Ignition highlights from Intuit's QuickBooks Connect 2023
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As a sponsor of QuickBooks Connect in Las Vegas, Ignition loomed large at the three-day show, announcing its integration with Intuit ProConnect, hosting a lively panel discussion, and meeting with accounting and tax professionals from across the United States.
Key takeaways:
- Exciting announcement: During the event, Ignition announced its integration with Intuit ProConnect. The integration helps to increase efficiency and profitability for accounting and tax professionals, especially during the busy season. See how it works!
- Pre-conference council meeting: An Ignition council meeting of leading accounting and tax professionals focused on industry insights and future trends.
- Focus on change management and technology: The event emphasized the importance of effective change management and the integration of the right technology in accounting firms.
- Panel discussion on firm modernization: A panel, led by Jennie Moore, shared strategies for empathetic leadership and communication in the face of change, highlighting practical experiences from firm owners.
- Broader industry challenges addressed: Discussions extended to broader accounting challenges like talent retention and work-life balance, with Ignition recognized for its role in improving workflows and increasing revenue.
- High engagement at Ignition's booth: The Ignition booth attracted significant attention, with Ignition’s council members discussing the platform’s impact on firm efficiency and revenue.
- Networking and entertainment: The #IgnitionPrecon party and Intuit’s ConnectFest offered vibrant networking opportunities, with celebrity appearances adding excitement.
Ignition integrates with Intuit ProConnect
As QuickBooks Connect kicked off in Las Vegas on November 13, Ignition had exciting news for accounting and tax professionals. It announced the expansion of its strategic partnership with Intuit by integrating with ProConnect Tax, the industry-leading cloud-based tax software.
Ignition’s integration with Intuit ProConnect will help to increase efficiency and profitability for accounting and tax professionals, especially during the busy season.
With the integration, you can now selectively import clients from ProConnect into Ignition based on their return type, and create and send tailored proposals, complete with engagement letters, to multiple ProConnect clients simultaneously, if you choose. See how it works.
Ignition also allows you to collect payment details right within your proposals, setting the stage for automated payment collection as soon as your client signs.
This integration makes the entire client engagement process smoother, faster, and more efficient this tax season.
A conference packed with innovation and entertainment
The Ignition integration wasn’t the only big news at QuickBooks Connect – a conference packed with innovation and entertainment.
Matt Kanas, Ignition's Managing Director (AMER), as he shares his unique perspective on this amazing show.
Pre-con council meeting: Celebrating collaboration and insights
Ignition’s QuickBooks Connect experience kicked off with a dynamic pre-conference council meeting – a gathering of Ignition’s key council members.
“It was a great way just to raise a glass to thank them for the year that was and for all their support and help through thick and thin,” says Matt Kanas.
Council members shared their perspective on the industry and provided valuable feedback on Ignition products.
“We also probed them on some bigger-picture items, such as KYC – know your customer – the direction of our product for 2024–25, and the view ahead for them… what they think the big trends are for 2024 as we approach end of year,” says Matt Kanas.
This time together set a great tone for the event, highlighting the collaborative spirit and forward-thinking that defines the Ignition community.
#IgnitionPrecon party and Intuit’s ConnectFest
Immediately following the council meeting, Ignition switched into party mode with its legendary #IgnitionPrecon party on November 12. “It's a great way to kick off QuickBooks Connect,” says Matt Kanas.
“We got tons of great feedback from our customers, those new to Ignition, and even our hosts, Intuit, who said it was just a fantastic way to reconnect with the pro advisor community.”
What’s more, it was a blast! About 400 attendees graced the party at Alexxa’s on the Vegas strip. “People were cutting a rug on the dance floor... lots of merriment and cheer,” says Matt Kanas.
As it’s Vegas, Ignition’s certainly wasn’t the only party in town.
During its QuickBooks Connect conference Intuit threw an unforgettable bash at the Marquee Nightclub at The Cosmopolitan.
“It was a super-huge party, a great way [for Intuit] to show their appreciation to everyone who attended,” says Matt Kanas. “We're talking synchronized swimmers in the pool!”
Exploring change management and tech integration
Of the overarching themes Matt Kanas noticed at QuickBooks Connect 2023, change management was a big one.
“This year, more than ever, the discussions were around change management and really addressing what it takes to get the right tech stack. And what processes are needed to make that happen – both from a people perspective and a tech-deployment perspective,” he says.
One of the highlights of the event was the panel discussion, “Navigating the transformation: modernizing firms through change management.”
Moderated by Jennie Moore, Ignition’s Partnerships Manager (AMER), panelists included Ignition ambassadors Logan Graf, CEO of The Graf Tax Co; Jeremy Wells, owner of JWellsCFO; and Marcus Dillon, President of Dillon Business Advisors.
Together, they shared candid experiences, with Jennie Moore joking that by dishing on their many failures, the hope was to prevent the audience from repeating their mistakes.
The panelists especially emphasized the need for empathetic leadership and effective communication in the face of change.
“When you’re about to release a new software to your team, make sure you fully vet that software,” says Logan Graf. “Because then you won't feel those pain points that your team will. So, whenever your team comes back with those pain points, you can actually relate and empathize with them.”
Jennie Moore also shared a personal struggle: “Adopting change is always a constant battle. One of my battles was doing things repetitively; doing things traditionally,” she says.
Once upon a time, when she was still clinging to Microsoft Word to do her proposals, the mistakes Jennie Moore made ended up costing her a client – an eye-opening experience for her. This prompted her switch to Ignition, which automated proposals for her.
She then asked Jeremy Wells to share his strategies for successful change management. His response? A three-pronged approach:
- Empathy (there it is again!)
- Communication, and;
- A concrete plan for how the change will play out.
He also highlighted some questions to ask yourself as a firm owner when contemplating change:
- How is this going to affect my staff?
- How is this going to affect my clients?
- How is this going to affect me as the firm owner?
“It's easy to assume that because this is new; this is shiny, that this is gonna be fun; this is gonna pay off tremendously down the road,” he says.
“But change is hard, no matter how small or how big or how positive the end result is. It's still going to be hard, and we've got to admit that.”
Jennie Moore turned to Marcus Dillon for his tips on change management tactics he's seen work. His thoughts went to his team.
“Knowing the skill set of our team has really set us up for success with change management,” he says. “Once you know the strengths of others that surround you and that support you, my biggest wine has been delegation.”
Jennie Moore agreed: “Empower your people to do what they do well.”
Exploring the latest trends and opportunities for success
This friendly panel discussion wasn’t the only change management game in town, either. Other prominent figures, including Dawn Brolin, contributed significantly to this topic during QuickBooks Connect, addressing broader challenges and opportunities within the accounting profession.
“There were also some really good conversations around the accounting profession at large – looking at macro trends of talent retention and being able to change work-life balance and what's needed there,” Matt Kanas says.
“[Accounting and tax professionals] get what we do… they really do see how we fit into their workflows and how we can fit in their firms – increase revenue, profitability, and just create those efficiencies and workflows.”
Beyond the usual-suspect topics such as updated tax laws, these themes really resonated at this year’s QuickBooks Connect. “That’s what people were after,” says Matt Kanas.
Ignition's buzzing booth
Ignition’s booth, too, was a hub of activity and engagement.
“It was just great to see the team in action,” says Matt Kanas. And again, it was great to have the expertise of Ignition’s council members on hand, he said.
“We had council members with us on the show floor to help talk to prospects who just want to understand how they [the council members] deployed Ignition into their firms.”
This year, the booth also experienced unprecedented foot traffic, surpassing that of previous years.
“What I think is pretty remarkable is, of the 80 or so sessions that were held this year, 33 of them had an Ignition customer speaking and mentioning Ignition and how Ignition helped them transform their firm, make it more profitable and more efficient. That obviously creates a ton of buzz,” says Matt Kanas.
“So people were coming and more than ever saying, ‘Hey, we heard about you’ from the likes of Dawn Brolin – a big supporter of Ignition,” he says.
What’s more, he says, “People were coming to the booth and just really aware… of what we do and wanted to get a demo.”
Matt Kanas also had great things to say about Intuit and its strategic event management: “Hats off to Intuit for keeping the exhibit floor open the entire event, aside from the main stage and keynote presentations.”
This decision helped maximize the opportunities for time to talk to customers and potential customers.
Star power at QuickBooks Connect
Hollywood – and humor – also made an appearance at the event.
“Ryan Reynolds spoke, and he's as funny in person at a Q&A chat with Intuit’s accounting software VP as he is in any of the movies or interviews you've seen,” says Matt Kanas. “He was hilarious. He had the audience tied around his finger.”
The actor, Deadpool star, producer, and entrepreneur wasn’t the only one bringing the funny. Chef, author, and TV host Carla Hall, who served as an emcee, also kept the crowd going – and in stitches.
Another notable presence was organizational psychologist Adam Grant, a household name – or voice – in the podcast universe.
The energy and excitement at QuickBooks Connect didn't just come from the star-studded lineup. It was also fueled by the innovative ideas and solutions buzzing around, especially those presented by Ignition.
Where to go from here
In the spirit of innovation and forward-thinking showcased at QuickBooks Connect, we invite you to explore how Ignition can revolutionize your firm.
Discover how the platform – that helps over 7,000 customers get paid faster, increase efficiency, and enhance profitability – could do the same for you. Watch our instant demo now.
