Canopy

Avantages

Improved practice management and time management.

Inconvénients

Until Canopy improves that functionality, I still prefer to use Jetpack Workflow to manage my tasks

Avantages

The best feature is the client portal and mobile app. It has been a business transformation blessing from way before COVID was ever a thing. I remember way back in 2017 when the mobile app was nearly launching how it revolutionized the way my clients do business with me. This is what has kept me on Canopy in spite of the price hikes.

Inconvénients

Canopy recently has changed their pricing model and I don’t like it because it increases the barriers to tax professional adoption. There are other titles out there who bring good feature sets and a much lower price point and has given me reason to start shopping elsewhere. What keeps me at Canopy is not wanting to invest the time in moving my clients files over to a new system, notifying my clients that I virtually moved virtual offices, and avoiding the headaches of all the client questions that would ensue.

Avantages

Canopy allowed my business to efficiently organize hundreds of clients. It helped our team work together on numerous complicated projects over the multiple years that we used Canopy. I also liked that I could use all of the training that was available.

Inconvénients

There was a lot to learn to use how to use Canopy effectively. The financial cost to use Canopy was significant.

Avantages

The product is able to enforce collaboration between different offices

Inconvénients

Every user needs a separate licence. The customer support hasn't given a good impression.

Avantages

Canopy is very user friendly, customer support is great. You can purchase what you need.

Inconvénients

The cost of the product was too expensive for a small company.

Avantages

Extremely responsive customer service with lots of great customization to help keep your workflow on task. One stop shop to keep track of your workflow while maintaining client data and files. Endless opportunities due to constant upgrades and add-ons. We are currently migrating our entire firm onto the platform and utilizing the client portal feature to exchange information and save on printing, customer requests and storage options. Most impressive is their constant interaction asking how they can improve and getting feedback on new features.

Inconvénients

I really don't have any dislikes, and if something is a little clunky with a layout or usability they are usually upgrading or fixing it. I'm excited to see tax software so I guess I dislike not having it? The tax software would plug another hole and add well to the transcript and tax form resolution features.

Avantages

Canopy's progress tracking features are generally well-liked by users since they enable teams to efficiently monitor and manage project progress. These features include real-time visibility, task-level tracking, milestone tracking, performance metrics, visualization tools, and tasks management integration.

Inconvénients

Some consumers may be concerned about cost, especially smaller companies or teams with tighter resources. Users have expressed interest in assessing the cost structure and making sure that the features and functionalities match the value offered.

Avantages

Document management and signature requests.

Inconvénients

The client request process could've been improved. The software was also relatively expensive for add-on features.

Avantages

Canopy helped me run my company with ease. The interface is extremely user friendly

Inconvénients

Logo got lost in a bunch. Maybe make it stand out more?

Avantages

Canopy is easy to navigate, simplifies my tasks, and helps me manage information with team members efficiently.

Inconvénients

I cannot think of any cons to Canopy. It has been a great addition.

Avantages

I love that Canopy had the ability to help me route my tasks properly and productively. I also LOVE that there is a firm facing iOS app. It helped me be portable!

Inconvénients

My biggest issue with Canopy was the KBA and not being able to customize certain aspects of the recurring projects.

Avantages

What I love the most is how this amazing accounting practice management suite has completely transformed my work. It has not only freed me from tedious and repetitive tasks, but it has given me a complete tool to manage and organize my accounting firm efficiently.

Inconvénients

Sometimes the learning curve can be a bit steep being a comprehensive platform with so many functions and features it can take some time to get familiar with all the tools and settings.

Avantages

Easy to use, email/communication integration, Document storage unlimited

Inconvénients

Email search function is less than ideal/doesnt work at all from within a client.
Can't start Word/Excel files from within Canopy
Wish it would also track time for each team member for the week - would make a secondary time and attendance unnecessary.

Alternatives envisagées 

Pourquoi choisir Canopy 

Pourquoi passer à Canopy

Avantages

I love that everything is all in one place. Document storage, document sharing with clients, timer, invoicing, reports, task management, procedures (we use sub-tasks to lay out the steps in a task with notes on how to do each step), transcripts etc. I have recently started to use the letter templates to respond to IRS letters and they make my life so much easier. I also really love the client request feature that automatically reminds my client that I am waiting on something.

Inconvénients

Small things, like I can lose track of tasks if I fail to assign them to someone. This could be easily avoided by looking at the task list in its entirety, but I find it most useful on a day to day basis to look at only tasks that belong to me, or only tax returns that need to be done, or only tasks that belong to the bookkeeper etc. I have to remember to occasionally look at all the tasks and then I realize that I missed something. I also find that the software is not as keyboard friendly as I would like, I have to do a lot of clicking to accomplish things.

Alternatives envisagées 

Pourquoi choisir Canopy 

Logiciel antérieur 

Avantages

I've transferred all my tasks that I used to have on a big spreadsheet to Canopy tasks and organizing them has been so easy. I love the ability to make custom views of the tasks so I can make sure I am working on the most important things.

Inconvénients

The one thing I really liked about my old document management software was that I could view the files offline on my computer. It made it so easy to work with the files. I haven't seen that with Canopy.
I also liked how my tax software, Proseries, could import the tax returns directly into my old document management system, but I will be able to print them into Canopy, so it won't be too much different.

Avantages

Document sharing, obtaining electronic signatures is simple for us and our clients. Communication tab is also very helpful. This feature keeps communications from clients from getting siloed in individual team member's inbox. Being able to share files with clients and their other trusted advisors is also very helpful. Clients like that they can access data on their computer, their phone or their tablet.

Inconvénients

Each module has a separate cost. However, to use certain features you have to have a specific module even if we aren't using all the module features. Also, access cannot currently be given to 3rd parties on a file by file and contact basis. Currently, if we allow access to a client and their advisor to the portal, all files that have access turned on in the portal allow all these parties to view. It would be nice if we could pick and choose which client/important contact has access to which folder. For example, a client would have access to all their tax returns, estimates, and source documents. Their financial advisor could have access to only the tax returns.

Avantages

When my client's upload documents to the portal, Canopy lists that activity, I click on it, and I am able to take action on it right away.

Inconvénients

I would like to be able to adjust the timekeeper when I start it or while it is running.

Avantages

It covers all the features I need from my client-facing tech stack in one platform. I can share/receive files, send e-sign requests, manage work, send invoices, receive payments, and pull IRS transcripts all in Canopy. Support has also been very responsive to me and has helped me with all my questions.

Inconvénients

It is an evolving and growing platform that comes with occasional bugs and changes to the user experience.

Avantages

It has combined our client contact lists, document manager, communications, and has a place for consolidated requests. They are constantly making Canopy better by adding new features and improving current ones

Inconvénients

I would like to see different ways to view task managements and work flow. Having a swim lane option would make it easier to see what tasks there are and at what stage they are in.

Avantages

We have Canopy for our three office accounting firm. The implementation team has been helpful, getting us set up. With thousands of users, this has been a commitment, but we’ll worth it once we get it up and running

Inconvénients

Some of the sort features are limiting if you are working with multiple offices. They are working on that.

Avantages

File sharing and ease of uploading from anywhere.

Inconvénients

Time tracker is my least favorite as it's hard to remember to turn it off sometimes.

Avantages

I had been looking for a simple accounting solution to help me manage my clients' invoices, and discovered this product. It is simple, easy to use, and has a ton of features. Within a few months, I was able to set up my clients' invoices in a matter of minutes, and start using it. I also turned it into a project management tool.

Inconvénients

Canopy has proven to be a robust and reliable solution that has helped streamline our document management processes, and it works well with our accounting software. The interface is very easy to use, the adaptation time to the software is very short, and it worked smoothly.

Avantages

It is cohesive and has a client portal; Tames chaos

Inconvénients

It is seemingly incomplete with a few things that seem to be easily fixable if they were given attention

Avantages

Cool features, outstanding customer service, constantly updating to make it better. I love that I can upload files easily to a secure client portal and we don't have to email files anymore. Clients love that they have 24/7 access to their files. We have saved on paper and toner costs. Having all our client information in one place is incredibly valuable. Engagements keep you focused on what you need to do and makes things less likely to fall through the cracks. The integration with gmail makes tracking/finding email conversations easy! Absolutely can't imagine not having this software.

Inconvénients

There are only a few minor issues that I know Canopy will fix as they learn from their customers. I can make suggestions and I know that they will address these requests in future versions of the software:
1. Mobile Access is not perfect. An app would be great. Some screens just don't show up on my iPhone.
2. Tasks take way too long to create. I think it could be easier to create tasks.
3. Inability to print notes
4. Search engine is limited. It would be better to be able to search for partial names. Currently you need to really know the name of the person you are looking for. I have a business client who I can't search for the name of his business or DBA.

Avantages

The organization is hard to beat across softwares. The ability to bring document management, task management, and billing under one roof is hard to find elsewhere.

Inconvénients

It seems to still have some growing pains, and the large list of customer requests that are still "in development show that.