Word-of-mouth referrals are a huge revenue driver for professional services firms. But when everyone is offering the same set of services, clients will always hire the firm that delivers a fast, secure, and frictionless experience.
Even though corporate secretaries are traditionally resistant to technology, firms that don’t use software to create a client-centric experience will never be able to compete with those that do.
If you want to outpace your competitors in the corporate governance industry, here’s how corporate services software can deliver a better client experience and generate more word-of-mouth referrals in the year ahead.
What is corporate services software?
Put simply, corporate services software is any online tool or service that helps you achieve operational excellence—manage your firm, scale your output, and delivering an exceptional client experience.
When someone mentions corporate services software, they could be referring to a dedicated corporate governance platform like Zave, which helps corporate secretaries work more efficiently and automate repetitive tasks, giving them more time to focus on their clients.
Or they may be highlighting a standalone software or online service that helps corporate secretaries improve how they work and communicate with clients.
Corporate services software typically leverages a combination of artificial intelligence, machine learning, optical character recognition, blockchain, cyber security, and real-time data processing to support corporate services providers in their day-to-day.
How does corporate services software generate more referrals?
Simply telling clients that your firm uses next-gen technologies like ‘artificial intelligence’ and ‘optical character recognition’ won’t be enough to make clients send more business your way.
These technologies only start to mean something when they’re powering software that vastly improves the experience for your clients.
Here’s how corporate services software can make things better for your firm and help you deliver a client-centric experience that increases word-of-mouth referrals over time.
Client communication
Endless email chains are frustrating for you and your clients. Attachments get lost. Tasks get buried. And it’s hard to know who’s waiting on who to reply.
Here’s how corporate governance software can streamline communication and make for a better client experience.
Task management
If you’re sending client emails with multiple tasks, information is going to get lost and tasks will be overlooked. A corporate governance platform can keep all of your (and your client’s) tasks in one place. When you create a task in the platform, both you and your client can monitor its progress from inception to completion, meaning everyone has a clear insight into the outstanding tasks on their To Do.
Automated reminders
Rather than bother your clients repeatedly for the information you require, automated email and in-app notifications can follow up with clients on your behalf. It’s a simple nudge for your clients that eliminates the need for awkward follow-up calls and emails.
Secure, instant messaging
Do some of your clients need frequent, immediate access to your firm? An instant messaging app like Slack can act as a direct, secure channel of communication between you and your client.
Capitalisation table software
When multiple stakeholders have access to an excel spreadsheet cap table, mistakes will be made. Capitalisation table software eliminates room for error by storing your client’s cap table stored securely in the cloud.
Corporate secretaries can use the software to create, manage, and maintain the cap table. And clients can provide view-only access to as many multiple stakeholders as they like. Because the cap table is stored securely online, it’s easily accessible at all times.
Anytime, anywhere access
These days, cloud-based online storage is the new normal. So it’s understandable that clients expect instant access to their corporate governance documentation whenever they need it.
Corporate governance software can store and chronologically index critical company information and documents. Your clients can find what they need at the click of a button, without having to email you to request whatever they’re looking for.
If a client needs to wait hours or days for you to get back to them with company filing, an up-to-date capitilisation table, or their latest board resolution, don’t be surprised if they move to a competitor who offers secure cloud-based storage and instant online access.
Privacy and security
Clients trust your firm with highly sensitive data. Knowing that their data is safe and secure is a strong selling point for clients.
Cloud accounting software like Xero and dedicated corporate governance software like Zave can help you offer bank-grade security and data privacy to your clients.
Sure, you could store client documentation in Google Drive or Dropbox for free. But does storing and transferring your client data via these platforms meet the strict data privacy and cybersecurity requirements that your clients demand?
Digital document signing
Have you ever had to manually print, sign, scan, and email a document, just to submit a form? It’s a tedious, time-consuming process. So why put your clients through it?
Digital document signage tools like DocuSign and RightSignature eliminate the process entirely. It’s quick and simple for your clients to sign and submit documents online. The process is secure. And best of all, nothing gets lost via email.
Corporate services technology is a major advantage for your firm
The fact that most corporate governance providers are resistant to technology is a huge opportunity for your firm. Corporate secretary software is easy to set up, inexpensive to use, and it goes a long way to improving the client experience.
Once your firm builds a reputation for going above and beyond for its clients, it’s just a matter of time before more word-of-mouth referrals start rolling in.
If you’d like to see how Zave can help your firm create a client-centric experience and generate more word-of-mouth referrals, read more about our how we help corporate secretaries and sign up for a free 30-day trial.
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