Hey friends! I’m Liz Scott—accounting technologist, educator, and champion for tools that give accountants their time (and sanity) back. Today, I’m diving into a Canopy feature that’s getting a lot of buzz: Smart Intake is setting a new AI standard for accounting workflows. It’s redefining how firms start engagements—making client onboarding smoother, smarter, and more human than ever.
Let’s be honest—before any “real” accounting work begins, we all hit the same hurdle: collecting client info. W-2s, investment statements, charitable donations… it’s a never-ending chase. Each missing document or follow-up email adds friction and frustration. However, that’s exactly the problem Canopy’s Smart Intake aims to solve—bridging the gap between administrative busywork and the strategic advisory role accountants are meant to play.
From Tedious to Intelligent
Smart Intake uses AI to convert tax organizers or PDFs into intelligent, interactive questionnaires. As a result, what once took hours of setup and review now happens in minutes.
Here’s the magic:
You upload a tax questionnaire from your software, and Canopy’s AI analyzes the content, identifies what’s being requested, and builds a dynamic, digital checklist that’s personalized for your client.
Instead of clients receiving generic forms or endless back-and-forth emails, they experience a guided, intuitive workflow that knows exactly what to ask and when to ask it.
AI That Understands Context
What makes Smart Intake so powerful is how it adapts. Unlike traditional templates, it doesn’t just copy and paste—it thinks.
When sending an organizer to a returning client, Smart Intake automatically pre-populates known information. For example, if your client had a rental property last year, the questions stay. But if they sold it, the AI adjusts to request sale details and closing docs.
In turn, this adaptive logic means fewer missed details and less back-and-forth. You’re not chasing clients for info—they’re guided through it.
Automation That Keeps You in Control
Client intake can eat up hours of non-billable time. Fortunately, Smart Intake changes that.
The AI handles setup automatically. Then, you can review, tweak, and set due dates—while Canopy handles polite reminders (“gentle nudges,” as I like to call them). Consequently, clients stay on track without you constantly checking in.
Automation doesn’t remove the human touch—it protects it. In other words, it gives you more time to build relationships instead of chasing forms.
Client Experience, Elevated
From your client’s perspective, Smart Intake feels like concierge-level service.
When they log into their secure Canopy portal, they see a checklist tailored specifically to them. Meanwhile, conditional logic personalizes their journey—say “yes” to dependents and related questions appear; say “no” and that section disappears.
As documents are uploaded, Smart Intake automatically matches and confirms files with a green checkmark—simple, visual, and satisfying. Clients can rename, upload in bulk, and monitor progress—all in one place.
As a result, there are fewer “what do you still need?” emails and more clarity, confidence, and calm.
Consistency that Builds Trust
Consistency is everything. That’s why Smart Intake helps standardize the intake process across your entire firm, creating a uniform experience for every client and every team member.
Even details like file naming—normally tedious—are handled by AI. Canopy can automatically rename files based on global naming conventions, therefore making reviews faster and cleaner.
In the end, you get a repeatable, professional intake system that builds client trust and saves your team hours.
Why Smart Intake Matters
Smart Intake isn’t just a shiny new feature—it’s a glimpse into where our profession is heading.
By handling the heavy lifting of client data collection, it allows accountants to focus on what really matters: strategy, insights, and relationships. And because the process becomes more consistent, your firm becomes more scalable, too.
In an era where trust and efficiency define success, Smart Intake represents the new AI standard—technology that thinks alongside us, not for us.
Human Expertise Meets Intelligent Automation
When AI is thoughtfully applied, it doesn’t replace our expertise—it enhances it.
Smart Intake ensures every engagement starts with clarity and care, giving you more time to focus on the advisory moments that matter most.
So if your firm is ready to modernize its client experience and reduce administrative drag, this is your sign to explore Smart Intake.
Because every successful engagement starts with the right questions—and now, Canopy helps you ask (and answer) them smarter than ever.
Curious to see Smart Intake in action?
Watch the walkthrough here → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlhD5Psh8gI