‘It delivers where other systems fall short’: Why 4PointZero partnered with iplicit

4PointZero is free to recommend any software it likes to its clients – but for a long time, there was no perfect product for medium-sized organisations.

It found many organisations had come up against the limitations of basic systems which had once served them well.

There was no clear next step for them until iplicit, a system that Jamie Allen, 4PointZero’s Founder and CEO, says “fills a vital gap in the market”.

About  4PointZero    

4PointZero is a digital transformation specialist which implements systems mainly for SMEs and medium-sized businesses.

Its advisory service helps clients analyse the market, understand their own challenges and choose the best product for their needs and budget. It helps with training, data migration and indefinite ongoing support.

“What makes us distinctive is that we don’t tie ourselves to a particular brand or product. We are multi-brand, which gives us the flexibility to recommend the right solution for each customer’s unique requirements.” says Jamie.

'Smaller systems hold businesses back'

“The basic processes of a finance team are universal,” Jamie says – “but the real difference between accounting systems lies in scalability and extra features.

“Systems aimed at smaller businesses often hold clients back as they grow. These systems have transaction limits, they lack advanced dimensional reporting, and don’t have the technical infrastructure to support larger, more complex businesses,” he says.

Until relatively recently, there wasn’t much alternative except to move to a complex and expensive system designed for big corporates. But the arrival of iplicit market has changed the market. “People no longer have to choose between a system that doesn’t do enough and another, massive system that does too much,” says Jamie.

iplicit 'fills a vital gap in the market'

With iplicit, Jamie realised he had found the product many clients needed.

“It fills a vital gap in the market,” he says.

“It bridges that space between starter systems like Xero and large-scale solutions like SAP or Oracle. Our partnership with iplicit is allowing us to offer value where other systems fall short.”

Jamie has an extensive background in both tech and accountancy, which enables him to see iplicit’s technical strengths as well as its suitability for finance teams.

Jamie explains “iplicit is very responsive. When you press a button, the action happens immediately. Many other systems rely on scheduled tasks, meaning you do something and wait for it to process. For our clients, speed and responsiveness are important.”

“iplicit's ability to integrate with other software through public APIs (application programming interfaces) is another key strength. Industries like manufacturing and hospitality can be quite challenging because they often rely on particular operational systems that are crucial to the running of their businesses,” he says.

“Walking into a business and asking people to change the backbone of their operations won’t work. In those cases, integration becomes key. You have to adapt to their systems or replace them cost-effectively.”

'iplicit will be a no-brainer for many businesses'

“We’re excited about the partnership with iplicit, which is why we’ve invested a lot of time in obtaining iplicit certifications for our team,” says Jamie.

“Success breeds success. We know if an application is doing well, the vendor is going to invest more in development, which will keep it ahead of its competitors – and that’s something we want to be part of.”

Traditionally, businesses have assumed that powerful cloud accounting software has to be hugely expensive. It will take a while for large organisations to recognise the value of newer alternatives that are considerably cheaper, he says. In the meantime, medium-sized organisations will be able to move on from the old systems that are holding them back.

“We can see iplicit’s potential. When you look at the quality of the product and the price of it, it’s going to be a no-brainer for a huge number of businesses.” says Jamie.

• Ready to see how iplicit helps its partners transform their offering for mid-market businesses? Read more to find out about iplicit’s accountancy partner channel.