In the vast, often confusing world of financial and payments technology, finding a real pro who knows their stuff can make or break a business’s long-term success. As Software Advisory Manager at Moore Kingston Smith, or MKS, Simon Woodhams has his work cut out for him.
“MKS has thousands of clients,” Simon explains. “Many of those need payment software. It’s my job to make sure they have the right solution to address all of their needs.”
Simon is dedicated to equipping clients with the tools they need to flourish, be they small businesses, large multinational firms, or chain stores. But Simon’s role extends beyond mere recommendation; it embodies a commitment to empowering clients for success.
And that’s crucial, because when you have thousands of clients like MKS does, many of whom may need a payments solution now, or in the future, making the right choice can mean the difference between them leaving, or sticking around for years.
We spoke to Simon to understand his process when recommending software to clients, and why he chooses Apron for that seamless end-to-end experience.
You see a lot of software in 18 years
Simon has been advising on software for over 18 years, showcasing his steadfast dedication and expertise. In other words, he’s seen it all.
“I need to know every piece of financial software on the market, ideally inside-out. I also need to be able to spot what’s going to stick around.”
An important point, since advising a client to take up software that promptly disappears, really isn’t a good look for Simon, or MKS.
As mentioned, at MKS, Simon and the team grapple with the diverse and ever-changing needs of a huge client base, each presenting unique challenges. So how does Simon go about finding the right software?
Analyse, diagnose, prescribe: Finding the right solution
For Simon, it starts with understanding the client’s needs. Payments, bookkeeping, auditing, compliance, and expected transaction volumes all play a role in choosing the right solution.
In most cases, though, it comes down to a few key requirements. A solution needs to be:
Bank agnostic to avoid delays in payments
Able to integrate easily with systems such as Xero and QuickBooks
Simple for clients to use when making payments and approvals
Capable of generating a clear and accurate audit trail
All of these are things that Apron was built to handle right from day one. And it’s why Simon finds himself recommending Apron more and more.
Apron: Ticking all of the boxes
Among the plethora of software solutions, Apron stands out as an innovative and dependable choice.
Simon’s recommendation of Apron stems from its potential to revolutionise both supplier and payroll payments.
“I remember a client who, on a regular basis, was manually entering the payroll and payment details for 300 members of staff. It took the guy all day. He definitely needed a better solution.”
Apron’s user-friendly interface, bank-agnostic approach, and seamless integration capabilities align perfectly with Simon’s pursuit of excellence.
The ability to streamline payments, bolster security, and mitigate risks epitomises the values of modern finance, which focus squarely on speed, security and flexibility. All of this adds up to making Apron a partner that MKS can confidently recommend.
Empowering clients for success
To Simon and his clients, Apron signifies more than just software — it symbolises a path to transformation. By adopting Apron, clients unlock a realm of possibilities that not only help them get their finances in order, but also to clear a path for growth.
In Simon’s words, “Many of the clients I see are still managing payments and payroll using Excel spreadsheets and old school cash books.” This takes up a lot of time, which could be spent on growth and customer relationships instead.
Apron’s own methodology has a lot in common with Simon’s. He’s able to recommend software by listening to what his clients need.
Right from the start, Apron has been built alongside accountants, bookkeepers, and technology experts like Simon. It’s what’s allowed us to bring together the tools they need in one single place.
Tool that make a difference
Advanced Approval Flows — From our innovative ‘Any of’ feature, to creating custom workflow templates, approvals continue to get faster, easier, and more secure.
Custom Roles — Simon pitches this one to his clients as a way to make sure everyone is on the same page. With Custom Roles, you can set who Creates a payment, who Approves, and who Pays.
Audit Trails — Automated PDF audit documents for every payment, available at the click of a button, are another reason why Simon recommends Apron.
Automated Security Alerts — Received a supplier invoice with different bank details? Apron will flag that before the payment is made to help prevent fraud. Useful for those MKS clients with high volumes of transactions on the go, such as in hospitality.
Collaborative Invoice Capture — Another big reason why Simon is able to recommend us as an end-to-end solution. Apron Capture allows business owners to scan receipts and other documents on the go, so that they’re ready for payment and automatic reconciliation anytime, anywhere.
Confirmation of Payee — A huge one, according to Simon, and we agree. Confirmation of Payee used to be the reserve of banking apps. It wasn’t a feature that was widely available elsewhere, which only added to the disjointed nature of payments as a whole. But since Confirmation of Payee is built into Apron, not only are payments faster, they’re also more secure.
These features are especially useful for clients with high transaction volumes or complex operations.
“Multi-site payments can be really tricky. There are lots of suppliers and payments, and someone can easily spend a full day managing them.”
“For new clients, I just say right up front that we’re using Apron.”
The future’s covered with Apron
As Simon continues to seek out the best in finance technology for his clients, Apron remains a steadfast ally. Together, we’re ushering in a new era of payments characterised by innovation and reliability.
With Simon’s guidance and Apron’s capabilities, businesses can navigate the complexities of modern finance with confidence and agility, paving the way for sustained growth and prosperity.
And as Apron continues to evolve, new features like William AI are helping to reduce even more of the manual work around payments, from chasing missing documents to preparing transactions for review, keeping workflows moving without added effort.
Ready to see Apron in action for yourself?
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