The early steps of onboarding new clients really do matter. This is the point where client details are first captured, Letters of Engagement are signed, and records begin to flow into multiple systems. Getting this right upfront prevents both wasted time and avoidable errors later on.
That's exactly where the Socket <> FYI integration makes a practical difference. By strengthening the flow of data between systems, the integration makes life quietly easier by sending records to the right places and stopping small errors from turning into bigger problems down the line. It creates a clean and reliable start for your team to begin the work that follows.
The team at Pillow May have done just that, building a reliable system where every core tool knows the client exists from day one, all starting with Socket and FYI.
We spoke with Samantha Sollis, Operations Director and Client Relationship Manager at Pillow May, who shared just how the FYI integration has changed their workflow:
“What’s really useful with the Socket and FYI integration is once a client signs off a proposal it instantly goes into FYI, creating a client and adding the proposal and the engagement letter.
Before the integration I had to download the LoE, upload it into FYI, and add contact details. Having it set up and ready to go was a great development for us.”
One starting point, four systems in sync
With Socket at the front of the journey, newly won proposals trigger a connected flow across Pillow May’s entire tech stack. This gives Sam confidence in kicking off client onboarding, knowing everything is already in place:
“Because we’re heavily integrated with FYI, Xama, Adfin, and Xero, basically as soon as the proposal is introduced in Socket it sets up a client base in all of those softwares, even if it’s just name and email. It gives us that foundation and we know they exist in everything.”
For Pillow May, that foundation removes the need to manually create clients in multiple systems, which can introduce errors and rack up unbillable hours before the work even begins.
Socket’s in-built pipeline tool, the Leads module, acts as the entry point for their new client workflow in FYI. Once a proposal is signed, FYI is ready to take over seamlessly, creating an end-to-end solution for client engagement:
“Leads was a big thing for us. Everything now starts in Socket. It’s a neat, tidy way to have everything to hand rather than uploading, downloading, or copy-pasting.”
Combined with Socket’s proposal workflow controls, Sam finds day-to-day pipeline management easier too, because the Leads module takes away the mental load of constantly tracking proposal status:
“Having proposal reminders, expiry dates, and the option for clients to decline proposals means I don’t have to chase constantly. If it’s gone cold it closes itself off and if they come back I can restart it. It removes the constant thinking of when it was sent and when I last chased it.”
Fewer errors, less duplication, a faster start
With proposals acting as the source of truth, client details are easily checked and confirmed before they ever hit multiple systems. This early accuracy helps prevent mistakes later on:
“It’s sped up the start of the journey with a client, especially with leads, and reduced duplication and error. It’s easy to mistype a name. When you send a proposal, the client checks it, so any typos get fixed before it goes into multiple software.”
For Pillow May, anchoring the client engagement in Socket means FYI can seamlessly take over for document and practice management, creating a clean start, with fewer errors, and a system the team can rely on, now and as it continues to evolve.
Get started with the FYI integration
You can turn on the FYI integration from Practice Settings > Integrations.
We’ll continue to strengthen your client engagement with the FYI integration, with even more user-driven developments on the way: all focused on making your day-to-day work even easier. If you have any integration feature requests then let us know, we’re always listening, and always looking for new ways to make accountants' and bookkeepers' lives easier.
Trial the integration
Book a demo with our friendly team, or jump in now and try the integration for free, by signing up to a no-obligation free trial.
