ASSIRT’s Desktop software just one click away
The latest version of ASSIRT Desktop financial planning software will be available from the middle of May, software manager Mark Perica announced at a briefing in Melbourne last week.
The new software, version six, now uses Internet principles such as click navigation to help advisers create plans and manage information for their clients.
"We have been building up this new version for three years. We had designed better software, but it was difficult to use," Perica says.
ASSIRT took the software to 30 planning firms and noted their comments.
"We saw that to get anywhere on the Internet took only one click. We wanted to put the best of the Internet on the ASSIRT Desktop software."
The home page looks identical to an Internet page with a toolbar across the top of the screen.
The page has been customised to include the planner's name and logo rather than that of ASSIRT. Perica says the page originally had strong ASSIRT branding but this was toned down at the request of the dealer groups who took part in the early trials.
"We have made it easier to use," Perica says. "The first screen a planner calls up has the information that will deal with 80 per cent of client questions."
"We have also put in long screens which require the user to scroll down. Again this idea has been lifted from the Internet."
In addition to the changes in presentation style and some new tools, ASSIRT Desktop still has access to research reports and the library on historical product data.
As well as calendar servicing prompts, the new version has also introduced event prompting which will enable the planner to be more proactive.
Updates to version six of the software will continue this year, Perica says. The third quarter of this year will see access to any master fund in addition to ASSIRT's.
Later this year the software will consolidate information from multi-site operations as well as bring adviserNET and the Internet closer.
Perica says the new ASSIRT Desktop has been designed to support service-orientated workplaces. He expects this version to be current for the next three years before a major redesign is required.
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