Anyone who walks into Phidra notices it immediately: this is not a traditional accountancy firm. No suits, no ties and no distant atmosphere, but an organisation that consciously chooses to do things differently. Warm, approachable and forward thinking. For more than twenty years, Phidra has been building long term client relationships with SME entrepreneurs. Technology plays an important role in this. Not as a goal in itself, but as a way to create more room for attention and advice.
The client as the starting point
Phidra supports SMEs with a broad range of services: accountancy, tax advice, payroll administration, HR advice and support with financing and acquisitions. The organisation does not work in departments, but in client teams.
“We follow the client,” says co owner Bob Jong. “Depending on the need, we put together a team with the right expertise.”
That way of working requires smart support.
“The basics, administration and annual accounts, should take up as little time as possible,” Bob explains. “So that we can spar with clients throughout the year. About growth, sustainability and AI. That is where we get our energy from.”
Staying ahead as a mindset
Phidra is known as a firm that likes to stay ahead. New software is preferably tested today rather than tomorrow.
“If there are no new tools for a month, we actually consider that a quiet month,” they say with a laugh.“
That curiosity for innovation runs deep within the organisation. Not only among the partners, but also among accountants and compliance officers, who actively participate in pilots and software development. That mindset made the step towards Fortes CRM a logical one.
When the landscape changes, CRM changes with it
Phidra had been working with AuditCase for quite some time, a solution the firm was satisfied with. At the same time, the way Phidra works with data and documentation was changing. More and more information moved to Microsoft 365 and SharePoint. With Docubird as a layer for document management and Hix as a portal solution, CRM took on a different role within the overall landscape.
“That naturally makes you take another look at the role of CRM within your landscape,” says Bob Jong. “At that point, we were mainly using AuditCase as a standard CRM, without a document hub.”
When Fortes announced it was working on a new CRM, deliberately light, clear and logically connected to the Microsoft environment, everything fell into place.
“The timing for Fortes CRM was simply very good,” says Bob. “So why wait?”
Why wait?
Phidra therefore decided not to wait, but to take part in the pilot straight away.
“The timing was perfect.”
During the pilot, the firm was able to actively contribute ideas about the choices being made. That phase was concrete and focused, and gave Phidra the opportunity to have influence at an early stage.
From contributing ideas to moving forward
After completing the pilot, Phidra immediately moved on to the next phase: working with Fortes CRM in practice.
In daily use, it quickly becomes clear what can still be improved. “Some things you only notice once you start working with it,” says Bob.
There is now weekly alignment, which keeps the pace high. Bob is enthusiastic about this:
“Of the long list of questions we had, ninety percent has now already been included. Fortes really responds to this incredibly quickly. We find that impressive, especially in such a short period of time.”
That speed makes the difference for Phidra.
“You simply see the things you suggest being reflected in the product. That gives you energy to keep moving forward together.”
Simplicity over complexity
What Phidra particularly values about Fortes CRM is its simplicity:
“AuditCase is a powerful package, but nowadays you no longer need such an all encompassing system,” Bob explains. “Many processes now run smoothly within Microsoft, such as tasks, collaboration and document management.”
Fortes CRM connects to that in a logical way. It is clear, user friendly and designed around the idea that software should follow the work, not the other way around.
“We were really able to start from scratch together and think: what do you need? And what do you especially not need?”
Which firms is Fortes CRM suited to?
According to Phidra, Fortes CRM is particularly well suited to firms that already work in a modern way, or that consciously want to take that step.
“Firms that work with Microsoft, SharePoint, Docubird and HIX. Firms that are cloud focused and not afraid of change.”
That does not mean other firms are excluded, but it does mean that mindset is decisive.
“Accountancy is a conservative market. Some firms wait until there is truly no other option. Others see change as an opportunity. That second group will get value from this the fastest.”
Advice for other firms
For firms that are still unsure, Phidra has one clear message: do not be afraid.
“You now have the opportunity to step into something that fits this era and what is still to come in the field of AI and automation. The sooner you step in, the better prepared you are for the future.”
Curious what Fortes CRM within Milestones can do for your organization? Request a personal demo below. We’ll be happy to think along with you.