also: talking to vendors about technology.
by jody padar
from success to significance: the radical cpa guide
are you ready? because we’re radical 2.0 and we’re going beyond bank feeds.
more on radicalism: the cloud at work | technology + transparency = transformation | 5 ways to create a more diverse and inclusive workplace | goals, goals, goals | product management meets strategy
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the reason being is that technology is automating everything faster. soon we will be using artificial intelligence and bots to do accounting.
artificial intelligence (ai) is intelligence exhibited by machines.
does that freak you out?
it should if you perceive your value in producing a financial statement instead of doing something proactive or advisory.
we all say we’re proactive and advisory. those are probably two of the most overused words in our profession. but to be real, you should know that accounting vendors have already started to use bots and show their value. they are automating simple tasks and getting smarter every day. the world is moving so quickly that we need to have a rapid prototyping way of incorporating all this new technology into what our firms sell every day. that is why our r&d is so important to the new firm model.
one type of ai is called a bot. what is a bot? according to kurt wagner’s article for recode, “bots, explained,” a bot is software that is designed to automate the kinds of tasks you would usually do on your own – like making a dinner reservation, adding an appointment to your calendar, or fetching and displaying information. wagner says we’re hearing more about them because ai software is improving dramatically as a result of attention from facebook and google.
my favorite bot is digit. this bot basically gives me a recap of my banking transactions and incrementally saves small amounts by moving money from my checking account to my savings account. i can text it and it responds back. it’s quicker than an app and it’s smarter, too.
how to talk to vendors about technology
rule number 1: do not talk to the sales guys.
find a product manager.
hey, remember, this is what we are learning to be! product managers love to talk to customers, and usually they understand their products so well that they know what their limitations are as well as the problems they are solving.
where do you find a product manager? usually live product managers are out and about on a trade show floor. otherwise, if you get the sales person ask them to refer you to the product manager.
feel free to challenge the product manager with features and functionality that you would like to see. product managers love this.