Today's Technology for Tomorrow's Firm.
Issue link: https://cpapracticeadvisor.epubxp.com/i/116963
VOLUME 23, NUMBER 4 MY PERSPECTIVE By M. Darren Root, CPA.CITP, Executive Editor Thought Leader Events Prompt Two Key Questions I recently atended the second annual Cloud Symposium along with 48 other industry thought leaders and vendor executives. CPA2Biz executives hosted the event at AICPA corporate ofces in New York. Over the course of the event, I listened to several vendors��� plans for moving their applications to the cloud and from other vendors who have been in the cloud from the start. At an event titled ���Cloud Symposium,��� I expected nothing less than a focus on cloud applications. What became clear very early on was CPA2Biz���s desire to help educate the profession on cloud technologies and make the transition. And this efort could not be beter timed, as many vendors indicated a move to the cloud in the very near future. Vendors are quickly developing platforms and Darren is the Executive Editor of CPA Practice Advisor. He remains in public practice as the principal of Root & Associates, LLC, in Bloomington, Indiana, and is president of his consulting practice, RootWorks. He formerly served on the Board of the AICPA���s CITP Credentials Commitee and is a former member of the Board of Directors for the Indiana CPA Society. He speaks at dozens of professional organizations each year and fequently serves as a guest lecturer at Indiana University���s Kelley School of Business. 2 products designed to work strictly online. So, if you are still asking if this ���cloud thing��� is really going to take of���trust me that it���s already here, and here to stay. For frms, that means it���s time to get on board. Just two weeks afer atending the Cloud Symposium, I joined the CPA Practice A d v i s o r s ��� To p 2 5 Tought Leaders for a t h re e - d ay e v e nt i n Dallas. In attendance were the best and brightest, gat hered to d iscuss ever ything from emerging technologies to strategic changes in behavior required by firms. The overriding theme from the group was the need to rethink the services frms ofer and how services are delivered. Much of the profession has been focused on compliance work, whether that���s ta x preparation, f inancial statements, or audit reports. As a whole, the profession seems to be stick ing with ���doing what we���ve always done.��� Te key question from thought leaders was: ���What do clients really want from their accounting professional?��� April 2013 ��� www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com Darren Root, CPA.CITP, Randy Johnston and Greg LaFollette, CPA.CITP. Te answers that kept coming up were higher-level advisory services and advanced platforms���that is, insights into the client���s business, benchmark ing data, immediate access to information, and the technology required to work collaboratively and conveniently. Vendors, the profession, and our clients are all moving quickly to adopt cloud-based and mobile technologies. A s such, once ta x season is over, it will be time to immerse yourself in learning about these technologies and seting up a game plan to adopt t he r ight solutions for your frm. In summary���I atended two great events and lef with two really interesting questions. I leave you to ponder these questions: ��� What is your plan for dealing with technologies related to the cloud? ��� Are you willing to take the time to identify what services your clients really want from you? I think if you can answer these questions with some clarity, you���ve taken the frst big step in moving your frm forward. 800-547-7377 ��� www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com Publisher: Jim Baker Executive Editor: M. Darren Root, CPA.CITP Editor: Isaac M. O���Bannon Technology Editor: Brian Tankersley, CPA.CITP Managing Editor: Jill Burnett Associate Editor: Taija Jenkins Columnists: David McClure Doug Sleeter Jim Boomer, CPA.CITP Kristy Short Michelle Golden Randy Johnston Rene Lacerte Roman H. Kepczyk, CPA.CITP Art Director: Rhonda Cousin National Sales Manager: Barry Strobel Site Manager: Brittney Klaas Media Production Representative: Barb Evenson Audience Development Manager: Angela Kelty Editorial Advisory Board: Bob Cedergren, CPA.CITP, CISA, CISM, CISSP, CGEIT Chris Fraser, CPA.CITP, CISA, MCP Jason Lawhorn, CPA.CITP Gary A. Masino, CPA Ryan McCowan, CPA.CITP Linda O���Neal Troy Patton, CPA David Primes, CPA.CITP Donny Shimamoto, CPA.CITP Doug Sleeter Sandra L. 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