ATO SmartDocs scales with Ignition

In 2015, Catherine Rennie and CEO, Ron Drost embarked on a journey to disrupt the accounting industry. The pair founded ATO SmartDocs (then Digital Disruption Solutions), an IT and software company specialising in workflow automation and Australian Taxation Office (ATO) document processing. With two founders and a bold vision, they knew they needed a scalable system that could handle the administrative complexity of proposals, invoicing, and payments to help the business scale.

“Nine and a half years ago, we decided to set up the business so that it could grow basically. We needed a solution that could grow with us, and that was the main reason we went with Ignition."

This commitment to efficiency wasn’t just aspirational—it was essential for the business to scale, and in order for the business to scale, "...it needs to be easy to manage proposals, invoices, and get paid,” says Catherine. 

Recognising their need for a robust platform, ATO SmartDocs implemented Ignition from the very beginning. The platform’s automation capabilities became the backbone of their business operations, transforming how they managed client agreements and recurring billing.

To scale the business from 0 to 700+ clients, Ignition’s proposals and contracts were pivotal in streamlining client onboarding from day one. With customisable proposal templates, ATO SmartDocs could quickly create and send professional proposals and client agreements, setting the tone for efficient and seamless service. 

“Ignition helps with the initial proposal, getting that out, getting the client to accept terms and conditions, and collecting the initial payment. It’s allowed us to grow the business without any additional administrative burden.”

Recurring fees were another game-changer. Clients are billed automatically every month for software maintenance, simplifying invoicing management and eliminating the risk of missed payments. 

"Ignition automatically collects the monthly maintenance fee on a monthly basis, sends the invoice to the client, and lets me know if any payments are bouncing. It’s allowed us to grow the business without any additional administrative burden.”

Ignition’s flexible billing system also allowed ATO SmartDocs to cater to the specific needs of their clients, ensuring every project was set up for success. Each ATO SmartDocs client requires a tailored software setup, requiring custom pricing for upfront implementation fees. 

One of Ignition’s most transformative impacts was enabling ATO SmartDocs to scale its operations without increasing the administrative burden. 

“We wouldn’t have been able to manage all of our client agreements manually…Having to get that many invoices out manually would be difficult,” Catherine explains. 

“Ignition has always worked well in the background by automating invoicing and payments …It’s enabled us to focus on scaling the business and growing our clients.”

ATO SmartDocs has undergone a remarkable transformation since its inception. What began as a two-person team has grown into a thriving software business with 12 employees, serving over 700 clients across Australia—all with no time wasted chasing clients for payments and zero debtors. 

But it’s not just about numbers. Ignition has fundamentally changed how ATO SmartDocs operates. “It’s enabled us to grow the business sustainably,” Catherine emphasises. 

With Ignition as a cornerstone of their operations, ATO SmartDocs is focused on the future. Their goal is to continue growing the business and expanding their client base, all while maintaining the efficiency that has fueled their success.

“We started with Ignition from day one as a base that we knew would grow with us. It’s worked well and has supported us through all of these years."