Yooz, a cloud-based P2P automation solutions provider, heavily invests in the success of their reseller partners. One of these partners is Catatus Systems Group Inc., a full-service, Canadian-based managed services provider and Sage Intacct business partner. They offer in-depth expertise in designing, implementing, and supporting advanced software and hardware solutions onsite and in the cloud. Combining the very best IT solutions available with their in-house experts and extensive knowledge of accounting systems, Cantatus delivers a comprehensive, proactive plan designed to keep organizations secure.
Jodi Soheili, President and co-founder of Cantatus Systems Group, takes the time to help us learn more about Cantatus, their customers, and their experience as both a partner and end-user of Yooz.
Q: What is Cantatus?
Jodi: Cantatus is the Latin root of the word “cantata,” which means instruments and people singing in harmony. We recognize that organizations have all these disparate systems that are great as standalone systems, but they don’t talk to one another. We explore those systems and see where we can streamline processes and technology and bring those efficiencies to the people. That’s been our approach from the beginning: “Bringing harmony to people, process, and technology.”
Q: How do you approach projects with your clients?
Jodi: We’re the kind of consultants that start with the end in mind. Our initial conversations always start with the question “Where do you want to go?” rather than “How do you want to begin?”
Q: What is the Cantatus process?
Jodi: Ours is a process of continuous exploration and implementation. We take the big picture of where our client wants to go and then ask questions like: What technologies are you currently using? Where are your gaps? What reporting do you need? Who are your stakeholders? Then we take a more granular look at each of their processes - because process is different from technology - and ask: Who is involved? What is your workflow? How is your paper tracked or stored? Where are the bottlenecks? This process is constant throughout our relationship because we recognize that not only does technology change, but so do our clients' needs as their organization changes.
Q: Is there a particular type of client that you prefer working with?
Jodi: We primarily work with nonprofits. We consider ourselves a mission-based organization, even though we are for-profit. We consider ourselves an extension of each of their organizations. When we work with a nonprofit and enable them to be better and more efficient at what they're doing in the back office or provide better visibility into the organization’s health or return on nonprofit mission, then they're able to serve their community better.
Q: Why do you select Yooz for your clients? Is there any particular feature or reasons why we’re a good fit for them?
Jodi: There is a lot of flexibility in the approval process. Yooz has several approval options that work particularly well with our nonprofit clients. Approvals by dollar values, by departments, by specific vendors, and multiple-tiered approvals are all options. That was the big win for us. For our clients, Yooz’s approval workflow has hands down been the best that I’ve seen.
Q: When recommending the combination of Sage Intacct and Yooz for your clients’ needs, how do you approach that conversation?
Jodi: We find that the AP automation piece is what really makes a huge difference in the day-to-day life of our customers. When we lead with AP automation and show how it makes a difference in the lives of their employees by speeding up visibility into budgetary spending and completing month-ends, it is often the AP automation that wins the deal.
Q: How do you feel about working with Yooz?
Jodi: I’ve been so pleased. My relationship with my implementers and the support team at Yooz has been one where they have been training me to be the front line of support. And I really have appreciated that.
The team that I’ve been working with are so responsive. They take the time to step back and really understand what my requirements are and what my client's requirements are. They are always willing to talk to me and my clients about different concerns that we have, things that are working, things that aren't working. Better, they are willing to brainstorm innovative solutions, which I love – they get equally excited when we solve for something that hasn’t been tried before.
Q: How important is a partnership with a company like Yooz for Cantatus?
Jodi: We have always taken the approach of wanting to be the very best at what we do. We’ve been very fortunate to be able to align ourselves with vendors who are also the very best in their respective areas. And Yooz is a perfect example of that. We have been able to leverage the best of what Yooz has to offer with our expertise in accounting, ERP, and financial systems to provide a complete solution to our clients.
Q: Can you tell us about any particular success stories or client successes that you’ve had with Yooz?
Jodi: One of our clients is a large nonprofit organization with a very decentralized structure. Prior to implementing Yooz, the organization had a very manual process that required paper invoices to be sent to each location for approval, which resulted in a lot of delays and bottlenecks. After implementing Yooz, the organization was able to streamline their process and centralize their AP, resulting in significant time and cost savings.
Another success story involves a client who was previously using another AP automation solution. They had been experiencing a lot of issues and had a poor experience with their previous provider. After switching to Yooz, they were able to achieve the automation and efficiency they were looking for, and they have been very happy with the product and the support they have received from Yooz.
Q: What do you see as the future of the partnership between Cantatus and Yooz?
Jodi: I think that we’re just getting started. I see a lot of opportunity for us to continue to work together and bring even more value to our clients. As Yooz continues to evolve and add more features, we’re excited to be able to offer those features to our clients and help them to achieve even more automation and efficiency in their AP processes.
Q: Any final thoughts on your partnership with Yooz and your experience working with the company?
Jodi: We’ve been very happy with our partnership with Yooz. They have been a great company to work with, and they are truly committed to the success of their partners and their clients. We look forward to continuing to work with them and to bringing even more value to our clients through our partnership.
Q: How has the pandemic affected the work you do and your relationship with Yooz?
Jodi: The pandemic has been tough for everyone. However, it has actually been good for our business in terms of focusing clients on the importance of cloud-based technology. With people working remotely, we’ve seen more clients wanting to leverage tools like Yooz and Sage Intacct to bring a level of automation and collaboration to their organization that they may not have seen as important before.
As for our relationship with Yooz, it has been fantastic. Their support team has been exceptional in helping us and our clients navigate through the challenges of the pandemic. We have been working with Yooz for several years now, and they have always been there for us when we need them, but especially so during this difficult time.
Q: What advice would you give to other reseller partners who are considering partnering with Yooz?
Jodi: First and foremost, you need to really believe in the product. For us, Yooz was a perfect fit because it complements our other solutions and allows us to bring a complete end-to-end solution to our clients. When you believe in the product, it makes it easier to sell, implement and support.
Secondly, you need to find a vendor that is easy to work with, that has a great support team and is responsive to your needs. We found all of those things with Yooz.
Lastly, you need to approach the partnership as a long-term relationship. It takes time to build trust and to develop a deep understanding of how each other works. But when you do, the benefits are well worth it.
Q: What does the future hold for Cantatus and Yooz?
Jodi: We’re really excited about the future. We believe that the market for cloud-based AP automation solutions will continue to grow, and we see Yooz as a key player in that space. Our plan is to continue to grow our partnership with Yooz and to offer their solutions to more of our clients.
We also see ourselves expanding our business beyond Canada and into the US. With Sage Intacct, Yooz and our other solutions, we have a strong offering that we believe will resonate with clients in the US market.
Overall, we’re really bullish on the future and the opportunities that lie ahead for both Cantatus and Yooz.
Q: What advice do you have for businesses looking to improve their AP processes?
Jodi: My advice would be to explore automation. When you take a look at the amount of time it takes for an organization to process an invoice manually, and the cost associated with that manual processing, it makes sense to automate that process. For businesses that are still processing invoices manually, I would say, “There is a better way, and it’s not as hard or as expensive as you think.”
Also, find a partner that has experience with the technology and understands your business. Don’t try to go it alone. Leverage their experience and best practices. They can guide you in the right direction and help you avoid common mistakes.
Q: What do you think the future holds for AP automation?
Jodi: I believe that AP automation will continue to become more integrated and will be a part of a more comprehensive end-to-end solution. There will be more artificial intelligence and machine learning built into the software, allowing for more predictive capabilities. This will help organizations to be more proactive and less reactive in their approach to AP.
Additionally, I think that the trend towards remote work will continue, and with that, the demand for cloud-based solutions will increase. Organizations will want to access their data and software from anywhere, and cloud-based solutions make that possible.
Q: What do you see as the biggest challenge facing AP automation adoption?
Jodi: The biggest challenge is often getting people to change. People are creatures of habit and getting them to adopt new technology and processes can be challenging. Additionally, there is a misconception that AP automation is too expensive or too complex for small and medium-sized businesses. This is simply not true. There are solutions available that are affordable and easy to use.
Another challenge is often related to the complexity of an organization’s existing systems. When an organization has multiple systems that need to be integrated, it can be difficult to implement an AP automation solution. This is where finding the right partner with experience in both technology and accounting can make all the difference.
Q: What has been the biggest lesson you have learned as a partner with Yooz?
Jodi: The biggest lesson I’ve learned is the importance of the relationship between the partner and the vendor. It’s critical that there is open communication and a willingness to work together to solve problems. The Yooz team has been an excellent partner, always willing to listen and work with us to find the best solutions for our clients.
Additionally, I’ve learned the importance of staying up to date with the technology. Yooz is constantly innovating and improving their solution, and as a partner, it’s important to stay on top of those changes and understand how they impact our clients.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to share about Cantatus or Yooz?
Jodi: I would just like to reiterate how much we value our partnership with Yooz. The team at Yooz has been exceptional to work with, and the solution itself has been a game-changer for our clients. It’s a great feeling to be able to offer a solution that makes such a significant impact on an organization’s bottom line and their day-to-day operations.
As for Cantatus, we are always looking for new ways to bring harmony to people, process, and technology. We are passionate about helping our clients to achieve their goals, and we pride ourselves on being a trusted partner that they can rely on.