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TECHNOLOGY ROADMAP FOR CPA FIRMS IN 2011 By: Andrew Spottswood

TECHNOLOGY ROADMAP FOR CPA FIRMS IN 2011 By: Andrew Spottswood. Introduction. Lived in Redmond since 2009, from TN University of TN, Knoxville Kat, Griffin (3yrs), and Elliot (6mos) Technology Consulting for 10+ years . Cisco, EMC, and Business Continuity Certifications

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TECHNOLOGY ROADMAP FOR CPA FIRMS IN 2011 By: Andrew Spottswood

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  1. TECHNOLOGY ROADMAP FOR CPA FIRMS IN 2011By: Andrew Spottswood

  2. Introduction • Lived in Redmond since 2009, from TN • University of TN, Knoxville • Kat, Griffin (3yrs), and Elliot (6mos) • Technology Consulting for 10+ years. • Cisco, EMC, and Business Continuity Certifications • TROI started in 2004 - LeMaster Daniels • Inland Imaging merger - December 2010

  3. Agenda • Why have an IT Roadmap? • Roadmap Overview • Build Your Own Technology Roadmap - Step by Step Process • TROI Propaganda

  4. Why do we need an IT Roadmap? • Chief Causes of Lost Data (in order) are:equipment failure, accidental deletion, employee security, external security breach, viruses, and disasters. – Gartner Research • Computer systems fail on an average of nine times per year, with an average of four hours downtimeper failure.– The Disaster Recovery Journal, Business Impact Analysis, 2009 • 40% of SMBs that manage their own networksecurity and use the Internet for more than email will experience a successful Internet hack. More than 50% will not know they were attacked. – Gartner Group

  5. Why do we need an IT Roadmap? BEFORE • Filing cabinets • Ledger sheets • Dictaphones • Fax machines • Message call pad • Adding machines • Carbon sheets • Typewriters NOW • Servers/Networks • Practice Management/Billing • Digital recordings • Email/E-discovery • Voice-over-IP • Laptops • Copiers • Smart Phones “We used to work that way?”

  6. IT Roadmap Overview • Customized, Prioritized • Business driven short and long-term plans • Technology Best Practices • Strategic Drivers: • Cost • Efficiency • Reliability • Business Continuity • Collaboration • Living Document

  7. Build Your Own Roadmap • Technology Committee • Foundational Technology Goals/Best Practices • Documentation • Technology Requirements • Technology Opportunities • Budgeting • Meet Regularly

  8. 1. Technology Committee • A group, not just IT and/or Administrator • Representatives from each Department • Tax, Audit, Quickbooks, Business, Operations, Shareholder, etc • Bring perspective from each department and software platform - “power users” • Build and Update Plan together

  9. 2. Technology IT Goals/Best Practices • Equipment and Software • Longevity • ROI • Implementation • Planning • Communication • Minimal Downtime • Management • Efficiency • ROI • Business Intelligence • Collaboration • Security • Speed “What is important to the business?”

  10. 3. Documentation • Inventory • Servers • Network Equipment • PCs/Laptops • Printers • Phones – Mobile+Office • Visio Diagrams • Passwords • Software Maintenance • Vendor Maintenance • Business Continuity Plan

  11. 4. Technology Requirements • Necessary Upgrades • Prioritization of required upgrades throughout the office • Technology Committee Recommendations • Examples • PCs, Toner, Software Maintenance, etc

  12. 5. Technology Opportunities • Business Goals • Current view from Clients, Employees • Technology Committee Recommendations • Examples • Remote Access, Disaster Recovery Plan, Paperless, Client Portal, More Efficient Workflows “How can we leverage IT to support our business?”

  13. 6. Budgeting • Prioritize Technology Road Map • Add Costs for each • Hard and soft cost • Compare your IT spending to peers • Build ROI for initiatives • Do some pay for themselves overtime?

  14. 7. Meet Regularly • Commit to a schedule to meet regularly (monthly or quarterly) • Decisions made about Technology Road Map in meeting – give it purpose • Update documentation as a prerequisite

  15. TROI Business Model What makes TROI different? • Business First, Technology Second • Technology is a Business Strategy • Our People • Service Delivery Specialization Teams: • Accounting • Medical • Professional Services/Other

  16. TROI Business Model • Consulting Services • Strategic Planning – Virtual CIO • Technology Assessment + Total Cost of Ownership • Project Based Engineering • Business Process Re-engineering • 24/7 Managed & Hosted Services • Hosted – TROI owned • Hardware, software, applications, service delivery • Managed – Client owned • Service delivery

  17. CPA Specialization • Technology Specific Expertise • Infrastructure • Security • Remote Access • Systems • Microsoft • Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity • The Cloud • Application Specific Expertise • CCH (ProSystems, Research, etc.) • Thomson (Engagement, GoFileRoom, etc.) • Intuit (QB, ProSeries, Lacerte, etc.) • CaseWare • Project Management • Project Managers • Strategic Planning • Account Manager • Virtual CIO TROI Support Team “TROI has an in-depth understanding of a CPA firm’s billable hours, efficient work flows, and meeting deadlines.”

  18. Questions? Andrew Spottswood (425) 216-2727 aspottswood@mytroi.com

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