Financial data provider Defaqto has today added video conferencing and screen sharing to its Financial Planning software Defaqto Engage.

Defaqto’s developers have extended the system with conferencing functionality independent of third-party software.

This new service is compatible with the Chrome, Firefox, Safari and the latest Edge browsers and does not require any downloads by  either adviser or client.

The update to Engage Financial Planning software can be launched with 1-click and meeting invitations can be sent directly to clients from Engage, the firm says.

Paul Dagley-Morris, chief technology officer at Defaqto, said the Coronavirus pandemic had speeded up a number of changes to Engage.

He said: “Covid-19 has brought about rapid change within the financial advice industry. Almost overnight, advisers have had to find new ways to keep in touch with their clients.

“This is just one part of our user experience development, to support our users to ensure business interruption is minimised and that communicating with clients is as easy and efficient as possible.”

Over the last three months Defaqto has also made ‘attitude to risk’ questionnaires available to share and retrieve via email and also switched to remote training events.

Defaqto Engage is an end-to-end Financial Planning software tool  for advisers which combines risk profiling, three-way fund, platform and product research, suitability letters templates and other tools.

Defaqto was acquired by SimplyBiz in 2019.