Technology is for Client Service

by Randy Johnston, MCS, MCP
Created:

Column: From the Trenches



SaaS Tools for CPA firms

  • Capital Confirmation — electronic confirmations; even more important now that Bank of America is only going to supply confirmations electronically.
  • ProfitCents — audit risk, key performance indicators, verbose financials.
  • XCM workflow — a firm-centric, web-based workflow tool.
  • The Business Analyst — business valuation tool.
  • iLumen — Financial statement projection and practice opportunity.
  • TimeBuilder — workflow and paperless for QuickBooks with special construction release capability.
  • 1040 Workpaper tools — discussed many times in this publication in the past. These products are SaaS: 1040 Scan by SurePrep and Copanion Gruntworx.
  • Hosted Applications
    • • Thomson GoFileRoom — document management
    • • Thomson GoSystem RS — tax processing
    • • CCH Global fx — tax processing
    • • And a promise in the future for many more
  • Payroll
    • • Run Powered by ADP
    • • PayCycle


Accounting/CRM Software

  • Intuit QuickBooks Online
  • SAP Business By Design
  • SalesForce.com

Sales Tax software offered as SaaS

  • Avalara Avatax
  • SpeedTax
  • Sabrix

SaaS Building Block Software = Platform as a Service

  • SalesForce (force.com) Over 44,000 custom apps.
  • Microsoft (ASP.NET AJAX) – MySpace runs on this.
  • Google Apps Engine (your web applications on Google infrastructure)


Hardware Strategies
Some of the hardware technologies worthy of consideration include the following:

    1. Net Rescue — Continuous Data Protection backup appliance that backs up all changed files, optionally can back them up off-site, and restart virtual servers in house or off-site.
    2. VoIP phone systems — a side variety, but I’m most impressed by TrixBox at the low-end, ShoreTel in the mid-market, and Cisco at the high end.
    3. New generation scanners — particularly notable are the new Fujitsu production quality scanners: fi-6140 & fi-6240 at 60 ppm B/W & 40 ppm Color or the fi-6130 & fi-6230 at 40 ppm B/W & 30 ppm Color and the HP N9120.
    4. Video Conference systems — particularly the new generation HD quality “live presence” appliances like LifeSize Express or the Polycom HDX4000. Even video phones via SIP H.264 are affordable and useful. Examples are the Packet 8 DV326 or Grandstream GXV-3000.
    5. Automated Time Clocks, Fixed Asset accounting, Inventory Counts, POS hardware, bar code scanners, and other useful edge equipment from players like Wasp Barcode.
    6. Pigment Ink printers — much more permanent images.
    7. Kindle — more than an electronic book. It has the capability to deliver Word documents and manuals electronically in addition the content that can be purchased online.
    8. New generation phones — whether it is an iPhone, Google Android phone like the HTC G1 or made by some other manufacturer, phones can provide information while you are away from the office, and keep you connected.
    9. Xohm — this new WiMAX technology is delivering 2 to 4 Mbps of data connection for $30/month. Although it is too early to know for sure, this could replace broadband cellular for many of us.


What’s on the Hardware Horizon?

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