Approaching Zero Data Entry — How Could That Be?

The second point, and perhaps a bit painful at first, is that accountants, bookkeepers and consultants will need to develop a whole new set of skills. Instead of focusing on installing, setting up, training, troubleshooting and cleaning up client-entered data, you will need to become a “Lego master” who constructs connections between applications, a manager of data feeds, and a wizard with web-based “data flows.” Instead of focusing on helping clients enter the data better, you will help clients build systems where most data gets entered automagically so that the clients can focus on running their business. And as soon as you get that all working, you can move up the value chain and provide high-value business consulting services including business analytics, real-time dashboards and management consulting services. These are the services your clients may not be asking for, but believe me, they need these services much more than they need someone to teach them how to enter and pay bills.