Requested Features after a year of use

post by Michael_Peoples on Jan 9

Warning…. Long List

Dashboard

• The ability to track more than just our contacts
• Show open invoices
  • Average payment days
• Pending Contracts
  • Average days from sent to signed
• My Projects - Tasks summaries.

CRM

• The ability to integrate email into the portal.
  • Allowing us to create a client beginning with an email
  • Allowing us to create a project from an email and assign that email chain to the project
  • Allowing us to create a task from an email and assign that email chain to the task
• Company/Client dashboard to see what the client is assigned to:
  • Deals
  • Projects
  • Billing
  • Invoiced
• FIRM view of what the client sees, this helps troubleshoot issues.
• The current client view under the CRM doesn’t provide the FIRM user any indication of whether the client has that particular APP available or assigned to them. Example: I don’t have the billing app visible to my clients, but when I’m in the CRM it doesn’t tell me that they can’t see it. It would be helpful to have an indicator that states “ACTIVE” or “INACTIVE”.
  • I also have the Home APP as inactive for all but it shows as “Connected”
    • Others that are only available to my “TEST” client show the option to connect.
    • These issues could cause a client to see something we don’t intend.

Messages

• When clicking on a message channel it would be helpful to enhance the active conversation or to shade the conversations that are not active in the right panel. The current system shows a slightly darker color on the active conversation being viewed when all channels are shown which is the default. This could lead to accidental messages to the wrong client.
• It might also be helpful to only show unread messages and when they are clicked on the user is taken directly to the client folder under the CRM.
• Rich formatting for messages

Files

• Similar to messages, highlighting which client group would be helpful. I’ve uploaded the wrong file once and thankfully caught it before the client did.
• Files are the core of what my team needs; however, they seem to have remained stagnant over the past year. All file types have a white icon with small print. It is difficult to differentiate what file type it is. This wouldn’t be an issue, except the preview does not work with Microsoft products creating friction in having to download the files.
• File Grouping is present in most other systems and the lack of it here also creates friction. The ability to check a box to select a file or multiple files to be able to move them to consolidate into a folder or to delete a group of files when a project is completed. Dragging and dropping is cumbersome when there are several files 10 or more.
• If files aren’t a priority it would be helpful to integrate with another provider that does allow embedding into the portal so the client has a smooth experience.

Forms

• While the forms are helpful for some, they lack the ability to be filled outside of the portal and require the client to log in or anywhere else linked to inside of the portal.
• When a form link is added to a task it opens a duplicate window in a not one but two new tabs under the forms App and not the form itself. Not a fluid process and creating friction, making a third-party form app needed for a smooth process.
  • Example: My clients have one-off services that I don’t charge for until the project is complete. It would be helpful if there were a way to tie a form to a button of some type on a App for “Request Services” to begin that process, assuming they are under a long-term contract for services.

Projects (NEW)

• The ability to create a project
  • Ability to tie to an agreement so that the project can be automated when an agreement is signed.
• Track project status via Kanban style board similar to tasks and each to have a custom name selected by the Firm and expand the number of “status”
• Create tasks and assign to client, employee, etc.
• Assign responsible employee to oversee the project
• Track time associated with project, even if it is a
• Folder created in the files section and labeled as the project name.
• Messages tie only to the project (like is currently in the tasks)
  • For the client/contacts
  • For the internal Firm team
• The ability for the Firm team (with proper permissions) to view the billing invoices associated with the project.
  • Set budget project for hours and time.
• The ability to create project templates
• Tie projects to specific Products/Services
• Add Tags

Tasks

• Expand task status with more groups and custom names selected by the Firm, instead of “To Do”, “In Progress”, and “Done”
• Prompt for archiving a task.
• Ability to save a Task group as a template for future use from an existing task.
• Allow task description to be collapsed for long description. Example: I copy some client information for deals to this for reference, but I do not need to see it every time I look at the task.
• Ability to collapse tasks with a number of subtasks.

Home

• Better customization options (I know you guys are working on this)
• Clients - Ability to view Open Projects, Open Tasks, Open Forms, and other Pending Items.
• Dashboard like options for those of us who have consistently recurring services month-month so clients know where each project is.

Billing

• Honestly, I don’t use this as much as I would like because usually only one of my clients know the billing details and the other contacts are who I am dealing with. Granular permissions would increase my use of this.
• Creating products is a useful feature that I like, I would like to see the ability to discount products based on agreement types and be able to tie that to a contract or client.
• STORE
  • I love this, but I don’t use it due to the lack of granular permissions. I’ve always wanted this for my business to make things quicker and easier for clients to choose our services.
  • I would like for clients to be able to select the services and be invoiced rather than needing to pay upfront, so an option to be Invoiced when signed up for an existing agreement. I know this is a lot harder to execute than this sentence, but this would be a gamechanger for many of us.
  • Option to offer discounts to clients to input payment details on the front end
• INVOICING
  • Automatic reminders for invoices
  • Banner at the top of the invoices page to show DRAFTS, OUTSTANDING, OVERDUE, PAID
    • Future improvements to select the banner option to open or filter the table to show those invoices.
  • Draft invoices
  • Discounts at the product/service level and the overall level for the entire invoice
  • Deposits (example client can book a service with 10% paid upfront)

Contracts

• Contracts app needs granular permissions. I’ve tried and it always defaults to all clients when attempting to select visibility filters enabling the app. I usually only negotiate with one client contact, not multiple contacts.
  • This can be adjusted after enabling. I am going to test this over the coming days.
• Add a proposal and document editor or partner integration to help with this.
  • Ability to see proposals sent such as NEW, QUALIFIED, SCOPING, SENT, NEGOTIATING, CLOSED, LOST, etc. With the ability to set defined percentages to estimate revenue.
  • This would pull from products listed into a blocktype editor that can be executed as a contract.
  • Include photos, charts, custom reusable content blocks (i.e. About us, resume, history)

Integrations

• Expand on apps in the store

Other

• Use a software that allows us to see what the priorities for new features and fixes are that allows us to vote on the new features to allow the team to see what the Assembly clients want/need for their businesses. I’ve done this with other software providers and it streamlines their process and allows clients who want a specific feature to vote.
• Expand the number of “Icon” for the apps.
• Add the ability to generate reports for Billing, Payments, Tasks

If you have read this far, thank you for taking the time to review this list. I don’t expect all of these to be implemented but to provide you all an idea of the things that I am looking to include in the portal to reduce the need to manage multiple products. I am aware that workarounds exist for some of these; however, I wanted to bring these to the forefront for others who may also want these. I truly enjoy the items the software offers; however, for the price there are alternatives that check more than boxes, some of which are at a lower price point. A public roadmap would provide clarity to those looking for specific features, not a timeline but priority.