December 2020
Isaac’s Essentials
Wrapping Up 2020
I am getting a little tired of all the 2020 memes. They prey on our most venerable senses encouraging us to pile on the idea that 2020 is the year that everything that could possibly go wrong — has. I disagree.
That line of thinking can be destructive and dangerous. No doubt that it has been a difficult year for most. But one thing is for certain, we pushed through. And that should be celebrated.
When 2020 began, Vertican was figuring out a way to help their clients in their time of need. We launched our very first Stimulus Package to reduce the impact of the pandemic to their businesses at no cost. We switched our payment providers to make payment more flexible and to better serve our clients. We continued to push updates for our software. And we launched our very first Virtual Conference, to continue the tradition of giving our clients the hands-on experience they look forward to each year.
As a company, an industry, and a partner, we cannot let another year pass and sum it up as the next popular phrase for memes. We’re determined to create progress for 2021. And we’ve already begun. Our 2021 Total Plan Subscription is representation of our pledge to continue to raise the bar. It offers significantly discounted vMedia cost, ongoing version updates, unlimited claims, upgraded product support plans, value-added free modules, DTP activation, and more.
Internally, we’ve increased our staff by 25 percent. We’re solidifying roles and redefining departments. We’re expanding our Client Services and Quality Assurance departments. We’re taking a deeper look into what makes the company happy, and ultimately what will make our clients happier.
We’ve got big plans for 2021. While I may not be able to meet with you in person, I still want to take the time to discuss our plans and how they will benefit you, as our partner.
Product Stories
Total Plan: Vertican’s Subscription Model Totally Explained
“Total what subscription? What did you guys (insert expletive here) do? And how are we paying more, yet XYZ is receiving a discount?!”
Companies make curious moves in the name of scaling forward. Some trim the proverbial overhead fat but not meaningfully enough to see significant change. Others set steep intentions by enlisting efficiency gurus yet remain in a holding pattern of overcomplicated strategies.
Sure, we trim fat. And yes, we’ve partnered with a business continuity subject matter expert (SME) making significant operational changes. But something even greater happened in 2020 at Vertican. Correction, we made something greater happen.
Effective the first of the year for Collection-Master, and later in the spring for Q-Law/E, Vertican is moving all current (perpetual) licensed clients to a monthly-based subscription model called Total Plan. So rather than continue with an a la carte software structure, Total Plan significantly pivots the Vertican SAAS platform to a full-featured, all-inclusive legal collection package.
Nicholas Arcaro, Senior Vice President of Sales, explains, “We didn’t just consider surface pain points that both Vertican and our clients have been contending with for years. We took a long, hard look at the systematic pain points.” There’s a difference. A big one. Nick continues, “Our findings arrived at two major needs preventing BOTH Vertican and our clients from scaling forward.”
- A stabilized, proactive client service process
- A predictable, annual recurring revenue (ARR)
With those key components as our driving force, here’s how we are reshaping our business model to improve our clients’ lives.
We are focusing on the big picture. This means we are taking strategic steps toward eventual Q-LawE transition, a move which will ultimately ensure that our clients’ cost to collect remains financially minimized while using the most cohesive, robust software available.
If you’re using Collection-Master, we’ve already shared with you the cost-effective features Total Plan provides, such as a significantly discounted vMedia cost, ongoing version updates, unlimited claims, DTP activation, value-added free modules, and more.
It’s that big, but it’s also that simple. We are levelling the playing field for every type of client. For example, by extending free modules to all valued clients, you’re now receiving maximized functionality and automation embedded into your platform making life easier and more profitable.
Vertican is also in the process of realigning our employees, our project teams, and our business model to not only better support our clients but go above and beyond expectations in 2021. More details will be shared in our next vConnect.
We all need to maximize profitability. Vertican’s Total Plan subscription model accomplishes this not only without sacrificing data integrity, but by optimizing it. Lowering our costs to serve clients with a robust product and a predictable ARR is ultimately lowering their costs to collect and manage their business. A company cannot achieve success independent from its clients’ success. And a client cannot be successful without its SME imparting the best products and services on to that client.
It would be without coincidence should you purchase a software shop’s cookie-cutter solution off the shelf that you will remain in a technological state of limbo. As your technology partner, we are proud of our product-streamlined Total Plan package. And, as we enter a new year, Total Plan sets us on a solid course toward maximized efficiency and profitability – together.
Events
Vertican’s Virtual Town Square
Vertican’s vSquare was a week of webinars, workshops, and social gatherings.
Our most attended session, Where is Vertican Today?, is now available online to view for free.
Look for our cabana at RMAi 2021!
If you are in the receivables management industry, this is the premier event for you and your team. Debt buyers, originating creditors, collection agencies, law firms, brokers and affiliates gather for long-awaited days of timely industry education, in-person networking opportunities and business development prospects.
VT Spotlight
Welcome to the section of the Newsletter where we share an inside look at some of Vertican’s amazing team members.
This issue of vConnect focuses the spotlight on Joe Cross.
Joe has been with Vertican since 2013. His key role with the company is working as the Budapest Office Manager. We talked with Joe about his work at Vertican, learned what he does outside of the office, and one thing he’s been doing since 1990.
What sort of work did you do before joining Vertican?
For most of my career, I’ve been a project manager for IT companies but have also helped build software for those companies. I found Vertican after getting my MBA and then worked alongside Kurt Sund, Vertican’s CTO, at Midland in San Diego, CA. I do a lot of project management at Vertican too, but I also get to stretch beyond that.
What is a typical day at Vertican like for you?
Because of the time zone difference (I live in Valencia, Spain these days), I get to have slow mornings and help with homeschooling. I have calls with my team in Budapest (I lived there before Spain) and then start meeting with the U.S. team. I enjoy the mix between hands-on R&D with the Budapest team and the high-level strategic work with the U.S. team. I usually finish work around dinner time, when my family gets together. We all feel grateful that my wife is a passionate cook.
What do you like most about working for Vertican?
The company has been strikingly supportive of my vagabond lifestyle. I get to spend tons of my time with my family while still doing creative, challenging work – it’s a perfect combination.
If you could learn anything new, what would it be?
I have a minor fixation on subliminal advertising and the biological reasons that it works. I’d love to go to school to learn more about it and work towards a PhD on how to help people identify and block the modern incarnations of this type of advertising.
What was your very first job and how old were you?
My first job was at McDonald’s – wasn’t everyone’s? I think I was 15 because I had to pay for my car insurance and gas. But my favorite job was as a Clockmaker Apprentice when I was 18. I got to repair antique clocks, from ornate French mantel clocks to massive grandfather clocks and complex Cuckoo clocks. I absolutely loved turning something old and broken into a beautiful antique that would make people ooh and aah.
Word on the street is you take photographs in cemeteries? Tell us about it and how that began.
I enjoy genealogy and one of the sub-aspects is a bit morbid. When people want photos of ancestral grave markers, they can submit a request to findagrave.com and contributors who live nearby go to the cemetery and take photos. I’ve contributed quite a few photos from cemeteries all over Europe. I used to regularly visit an old Jewish cemetery in Budapest and take photos for people whose families had to flee Hungary. The cemetery is in total disarray and I often had to climb through dense forest and push deer out of the way to reset an overturned marker. I was pleased to recently see a fundraiser being sponsored by the Jewish Synagogue to refurbish the cemetery.
What is something about you that may surprise your colleagues?
As of 2019, I’ve officially been married for over half of my life!! Amanda and I started dating in 1990 (we were 16) and married when we were both 22.
What (else) do you like to do outside of work?
Most of my energy goes to homeschooling. There’s nothing better than witnessing that moment when the light goes on in your child’s head and you see them just “get it.” I teach math and computer science to both of my kids. My son started high school this year, so he’s starting to challenge my memory of algebra and calculus. Luckily, I still remember my times tables, so my daughter is a bit easier.
Share something exciting you did in the last 12 months.
My wife read Romeo and Juliet to the kids last year. Afterwards, we decided to RV through Italy and visit Verona and Mantua to see the setting for the story. There is a 13th century house in Verona that was owned by a family with a name close to Capulet, so it’s been turned into a pilgrimage site for tourists. In Mantua we visited an opulent theater that Mozart played when he was 13. The trip was a fitting bookend to reading the story.
Do you have a favorite movie, artist and/or book?
Movie: Razor’s Edge with Bill Murray
TV: What happened to Wipeout??!?!??
Music: I lean towards rockabilly like Ryan Adams, but my wife keeps me honest with a healthy dose of Lizzo, RTJ, and Childish Gambino.
Book: Stoner by John Williams (it’s not even close to what you just thought!!!)
Please share a favorite quote.
“The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you’re still a rat.” – Lily Tomlin
Software Tip
Powerful Paperless File Policies II
Building on last month’s tips, here are a few more good policies that control software behaviors in the Paperless File.
Collection-Master has many features that are governed by policies. As of November 2020, there are 1550 policies available in Collection-Master. As a rule, all policies default to “on” and are set to “Y” out of the box. To change the default behavior, you must set the policy “N” to cause a change. Not setting the policy at all or setting the policy to “Y” are equivalent settings.
Click on image to view larger version.
Click here for a pdf of a few more of the many available powerful policies.
Software Tip
Q-Law Address Book for Websites
Do you have a need to access several websites? Q-Law has and address book for websites. Pressing the F12 key on your keyboard will access the website address book to view, add, and access any of your websites that you need. You can even create links for the whole firm to access or keep the link for individual use.
Click on image to view larger version.
Software Tip
Scanning with Auto-Detect
Scanning will auto-detect your page settings based on your image.
- If the Paper Size is set to the largest paper size, your scan will detect the paper size automatically and adjust to the paper size needed.
- Paper Size set to Legal as a default will auto-detect if the paper is letter size
- If your Page Type is set to Double-Sided it will only scan both sides of the page when necessary.
Click on image to view larger version.
ENTER TO WIN
November 2020 Winners
Congratulations to the winners from the November Contest!
Susan Clay, Timothy E. Baxter & Associates PC
Nicole Emmert, Javitch Block LLC
Daniel Potts, Lloyd & McDaniel
The “answer” to the November quiz was found in Isaac’s Essentials.
All winners will receive a Vertican wine and cheese cooler bag .
December 2020 Contest
Can you answer all three holiday trivia questions.
Three winners will be chosen at random from everyone answering all three questions correctly.
- When are the “12 Days of Christmas”?
- What northeastern U.S. state holds the Guinness record for largest snowman/woman?
- What year did the ball begin dropping in Times Square?
This contest has ended. Answers and winners are posted in the January 2021 vConnect Newsletter.
This month's prizes
Vertican Cigar Gift Box
BBQ Old Fashioned Cocktail Kit
Cannot ship to: AL, DE, KY, ME, MS, MT, OK, SD & UT and certain zip codes in AK & FL