Email is a necessary evil for accounting teams. It’s the primary way we communicate with our colleagues, vendors, and customers. But it can also be a huge source of frustration – especially when things go wrong. In this three-part blog series, we’ll take a look at some of the biggest email blunders that can cost accountants time and money. We’ll focus on issues like mail merging, sending information to the wrong customer, and more. In Part 1, we’ll take a look at some common email blunders that can easily be avoided.
Part 1: Email Blunders That Cost Accountants Time and Money
We’ve all been there – you’re working on a tight deadline, and you make a mistake. It’s inevitable. But some mistakes are sillier (and costlier) than others. For accounting teams, the challenge comes in many forms, as they work tirelessly to accomplish and close a laundry list of activities.
One of the biggest email blunders that can cost accountants time and money is sending information to the wrong customer. This can happen for a number of reasons – incorrect contact information, confusing email threads, or even human error. Whatever the cause, it can be a costly mistake to make. Not only will you have to spend time correcting the issue, but if include an invoice or other pricing documentation, you are setting yourself (and your sales team) up for some uncomfortable conversations.
Another common email blunder is forgetting to attach important files or attachments. This one is especially frustrating because it’s often not caught until after you’ve hit send. And by then, it’s too late. You’ll have to take the time to resend the email with the correct attachments – and hope that the recipient is patient enough to wait for you to get it right. To avoid this mistake, be sure to double-check your email before hitting send. Make sure all attachments are included and that the recipient is correct.
Finally, one of the most frustrating email blunders is when your mail merge goes sideways. This can happen for a number of reasons – incorrect or mismatched data in your contact list, incorrectly formatted documents, or even a glitch in the system. Whatever the cause, mail merge mistakes can be time-consuming and costly to fix. In some cases, you may even have to start from scratch. To avoid this, be sure to double and triple-check your data before hitting send.
While these are just a few of the most common email blunders that can cost accountants time and, in some cases, cause serious damage to your reputation and relationship with the customer. In many ways, this is why we’ve created Lockstep Inbox. The only platform that connects Outlook and your accounting system, Lockstep Inbox brings all of your accounting workflows to one place, making email blunders like these, a thing of the past.
In Part 2, we’ll take a look at some more email blunders that can trip up even the most experienced accounting teams. Do you have any funny or frustrating email blunders to share? Tag Lockstep on social or comment in our community.
