting on the stand. Come and try the Croner Taxwise mini golf challenge with a prize for the winner! Plus meet the team from Accountancy Daily and take advantage of a special 33% subscription discount to Accountancy magazine for Accountex visitors. Stand 160 & 263
HMRC recently started the live pilot of Making Tax Digital for VAT. They invited a small number of businesses who meet initial eligibility criteria to join. As the pilot progresses iteratively, HMRC will seek to involve a greater number of VAT entities, helping to prepare for mandation for VAT from April 2019. Stand 498
Slide is a new online cash management app by Cashfac Technologies. Launched mid-2018, Slide helps SMEs cash manage their business by combining online business banking services with real-time cash flow forecasting. The app can create estimates, capture invoices, make or delay payments and much more (stand 583).
MyFirmsApp, developers of compliant, personalised Apps that put the accountant at the centre of the mobile world, has produced a One Stop Guide to help accountants who are planning a visit to Accountex. The guide can be downloaded now at: https://pages.myfirmsapp.co.uk/accountex-guide (stand 798).
Women in Accountancy, a website to promote ways of identifying and addressing barriers to gender inequality, is officially launching at Accountex 2018 and will be hosting two round table sessions. The initiative, the brainchild of Elaine Clark, managing director of CheapAccounting.co.uk, has launched a survey asking about the experiences of women in the accountancy profession.
Lanop Outsourcing is previewing its new franchise opportunity, launching in July. It provides the opportunity to start an accountancy practice for only £4,999. They’ll be running a prize draw at the show, to give one lucky winner a free franchise worth £4,999 (T&C’s apply) (stand 471).
Float Cash Flow Forecasting is close to launching its new multi-budgeting functionality, making it even faster and simpler to set up an accurate, detailed cash flow forecast (stand 176).
Valenta BPO Solutions is previewing its new Nuclear CRM to accountants, which will enable them to focus on client engagement through real time dashboards, and also improve overall practice management. Accountants will have to start embracing technology and offshoring solutions to increase profits and productivity (stand 436).
Sage is introducing its Sage Accountant Cloud platform at the show, along with live demonstrations of the new Sage 50 Payroll Cloud Bureau, which helps accountants and bookkeepers improve their client experience and is 100% GDPR ready (stand 720).
KeyPay is launching the UK's first cloud payroll platform built specifically for large employers and bureau businesses. The platform will change the way businesses work and pay, by offering unparalleled levels of automation, complete payroll visibility, full compliance and pension integration (stand 675).
Wolters Kluwer is showcasing new software CCH OneClick. Responding to the needs of an increasingly flexible workforce and client base, this ecosystem provides a secure, mobile platform for client collaboration and a hub for messages, tasks, documents and contact information (stand 960).
Intuit QuickBooks is showcasing best-in-class products that are helping accountants guide their customers to make smarter decisions. This will include QB Assistant, a conversational chat experience that makes it easier to engage and share real-time information with clients. There will also be a focus on creating smarter connections between self-employed workers and accountants, including the soon to be available integration of QuickBooks Self-Employed and QuickBooks Online Accountant (stand 890).
IRIS Software Group is promoting several new products and suite enhancements, designed to help accountants thrive in the digital economy: including the improved Accountancy Suite, with enhanced MTD and GDPR functionality, as well as the new FRS 105 detailed balance sheet (stand 620).
BTC Software is launching its new BTC Hub and a Company Secretarial Module. The Hub brings a fresh interface and functionality to aspects of BTCSoftware’s award-winning tax, accounts production and practice management software. The Company Secretarial module will hold everything accountancy and finance professionals need for easy Company Formations and Governance compliance. Also showcasing: Making Tax Digital for VAT software to give accountancy practices and businesses a head start before 2019's deadline (stand 530).
X-VAT has been developing API Enabled Spreadsheets and MTD functionally compatible software for 2019 to ensure that the MTD transition is as efficient as possible. This includes an updated version of its online compliance template, vatman pro (stand 805).
Invu Services is introducing Invu Verify at the show. It enables SMEs to capture data automatically from supplier invoices, consistently apply account coding, approvals and upload the data directly into their ledgers from any location. It is light touch yet it carries heavy improvements in the efficiency, control and visibility of the accounts payable process. Anyone signing up at the show will receive a first year discount of 50% (stand 146).
TaxCalc is showcasing its TaxCalc Practice Collection, an integrated, accounts, tax and practice product. New additions include a GDPR compliance module for navigating the upcoming data legislation maze and CloudConnect bundles (stand 250).
AccountancyManager is launching and demonstrating its new mass and parallel SMS features. Emails are convenient, but they're not always noticed. This solution can send an automated SMS alongside emails, or users can send tailored mass SMS messages to a specific segment of their client base (stand 860).
Growth Street is a launching a new white-paper survey, Beyond banks, at the show. Visitors can get their copy at CEO Greg Carter's talk at the FD Theatre at 4pm on Thursday 24 May. He'll discuss the alternative finance landscape for UK SMEs, and Growth Street's involvement with some exciting innovations in business finance (stand 1120).
Taxfiler is launching major enhancements to its accounts production suite, including journals and improvements to the choice of accounts descriptions, plus demonstrating a new integrated diary system. With MTD in mind, they we will also be announcing important new integrations with a range of other software packages (stand 346).
TwentyTwo Agency is launching Amanda C. Watt’s new book The Pioneering Practice, which complements her Pioneering Practice Programme. Designed specifically for accounting practices, it is an accumulation of 26 years’ marketing experience condensed into a powerful strategy to engage, connect and convert strangers into A Grade high value clients (stand 975).
B4B Payments will be providing guidance on smart and flexible corporate expenditure solutions, as well as announcing a key strategic partnership with account management giant Sage Spain to bring the benefits of business expense management to over a quarter of a million Spanish SMEs (stand 243).
D&V Philippines Outsourcing is introducing its finance and accounting outsourcing services to the UK. They can manage all bookkeeping activities, including invoicing, monitoring of accounts receivables and payables, preparing compliance requirements such as VAT (with help from a UK-based accountant), and management reporting (stand 683).
Compleat Software is launching iCompleatInvoice, a Software-as-a-Service data extraction and invoice approval automation platform that transforms the accounts payable function by eliminating repetitive tasks and digitising invoice capture and approval processes. It enables businesses to comply with best practice standards, lower costs, increase productivity and strengthen supplier relationships, thereby promoting growth (stand 460).
Nimbus Portal Solutions is launching its Cloud Document Management system, with integrated 24x7 Client Portal and Digital Document Signing, to the UK. Share any document with a client just by setting the published flag, with no uploading, downloading, scanning or copying. Features also include: fully versioned file system, automatic archiving, custom metadata, multiple methods of navigation and support for workflow (stand 233).
Kamozo’s Practice Due Date Management has completed Beta testing and is launching at Accountex. Kamozo is a cloud-based, practice job tracking and resource management tool that manages client due dates, keeps on top of client tasks, tracks the exact amount of time spent per client, sends staff reminders, reports on team performance and more (stand 563).
Rudi Jansen is promoting a new book – How to run a successful accountancy practice in three hours per week, at the show (stand 796).
Campaign Master will be promoting recently launched CMDataManager. A major benefit of this CRM development is integration with an email marketing platform, removing manual manipulation of spreadsheets (stand 490).
Futrli is announcing feature updates to its forecasting and reporting platform and more, giving further insights and opportunities to accelerate advisory (stand 1141).
FibreCRM is launching a new integration with CCH Central. Designed for accountants who want a more sophisticated, easy-to-use, client facing relationship management solution, it provides 2-way CCH synchronisation to FibreCRM, including Outlook and mobile phones (stand 955).
Document Logistix is offering a look into the future of Cloud-based invoice processing for SME businesses. Features include: web scanning, intelligent OCR, coding, 3-way matching and approval workflow. It meets new GDPR requirements, integrates with most ERP and P2P systems, and supports the new Fujitsu fi-7300NX Cloud document scanner (stand 261).
Onkho is offering accountants in practice its compliance workflow solution, free. This powerful workflow solution forms an integral part of the technologically-strong Onkho Practice Management system and works as a stand-alone module or as part of the full solution. It comes with pre-built workflows, allows users to create their own tasks, and provides the functionality to plan, allocate and track deadlines (stand 976).
SuiteFiles is making file management easy for accountants who want to move to the cloud. Their new releases, launching at the show, include electronic signatures and secure file sharing to make working with documents even simpler. Also showcasing: an update to the SuiteFiles web app – SuiteFiles 2018, and a Mac version of the popular Outlook Windows add-on (stand 570).
Bizdocs Digital Transformation Portal has features to help ensure businesses are GDPR compliant, including a ‘Right to be forgotten’ tab and proof of data deletion. Bizdocs can archive all business records, including financial and HR documents, on a single centralised platform. It is integrated with Sage Accounting, and offers real-time automated booking of invoices and receipts (stand 930).
Cromwell Insolvency / Liquidations Online is promoting an online solution for quick, simplistic and cost-effective liquidations (members' voluntary liquidations and creditors' voluntary liquidations). The system communicates directly with Companies House and other organisations (stand 1111).
Informanagement UK recently launched its first new product in nearly three years: InforWijzer. This series of concise brochures or factsheets describe topics in detail, and are ideal to give to customers or share in advance of a meeting. They are continually updated, with new topics being added, and are available in print and online formats (stand 846).
Outbooks recently added an Outsourcing Pricing & Job Management Tool, which enables accountants to outsource any specific job in the fastest and most transparent way. This will help accountants know the cost of and delivery timeline instantly, along with GDPR compliance (stand 1020).
Senta is demoing several newly launched features at Accountex this year. Electronic document signing is top of the list, offering unlimited electronic signatures for practices to use. There’s also a new auto-chase feature, which will chase clients automatically for missing collateral required to complete work. Plus new client workflows, which lets practices have repeatable personalised workflows for individual clients (stand 673).
Prosper Systems is promoting Prosper BI, which delivers affordable, actionable, predictive insights straight out of the box, removing the need for expensive data analysts. Prosper BI integrates with accountancy and sales software, runs the data through a machine learning engine, adding in socio-economic historic data and data from its neural network to accurately predict the next 12 months (stand 596).
Potamo Consulting can create a bespoke strategy to accelerate a company’s digital transformation. They will analyse the most suitable software package(s) on the market and team it with professional process change and workflow automation to meet the criteria of their customer’s future business (stand 926).
Tax Systems is giving Accountex visitors the opportunity to see the Early Access Launch of the Process Management Suite that delivers efficiency, control and visibility over the end-to-end compliance process. The user-friendly, intuitive dashboard displays real-time information from Alphatax computations, enabling users to quickly organise and prioritise workload, with dynamic links to the underlying period computations (stand 474).
Feebooster Accountancy Marketing is showcasing its latest Multimedia Marketing packages, where telemarketing, email marketing and digital marketing are used in combination, to reach the greatest number of targeted prospects in the local area (stand 273).
Solna provides SMEs with the tools to help them manage finances, stay on top of cash-flow, and get paid more efficiently. Solna’s new invoicing platform is the first of its kind to be powered by credit-scoring data. Invoicing functionality is overlaid with SME credit data, meaning users get a clear picture of their customer's financial health, and ability to pay (stand 320).
Time Tracker by eBillity is now integrated with Xero Payroll in the UK. Released in March 2018, Xero’s long-awaited suite of easy-to-use payroll features connects seamlessly with the Time Tracker add-on. Employees track time from anywhere, even offline, and the admin can approve entries and sync with Xero in just one-click (stand 920).
Unleashed Software has a new Referral Partner Programme for accountancy practices seeking to develop their advisory services. The programme enables accountancy firms to gain a competitive edge by providing clients with advice on optimising their inventory processes via the Unleashed Software platform (stand 180).
Aon is showcasing its new Cyber and Data Insurance product, which launched in March. The new solution is designed to help a wider range of organisations better manage and protect themselves from cyber risk associated with ransomware and other malware-related threats (stand 370).
Webexpenses has added new ACR functionality, bringing a quicker and even more accurate way to submit expenses. Entirely built, tested and approved in house, webexpenses uses ACR to automatically extract key components of a receipt and allows a claimant to generate a full claim on a smartphone in less than 20 seconds (stand 560).
Clear Books is showcasing Clear Books Micro and Clear Books Practice Edition. In less than 12 months accountants and VAT-registered businesses earning over £85,000 will need to use HMRC-approved software as part of Making Tax Digital, yet many are not ready. Clear Books Micro, a free cloud-based spreadsheet, and Clear Books Practice Edition, exclusively for accountants, are designed to address this (stand 473).
BASDA is promoting its new Selecting Business Software Guide at Accountex. This extensive 24 page guide provides objective direction and guidance for business software buyers, giving them practical advice and steps on how to effectively choose the right software to meet their business requirements (stand 900).
Virtual Cabinet is showcasing its latest updates with improved GDPR compliance, such as improved document security, automated document retention policy, auto archiving and ex-client re-index. It also boasts automated mass publishing of documents via the secure portal, including requesting signatures (stand 650).
Arthur Online has integrated with QuickBooks to accompany the existing Arthur/Xero integration. This added integration will ensure powerful and comprehensive accounting and the ability to produce financial reports and forecasting. Alongside this, they recently launched a new tenant app and integrations with rightmove, Zoopla and StuRents (stand 462).
E-Link Incorporator is a Companies House authorised technology integrator, with software that is accessible to third parties. It enables firms to register limited companies simply and quickly online, so they can undertake all key company secretarial functions on behalf of their customers, ensuring compliance (stand 574).
Chaser has introduced a hotly-demanded ‘Thresholds’ functionality, in addition to a new integration with QuickBooks Online. Users are now capable of setting, and automatically monitoring, credit limits for their customers to intelligently and effortlessly limit their liability (stand 470).
R&D Online is showcasing its intuitive digital platform that enables accountants to make R&D Tax Relief claims on behalf of their clients. The service is offered on a white-label basis, but supported by R&D tax specialists who will ensure accountants can deliver successful claims to their clients every time (stand 856).
JustAccounts is promoting its new On-boarding Process for 2018. It can create leads, consultations, illustrations and track referrals before being able to progress to making them into a live client. Accountants can even incorporate companies, set up business bank accounts and create contracts for their clients to agree through their dashboards (stand 152).
OneStop Reporting is presenting live, 10-minute demos, with seating, throughout the show. Topics include: Invite your clients to a new reporting technology; Streamline your budgeting process; and Reduce manual processes within your firm (stand 750).
Hubdoc has expanded to the UK. Hubdoc automatically fetches bank statements, bills, and receipts from hundreds of financial institutions and online suppliers, extracts the key data, and publishes the transactions to Xero and QuickBooks Online with the source documents attached (stand 863).
Spotlight Reporting has added four new features for 2018. These include two new rules for fast and accurate cash flow forecasting – loan amortisation for client financing and a dynamic rule to auto-update values in P&L. Plus, keep track of a client’s progress with the Action Plan and Cash flow waterfall chart (stand 973).
CABA provides lifelong support to past and present ICAEW members and their families – whether they’re training, in practice or business, have left the profession or retired. They’ll be presenting a new range of training courses and help guides at the show, plus sharing top tips and ideas on how to look after your own wellbeing (stand 1146).
Accountex is at London ExCeL on 23-24 May. For further information about the exhibitors and full conference line-up – the 2018 online Show Guide is now available to view at www.accountex.co.uk/accountex-show-guide.