Anyone who walks into Phidra notices it right away: this is no traditional accounting firm. No suits, no ties, and no aloof atmosphere—just an organization that consciously chooses to be different: warm, approachable, and forward-thinking. For more than twenty years, Phidra has been building long-term client relationships with small and medium-sized business owners. Technology plays an important role in this—not as an end in itself, but as a means to create space for personalized attention and advice.
The Customer as the Starting Point
Phidra supports small and medium-sized businesses with a wide range of services: accounting, tax advice, payroll services, human resources consulting, and guidance on financing and acquisitions. The organization operates not in departments, but in client teams.
“We follow the customer,” says co-–owner Bob Jong explains. “Depending on their needs, we put together a team with the right expertise.”
That way of working requires smart support.
“The basics—administration and financial statements—should take as little time as possible,” Bob explains. “That way, we can engage with clients throughout the year—discussing growth, sustainability, and AI. That’s where we get our energy from.”
A mindset of leadership
Phidra is known as a firm that likes to stay ahead of the curve. It prefers to test new software sooner rather than later.
“If there aren’t any new tools for a month, we actually consider that a quiet month,” someone says with a laugh.
That curiosity about innovation runs deep within the organization. It’s not just among the partners, but also among accountants and compliance officers, who actively participate in pilot projects and software development. That mindset made the move to Fortes CRM a logical one.
As the landscape changes, CRM changes with it
Phidra had been using AuditCase for quite some time, a solution with which the firm was satisfied. At the same time, the way Phidra handled data and documentation was changing. More and more information was being moved to Microsoft 365 and SharePoint. With Docubird serving as the document management layer and Hix as the portal solution, CRM took on a different role within the overall system.
“Then you naturally start to reevaluate the role of CRM within your landscape,” says Bob Jong. “At that time, At that time, we were still mainly using it as a standard CRM, without document hub.”
Then Fortes announced that it was working on a new CRM, deliberately lightweight, well-organized, and seamlessly integrated with Microsoft–environment, everything fell into place.
“The timing for Fortes CRM was just perfect,” says Bob. “So why wait?”
Why wait?
So Phidra decided not to wait, but to participate in the pilot right away.
“The timing was perfect.”
During the pilot, the firm was able to actively contribute to the decisions that were made. That phase was concrete and goal-oriented, and gave Phidra the opportunity to exert influence early on.
From Brainstorming to Taking Action
Once the pilot was completed, Phidra moved directly on to the next phase: putting Fortes CRM into practice.
“There are some things you only notice once you start working with them,” says Bob.
We now have weekly coordination meetings, which helps keep the pace high. Bob is enthusiastic about this:
“Of the long list of questions we had, ninety percent had already been addressed. Fortes responds to them incredibly quickly. We think that’s impressive, especially in such a short time.”
That speed is what makes the difference for Phidra.
“You just see the things you bring up coming back. That gives us the energy to keep pushing forward together.”
Simplicity over complexity
What Phidra appreciates most about Fortes CRM is its simplicity:
“AuditCase is a powerful suite, but these days you no longer need such a comprehensive system,” Bob explains. “Many processes now run smoothly within Microsoft—think of tasks, collaboration, and document management.”
Fortes CRM is a natural fit. It’s well-organized, user-friendly, and designed with the idea that software should adapt to the work, not the other way around.
“We were really able to start from scratch and think it through together: What do you need? And, more importantly, what don’t you need?”
What kind of office is Fortes CRM suitable for?
According to Phidra, Fortes CRM is particularly well-suited for law firms that already operate in a modern way or that are looking to make that transition.
“Firms that use Microsoft, SharePoint, Docubird, and HIX—that are cloud-focused and not afraid of change.”
That doesn’t mean other firms are excluded, but it does mean that the mindset is the deciding factor.
“The accounting industry is a conservative market. Some firms wait until they have absolutely no other choice. Others see change as an opportunity. It is the latter group that will be the first to reap the benefits.”
Advice for other firms
Phidra wants to convey one message above all to hesitant firms: don’t be afraid.
“You now have the opportunity to get involved in something that’s in tune with the times and with what’s yet to come in the fields of AI and automation. The sooner you get involved, the better prepared you’ll be for the future.”
Curious about what Fortes CRM within Milestones can do for your organization? Request a personalized demo below. We’d be happy to work with you to find the best solution.
