Welcome one and all to another Enso newsletter. This month I have to start by saying how excited I am about the imminent launch of the Playstation VR2 platform. It may be an unusual way to kick off a business-based update, but I can’t help myself; I am that pumped by the prospect of donning my new VR kit and diving into some virtual gaming action.
It’s because when I’m not adding value to my clients or going to the football, the other passion in my life, after my family, is gaming.
Over the years, I’ve had no end of fun playing Street Fighter or FIFA, and I’ve owned every version of the PlayStation since the original PS1. With the introduction of the original PSVR, the gaming experience went up more than a few notches, but it wasn’t without a few annoying glitches.
The PSVR2, from what I’ve seen, looks like the real deal. Immersive and responsive, with smooth 360° gameplay and easy-to-use intuitive controls. I ask you, what is not to like? Better still, most reviews rate the haptic inputs, e.g. the sensory feedback, as adding significantly to the gameplay, which sounds epic to my enthusiastic ears.
So, as I said, I can’t wait to get my hands on this new kit and jump into some launch games like Gran Turismo 7 or the terrifying-looking Resident Evil Village. Plus, this platform has a mouth-watering slew of games queued, such as the lavish rendering in Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge or the sweat-inducing horror shoot-em-up Dark Pictures Switchback VR.
Of course, I’ve also taken the precaution of ordering a new lock for my gaming room door. Just so the fam can’t come in a scare the cr@p out of me as I play or, worse, have a good laugh as I blindly and comically flail around trying to save the VR universe.
OK, now I’ve got that out of my system; let’s resume our regular scheduled service but stay on the subject of technology…
Tech Back Control
I want to discuss some business software that you will find helpful. Regular readers will know I like to do these reviews occasionally because, if there’s one thing that helps me to make Enso such a responsive and client-friendly accounting firm, it’s our use of tech. So here’s a quick round-up of some products that will help you easily manage your business finances and are worthy of consideration.
Business reporting can be a complex affair. The need to draw data from multiple sources, format and analyse it is time-consuming and can, if not done well, be misleading. Syft cures a whole range of reporting headaches helping users to gain more value from their data with none of the associated faffing around. The reports are not only automated but also presented in a range of formats, be that graphs, forecasts, analytics or data consolidations. Moreover, the information can be presented in simple-to-understand visualisations that serve many purposes, such as month-end, client reports, profit and loss, cash flow and much more. So it will save a massive chunk of your time and help you stay in control of your business performance. As a bonus, Syft allows for effortless and secure collaboration with colleagues and stakeholders.
This nifty code helps bridge the gap between your online Shopify store analytics and your accounting software. Parex Bridge sorts your data into helpful categories like order volumes, VAT and other liabilities, product breakdowns, process efficiency and client data summaries. This is all valuable information for planning, re-stock, product performance and efficient management of financial flows. Using the Parex Bridge makes running an online store simpler and offers levels of control you can’t get from your eCommerce software alone. Better still, with the basic package starting at $10 per month, it’s a solution that works wherever you are on your online selling journey.
This software is for businesses collecting regular client payments, such as a professional service or a subscription model. You’ll also know it’s challenging to set up a one-off payment for something extra you might have provided. Payments usually mean using a card or bank transfer that is slow or costs extra. GoCardless allows for the easy processing of a single charge. You send a link to your client to authorise the money, and that’s it. All you pay is a small percentage of the sum involved, but this service helps tidy up those occasional headaches when you just need to get paid!
Cashflow is the beating heart of any business. When the flows in and out are in perfect synch, all will (usually) be well. Get this wrong, and your firm could quickly be on life support. Fluidly helps you to review your cashflow, so you’re always in control. Plus, it has bespoke planning tools to help you see potholes in the road ahead and take action to avoid them, like chasing debtors or planning a funding round.
All good stuff, I hope you’ll agree, and of course, as you’d expect from anything I recommend, all the above will integrate seamlessly with Xero.
Stuff You Already Have (But Don’t Use Enough, Probably)
Perhaps you don’t feel ready to take on some more software to make your (and my) life simpler. No problem, but before you go, there is some kit you probably already have that can make a tangible difference, so read on.
MSTeams
In a previous update, I extolled the virtues of Microsoft Teams, and my opinion hasn’t changed. As I wrote: “It’s a brilliant example of tech’ making business life simpler, more responsive and genuinely collaborative.” I don’t think you can find anything in that sentence that wouldn’t bring value to your business. So if you’re not using Teams, read the blog and have a go. You’ll be delighted with what you find.
WhatsApp Business
I like what the Enso team have been doing with WhatsApp over the past few years; maybe you do too? And yet, I still haven’t seen any other firms utilise this free resource as we do. We set up each client with a dedicated WhatsApp group to facilitate ongoing highly-secure comms and updates as and when required. It makes working with our clients quick and efficient, and very responsive. On paper, that sounds great, and in practice, it’s marvellous.
Microsoft To-Do
There are a lot of fangled planning and task list tools out there. Products like Trello and Monday that I’m sure are excellent. But, to be honest, I find Microsoft To-Do is such a simple software solution for task management. It sits hidden in the MS suite and is pretty much free. It does the same as all the above products, making it a doddle to get notifications when colleagues complete or update tasks. Plus, it integrates with Outlook, so everyone’s always in the loop. Sounds too good to be true? Well, it’s right in front of you, so have a look.
Focus Mode On IOS
Another tech ‘update’ which has been huge for my life is the relatively new Focus Mode on iPhone. This simple idea prevents your phone from disturbing you while you get stuck into some work.
You can set up personalised profiles and schedule Focus Mode to engage during certain times of the day when you’re most productive. So when I’m in ‘work mode’, my phone is only open to notifications from clients and my team, but in my ‘personal profile,’ I hide everything work related so I can switch off and recharge.
That said, there’s one thing I will be switching on: my new PSVR2 when it arrives. I can feel my fingers twitching even now. Maybe I should set up a ‘VR Mode’ on my phone?
Don’t worry; I’ll always be here in the week to help you, so feel free to WhatsApp or Teams me. Or do it the old way and call 0161 511 2143 or email me at adam@meetenso.co.uk.
However, at the weekend, there’s now a good chance I’ll be virtually ‘out of office.’
All the best
Adam