Your Top 20 Dext Tips and Tricks: Part One
Whether you're a fully-fledged Dext aficionado or new to automation, there's something here for you.
This month, we asked over 450 Orange Select Partners for their number one Dext tip. The trick that had changed the way they use automation in their practice or deliver services to clients.
The results are in and some of them might surprise you…
1. DOWNLOAD THE MOBILE APP
“Set up all of your employees and contractors with the mobile app. It’s amazing how many receipts you didn't know were missing!” – Michele Grisdale, Rainforest Bookkeeping
It's obvious but we couldn't do without it.
Send a simple SMS invite to your team and clients to download the mobile app. They’ll be amazed at how easy it makes keeping on top of expenses.
2. GET SNAPPING
“Take the photo as soon as you receive the receipt. You won't forget and then can just throw it away.” – Helen Haines, Dollars + Sense Consulting
Or rather, get snapping in a well-lit environment.
Uploaded receipt images must be in focus, so be sure to do a quick quality check (and ask your clients to do the same) before throwing anything away.
3. APPLY SUPPLIER RULES
“Set up all your regular suppliers with their payment terms, tax, coding category and payment method then switch auto-publish on.” – Lucinda Rasmussen, All In Advisory
Take the time to set up supplier rules for each client and you’ll save time in the long run. When you use this every time you add a new receipt, you can speed up the automation and put the power in your clients' hands.
4. GET SORTING
“Choose a key sorting metric and stick with it.” – Andrew Scouller, Inform Accounting Ltd
It's easier said than done but after you choose a sorting metric that works for you, stay with it.
5. SHOW DEXT OFF TO CLIENTS
“Put a copy of Dext on your phone so you can show the functionality to potential and existing clients.” – Natasha Everard, Bewitching Bookkeeping Services
Demo the app to new and existing clients to get them on board. It can be as simple as taking your client out for a coffee, and snapping a photo of the receipt. Just hear how Pierre Nel, founder of Nel & Vennote, does it.
6. LOG IN REGULARLY
“Set aside time once a week to process/import/submit to accounts packages, even if you only ‘do’ the accounts quarterly, it means you can prompt the less than efficient clients well before it becomes a problem.” – Claire Black, BlackCat Accounts Ltd
Rather than logging in every month or so, many partners recommended checking into Dext daily to ensure you have the information need to deliver clients value.
Spending 2 minutes a day on your clients' bookkeeping is much more manageable than an hour a week reconciling and publishing expense paperwork.
7. GET INVOICES DELIVERED FOR YOU
“Using Invoice Fetch to collect invoices from supplier websites – such as telephone and electric bills – without the need to log-in and download them saves tonnes of time.” – Paul Brash, Kirkwood Wilson
Did you know you can use Dext to collect bills for you with Invoice Fetch? It's perfect for recurring supplier invoices, such as your mobile and utility bills. It saves you and your clients having to log in and download them, plus is more secure. What's not to love?
8. HIT AUTOPUBLISH
“Autopublish can save you a lot of time for your top 10 regular suppliers' invoices. This means 50-60% – or sometimes even more – will be published directly to your bookkeeping software.” – Umer Farooq, TaxAssist Accountants
When you use Streamline, the second step in the Dext efficiency journey, you can start using you can start publishing around 50%-60% (or sometimes even more) if you apply AutoPublish to invoices from trusted suppliers.
9. INVEST IN CLIENT TRAINING
“Encourage and train your clients to develop the habit of taking pictures of all those petrol receipts every time they make payment at the counter. The more they do it, the more they’ll remember.” – Burgess Wong, Burgess Wong & Associates
This might look like a workshop or a remote video call to show your clients the ins and outs of Dext. You can always use the Help Centre or partner resources within Orange Select to send across articles, videos and flyers. Or read our eBook on going virtual and establishing healthy client habits.
10. GET STARTED ON THE CLOUD
“Use Dext as an introductory tool to bring your clients into the cloud.” – Matthew Mahon, CBP Financial Solutions
Using Dext is the easiest way to introduce clients to the cloud. If they’re used to working on desktop software and perhaps reluctant to change old habits, the simplicity of adapting to using Dext will help ease them in gently.
Want to find out more about some of the features mentioned in our Top 20 list? Request a call today or contact your account manager to see what's new.
And for more Dext tips and tricks, join our global partner community Orange Select here.
