In this episode of the Transform Sales Podcast: Sales Software Review Series, David Menjura, from CloudTask and Raja Balachandran, from Cone.io discussed how freelancers, agencies, and accountants can use Cone to tackle inefficient digital processes and achieve seamless digital transformation.
Cone is a modern finance and accounting platform tailored for SMBs, automating bookkeeping, tax filing, compliance, and vendor payments. Ideal for small to medium-sized businesses seeking to streamline financial operations and enhance reporting efficiency. Helps freelancers, agencies, and accountants automate proposals, payments, and e-signatures, eliminating manual tasks and streamlining client management for faster, more efficient workflows.
When it comes to digital transformation, what alternatives were your customers most often using before buying your software?
Freelancers, agencies, and accountants previously relied on a variety of tools and manual methods to manage their digital workflows. These methods were often not specifically designed for managing financial and client processes, leading to inefficiencies.
Manual processes with spreadsheets: many professionals depended on spreadsheets to manage proposals, payments, and client tracking. While accessible, spreadsheets were prone to human error and lacked scalability. Managing complex financial data in spreadsheets became increasingly difficult as their businesses expanded, often leading to inconsistencies.
Generic project management tools: platforms such as Trello, Asana, and Monday.com were frequently adapted to manage client workflows. While these tools work well for task tracking and project management, they were not specifically designed for financial processes like invoicing, e-signatures, and payments. This meant that professionals had to rely on multiple platforms, which contributed to inefficiencies and fragmented processes.
Basic invoicing software: tools like QuickBooks, Wave, or FreshBooks were commonly used for invoicing but were limited when it came to handling proposals, e-signatures, and streamlined payment workflows. This lack of comprehensive features meant that users often had to combine multiple tools to meet their business needs, leading to disjointed processes and a higher time commitment for administrative tasks.
What challenges were your customers running into that your software helped them overcome?
Before adopting Cone, many freelancers, agencies, and accountants faced significant challenges when using alternative solutions. These tools often led to inefficiencies, time-consuming tasks, and scalability limitations. As businesses grew and financial workflows became more complex, professionals found that their existing systems were not equipped to handle the increased demands.
Lack of integration: a key challenge was the absence of seamless integration between different tools. Professionals had to manually enter data into various systems for invoicing, proposals, and payments, leading to inefficiencies and data duplication. Without integrated systems, professionals were unable to have a cohesive view of their financial operations.
Time consuming processes: manual data entry and repetitive tasks such as proposal creation, invoicing, and payment processing consumed a significant amount of time. This prevented professionals from focusing on more strategic aspects of their work, such as client relations or business development.
Limited scalability: as businesses expanded, the existing tools users relied on became increasingly inadequate. Professionals struggled to manage higher volumes of clients and more complex financial workflows. The lack of flexibility and scalability in their tools made it difficult to handle business growth without resorting to manual adjustments and customizations.
What are the key features of Cone that help overcome the inefficient digital process challenges?
Cone addresses these challenges by offering an integrated, all-in-one platform that simplifies proposals, invoicing, e-signatures, and payments. Below are the key features that make Cone an effective solution for solving the problems created by fragmented, time-consuming, and non-scalable tools:
Lack of integration
Situation: users needed a single platform to handle their financial operations to eliminate data silos and improve workflow efficiency.
Problem: the tools they used before Cone lacked seamless integration, which resulted in inefficiencies and duplicated effort.
Solution: Cone provides an all-in-one platform that integrates proposals, invoicing, e-signatures, and payments. By unifying these functions, Cone eliminates the need for users to switch between multiple tools, streamlining the workflow and reducing the potential for errors. This integration ensures that data is consistently updated across all processes, improving accuracy and saving time.
Time consuming processes
Situation: professionals wanted to spend less time on administrative tasks and reduce the amount of manual data entry.
Problem: manual data entry and repetitive workflows hindered productivity and consumed too much time.
Solution: Cone automates tasks like recurring billing, e-signatures, and vendor payments, allowing users to significantly reduce manual work. Automated processes free up time for professionals to focus on high-priority activities, such as managing client relationships or growing their business.
What tasks, deliverables, and/or people need to be involved in setting up your software for digital transformation, and how long does it typically take to reach full productivity?
Setting up a software solution for digital transformation involves several key steps, from planning to implementation, and requires careful coordination among various tasks and team members. Below is an outline of the general process:
Preparation: before starting the setup, it’s important to gather necessary data, records, and workflows to ensure a seamless transition. This preparation helps facilitate a smoother and faster setup process.
Integration: the software should integrate well with existing systems to minimize disruptions. A seamless integration process is essential to ensure that the new tool complements the current platforms in use.
What KPIs should Freelancers, Agencies, and Accountants use to evaluate their success with your software for digital transformation, and what quantifiable outcomes can they expect?
To measure success and evaluate the impact of Cone, freelancers, agencies, and accountants can use the following KPI’s.
Time savings: One of the most important metrics is the reduction in time spent on administrative tasks. By automating routine tasks, users can track how much time they save on tasks like invoicing, proposal generation, and payment processing.
Error reduction: Professionals can track how many errors they experience in invoicing, payments, and client data. Cone’s all-in-one platform reduces the likelihood of errors caused by manual data entry and inconsistent processes. A significant reduction in errors can be expected with the integration and automation features, resulting in smoother operations and fewer disputes.
Revenue growth: Revenue Growth: Users can track how Cone impacts their revenue, particularly in terms of on-time payments and client retention. By streamlining payment processes and reducing the time spent chasing overdue invoices, businesses can see faster cash flow and an increase in revenue. Cone helps improve the collection of payments and strengthens client relationships, contributing to higher business earnings. For example, a company that worked with us went from 100M in ARR to 250M in ARR in one year after using CONE.
Conclusion
Cone provides an all-in-one platform that addresses the challenges freelancers, agencies, and accountants face when managing their financial workflows. With a seamless integration of proposals, invoicing, e-signatures, and payments, simplifies complex tasks, improves accuracy, and saves time. Its customizable and scalable features allow businesses to grow without encountering workflow bottlenecks. By automating administrative tasks and reducing errors, Cone helps users improve efficiency, increase revenue, and enhance client relationships. Whether businesses are just starting out or looking to scale, Cone offers a practical, future-proof solution for digital transformation.
