Summary of significant accounting policies - Additional information (Details)			1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2020 shares	Dec. 17, 2019	Jan. 31, 2020	Feb. 29, 2020 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2019 USD ($)	Feb. 29, 2020 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2019 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Advertising cost, net				$ 179,000		$ 183,000
Advertising costs					$ 503,000		$ 582,000
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the earnings per share increased | shares	24,634,560
Working capital changes						1,900,000
Shares conversion ratio		0.025
Unbilled accounts receivable				2,093,000		2,093,000			$ 1,137,000
Research and developments costs				800,000	1,600,000	2,100,000	2,500,000
Capitalized computer software cost				$ 0	$ 400,000	0	$ 400,000
Concentration of credit risk percent				40.00%
Concentration of credit Risk description				No one individual client represents more than 10% of revenues for the three and six months ended February 29, 2020
Short term accrued workers compensation				$ 200,000		200,000
Long term accrued workers compensation				700,000		700,000		$ 100,000
Short term assets				2,000,000		2,000,000
Short term liabilities				2,000,000		2,000,000
Long term assets				3,300,000		3,300,000
Long term liabilities				5,600,000		5,600,000
Short-term asset and workers compensation - deposits				200,000		200,000
Long-term asset and workers compensation - deposits				500,000		$ 500,000
Settlement claims				$ 500,000
Preferred Stock
Shares conversion ratio			1			1