Today's Technology for Tomorrow's Firm.
Issue link: https://cpapracticeadvisor.epubxp.com/i/432767
26 December 2014 • www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com 2015 & EXECUTIVE PREDICTIONS YEAR IN REVIEW 2014 A s the explosion of available information accelerates the pace of business, client expectations increase and the solutions we use in our personal lives intersect and blend with our professional tools. In addition, the ability to leverage technology and workfows to improve the way business is conducted has become increasingly paramount. Wolt ers K luwer, CCH ha s cont i nued on it s pat h of t ra n sfor m i ng research with speed, accuracy and efficiency by recently launching CCH ® IntelliConnect Browser Search. This groundbreaking, frst-of-its-kind industry feature, allows users of the IntelliConnect ® research platform to access trusted Wolters Kluwer, CCH content directly from Google ® (or their favorite public search engine) along with other browser search results. It's a clear example of connecting familiar search tools for greater effciency while eliminating questions about the accuracy of public search engine results — no more going back and forth to fnd trusted, accurate answers! While the idea itself is inherently simple — add value to a familiar method tax professionals already employ to search for information — trends supporting a desire to gain a stronger grip on technology for research and workfow processes indicate that some are better prepared than others for taking that next step. In fact, the 2014 Wolters Kluwer, CCH white paper, Charting a Course for the Future: A Report on Firm Preparedness, released in October, reveals many eye-opening details about the signifcant impact that technology and other trends will continue to have on frms. For example, when asked if technology will have a major impact on managing future workfow and key business processes — 76 percent of frms which claimed they were well prepared to take advantage of the most signifcant trends in the accounting profession said yes. And speaking of those most significant trends, the second highest identifed by more than 400 frms surveyed for the report was Technology Integration Challenges — with Increased Focus on Client Service ranking as the top future trend. When it comes to research and effciently navigating vast content libraries of updated tax information, our common goal with professionals is simple: help them fnd the right answers in the fastest way possible. T Research for F Josh Braunstein — Vice President and General Manager, Research & Learning As Vice President and General Manager of Research & Learning at Wolters Kluwer, CCH, Josh Braunstein oversees the creation of information solutions, learning services and tools that address the evolving needs of tax, accounting and audit professionals. He's responsible for maintaining and growing the company's world-leading portfolio of tax publications, newsletters, journals and databases. He also leads the initiatives in regard to continuing education for CPAs and tax professionals. Through customer-driven product and content e v o l u t i o n a n d t r a n s f o r m a t i o n , h e w o r k s t o d e l i v e r r e l e v a n t i n f o r m a t i o n t o t a x professionals at the point of need. Prior to his current role, Braunstein was Vice President and General Manager of Corsearch, part of Wolters Kluwer Corporate Legal Services, where he oversaw the global growth of the brand management lifecycle business and led his team through years of success and expansion. Braunstein was responsible for leading, building and improving eforts to integrate critical content into software workfows to allow law professionals to work more efectively, and with greater quality. Wolter s Klu wer, CC H (CC H G r o up.co m) is a le a din g glo b al p r ov i d er o f t a x , accounting and audit information, software and services. We serve as a strategic partner to professionals, helping them advance their businesses, by providing innovative, integrated and customer-focused solutions supporting the workfow of CPAs, corporate tax and accounting departments, tax attorneys and auditors to enhance productivity and proftability. Wolters Kluwer, CCH, ofers market- leading solutions such as CCH A xcess ™ , the ProSystem fx ® Suite, CCH Mobile ™ , IntelliConnect ® , CCH ® IntelliConnect Direct, Accounting Research Manager ® and the U.S. Master Ta x Guide ® . Our customers include small, medium and large accounting frms as well as corporate tax and auditing departments. In order to make that happen, the growing demand of transforming research must be met. Customers not only expect "one and done" search convenience, but an enhanced experience in their familiar, preferred workfow process as well. As the demand for instant access to relevant data anytime, anywhere grows larger, professionals should continue to expect and rely on information that is secure and trusted to help them best advise their clients. Leveraging innovative technology that allows them access to this information using familiar channels will also go a long way in helping maximize effciency and provide better insights.