Accounting practice management solutions provider
"Canopy is aggressively adding to its software offerings," said Hanna Bjornn, vice president of product at Canopy, in a statement. "Our all-new engagements will make starting work with a new client even easier and our latest addition to Smart Intake will make obtaining needed client data faster and more efficient."
AI questionnaire feature
The AI-powered questionnaire feature lets users either choose a template or let AI generate a client questionnaire directly from an uploaded document. Users can set due dates and reminders that will let the software nag clients who have not yet submitted their information. The questionnaires themselves accommodate both yes/no questions and longer text-based responses; the software also allows for conditional logic so, for example, if a client answers yes to one question, the program will immediately follow up with additional related questions.
As clients fill out the questionnaire, the AI will automatically generate a document checklist that will be visible on their end, the items in which can be uploaded either one at a time or in bulk. Once that happens, Canopy's AI will evaluate the document and assess whether it matches the request. For instance, if the client made a charitable contribution, the program would ask for a receipt, and then once it is uploaded it would assess whether or not that receipt indeed matches what the client said about the contribution.
The AI will also allow users to set their own file naming conventions, and will rename uploaded files according to the specified format.
Engagements module
Canopy also promised "a completely re-imagined Engagements module" that retains its core functionality while adding more capabilities. First, users will see a newly designed interface with the builder on the left and a live preview pane on the right. Further, they can now add videos or file downloads to their welcome messages. And once the engagement is accepted, users will now be able to see the client-facing description, linked task templates, and any other associated terms.
Beyond aesthetics, the upgraded module now connects directly to the service items library, which allows users to manage service names, billing amounts, billing types (flat or hourly), terms and conditions, and link task templates to each service item in settings. The upgrade allows those service items to automatically pull their rate and billing type (which can be adjusted on the fly if necessary). Users can set payment rules, including who is responsible for payments, whether a payment method is required on file, and if a deposit is needed.
Future plans include improvements to billing, bulk invoicing, insights, practice intelligence, smarter workflows and more AI integrations into new and existing products.
