Development Update - April 2022
This month:
Easter came and went for the dev team and despite the on/off/on again nature of work over this period, the team still managed to maintain the rapid development pace that seems to be a theme for 2022.
Over the coming months and throughout this year, you'll see we'll be making many changes to the customer portal, both in terms of looks and functionality. We're already well into the design phase that will see a better UX experience for your customers and this month we've embarked on improving how your customers submit meter reads.
Elsewhere and on a more general level across all our systems, we've been continuing our focus on ensuring absolute security for you and your colleagues. To find out more about these and other bits and bobs, read on below:
Security Improvement: Restrict User Sessions
At UtilityClick we take your security extremely seriously and we're constantly pursuing areas where any potential improvements can be made to protect your data. We're adding yet another layer of security that restricts an account to one location at a time, so you can be certain that if you are logged in to UtilityClick, then no one else can be.
Other bits and bobs...
We've also added the following other bits and bobs...
Ability to manage supplier matrix pricing at user level
Previously it was possible to enable or disable a particular supplier's products to control which matrix pricing was returned when quoting. We've enhanced this feature so you can now enable/disable on a per-user basis. E.g. You could allow sub-broker access to your pricing and enable alternate products to which you use internally.
Built for: PRO CRM
Improved Search Functionality Within Activities
A few months back we made significant improvements to the search feature found within the Leads module. We've now developed a similar improvement within the Activities module. You can now search Activities by Meter Number, Site Address, Site Postcode as well as Customer Name.
Built for: PRO CRM
Support for Multiple Commission Rates
This is an optional feature that allows for different commission levels to be set for different meter rates. E.g. If you require a different commission set for meters with a varying day and night rate. This optional feature is only available when adding manual bespoke quotes and is available upon request.
Built for: PRO CRM
Re-assign tasks when changing lead generator or account manager
When amending a Customer/Lead's "Account Manager" or "Lead Generator" the system now displays a checkbox asking if you'd like to also transfer all open tasks to the new lead generator/account manager.
Built for: PRO CRM
Add Customer References to Vendor Agreements Export
When exporting Vendor Agreements to Excel, the Customer Reference is now included as an additional column.
Built for: PRO CRM
USA System Language Update For Dashboards
We've adapted our new dashboard suite so that it better reflects the region it's being accessed from. Specifically, when accessing from the USA, all general terminology has been updated so as to use a more familiar vernacular.
Built for: PRO CRM
That’s it for this month.
Our software evolves at such an exciting rate so please feel free to get in touch to discuss any of the functionality we’ve added since you last saw it. We’ll be more than happy to arrange a demo to show you around!
Shhhh. We won't tell if you don't
Energy brokers, by fully customising our software you can:
Allow your staff to send LOAs, COTs & contracts via branded email notifications; automatically generated through the system. Provide end-user customers with their own secure account to manage meters and current contracts. Produce reports, run tenders and present fully branded results to customers in real-time. Give sub-broker access to your pricing books, manage their commissions and allow them to run quotes on your behalf. Offer bill validation as an added service and present a variety of reports within your very own white-labelled customer portal.
Suppliers can take advantage too. You can:
Give TPIs access to your branded portal and connect with them more efficiently. Receive automated matrix contracts. Upload updated pricing or have us do it for you. Receive tenders, import prices and receive feedback automatically. Set & receive statuses to and from TPIs. Know when pricing is due, when it’s received, and how it fared.
With our fully brandable PRO CRM, Supplier PORTAL and Customer Portal, you can seamlessly present our tools as your own and manage it all from one central location.
Further reading...
Development Update – April 2022
Easter came and went for the dev team and despite the on/off/on again nature of work…
Shhhh. We won’t tell if you don’t
With UtilityClick you can give your customers access to invaluable software, presented…
Development Update - March 2022
It's funny how certain themes seem to develop around a particular month. The theme for March has most certainly been one of security. It helps that one of our founding directors has been compulsively security-obsessed since day dot and it's something that is heavily ingrained into everyone within the team.
We've made great strides this month with our progress in offering 2-factor authentication on all accounts. Separate from this, we've continued our integration with Microsoft authentication services. Not only can you now force your users to ONLY use Microsoft credentials to access UtilityClick, but you'll also be able to use any associated Microsoft email account to send official system notifications.
Read on to hear more about this and the other bits and bobs as we look at the dev releases from March...
Multi-Factor Authentication
You'll soon be able to add an additional layer of security to your UtilityClick account (together with all user accounts) by switching on 2-Factor-Authentication. When applied, you will be sent a code to a preregistered mobile device that you will need to use along with your normal password. This feature will be rolled out over the coming weeks and we strongly recommend deploying it for added peace of mind.
Send System Emails With Your Microsoft Account
Email notifications sent from within the system can now be sent from a user's email address, instead of from your central company email address. When switched on, this feature will allow you to log in using your Microsoft credentials and then have notifications (such as tenders or LOAs) come directly from your email. Please contact your account manager to have this activated within your account.
Other bits and bobs...
We've also added the following other bits and bobs...
Force Microsoft Authentication On Your Account
We've been integrated with Microsoft authentication services for some time (allowing users to use their Microsoft 365 credentials as well as their UtilityClick one) but this recent update allows admin users to force ALL account users to only use their Microsoft credentials.
The Ability To Edit Or Delete Activity Notes
We've overhauled the notes section within the Activities component. You can now edit or delete notes as you see fit. Note that only Super Admin users have the ability to edit or delete notes that were not created by them.
Built for: PRO CRM
Support for Multiple Commission Rates
This is an optional feature that allows for different commission levels to be set for different meter rates. E.g. If you require a different commission set for meters with a varying day and night rate. This optional feature is only available when adding manual bespoke quotes and is available upon request.
Built for: PRO CRM
Vendor Agreements Linked to Customer References
It was already possible for vendor agreements to be linked to Sites/Locations, Meters/Accounts, Contacts, and Contracts. This latest update now makes it possible to also link vendor agreements to Customer References.
Built for: PRO CRM
Quick Access to Supplier Products When Reviewing Quotes
We've added a handy link to quickly view supplier product details when reviewing quotes within the Procurement component. From the quote results screen, simply click "Go" and "View Product".
Built for: PRO CRM
Parent Company Added To Portfolio Export
Within the Analytics component, when exporting Portfolio data, we've added a new column where you can now see 'Parent Company' information.
Built for: PRO CRM
Multi-Select for Export Data
Previously, when exporting data through the Analytics module, you've been able to select precise singular criteria of which data to include. For example, you could export Accounts that were managed by one particular account manager but you were unable to select multiple managers (without exporting all the data at once). We've added multi-select fields to many of our data export screens, so you can now quickly select multiple configurations within each export.
Built for: PRO CRM
Total Cost and Total Annual Cost Added At Meter Level For Tender Export
When exporting tender information (via the Tenders - Export Data screen), the Total Cost and Total Annual Cost is now included within the export on a per meter basis.
Built for: PRO CRM
Checkbox Added To Skip Redirect After A Data Import
When importing data into the system, you're helpfully redirected to the upload results screen after each successful import. There are instances where it's preferable to stay within the data import screen post upload. As such, we've added a checkbox so you can choose whether to remain on the data import page or move on to review the results.
Built for: PRO CRM
That’s it for this month.
Our software evolves at such an exciting rate so please feel free to get in touch to discuss any of the functionality we’ve added since you last saw it. We’ll be more than happy to arrange a demo to show you around!
Bill Val 2.0 With Advanced Validation
What does it do?
(and who are William & Valerie?)
William & Valerie (or Bill & Val for those just catching on) is the nickname for our latest fantastic product – BILL VAL. With it, you can upload batch data files directly from suppliers straight into our system.
Once uploaded our system systematically examines each entry to ensure it’s correct. Upon completion, results are broken down and summarised, enabling succinct reporting back to your customers.
Key Features
Instant Imports
Raw format imports for EDI/XLS/CSV.
Beautiful Presentation
Analyse pass/fails in a clear, understandable format.
Custom Thresholds
Set your own pass tolerances at customer or global level.
The Best Reporting
Stop sending emails to your clients. Present all types of reports within your very own white-labelled customer portals.
Instant Usage Analysis
Import day Day+1 HH / AMR data straight from the Data Collector.
Customer Portal
Present data to your clients with ease. Allow them to submit meter reads for instant validation.
Why do you need this?
As an energy broker, you know that the world is changing and you need to offer your customers more than just ‘the best price’. You’ve seen the evolution in our sector; your customers now demand more than procurement only services.
Did you know?
"...as many as 1 in 5 utility bills contain errors that cause the recipient to overpay."
* Source: www.energylivenews.com
This all sounds expensive?
For all of this functionality it’s not as much as you would think. And no other system offers more ‘value’ than our Bill Val product. Unlike other systems, we do not price per meter/invoice validation, which can become incredibly expensive. With BILL VAL by UtilityClick you pay one set monthly fee, no matter if you validate one thousand bills or one million.
Free UK support
It doesn’t matter how good our software is if you don’t know how to use it. We’ll get you started by talking to you and your team in a language they understand. What’s more we offer phone support FREE with every subscription, should you need prompting down the line.
Is there anything it doesn't do?
Possibly! But we’re confident we’ve built a bill validation product that is better than anything that’s come before it. If there is a useful feature that doesn’t exist and is integral to your workflow, there’s a very good chance we’ll build it… And the good news is we build fast, really fast (take a look at our monthly updates from the development team to see how much we add, every single month).
Development Update - February 2022
This month:
There's been an undeniable air of excitement in the dev team this month. I can't recall a time when we've had so much R&D work in progress with so much potential to make a huge impact.
One project in particular will give you the option to 'boost' your dashboards. With it, you'll be able to create your very own graphs, tables and reports. For instance: Need to create a dashboard specific to Dan in Sales so he can see what's important in his pipeline? No problem.
The boost will also provide a new dashboard that monitors matrix pricing trends over a period of time. With it, you'll be able to see which suppliers are pricing competitively on various types of meters and when. We'll be in touch again about Dashboard Boosts but if you'd like to get in front of the queue, please contact us or your account manager to signify your interest.
Read on to hear what else we've been up to in the month of February...
Bill Val Thresholds
When validating bills for customers, it's quite often the case that a few pence difference between the 'expected' and 'actual' isn't of vital importance. We've added the ability to set a tolerance threshold of just how far out you'll allow the difference to be, before receiving an alert.
This tolerance can be set individually over almost any aspect of the bill. What's more, you can alter this tolerance on a per-customer basis, should you have certain customers that require more stringent validation than others.
Built for: BILL VAL
Other bits and bobs...
We've also added the following other bits and bobs...
Improved Customer & Lead Snapshot
You can get a quick overview of all the important bits by visiting the Snapshot section within Leads or Customers. We've now added the company number (EIN for the USA) to the Leads and Customers Snapshot screens.
Built for: PRO CRM
Search and Filter Cloud Documents
Within our PRO CRM you can upload any documents that would be useful to store against a lead or customer. We've now added the ability to search through these documents either through their description or by date.
Built for: PRO CRM
New Lost Contract Reasons
When marking a contract as "Lost" you can select from a handful of useful reasons why that contract was lost. We've added more selectable options here to give you a more detailed analysis when reporting.
Built for: PRO CRM
Speedier Detailed Export
Our PRO CRM allows you to export procurement data in varying degrees of complexity. We've made speed improvements to the most "Detailed Export" so it completes much faster.
Built for: PRO CRM
Bill Val UI
As an addition to the threshold work described above, we've improved the user interface of Bill Val reporting so you can now clearly see the actual vs expected difference as a percentage.
Built for: BILL VAL
Approx Commission with Opportunity Exports
Previously when performing a tender export, an "Approx Commission" value would only appear if one had been set manually by the user. However, when viewing a new tender directly within the system, a user is helpfully shown the "Approx Commission" value, even if one has not been set (by using the partner's default broker fee). The process has now been updated so that exports now marry the information provided when viewing an opportunity within the system.
Built for: PRO CRM
That’s it for this month.
Our software evolves at such an exciting rate so please feel free to get in touch to discuss any of the functionality we’ve added since you last saw it. We’ll be more than happy to arrange a demo to show you around!
Development Update - January 2022
This month:
And we're off! Despite the Christmas cobwebs, January in the dev team was just as busy as the months that preceded it. I think we were all thankful for the rest but also just as happy to be back with the team, planning the next 12 months of new features.
The new system redesign that we announced last month has taken much of our focus. We had many users requesting early access and we're happy to say that feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. As such, we're pleased to mark February 18th as the official date when all of our software will switch to the new design.
Read on to discover more about the new look as well as other bits and bobs.
Custom Branding With The New UI
As previously mentioned, the new design will be going live on all accounts very shortly (February 18th). Our final push has been to adapt the new look so that it works for any system that has custom branding set. If you utilise your own logo and colours within any of UtilityClick's software, then you'll also be able to experience a better UI come February 18th.
Other bits and bobs...
We've also added the following other bits and bobs...
Improvements to The Sales (Tables) Dashboard Reporting
Within the 'Booked Breakdown', 'Won Breakdown' and 'Lost Breakdown' Sales report, you can now drill down to which deals were bespoke and which were matrix.
Built for: PRO CRM
LOA Start/End Date Validation
Customers have reported that they occasionally forget to enter a correct start/end date on a system populated LOA. If turned on, this new feature will prompt users that both a start and end dates must be present before the upload can proceed.
Built for: PRO CRM
Speed improvements for Customer Imports
As part of our ongoing mission to speed up system-wide imports/exports - we've made improvements to ensure importing customer data is now more robust and completes much faster.
Built for: PRO CRM
New bespoke charge units added to Bill Val
We've made Bill Val even more comprehensive and added support to check for additional bespoke charge unit types (including £/meter/month).
Built for: BILL VAL
Activity Sub Types Are now filterable
We've extended the search facility within the Activities component, it's now possible to filter by Task, Type AND Sub Type.
Built for: PRO CRM
Bespoke Charges Summary
Multiple bespoke charges are commonplace in water procurement, because of this we've adapted all quoting results screens (including exports) to include a summary of all bespoke charges per quote.
Built for: PRO CRM
Bespoke Charges On Excel Imports
Users have been able to add bespoke charges to quotes and contracts for some time but now you can now add them when importing in bulk via an Excel file.
Built for: PRO CRM
That’s it for this month.
Our software evolves at such an exciting rate so please feel free to get in touch to discuss any of the functionality we’ve added since you last saw it. We’ll be more than happy to arrange a demo to show you around!
Development Update - December 2021
This month:
As the team return from a restful Christmas break, we look back at everything we completed in the final month of 2021. It's fitting that we start the New Year with a clean slate and a new look to our flagship products. Over the last few months, the team have been creating a completely new design for our PRO CRM, BILL VAL and PORTAL products. We're extremely excited to show you the results.
We've also received positive feedback on our integration with Tickd. Up until very recently, we've encouraged our customers to forge their own direct supplier relationships but it's been clear that having an alternative offering, straight out the box, is also proving useful.
Read on to hear how you can utilise the new design, the Tickd integration, as well as other bits & bobs.
System Redesign
You may have seen back in October that we teased a ghostly glimpse of the new design and we've already rolled it out to a few willing participants. We'll be contacting all our customers shortly to see if you'd like to trial the new look within your system.
Tickd Expansion
When managing quotes within the PRO CRM, you can now choose to employ the (green) "Get Tickd Quotes" button and utilise the connections that Tickd have assembled (currently British Gas Lite, Scottish Power and TotalEnergies). If you'd like to utilise this optional feature and would like further guidance, please contact your account manager.
Built for: PRO CRM (UK ONLY)
Other bits and bobs...
We've also added the following other bits and bobs...
NEW Reporting On Activities
We've added a brand new dashboard focussed solely on Activities. You can now drill down to Activities completed by team members and specific customers as well as gain insight in to activities completed within a certain timeframe.
Built for: PRO CRM
Alert before marking an activity as done
We've added an optional feature that when enabled will offer the user a 'Yes' or 'No' alert when marking an activity as 'Done'. This can help avoid those costly accidents where a team member clears an activity before it has been actioned.
Built for: PRO CRM
Water commission percentage
When creating a bespoke tender for water supply, we've added the ability to set a commission percentage of the contract. Previously you could only select a £/m3.
Built for: PRO CRM (UK Only)
Auto-upload Unsigned LOA to Customer Section
When generating an LOA within the system, you can now choose 'Generate & Save' to automatically add the LOA to the Customer Details section.
Built for: PRO CRM
Oh Duck Screen Improvements
Everyone hates an error screen so we've tried to soften the blow of ours by giving you the chance to play a version of the 1984 hit Duck Hunt each time it appears.
Built for: PRO CRM
Bulk Uplift for Bespoke Tenders
Previously our system has allowed for a bulk uplift to be added for matrix tenders. We've now added this feature so that it's also available on bespoke tenders too.
Built for: PRO CRM
Quicker Reporting
We've introduced further speed enhancements to make our new reporting that little bit quicker.
Built for: PRO CRM
System Export Enhancements
Over the last 12 months, we've been rewriting the way our system exports data. This month we've adapted the commission module. Now your commission exports will be generated much faster.
Built for: PRO CRM
Customer Name Added To Detailed Quote Export
We've updated our 'Detailed Quote' export (found under Partner > Procurement > Input Prices > Quotes), so that it now includes parent and child customer information.
Built for: PRO CRM (UK Only)
Supplier Insights Dashboard
We've revolutionised the dashboards of our Supplier Insights product to include the same cutting-edge technology found within our PRO CRM product.
Built for: INSIGHTS
That’s it for this month.
Our software evolves at such an exciting rate so please feel free to get in touch to discuss any of the functionality we’ve added since you last saw it. We’ll be more than happy to arrange a demo to show you around!
API: Turn On The Power
of
UtilityClick
Are you embedded with a generic CRM but wish that you could upgrade it with smart energy tools?
You can with the UtilityClick API.
What's an API?
An API is an intermediatory between two systems that allow them to communicate with each other. Communication can be outward, where it pushes data from your CRM (a CALL). Or it can receive information from another system (a RESPONSE).
Our API is super flexible - It can be utilised either to CALL on the power of the UtilityClick pricing engine (and push results directly back into your CRM). Or your CRM can RESPOND directly to UtilityClick by pushing data to be processed.
(Hint: Turn on the Power)
Why switch on the power of UtilityClick?
Easy Integration
Built with simplicity in mind. Integrate easily with minimal development work.
Accurate
Our matrix lookup configurations are updated regularly to reflect the latest supplier configurations.
Reliable
Our API is built on the latest technology. Thousands of quotes are generated on a daily basis.
Customisable
Switch on and off your suppliers. Return pricing based on your configurations.
And it's not just OUR API
Third Party APIs
If you have additional apps that you'd like to integrate with through UtilityClick, then there's a good chance we can help. Not only do we have our own APIs but we can also integrate into many different apps, such as:
Latest articles...
Development Update – April 2022
Easter came and went for the dev team and despite the on/off/on again nature of work…
Shhhh. We won’t tell if you don’t
With UtilityClick you can give your customers access to invaluable software, presented…
Development Update - November 2021
This month:
There's a pleasant feeling in seeing something that we've all worked so hard on finally being applied in the "real world". This month saw the cutting of ribbons on two long time projects, namely the new dashboards, and the Tickd integration.
For the dashboards in particular, it's an incredible milestone that the team can be proud of. We must also offer our thanks. Many of you depend significantly on the reporting it provides, so it's taken great understanding on your part to make the switch.
Read on to hear more about dashboards, Tickd and the "Other Bits & Bobs" that we've been working on in November.
Tickd Integration
We've now added the ability to run pricing through Tickd to all UK based CRM PRO accounts. No matter your supplier relationship coverage, you can now (optionally) utilise this new Tickd connectivity to pass on greater tariff flexibility to your customers.
In short, it can offer pricing versatility to give you an edge over competitors. We'll be working with Tickd to add even more suppliers and we'll be in touch once live.
Built for: PRO CRM (UK Only)
Dashboards Live
Our reporting had previously been powered by PowerBI and although robust, it had been clear to us for some time that it was limiting the diversity of our reporting. With the new system in place, we're completely uncapped on the variety and customisation of potential reports.
You may have seen from our recent dashboards article that we're planning on showcasing more on what the new system can do. Keep an eye on our website for a new series of video shorts that we've named: Reporting Drilldown.
Other bits and bobs...
We've also added the following other bits and bobs...
Improved Navigation For New Dashboards
We've made it quicker to jump straight into any of your dashboards from anywhere within the system. Simply select the one you need from the new dropdown on the main menu.
Built for: PRO CRM
Improved Bulk Import for MOP & DC/DA Data
When bulk uploading 'Meter Operator / Contract' information, you can now import "Deal Status" and "Accepted Date" for MOP or DCDA records. Thus saving you valuable time not having to enter information on a per meter basis.
Built for: PRO CRM (UK Only)
That’s it for this month.
Our software evolves at such an exciting rate so please feel free to get in touch to discuss any of the functionality we’ve added since you last saw it. We’ll be more than happy to arrange a demo to show you around!
Development Update - October 2021
This month:
This month's Development Update has taken a slightly different shape from the norm. We have the usual lowdown of what the team has been up to but we're also delighted to announce a jam-packed bonus box of items for the PRO CRM.
These are items that have been developed previously but have never been deployed across the board. Most have come directly from customer requests. There's some big, some small, some with niche uses, and some broad.
Check it out below, together with the other bits and bobs that have taken our focus in October.
A Jam-Packed Bonus
Our Sales director Andy, has put together a whirlwind recorded demo to take you through each bonus item. Check out the video by clicking the banner below.
Built for: PRO CRM
What's in this bumper jar? Default User Filter to be My Users. An extension to Analytics that allows employee payments to be calculated, exported and marked as paid. The ability to highlight a "Decision Maker". Quickly log the result of a call. Automatically mark all Meters within a Site as inactive when making a Site inactive. A new Fixed Fee Commission Type. The option to configure Gas Seasonality. Bill Validation in the Customer Portal. Added adjustments by Consumption View.
Additional Payment Terms
This feature has been hotly requested from our US customers but is also available across the pond. We now have four additional payment terms to select from: Live Split & Arrears, Signed Split & Arrears, Total Sign Annual Remainder, and First Year Sign Annual Remainder. Contact your account manager to explore the differences and discover how you can best utilise these payment terms.
Built for: PRO CRM
Other bits and bobs...
We've also added the following other bits and bobs...
Speed improvements on Imports
We've rewritten the import module for Quotes, Meters and Sites using pure SQL code. This means imports will now complete much faster.
Built for: PRO CRM
Speed improvements on Sales Exports
Just like the Sales imports mentioned previously, Sales exports have also been rewritten using pure SQL to provide further speed enhancements.
Built for: PRO CRM
"Date Created" added when Creating A Customer
The system can now record and present a "Date Created" value that details when any lead or customer was created (either manually or via bulk upload).
Built for: PRO CRM
Supplier Insights Dashboard Improvements
Supplier Insights has been updated to allow for better tracking of performance and to see the effects of adjusting matrix and bespoke pricing.
Built for: INSIGHTS
"Out of Date Badge" Improvements
Our system already displays a handy "Out Of Date" badge on quotes if the pricing previously generated is no longer current. The logic for this has been improved to notify users of further instances where pricing is out of date, such as when flat files have been completely removed.
Built for: PRO CRM
UI Improvements for USA Usage
Our usage module allows you to enter an absolute consumption value over a period of time for any given site. We've added the ability to add an 'End Date' to any inputted usage data. This helpfully defaults to the end of the month.
Built for: PRO CRM (USA Only)
Option to use Financial Reconciled data when reporting
A tick box has been added when reporting financials called "Reconciled". When ticked, the forecast and actual figures are presented based on the figures from the Financial Reconciled dashboard report, not the Financial Report (which is used by default).
Built for: PRO CRM (USA Only)
Prevent Duplicate Reference Numbers
Many customers utilise the reference numbers that are automatically assigned to Leads/Customers, Tenders, Quotes etc. Previously it has been possible to obtain duplicate values across different types (e.g. A quote and a tender could have the same reference). We've now added an alpha prefix to each one to ensure EVERY reference is unique.
That’s it for this month.
Our software evolves at such an exciting rate so please feel free to get in touch to discuss any of the functionality we’ve added since you last saw it. We’ll be more than happy to arrange a demo to show you around!