Today's Technology for Tomorrow's Firm.
Issue link: https://cpapracticeadvisor.epubxp.com/i/83146
TIPS & TRICKS How the Cloud is Helping Some Reduce Stress on Vacation I n our September issue, we focused many of our articles and columns on how the cloud is helping to change the way tax and accounting firms do business. Te benefits have reached firms of all sizes, helping streamline internal workflow processes, as well as their client relationships. Many small businesses are also Although some professionals may reaping the same rewards, since mobile tools and web-based business management, sales tools and accounting systems help business owners stay on top of processes and day-to-day operations, regardless of where they are. look at this "always plugged in" lifestyle as being a drawback, a recent report showed that most small business owners actually appreciate the freedom it gives them, whether they're on the road for business, to attend their children's activities or just to spend time with the family. In the past, many small business owners have reported that regardless of financial capability, they were unable to take vacations as oſten as desired, or to fully enjoy their vaca- tions when they did take one. Aſter all, there are no paid vacation days for the interaction for awhile (whether a few days or weeks), there can be control issues, as well as the lingering compul- sion to check in on things and clients, to micro-manage from afar. Cloud computing and mobile devices, from smart phones and tablets to netbooks, are relieving much of this anxiety. Te survey of more than 1,200 entrepreneurs, which was conducted in late spring as part of the Manta SMB Wellness Index, showed that a litle less than half of small business owners planned to take a vacation over this past summer. While the above mentioned control issues, business pressures and the current economy certainly all played varying roles in their decisions, the report did not summarize the types of businesses surveyed. Tis could also affect a decision on a summer vaca- tion, since those with peak sales or volume seasons during the middle of the year also would be unlikely to schedule a vacation during their busy season. Tat would be like asking a tax professional if they planned on taking a week off in early April. TECHNOLOGIES ARE EASING THEIR STRESS AND 60 PERCENT OF THOSE PLANNING A VACATION SAID THAT MOBILE ACCESS WOULD ACTUALLY HELP THEM ENJOY THEIR VACATION MORE. Isaac M. O'Bannon, Editor Isaac is the Editor for CPA Practice Advisor, having joined the publication in September 2002. Through his experience in the areas of consumer and professional- level software and peripherals, as well as knowledge of the public accounting field, he provides reviews of technologies used by accountants and their business clients as well as contributing a regular column that provides helpful information that ranges from improving search techniques to when to upgrade a computer to computing security issues. He can be reached at isaac.obannon@cpapracticeadvisor.com. owners of small businesses, and for the smallest, taking a day or more off oſten means that the lights, and rev- enue, go dark during that time. Accountants in small practices likely can empathize with this premise, since your clients don't go on vacation at the same time, and may still need assistance with payroll and accounting issues. Even for accountants and entrepreneurs who've reached the stage where they can let another person oversee operations and client 8 October 2012 t www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com Another reason for less than half of those surveyed planning a vacation is that 60 percent of the respondents expected to be working more this year overall than they did last year. However, for those who said they were planning on taking a vacation, the cloud and mobile technologies played a role in the decision. Tis is because they say that these technolo- gies allow them to stay in contact with their business and clients while they are away. While only a few short years ago taking work on vacation might have sounded depressing to some profes- sionals, the new reality is that small business' workflow becomes a logjam, SMALL BUSINESSES & MOBILE TECH t t t t BDDFTT FNBJMT PS EPDVNFOUT XIJMF PO WBDBUJPO TBZ UIFZ FOKPZ WBDBUJPO NPSF CFDBVTF PG NPCJMF EFWJDFT VTF NPCJMF EFWJDFT XIJMF BMTP BU UIFJS DPNQVUFST VTF UIFJS NPCJMF EFWJDF GPS CVTJOFTT FWFSZ EBZ Source: Manta SMB Wellness Index and many don't envy the thought of coming back to a backlog of tasks and issues. So these technologies are easing their stress and 60 percent of those planning a vacation said that mobile access would actually help them enjoy their vacation more. Now that the summer is pretty much in the rear view mirror and you and other tax and accounting profes- sionals are geting ready for the fall season, consider these questions about yourself and your practice, because they are likely representative of your small business clients of similar size. r "SF ZPV B QBSUOFS QSJODJQMF PS owner of a small firm? r %JE ZPV UBLF B WBDBUJPO UIJT summer? r *G TP EJE ZPV VTF NPCJMF UFDI- nologies to perform work or check in on client activities while you were on vacation? How oſten? r %JE JU IFMQ ZPV FOKPZ ZPVS WBDB- tion more than if you didn't have that access?