Welcome to 2Shakes June update!

  • IDV COP | What's changed and will it impact you? 

  • Agreement Font Change | Helvetica is coming

  • Behind the Books Podcast | Start Strong with 2Shakes

  • 10 years of 2Shakes | It's been a decade of shaking things up

  • Sue Inkersell | In remembrance of a truly wonderful Bookkeeper

Identity Verification Code of Practice (IDVCOP)

The IDVCOP is NZ's 'safe harbour' for identity verification and it has been updated. As a founding member of DINZ, 2Shakes stays close to all things Identity, and we also made a submission on this. It's an important code of practice but the good news is that the main change it brings is that DIA have expanded the current three methods you can use and added a new one called DISTF. So, there should be no negative impacts for you.

Will the IDVCOP changes impact me?

For most 2Shakes users there will be little change.  Generally, you can continue to do ID in 2Shakes as you do now. However, a few things to be aware of are:

  • Update Your Documentation: Any references in your Program, Policy, or Procedures to the old IDVCOP and explanatory note should be updated. Note: The explanatory note is gone, it's part of the new IDVCOP. 

  • Certified Copies Changes: Can now be 12 months old (instead of 3), but the certifier now must have seen the person face to face. 

  • Low Risk Beneficial Owners: Lower standards can apply based on risk.

For more information on all the changes see DIA's fact sheet.

 

So what is DISTF?

DISTF stands for the Digital Identity Services Trust Framework.

The idea is that someone that holds identity information (like 2Shakes, banks, a law firm, or telco's) can be accredited by the DIA as trusted to provide it to others. 

For example, instead of DIA passport data, someone (a 'relying party') might instead ask another accredited ID 'information services' provider.

 

The framework sets different levels of trust depending on what's needed. It has different roles depending on what services you want to take on. It's a little complicated to get your head around - here is DIA's conceptual diagram: 

DISTF is a great idea, though it will need a network of different organisations to take up the roles in the diagram and develop technology to work with each other.

 

While 2Shakes do not have any immediate plans to be accredited to be part of the DISTF, we have had initial discussions with DIA and are interested in participating as and when it makes sense for us and for you. In the meantime, we'll be watching this space and will update you as things develop.

Agreement Font Change - Helvetica

Our recent font poll told us the overwhelming majority - 93% of you - want us to change the 2Shakes agreement font from Times New Roman to Helvetica. We have that ready to go and will be deploying soon. If you have any major concerns or questions about this change, please contact support@2shakes.co.nz. Otherwise, account holders will be notified of the change when it has been implemented, thanks!

Behind the Books

This month we had fun chatting with Sandi and Kenn from the NZQBA on their Behind the Books podcast. We talked about what good onboarding looks like, why Bookkeepers struggle with it and how 2Shakes saves time, reduces stress, and improves the client experience from day one. Listen to find out how 2Shakes started from a government project around “authority to act” and evolved into one of the most recognised Onboarding and AML platforms in New Zealand. We covered:

  • Why onboarding is more than just paperwork

  • Common mistakes Bookkeepers make when taking on clients

  • The risks of poor engagement letters and missing authorities

  • How AML naturally fits into onboarding

  • Why systems matter even for small or part-time Bookkeepers

  • Scaling a Bookkeeping business beyond your local area

  • The reality of building a software business together as partners

10 years of 2Shakes

2Shakes started on a GovTech Accelerator and launched at the Embassy in Wellington in June 2016!  After Demo Day, we immediately got to work with Bookkeepers to guide us, and the 2Shakes SaaS software was born!  Our first live agreement was signed in November 2016! After 10 years we are still shaking things up. We are on the road again, and hope to see you at the following conferences:

From a GovTech accelerator to 10 years serving Bookkeepers, Accountants, Tax Agents, Lawyers, Real Estate Agents, Financial Advisers, Immigration Consultants - and more! - across NZ and Australia. Thank you all for being with us on the journey.

Sue Inkersell  

To finish this update, we wanted to take a moment to remember a wonderful bookkeeper who sadly has passed away recently. Sue Inkersell was one of our earliest supporters at the very beginning when 2Shakes was just an idea. Sue came into our co-working space at Creative HQ every week or two to help make sure we got it right. Sue would look at what we were working on and tell us straight if it would work (or not). Honest, supportive, practical, kind, and beautiful.  Sue went on to be one of our first users and stayed in contact and checked in with us over the last 10 years.

Like the very best Bookkeepers do, Sue moved through her world doing wonderful things that quietly but powerfully supported so many for the better. We are truly gutted that Sue has been taken so early, but are so grateful to have known her.  Sue will be missed by us and everyone whose lives she brightened.

As always, thanks very much for taking the time to read our update, and if you need any help please email us on support@2shakes.co.nz.