Assembly

What is Assembly

Assembly is a client experience platform designed specifically for professional service firms, such as law firms, accounting agencies, and consulting groups. The core purpose of the tool is to centralize all client interactions into a single, secure, and professionally branded portal. Instead of using scattered emails, file-sharing links, and different messaging apps, Assembly provides one place for firms and their clients to communicate, share documents, track project progress, and handle administrative tasks. This approach helps create a more organized, transparent, and impressive experience for clients, which builds trust and improves satisfaction. The platform focuses on making the client journey seamless from initial onboarding to final project delivery.

Assembly Features

Assembly offers a suite of features to help firms manage their client relationships effectively.

• Customizable Client Portals: Create a unique, branded portal for each client. You can customize the look and feel to match your firm's branding, providing a professional and consistent experience.
• Secure Document Sharing: Share sensitive files and documents with clients in a secure environment. This is much safer than email and provides a central repository for all project-related files.
• Task and Project Management: Assign tasks to clients and internal team members, set deadlines, and track progress on projects. This keeps everyone aligned and ensures projects move forward smoothly.
• Secure Messaging: A built-in messaging system allows for direct and secure communication with clients, eliminating the need for long email chains and ensuring all conversations are stored in one place.
• Client Onboarding Workflows: Create structured onboarding processes for new clients. You can build checklists and automated steps to collect necessary information and documents efficiently.
• CMS and E-commerce Powered: The platform includes Content Management System (CMS) capabilities to build out pages and share information, as well as e-commerce functions for handling payments or service packages directly through the portal.

Assembly Pricing Plans

Assembly is expected to offer tiered pricing plans tailored to different firm sizes and needs. While specific details are forthcoming, the structure will likely include:

• Starter Plan: Designed for solo practitioners and small firms, offering core features like a limited number of client portals, secure messaging, and document storage.
• Professional Plan: Aimed at growing firms and teams, this plan would likely include more client portals, advanced customization options, workflow automation, and integrations with other business tools.
• Enterprise Plan: A custom solution for large firms with specific requirements. This tier would offer unlimited usage, dedicated support, advanced security features, and custom integration possibilities.

Assembly Free Plan

As Assembly is preparing for its public launch, it is expected to offer a free trial period for new users. This trial will likely provide access to most or all of the platform's features for a limited time, allowing firms to evaluate its suitability for their needs. A permanent free plan with limited functionality may be available, but this is less common for specialized B2B platforms.

How to use Assembly

Getting started with Assembly is a straightforward process designed to be intuitive for professional service firms.

1. Sign Up and Set Up Your Firm's Brand: First, create an account and customize your workspace with your company logo, colors, and domain to create a branded environment.
2. Create a Client Portal: For each new client or project, you will create a dedicated, private portal.
3. Invite Your Client: Send a secure invitation to your client to join their portal. They will create their own login credentials.
4. Onboard the Client: Use the onboarding workflow feature to guide the client through initial steps, such as signing agreements or submitting necessary documents.
5. Manage the Project: Use the portal to share files, assign tasks, send messages, and provide updates on project milestones. The client can log in at any time to see the latest information.
6. Complete and Offboard: Once the project is complete, you can use the portal to deliver final files and handle final invoicing before archiving the space.

Pros and Cons of Assembly

Pros:

• Centralized Client Management: Keeps all communication, files, and tasks in one organized place.
• Enhanced Client Experience: Provides a professional and modern way for clients to interact with your firm.
• Improved Security: Offers a more secure way to share sensitive information compared to email.
• Professional Branding: Custom portals reinforce your firm's brand identity and professionalism.

Cons:

• New Platform: As a new tool, it may have fewer integrations compared to more established competitors.
• Learning Curve: Teams and clients may need some time to adapt to using a new portal system.
• Dependency: Your client communication becomes dependent on a single platform.

Assembly Integrations

Assembly is designed to connect with other tools commonly used by professional service firms. While the list of official integrations will grow after launch, typical integrations would include:

• Accounting Software: Connections with platforms like QuickBooks, Xero, and FreshBooks to streamline invoicing and billing.
• Payment Gateways: Integration with Stripe and PayPal to accept payments directly through the client portal.
• Calendars: Sync with Google Calendar and Outlook Calendar for scheduling meetings and deadlines.
• Email Marketing: Connect with tools like Mailchimp or Constant Contact for client communication.
• Cloud Storage: Integration with Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive for easy file management.

Assembly Alternatives

• Copilot: A popular and modern platform for creating client portals, known for its clean design and ease of use. It is a strong alternative for service-based businesses.
• SuiteDash: An all-in-one business software that includes a powerful client portal, CRM, project management, and invoicing. It is more comprehensive but can be more complex.
• Clinked: A secure client and board portal solution focused on security and collaboration. It is often used by financial and corporate firms.
• MyCase: A legal practice management software that features a robust client portal for communication, document sharing, and invoicing, specifically for law firms.

Assembly API

Yes, Assembly is expected to provide a REST API for developers to build custom integrations and connect the platform with other software. The API will allow firms to programmatically manage clients, projects, files, and messages. Developers will likely be able to obtain an API key from their account settings in the admin dashboard after the platform launches. Official API documentation will be available on their website.

An example of a basic API call might look like this (using cURL):

curl -X GET 'https://api.assembly.com/v1/clients' \
  -H 'Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY'

This command would retrieve a list of all clients in your Assembly account.

Assembly Affiliate Program

It is common for new SaaS companies like Assembly to offer an affiliate or partner program to encourage growth. While details may not be public until after the official launch, such a program would typically offer a commission on new customers who sign up through a unique referral link. Interested individuals or agencies should check the Assembly website for a 'Partners' or 'Affiliates' page once it is live. If no information is available, contacting their support or marketing team directly is a good way to inquire about partnership opportunities.