What's New in Tiller: Faster more automatic fills, banks via Plaid, AI categorization, & more

What's New with Tiller Webinar

Introduction to the Webinar

• The webinar focuses on new features at Tiller, including direct fills for Google Sheets and how to upgrade.

• Discussion includes the announcement of Plaid as a second aggregator and the data cleanup tool for transitioning connections.

• A link to a previous webinar on mastering categorization will be provided in follow-up resources.

Agenda Overview

• Topics include updates specific to Google Sheets, a sneak peek at upcoming features, and a Q&A session.

• Participants are encouraged to use the Q&A feature during the session for real-time questions.

Transitioning from Sidebar Fills to Direct Fills

• The presentation begins by explaining the transition from sidebar fill sheets to direct fills, emphasizing its importance for future developments.

• Direct fills are positioned as foundational for all new features being developed by Tiller.

Understanding Direct Fills

• Direct fills provide a faster, more reliable method of filling data into Google Sheets compared to sidebar fills.

• Users can refresh accounts directly in their spreadsheets without waiting for sidebar loading times or timed fills.

Benefits of Upgrading

• Upgrading allows instant data filling upon account refreshes without manual intervention or delays.

• This upgrade enhances user experience by making data management more automatic and scalable.

Features Retained in Sidebar

• Despite moving towards direct fills, useful features like transaction splitting remain available in the sidebar until fully transitioned.

Introduction of Plaid as an Aggregator

• Plaid is introduced as an alternative aggregator alongside Yodily; users are encouraged to switch if they face persistent issues with Yodily connections.

Switching Between Aggregators

• Users should only switch aggregators when necessary; both providers have their strengths depending on account types (e.g., loans).

Data Cleanup Tool Explained

• The data cleanup tool helps manage duplicate transactions when switching between aggregators.

Workflow for Using Data Cleanup Tool

• To clean up data after switching aggregators, users must first link the new connection and then unlink the old one through manage links.

New Console Features

Overview of Console Changes

• The new console design significantly improves navigation compared to previous versions that were cluttered with long lists.

Enhanced User Experience

• Creating new spreadsheets is now easier with front-and-center options; direct fills streamline building sheets without using sidebars.

Account Management Improvements

• Users can filter linked accounts easily based on provider (Plaid or Yodily), enhancing usability within account management sections.

Transaction View Enhancements

Improved Transaction Search Functionality

• The new transaction view allows users to search transactions quickly without needing spreadsheet filters, improving accessibility while on mobile devices.

Overview of Console Features

Editing Transactions in the Console

• Users can search transactions by description or category and edit them directly within the console, with updates reflected in the transaction sheet almost immediately.

• Inline editing allows users to change transaction types (e.g., from "transfer" to "loan repayment") seamlessly, enhancing user experience and efficiency.

• Currently, only two fields are editable; however, future updates may include additional fields like notes and tags based on user feedback.

Mobile Access and Future Enhancements

• The console can be added to mobile home screens for easier access, functioning similarly to a native app despite no dedicated iOS or Android applications being available.

• Feedback is encouraged regarding mobile usability improvements as this feature continues to evolve.

AutoCAT Updates

Enhanced AutoCAT Functionality

• Recent changes have made AutoCAT smarter by reducing reliance on manual rules; users can still create complex rules if desired.

• New features allow AutoCAT to automatically update transaction descriptions while categorizing them based on previous examples without needing explicit rules.

Description Matching and AI Suggest Features

• Description matching utilizes historical data for consistent categorization of similar merchants, eliminating the need for repetitive rule creation.

• The AI suggest feature leverages a language model (LLM), processing uncategorized transactions intelligently but may yield varying results upon repeated runs.

Excel vs. Google Sheets Integration

Performance Differences Between Platforms

• Tiller maintains support for Excel but highlights performance disparities; Excel's sidebar fills are faster compared to Google Sheets' slower add-on loading times.

• Direct fills technology is not yet available for Excel due to limitations in Microsoft's APIs compared to those offered by Google Sheets.

Future Development Plans for Excel Users

• While automatic fills are not currently feasible in Excel, Tiller aims to evaluate potential solutions as technology evolves.

• Upcoming development cycles will focus on improving bank feeds and exploring new features like investment holdings and pending transactions.

AI Integration with Tiller

Leveraging AI Tools

• Tiller is exploring integration with various AI tools such as Claude and ChatGPT through an MCP server that allows limited access for testing purposes.

• User data will not be used for training models without explicit consent; Tiller emphasizes an opt-in approach regarding AI functionalities.

Q&A Session Highlights

Connection Quality Insights

• There is currently no published list comparing Yodlee and Plaid connections per institution; users are encouraged to monitor their experiences with both services.

LLM Usage Clarification

• For the AI suggest feature, Tiller uses Gemini's model without sending user data back for training purposes, ensuring privacy compliance.

Transitioning from Excel to Google Sheets

• Transitioning involves manually copying data from an existing Excel workbook into a new Google Sheet. A guide will be provided in resources.

How to Transition from Excel to Google Sheets for Financial Tracking

Setting Up Google Sheets

• Create a new Google Sheet and link the same accounts as in your Excel workbook. Ensure you clear any existing transaction data before copying over the Excel data.

• Be cautious of column order when transferring data, as templates may have evolved over time with added or removed columns.

Data Transfer Considerations

• Starting fresh in a new Google Sheet is recommended, as dashboards and visualizations from Excel may not convert well to Google Sheets.

• Community solutions available in Excel may not be directly transferable to Google Sheets; manual addition might be necessary.

Template Availability

• There are more community-built templates for Google Sheets compared to Excel, reflecting a larger user base on that platform.

• Tiller templates remain consistent across both platforms but differ from community solutions which vary by platform.

Adding Columns in Google Sheets

• If the "categorized by" column is missing in your transaction sheet, it can be easily added by right-clicking on an existing column and selecting "insert one column left/right."

• Use text-based headers for new columns to avoid inheriting formatting issues from adjacent columns.

Managing Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

• Users transitioning from Yodily to Plaid may experience different 2FA requirements based on their financial institution; testing is encouraged.

• For Plaid connections, users can remove entire connections easily, while Yodily requires individual account removal due to differing technologies.

Data Privacy with Community Templates

• Installing vetted community templates via the sidebar does not grant access to personal data within your spreadsheet.

• Caution is advised when using external scripts or third-party solutions that could potentially access your data; these are not thoroughly vetted by Tiller.

Conclusion and Resources

• The session wraps up with appreciation for participant engagement. A follow-up email will provide resources and a recording of the session.