Yesterday, I had a long meeting with the developer of XpressDox to review recent additions to XpressDox document assembly platform. In this meeting, we reviewed recent developments to XpressDox’s hosted web-server offering ($29/month) and additions to its desktop development platform.
In particular, my focus was on two items: (1) the ability to access data stored in the cloud in Salesforce.com (in particular the AdvologixPM practice management system which is based on force.com) and (2) the ability to set up a “web store” to sell document assembly online.
Till recently, setting up such solutions has been expensive, both in terms of consulting and licensing costs. What I saw is nothing short of revolutionary. I saw the tools and the methods to allow cost-effective delivery of an e-commerce solution on the one-hand, and Saleforce.com integration on the other hand.
The solution was elegant in both its implementation and its ease of use. The solutions do require some understanding of how to set up a “web store” as well as how to understand and configure “data sources”. What XpressDox delivers is a rapid development toolkit to make all this happen.
Salesforce Integration
XpressDox has added “Saleforce.com” as a datasource option. There is a configuration wizard that allows you to designate multiple data-sources for a given set of templates. The module allows you to enter your Advologix Login, password and security token. You also define the data table, as well as the data query. Typically, you would use an “object ID” from Salesforce, and then pull in the data.
Because XpressDox is object oriented, you can access all fields or columns in a table by merely registering the table as a data source; there is no need to create equivalent variables in document assembly dictionary and then map them to the data source. Moreover, registered data-sources are drag-and-drop from a command editor.
Web-Store Integration
The XpressDox server management tool has made real progress. It now supports drag-and-drop to upload templates, in fact whole libraries. It also support uploading document assembly configuration files letting the user define relative paths, output folders, storage of datasets and even upload databases and other data sources (e.g. excel files, CSV files and text files).
The system allows you to create a URL direct to a particular template. What this means is that a “web store”, on purchase can send the user a confirming e-mail with a URL (weblink) to the online document assembly template. The URL can be tied to a “one-time” key that lets the user do assemblies for a limited time (say 24 hours). Once assembled, the templates could send a notification with a copy of the assembled document to the attorney, and a confirmation email to the client/purchaser.
Coming Soon: We will soon be setting up a prototype of such a process on our website (xpressdox.bashasys.com) and our secure webstore (https://bashastore.com). The website will illustrate launching “free documents” such as a power of attorney, LLC agreement, healthcare proxy and promissory note. And the store will allow the user to purchase such documents for a nominal fee of $1. Such documents would be for illustration only to show the user how the process could work.