wireless accountants are responding rapidly to client needs and boosting productivity
by rick telberg
special for hp
october 2005
much like it became computerized in the 1980s, america is going wireless at a frenzied pace. and just like the move to desktops and packaged software two decades ago, accountants have a rare golden opportunity to build their businesses, be more productive, and get closer to their clients by joining technology’s tide.
why wait? you can’t.
consider these eight factors…
1. is there any part of your work that could be more efficiently done closer to the client or to a source of information?
2. do you ever have multiple staff members working on the same engagement?
3. is work/life balance becoming an issue for your staff or for the younger cpas you want to attract?
4. how often does your staff travel to meet with clients or for training?
5. do you need to rearrange work areas and/or add staff to accommodate busy periods?
6. do you like to keep tabs on operations even on your days off?
7. would you sleep better having 24×7 access to client messages?
8. how often do clients ask your firm’s advice on technology issues?
wireless enables big benefits
wireless technology uses radio frequencies rather than hard wiring to transmit data. within the office, wireless means computer connectivity to servers and peripherals with no strings attached – no cables to add and no holes to drill into walls. this enables staff to spread out more during work crunches, and it means that adding a temp merely requires turning on a computer as opposed to the expense of rewiring walls, adding jacks or reconfiguring desktops.
outside the office, it means that employees working from home or on the road are instantaneously accessing centralized data and internet or intranet-based resources. smart managers are using a rapidly evolving market of handheld personal digital assistants that provide all the capabilities of laptops and some even double as cell phones.
wireless has revolutionized business in general and the work of service providers, such as accountants, in particular. regardless of where they are on the road or at home, wireless cpas are: responding within minutes of client or co-worker inquiries and, are providing clients and prospects with key business data on the spot. it’s also common now for pools of auditors to use wireless to share work papers of the same client.
work flow is improving and when wireless is used to file time and expense reports immediately after an on-site engagement there’s better chance of capturing all bill-able hours. in an era when superior client service is expected, not having a competitive wireless connection to the office is as inexcusable as not using software for tax or accounting work.
it’s also a time when staff is in short supply. many key staffers want a better balance between their work and home lives and wireless makes work-from-home policies easier for all concerned. meanwhile, the best and the brightest coming out of college are technology-oriented and will be attracted to firms on the same wavelength.
as a trusted adviser, you should also be prepared for inquiries from clients with their own wireless issues. at the start of 2005, international data corp. estimated that three quarters of american organizations had wireless or mobile systems in place or were in serious planning.
wireless configurations range from simple one-room personal area networks that interconnect desktops with printers or other peripherals, and local area networks proving the same connectivity throughout a building or floor, to wide area networks in which traveling professionals use cellular providers to connect their wireless devices with home office files to access pricing or inventory information, as well as messaging services. the most popular wireless protocols are the wi-fi or ieee 802.11 family of standards that operate at frequencies that require users to obtain a license to operate their equipment, and bluetooth, whose frequency allows unlicensed use.
when shopping for wireless devices, look for ones with built-in support of wi-fi, bluetooth or both.