SmartVault Expands Service with Branded Portal Capabilities

Powerful new features and an updated user interface to the SmartVault Document Portal enable accounting professionals and businesses to easily and securely exchange files

LAS VEGAS, NV – November 8, 2010 – At the Sleeter Group’s 2010 Accounting Solutions Conference, SmartVault, a leading provider of Software as a Service (SaaS) document storage and sharing solutions, today announced the latest release of SmartVault—version 3.2. Rich with features that support a streamlined, paperless workflow, SmartVault provides accounting professionals and businesses with a single solution to store and manage all their business documents. Combined with the newly launched Document Portal, SmartVault now offers users a single, “all in one” document management system and secure client portal for professional services firms.

SmartVault has built a reputation around its uniquely integrated plug-in for QuickBooks, which offers customers a seamless experience for scanning, uploading, and finding documents within a familiar application. In February 2009, SmartVault expanded its service offering beyond the QuickBooks user to provide file storage and file sharing capabilities for all business documents—providing a single solution to securely store, view, and exchange files. SmartVault v3.2 enhances the service’s proven document storage and sharing functionality with its new Document Portal to further simplify the file sharing process with users and clients outside the firm and ensure compliance with data security regulations.

“In the last year, portals have taken the spotlight as a ‘must have’ capability for many professional services firms, primarily due to the convenience the technology offers,” said Eric Pulaski, founder and CEO of SmartVault. “However, beyond the convenience factor, portals also help solve the issue of data security. Sending sensitive client data via email in the clear is simply not safe; encrypting with passwords adds complexity and carries its own set of risks. Similar to other industries like health care and insurance, tighter regulations will impact the accounting/finance profession and drive CPAs to adopt technology solutions to remain compliant.”

Among the many new features launched with version 3.2, SmartVault now offers the ability to custom brand the SmartVault Document Portal. Businesses can leverage this feature to further enhance their brand and professional image. When you combine custom branding and ease of use of the Document Portal, SmartVault v3.2 emerges as an essential service to today’s CPA and other professional services practices. Firms can specify a dedicated web address for their SmartVault portal (e.g., https://yourcompany.0a1c0a1aeb.nxcli.io), upload a company logo, and customize colors and links to consistently reinforce their brand identity across all communication points—including the portal sign-in page and notification emails. Other new and enhanced features in SmartVault v3.2 include:

• Simplified Files and Folders View—provides a simple and streamlined portal view for sharing documents with users who typically need access to only a few folders or documents. This gives a “no training required” experience for clients or guests who may only come to the portal once or twice a year. Clients can easily upload files or browse, open, and download folders they have been authorized to access.
• Streamlined Document Sharing Workflow—users can now easily email links to files and folders to other users, guests, and clients outside of the business or firm. Simplifying the sharing workflow allows for a highly efficient document exchange process with personalized messages to the email recipient.
• Enhanced Partner Portal—offers a unique space to help SmartAffiliates refer clients to SmartVault, analyze referral activity, and earn commissions.
• Support of QuickBooks 2011

“The new release of SmartVault demonstrates our commitment to building an online file storage and sharing solution that is both intuitive and easy to use. Custom branded portals offer our customers a way to consistently build their brand, while also supporting a convenient platform to securely exchange files of all sizes, stay in compliance with new regulations, and store documents in a logical, organized manner,” stated Pulaski. “When you couple the enhancements we’ve made to our document portal with our award-winning Toolbar plug-in for QuickBooks, we really stand out from the competition by offering customers a single, premium solution for document storage and file sharing.”

SmartVault version 3.2 is available now. Because SmartVault is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution, the new capabilities in v3.2 are available immediately for current customers with no change in monthly subscription fees and no additional costs (Note: Custom Branding is available only on SmartVault Professional plans). For information on plans and pricing or to start a free 30-day trial, visit smartvault.com.