octobernovember2022 - 7

FROM THE TRENCHES
tion best as I assisted in designing
accounting software tools such
as Accounting Power, Acumatica,
NetSuite, QuickBooks Online, Sage
Intacct, Xero, Zoho, and more. This
cloud computing style became
known as Software-as-a-Service
or SaaS.
However, limitations of internet
speed, centralized computing power,
and browser features made many of
these early SaaS products seem pretty
clunky. But the elegance of centralized
updates to the software that could
occur rapidly, leveraging the data to
do more intelligent things, such as
classification and coding, and having
an automatic backup was beneficial.
Clearly, this baby was evolving into a
juvenile and had the promise of being
an attractive and helpful adult.
Now, 25 years later, SaaS accounting
software is maturing and becoming
more valuable and convenient. Is it
perfect yet? No. But how many people
in their 20s are entirely mature and
capable? Not many. Marc Benioff, cofounder
of Salesforce, had the mission
statement of " The End of Software, "
referring to the distribution of software
on CD-ROM. Salesforce claims
to be the first company to offer SaaS,
renting software over the internet
rather than installing programs on
machines. SaaS is pure web-based
software and should be part of your
strategy.
Likewise, mobile technology
means many different things. In the
early evolution of the mobile, I tended
to be more of an anywhere, anytime,
any device (AAA) thinker. While I had
run remote computing on mainframes
in the 1970s and remote access over
wide area networks (WANs) for banks
in the 1980s, this AAA approach
became effective when I started using
Citrix Multiuser on OS/2 in 1991 before
the company's evolution into Windows
with my NMGI team.
I wanted to be able to run a computer
or terminal from anywhere.
I was less cellphone-centric even
though I evolved with cellphones by
starting with a car phone in my trunk
in the 1980s and using cellphones
to connect to computers as soon
as the technology was available. I
changed to mobile phones with the
DynaTAC 8000X, Motorola 2900 bag
phone, Motorola MicroTAC flip phone,
Motorola StarTAC, and a parade
of other cellphones, giving my K2
Enterprises team something new to
discuss every year at events.
Cellphones and mobile technology
continued to evolve through NTT
DoCoMo's i-mode platform, BlackBerry,
Nokia's Symbian platform, and Windows
Mobile. Personal digital assistants
like the PalmPilot, Apple Newton, and
others served their purpose until the
arrival of the smartphone, which
combined mobile phone and computing
functions. A popular smartphone,
the iPhone, arrived in 2007. Touch
screens, applications (There's an app
for that), and the evolution of tablets
like the iPad, Kindle (now Amazon Fire),
Samsung Galaxy, and others allowed
these mobile devices to become small,
powerful, convenient computers.
Today, you and your clients
expect the convenience of using your
smartphone to access any information
you care to look up in seconds. Why
shouldn't business be transacted
conveniently? Mobile technology is
the freedom to run the technology
you want securely and conveniently
on any device, anywhere, at any time
of day, and it should be part of your
strategy.
WHAT CLOUD STRATEGIES
CAN YOU USE?
The list of cloud technologies
enables many cloud strategies.
What is needed for your practice,
your clients, and your life? What is
your strategy as you position your
tax, audit, CAS (client accounting
services), advisory, wealth management,
or any variety of vertical
niche offerings? Is it cloud first? Is
it about relationships? Integrity,
independence, client service, team
member experience, profitability,
and more can be in your strategic
plan. And what are your tactics?
Convenience, client experience,
automation, recurring revenue, and
more can be in your tactical plan.
While The Technology Lab Podcast
(https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/
resource/podcast) can give you a tactical
view of product solutions, co-host
Brian Tankersley and I have many
strategic discussions and thoughtfully
advance individual solutions for your
technology stack. Have you thought
about your practice's future and what
emerging technologies will bring? As
mentioned in previous columns, Brian
and I are rebuilding our technology
stack recommendations across all
practice areas.
You'll see more from us on this in
the future as we remain independent
recommenders and advisors, with a
concern for vendor and monetary bias
in stack recommendations. I'm particularly
excited about my new designs
for the business and accounting use of
the Metaverse extending the thinking
of Matthew Ball into our specialty.
Let's get to the core cloud offerings
that I recommend that you consider,
choose and use:
■ SaaS software when it works for
your firm and clients with tools like
Accounting Power, AccountingSuite,
Acumatica, NetSuite, QuickBooks
Online, Sage Intacct, Spire Systems,
Xero, or Zoho
■ Collaborative tools with your
clients, with tools like BizEKG from
4ImpactData, e-Courier, Liscio,
PATH by Simplex Financials, or
Suralink
■ Accounting automation whenever
possible with tools like Dext,
Hubdoc, or Sage Autoentry
■ Productivity Suites with Google
Workspace, Microsoft 365 (particularly
E5 for CPA firms), or Zoho One
■ A modern, continuously updated
website with a .CPA domain name as
well as video and social media feeds
■ Easy payment methods with services
from Corpay One, CPACharge,
or QuickFee
■ Outsource for additional labor
with services from AdvanceTrack,
BooXkeeping, TOA Global, Taxfyle
or Xpitax
■ Hosting or private cloud deployments
for legacy applications such
as practice management, tax, audit,
TValue, and QuickBooks desktop
with suppliers like Ace Cloud
Hosting, CETROM, Right Networks,
or Network Management Group, Inc.
■ Practice tools for your firm evolving
to the cloud with choices such
as Avii, Canopy, Clarity Practice
Management, Corvee, Doc-It Suite
Cloud, DoMore, Karbon, SmartVault,
Tal ly for, Thomson Reuter s
ONVIO, TPS Cloud Axis, Verdocs,
weintegrate, or Wolters Kluwer
CCH Axcess
■ Emerging technologies with your
clients with choices such as Gilded,
Ledgible by Verady, LukkaTax, and
Vic.AI
SO, WHAT DO I DO NOW?
As you can see, web-based cloud and
mobile technology opportunities
abound. These tools can give you
a competitive edge, particularly
if you are a smaller firm. You can
use most of the same technologies
your competitors buy and leverage.
You must be thoughtful about your
strategy and tactics, carefully choosing
your technology stack and where
you spend your time. You can get
leverage through more automation,
outsourcing, and connecting cloudbased
tools.
I have recommended ways to
create your own strategic and tactical
plans in various previous columns. It
is time to review and update those
plans. Your action plan and day-to-day
activities must also evolve or quickly
become obsolete. Finally, addressing
cloud opportunities is not a project;
instead, it is a process. If you need continuing
guidance, watch this space. ■
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2022 ■ www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com
7
https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/resource/podcast https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/resource/podcast http://www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com
octobernovember2022

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