Web 2.0, SaaS and Cloud Computing: What the New Internet Means for Tax & Accounting Professionals

Outsourcing the PC
The promise of all of these trends, Web 2.0, SaaS and Cloud Computing, is that more and more of the things we currently rely on our own computers to do, will be done elsewhere. In short, the PC is gradually being outsourced, or at least most of its functions are. For most professional uses, the end result could very well be systems that require only a monitor and interface devices (keyboard, mouse- if they don’t all go to touchscreens). Users will be able to log into anything from anywhere, whether personal files, work programs, client data or collaborative processes. Hard drives won’t be necessary since everything will be stored in a secure datacenter, which means backups will be automatic, and data will be much safer than if it were stored on a computer in a professional’s office and is vulnerable to many security threats.

The PC won’t die exactly, it will just evolve into something entirely different and eventually not even be referred to as such, since it will no longer be “computing,” but instead will be the user’s interface to much greater and more powerful processing capabilities at the other end. All of this is coming as a result of Web 2.0, SaaS and Cloud Computing, to all professions and industries. It won’t be an immediate transformation, but it is already happening. And you’re already seeing some of the benefits in your practice today.