19th October, 2018
While nothing compares to witnessing the full scope of learning, inspiration and community on offer at MYOB’s high-profile accounting and bookkeeping conference, here’s a small glimpse of the action for those who couldn’t attend.
Passionate bookkeepers and accountants descended on Queenstown across two days this September, joining in on a truly unique experience.
How can an industry event lie so close to the heart of so many? For anyone who hasn’t been to Partner Connect, the conference revealed the full extent of the passion felt by a group of professionals who dedicate their efforts to maintaining their clients’ financial wellbeing.
And of course, there’s no way to cover off all the updates and news from Partner Connect in one article, so for those who couldn’t make it there’s also a Digital Showbag packed with resources, presentation videos and information about exhibitors available for you to peruse.
Business isn’t just business, it’s personal. And for the enthusiastic group of attendees at Partner Connect 2018, it’s everything.
“At MYOB, our purpose is to help businesses succeed,” said MYOB CEO Tim Reed in his opening keynote address.
“Accountants and bookkeepers are the lifeblood of our business, our vision of The Connected Practice places our partners at the centre of business advisory.
“We are proud of the work we’re delivering to strengthen the vital relationships between accountants and bookkeepers and their clients to ensure they can create a thriving business for themselves and the people they serve.”
Presenting his own view of success, Reed then closed his presentation by inviting Co-founder of The Revolutionary Firm on stage to discuss the fundamental principles a business owner must incorporate to realise their own financial success.
Power’s speech was emotive and went beyond the practical concerns of management to tap into the very mindset one must have to put a bookkeeping business on track to make one million dollars.
Keynotes from the likes of Futurist Steve Sammartino, Founder of Aranui Ventures Robett Hollis and Founder of My Food Bag Cecilia Robinson all touched on the means and mindset required to achieve success. Whether it’s following your passions in business, or using emerging technologies to your own benefit, these speakers added fresh perspectives and practical takeaways to the delight of the attendees.
Beyond the keynote presentations, the other speakers at Partner Connect provided a wealth of information on a broad range of business topics, from payments to payroll and innovations in AI.
Attendees were particularly interested in hearing about updates and refinements introduced to MYOB software that will assist them on their way to becoming a Connected Practice, so for those who missed out we’ve covered some of the big announcements below.
Available to accountants and bookkeepers who join the MYOB Partner Program, MySuccess has become a key tool to bring together all the relevant information you need to maintain and grow your client portfolio.
Presented in Queenstown by MYOB’s General Manager of Enterprise Solutions & New Zealand Carolyn Luey.
Luey told The Pulse that partners are already enjoying the convenience offered by MySuccess.
“While we launched the MySuccess Portal to a very appreciative user base last year, we’ve continued to build out it’s functionality since then,” said Luey.
“In the past, we’d supply our partners with dozens of links and log ins as part of the Partner Program, but now everything they need – from their Partner Dashboard, Marketing Portal, and the ability to connect directly with their Partner Manager – is all in the one place.”
In a session entitled ‘Products For Your Clients’, MYOB’s Senior Product Marketer Merrin Hughes and Head of Product Dale Dixon presented a number of updates and improvements to MYOB products specifically designed to assist SME clients.
“We want to help small businesses understand and track the money flowing in and out of their business, and we can do this by sharing advice, but also in using online software to help them keep accurate records,” said Hughes.
The updates include new methods of receipt storage, payroll improvements and how Payday Filing is being simplified for MYOB’s clients. Mobile quoting and invoices were announced, which allows customers to
quote and invoice from their mobile device, as well as invoice reminders to take the hassle out of chasing payment.
These announcements, alongside the release of Smart Receipts (which allows people to photograph a receipt on their mobile and have it automatically sent to a digital ‘in tray’ for reconciliation), illustrates a future where the acting of giving or receiving payments becomes almost instantaneous.
One of the major challenges facing many accounting practices is one of integration and transparency.
No matter how large or how small the operation, everyone across the business needs to have insight into their accounts, with simple access to each workflow.
The new, unified vision for MYOB’s practice solutions was presented to our partners by MYOB National Manager (Pinnacle Sales) Angela Beswick.
Plans to bring together MYOB’s various practice solutions into one system resonated strongly with audiences at both events, and the speakers were bombarded with questions and support almost as soon as they left the stage.
“I had multiple partners approach me after my session to say how excited they were,” said Beswick. “For those who were unsure of our direction, they’re feeling much more confident now.”
“Some said they’re planning to invest more in training in order to get more from the software while they wait for the additional online tools, while another invited me to give the entire presentation again to their entire office of partners and managers.”
Recently launched to the market, MYOB Advisor is a feature that many accountants and bookkeepers saw for the first time as presented at Partner Connect 2018.
The AI-driven insights software was unveiled by MYOB Client Solutions Consulting Team Leader Chris McCormack, who said his presentation drew a tangible response from many attendees.
“With a few clicks of the mouse, MYOB Advisor unlocks a wealth of information about any client, which our partners can use – for free – to deliver valuable insights that would usually take days to derive,” said McCormack.
“Seeing that lightbulb go off in so many of our partners’ heads was a humbling moment – many came up to me straight after the presentation to discuss the possibilities in detail.”
Don’t want to miss another great Partner event? Sign up to the MYOB Partner Program today and receive tonnes of value to empower your accounting or bookkeeping business, and we’ll keep you in the loop regarding all future events.