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August 2021

CX is Far from a Fad!

By Bec Loves CX, Homepage, In the Media, Industry3 Comments

You may have heard word on the street that Client Experience (CX) is the new industry fad and that if you don’t embrace it, your business is setting itself up for failure. This is a controversial opinion among critics however, only one part of this is true and I can say with confidence, CX is far from a fad!

CX has been around for decades however, it has commonly been mistaken for customer service and pumping valuable dollars into the latest and greatest technology. Although these are contributors to CX, it’s just the tip of the iceberg. The expectations from our clients to deliver on CX is growing day by day. 

CXPA refers to Client Experience as “the perception that customers have of an organisation – one that is formed based on interactions across all touchpoints, people and technology over time”. 

I interpret this as an emotional connection you form with a business based on your experiences with them on all levels. It’s that heart-fluttering nostalgia you get when Mr Whippy drives by playing music, in the middle of summer – Doesn’t that take you back to some fun memories? And Mr Whippy generally drove a beat-up old van and his ice cream machine was probably older than your parents, but the experiences and memories that it gave you evoke a fuzzy feeling every time.

The first question to ask yourself is this: How do our clients perceive our business? 

Many of us have been guilty of drawing off assumptions however, the key to CX is facing the hard facts of what clients really do perceive or feel when they think of your business. The biggest mistake business owners make is assuming their business is perceived a certain way and implementing changes based on this. This is self-sabotage!

Hearing and seeing hard facts or data on this matter can be a hard pill to swallow for some but if you have a genuine understanding of your client’s perception, you’re already on the path to CX success and can start implementing meaningful change.

I could go on about CX for hours and hours and don’t worry, I will! But before I flood you with what I have learnt about the six competencies of Client Experience (and work to convert you into a CX superstar!), I’d like you to think about the following points:

  • Mr Whippy was delivering Client Experience to children decades ago, it’s not a fad that will fade away and it doesn’t mean you need the latest and greatest of everything. 
  • There are two types of business owners in the world, the ones that have already embraced CX and the ones that will be forced to embrace it in order to survive. Which one do you want to be?
  • Client Experience is a genuine feeling and perception of your business.

Let’s make a start on this journey together and pick one point from this post that you can apply in your everyday life. It will make a world of difference and allow you to get a feel for what it is to live CX.

CAS 360 New Features Webinar recap with Alissa Haralambopoulos!

By CAS 360, In the Media, Product UpdatesNo Comments

The CAS 360 New Features webinar held on the 12th of August was jam-packed with some great updates, which you should be aware of!

CAS 360 New Features Webinar recap with BGL’s Product Advocate, Alissa Haralambopoulos!

The CAS 360 new features webinar held on the 12th of August was jam-packed with some great updates – which you should be aware of!

The following is a brief recap of what’s new: 

CAS 360 announced integration with its third Digital Signing provider: FuseSign - this integration went live on 12 August 2021. FuseSign is an Australian application that boasts quite a different price point from other providers, with document packs signed for as low as $0.90 per pack!

From the Company Selection screen, there have been new filters added, you can now filter by company type, eg. foreign companies, super trustee companies. You can also add a column to be able to sort or view by the manager if you are looking after a large number of companies and have them split between managers in the firm.

The ability for View Only users to be able to download the Trust Deed once it’s been uploaded into CAS 360.

Better support for the effective date when transactions take place in the default minutes and resolutions. You’ll also notice large numbers or shares etc. now show with a comma.

Email Settings - When an email is sent from CAS 360 it comes from [email protected] but the custom email address is now available for purchase. There is a process involved with setting this up to ensure this meets internet protocols. It means emails can come from the firm email address. There are limited spots available for this, so if this is something you are interested in, contact your Account Manager.

Documents Outstanding Export - Exports a list of outstanding documents to CSV. This can be done on a global level or on a company by company level.

Updating of System Messages - Attention box newly designed, modernised the look and feel.

Added Trust Meeting Address to meeting usage report.

Added Company Name to the trace number heading track.

Decimal places for dividend statements, meaning you can now select how many decimal places you would like to show.

Trust deeds will also appear under the Documents tab.

When you import data from ASIC via an RA71 or Annual Review it does not import the history, just the data. It will override whatever history is in the software.

6 new features were introduced for completing discretionary trust distributions:
- You can now copy a previous distribution for a prior year if there are only small changes;
- Set the Order of how the names appear on the resolution when using free text, this can be done by both % amount or name.
- Adding the ability to expand the free text size;
- Can add a beneficiary more than once;
- Merge fields were added to improve the look of the distribution minutes.

The team have also been busy implementing some performance gains, whilst these are mainly under the hood they should result in an improvement in the efficiencies.

Looking forward to the next release and will definitely be keeping an eye on what’s to come!

In case you missed it, you can watch the CAS 360 New Features webinar recording below.

Simple Fund 360 New Features Webinar recap with Alissa Haralambopoulos!

By In the Media, Product Updates, Simple Fund 360, Simple Invest 360No Comments

Overall a massive update, ensuring the software is well and truly ready to assist you with processing your 2021 financials and returns.

Simple Fund 360 New Features Webinar recap with BGL’s Product Advocate, Alissa Haralambopoulos!

We start this Simple Fund 360 new features webinar with two screens that have received facelifts after many years…

The first is the Fund Dashboard screen, this new screen gives a great overview of the selected fund including details such as ABN, TFN, Superstream Status, deed uploaded, how many unmatched transactions you have, workpapers left to complete, data feed reconciliation status and client queries. The dashboard also gives an overview of the funds’ investments and performance, as well as allowing for notes to be displayed on this main page so that they are easily accessible.

The other dashboard which has received a makeover is the reports screen. You still have access to all the reports you’ve come to know and love, the big difference is that now you can not only see the report categories, but you can also see a list of all reports which can be filtered A-Z or new-old. The new reports screen also allows you to add tags to reports, meaning you can now filter by these too, think ‘GST’ or ‘Pension’ tags. You will still be able to access your report packs, and create additional report packs if necessary. You can also now preview reports with a single click. 

The 2021 tax return is now available for lodgement with the ATO for those super-speed processors! The audit workpaper reports have also been rolled forward and updated for the 2021 financial year. Along with this, we are working on adding the 2021 Distribution Tax Data, if you find an Annual Tax Statement that is not currently available in the software, please send it through so that we can look to add the data for you.

Another new arrival can be found on the Property Dashboard, where you are now able to generate a fund level or global level Property Summary Report, this report can show you the property type, valuation and the last valuation date. Great for checking the status of all the properties in all the funds you manage. This report can also be generated from the reports screen. 

Are you currently using digital signing? If it’s an idea you’ve been toying with, be sure to check out our latest digital signing integration partner, FuseSign. An Australian based business, offering fantastic pricing for BGL clients, it’s definitely worth looking into. This integration is also available across all BGL products. 

The pension reduction has been applied in the software for the 2021 financial year for the 50% reduction. This update can be seen on the pension dashboard, and various pension reports. Also updated for this year is the NCC Bring forward extended to age 66, this can be seen on the Contribution Dashboard and Contribution Breakdown Report.

Finally, there was a new broker added, Soundbridge Financial Services, so if this is a provider that your client is using, you will now be able to set up data feeds for this.

Overall a massive update, ensuring the software is well and truly ready to assist you with processing your 2021 financials and returns.

Looking forward to the next release and will definitely be keeping an eye on what’s to come!

In case you missed it, you can watch the Simple Fund 360 New Features webinar recording below.

Thanks a million – CAS 360 hit 1,000,000 Annual Reviews!

By CAS 360, Homepage, Industry, NewsNo Comments

Thanks a Million!

Last week CAS 360 passed a major milestone, there has now been more than 1 million ASIC Annual Reviews processed in CAS 360!

This is a massive milestone, and we are so thankful to our clients who use CAS 360 every day to complete their corporate compliance work. Without the faith and trust, you have put into the product we would not have come close to this number, we are forever grateful.  

We built CAS 360 with the intention to streamline and automate as much of the corporate compliance job as possible, the Annual Review was always the centerpiece of this. 

CAS 360 has now over a million times automatically downloaded Annual Reviews from ASIC, automatically alerted the user via the Annual Review Alert, automatically compared the data in CAS 360 to ASIC, and after a few clicks generated the Annual Review document pack, email delivered that pack to the company directors, and automatically marked up for digital signing. 

We hope for all of the CAS 360 clients, we have been able to streamline your processes and allow you to spend more time on other meaningful work. Also, we hope that businesses are receiving their documents earlier and signing them easier than ever before. 

We are also so proud to play a part in generating revenue for our clients. If our clients are charging $250 as a service fee for completing the Annual Review, that means… Oh right,  you’re probably an accountant… You know how much has been generated by firms.

Of course, in 2021 we have made this process even more streamlined with the release of Multi Annual Reviews, allowing users to complete their Annual Reviews for the day/week in one simple process. 

However, we are not done with it yet, we have one of our biggest and best innovations yet to come later in 2021, focused on streamlining one more area of the Annual Review process… Stay tuned!

BGL launches integration with digital signing tool

By In the Media, News, SMSF AdviserNo Comments

Published by SMSF Adviser, powered by MOMENTUM MEDIA
Written by Tony Zhang on 16 August 2021
Click here to read on SMSF Adviser website

The SMSF technology provider has launched a new integration with a digital signing service.

BGL Corporate Solutions, supplier of SMSF administration and ASIC corporate compliance and investment portfolio solutions, has announced that CAS 360, Simple Fund 360 and Simple Invest 360 are now integrated with digital signing tool FuseSign by FuseWorks.

“It’s great to add FuseSign to the BGL ecosystem,” Ron Lesh, BGL’s managing director, said.

“FuseSign creates a seamless workflow for BGL clients so that all company, trust, individual and SMSF documents can be digitally signed, speeding up the compliance process and reducing signing times to minutes rather than days for the price of a stamp.”

Melissa Voss, co-founder and head of clients and partners at FuseWorks, said that the firm is thrilled with this partnership and to be able to offer BGL clients with the digital signing tool straight from their platform.

“I am passionate about automation and helping accountants to simplify the day-to-day, removing inefficiencies through the power of automation so they can focus on more human tasks, and that is exactly what FuseSign does — it gives your clients a better experience with your brand, saves your business time and money, and it empowers your team to focus on tasks they really enjoy,” Ms Voss said.

Made for accountants by accountants, FuseSign is an affordable, intuitive and easy-to-use digital signing tool and can be used for all company, trust, individual and SMSF documents prepared by CAS 360, Simple Fund 360 and Simple Invest 360. Recent legislative changes have now made it possible to sign more document types digitally than ever before.

The FuseSign process in BGL applications provides a seamless workflow for clients, with the firm noting that recent evaluations of digital signing solutions have proven documents are signed quicker, easier and with much less friction when digital signing solutions are used.

BGL launches integration with FuseSign

By In the Media, News, XU MagazineNo Comments

BGL launches integration with FuseSign

BGL Corporate Solutions, Australia’s leading supplier of SMSF administration, ASIC corporatecompliance and investment portfolio solutions, is proud to announce CAS 360, Simple Fund 360and Simple Invest 360 are now integrated with digital signing tool FuseSign by FuseWorks.

“It’s great to add FuseSign to the BGL Ecosystem” said Ron Lesh, BGL’s Managing Director.“FuseSign creates a seamless workflow for BGL clients so that all company, trust, individual andSMSF documents can be digitally signed, speeding up the compliance process and reducingsigning times to minutes rather than days for the price of a stamp.

Melissa Voss, Co-Founder and Head of Clients and Partners at FuseWorks, said: “We’re thrilledwith this partnership and to be able to offer BGL clients with our Digital Signing tool straight fromtheir platform. I am passionate about automation and helping Accountants to simplify theday-to-day, removing inefficiencies through the power of automation so they can focus on morehuman tasks, and that is exactly what FuseSign does, it gives your clients a better experiencewith your brand, saves your business time and money, and it empowers your team to focus on tasks they really enjoy.”

Made for accountants by accountants, FuseSign is an affordable, intuitive and easy to useDigital Signature tool and can be used for all company, trust, individual and SMSF documentsprepared by CAS 360, Simple Fund 360 and Simple Invest 360. Recent legislative changeshave now made it possible to sign more document types digitally than ever before. TheFuseSign process in BGL applications provides a seamless workflow for clients. And recentevaluations of digital signing solutions have proven documents are signed quicker, easier andwith much less friction when digital solutions are used.

BGL currently has over 350 partners in our Ecosystem and it is great to be able to addFuseSign to the list.

For more information about this sensational integration, visit https://www.fusesign.com/bgl/

BGL launches integration with FuseSign

By Australian FinTech, In the Media, NewsNo Comments

BGL launches integration with FuseSign

BGL Corporate Solutions, Australia’s leading supplier of SMSF administration, ASIC corporate compliance and investment portfolio solutions, announces CAS 360, Simple Fund 360 and Simple Invest 360 are now integrated with digital signing tool FuseSign by FuseWorks.

“It’s great to add FuseSign to the BGL Ecosystem,” said Ron Lesh, BGL’s Managing Director.

“FuseSign creates a seamless workflow for BGL clients so that all company, trust, individual and SMSF documents can be digitally signed, speeding up the compliance process and reducing signing times to minutes rather than days for the price of a stamp.

Melissa Voss, Co-Founder and Head of Clients and Partners at FuseWorks, said, “We’re thrilled with this partnership and to be able to offer BGL clients with our Digital Signing tool straight from their platform. I am passionate about automation and helping Accountants to simplify the day-to-day, removing inefficiencies through the power of automation so they can focus on more human tasks, and that is exactly what FuseSign does, it gives your clients a better experience with your brand, saves your business time and money, and it empowers your team to focus on tasks they really enjoy.”

Made for accountants by accountants, FuseSign is an affordable, intuitive and easy to use Digital Signature tool and can be used for all company, trust, individual and SMSF documents prepared by CAS 360, Simple Fund 360 and Simple Invest 360. Recent legislative changes have now made it possible to sign more document types digitally than ever before. The FuseSign process in BGL applications provides a seamless workflow for clients. And recent evaluations of digital signing solutions have proven documents are signed quicker, easier and with much less friction when digital solutions are used.

BGL currently has over 350 partners in our Ecosystem and it is great to be able to add FuseSign to the list.

BGL launches integration with digital signing tool FuseSign!

By BGL Update, CAS 360, Simple Fund 360, Simple Invest 360No Comments

Digital Signing, Electronic Signing, Electronic Signature, Company Compliance, Corporate Compliance, Companies, Trust Administration, Trust Management, Trusts, Self-managed Superannuation Fund, Self Managed Super, SMSF, SMSFs, Investment Portfolios

BGL Corporate Solutions, Australia's leading supplier of SMSF administration, ASIC corporate compliance and investment portfolio solutions, is proud to announce CAS 360, Simple Fund 360 and Simple Invest 360 are now integrated with digital signing tool FuseSign by FuseWorks.

“It’s great to add FuseSign to the BGL Ecosystem” said Ron Lesh, BGL’s Managing Director. “FuseSign creates a seamless workflow for BGL clients so that all company, trust, individual and SMSF documents can be digitally signed, speeding up the compliance process and reducing signing times to minutes rather than days for the price of a stamp.

Melissa Voss, Co-Founder and Head of Clients and Partners at FuseWorks, said: “We’re thrilled with this partnership and to be able to offer BGL clients with our Digital Signing tool straight from their platform. I am passionate about automation and helping Accountants to simplify the day-to-day, removing inefficiencies through the power of automation so they can focus on more human tasks, and that is exactly what FuseSign does, it gives your clients a better experience with your brand, saves your business time and money, and it empowers your team to focus on tasks they really enjoy.”

Made for accountants by accountants, FuseSign is an affordable, intuitive and easy to use Digital Signing tool and can be used for all company, trust, individual and SMSF documents prepared by CAS 360, Simple Fund 360 and Simple Invest 360. Recent legislative changes have now made it possible to sign more document types digitally than ever before. The FuseSign process in BGL applications provides a seamless workflow for clients. And recent evaluations of digital signing solutions have proven documents are signed quicker, easier and with much less friction when digital signing solutions are used.

BGL currently has over 350 partners in our Ecosystem and it is great to be able to add FuseSign to the list.

For more information about this sensational integration, visit www.fusesign.com/bgl 

About FuseSign

FuseSign is a digital signing platform like no other. Made by accountants for accountants, it is an elegant solution that simplifies complex tasks, resulting in faster turnarounds, significant cost savings, improved client experience and higher staff engagement.

Digital Signing, Electronic Signing, Electronic Signature, Company Compliance, Corporate Compliance, Companies, Trust Administration, Trust Management, Trusts, Self-managed Superannuation Fund, Self Managed Super, SMSF, SMSFs, Investment Portfolios

I’m not cancelling anything

By No Drama with TrammaNo Comments

I’m not cancelling anything

This week my grandma Vincenza passed away. She was 90 years old.

As I sat beside her while she lay breathless, I couldn’t help noticing her hands. These hands were worn out. They were tired. These hands contributed much to our society, generation and in helping make Australia the lucky country. The hands gave so much to give us a better life and helped set us up for a future.

Born in Sicily and migrating to Melbourne in the 50’s. Having survived World War 2, she understood, pain, famine, fear, bloody hard work and the need for grit. Going without was common practice and selflessness was the only way through. From the toughest moments in her life, she learned resilience, strength, courage and a can-do mindset.

When I think of her life and the countless that have gone before her, I am not going to cancel and or forget what was given, done and or built. While they didn’t have any platform to amplify the good, they did, they quietly went about building the stage. The stage that we at times mindlessly perform on heralding ourselves as heroes when the really, the pain, suffering and at in many cases the sacrificing of one’s life was done by those who went before us. When was the last time we thought of those who went before us to give us what we have today?

Let’s apply this to business. Great businesses are not an overnight success. They take years to establish and all have a foundation. We build up from this foundation to establish culture. We may get some things wrong, but we learn from them. We get many things right. From both right and wrong we develop. We evolve. We build greatness. We don’t however forget where we came from and or deviate from the foundational values that have allowed us to thrive and survive.

The countless efforts to dismantle the stage of the values and principles that make this country great are the biggest threat to our society and the generations to follow. To do the same for our businesses would be of great detriment.

What we and those who went before us have built is something we should be proud of. It is something our leaders place less and less merit on. Not perfect but it has served us and set us up well. As we prepare to hand over the batten to the next generation let ensure that our efforts and those who have gone before us are not in vain.