The 3 Things - Portals, Applications, and
Filespace
Portals: Where you and your clients do business. This is an
extremely important resource, as it essentially represents the WAY
you and your clients do business together. You provide resources
your client needs, such as access to important business applications
and/or information, and you now have a way to seamlessly deliver
services and information to your client. A big consideration here is
whether or not you currently have a Website positioned to really do
business with your clients (brochure site only? or "working
website"?). If you're going to drive your clients to your site
regularly, you need to make it attractive, informative and
productive - what we call "sticky".
Applications: The programs and data you need, run from a place
where you and your client (or team members, or outsourcers, etc.)
can work in realtime together. This is really the core of the online
and outsourced accounting model. If the client runs their
applications and manages their data in a centralized location - then
the rest of the organization, the accountant or whomever needs to,
may access that application and data in realtime. If the accounting
practice or outsourcer IS essentially the business office for the
client, the online model allows any level of interaction by the
client - from accessing the application and data to simply receiving
the resulting information.
Filespace: Secure storage space for source documents, data files,
and other information you need to share. This is the workhorse
around the outsourcing model, as it provides the means to get source
information from the client and provide it, securely, to those who
need to process it (your staff, outsourcers, etc.). For clients not
running online, perhaps this is the way you manage the exchange of
data files. Applications supporting this requirement include simple
file sharing, such as the eFileShare service (lots of features, but
we still call it simple, because it doesn't provide a searchable
index), to more extensive document management systems, such as
GoFileRoom.
There's a fourth "thing" involved in this model - it's the
outsourcer. You, as the accounting professional, are really the
primary. Sort of like the general contractor. You are the party to
whom certain functions or processes have been outsourced by the
client. Tax preparation, financial statement preparation, payroll
and reports, bookkeeping - whatever. Once the technology model is
securely in place, you can now look at your subs - the outsourcers
that could possibly support your business and improve your cost of
operations. The online model is what makes it really possible for
all sizes and types of businesses. It may be an option for yours.
The
way to e-enable your practice
|
| |
There's no time like the present to make a move to e-
Accounting. Hundreds of practices are improving the
profitabilility of their EXISTING BUSINESS using these models.
Even more are taking that next step to developing niche
services and specialties based on their new capability.
Using the Internet as a really big hunk of LAN cable is
what we're talking about. That's what it comes down to. We
call it WAN your LAN. For you, it means working closer with
others - more closely than ever before, and to the benefit of
all involved. Clients get better numbers and better service,
you get happier and more clients, and a better bottom-line.
|
|
|
|
|
Services Specifically Oriented to Serving Small
Business Clients |
| |
 Regardless of the size of your
professional practice, you probably serve at least some
segment of the small- medium business market. Small business
clients require a different approach than larger companies,
and the types of services they need, while similar in nature
to the larger organization, often require that the accounting
firm take a more direct level of involvement in the
performance of the daily processes.
The accounting office, to the small business client, may be
the bookkeeper, payroll processor, financial statement
preparer, and bank account reconciler. You may be asked to pay
bills, invoice customers, and provide any possible level of
process support. If you could get your small business clients
running online with their bookkeeping systems (or if you run
the books online for them and provide direct access), you
position yourself to provide not only a much higher level of
service, but you also improve your ability to deliver the
service cost-efficiently. And that's the key with the small
clients - earn enough working for them while at the same time
keeping their costs down, so that they can grow into larger
more profitable companies and clients.
QuickBooks Pro
online is only one of your options
|
|
|
Working With Larger Businesses |
| |
 As a
business grows in size and complexity, it typically needs more
sophisticated software in order to support more detailed
processes within the business. For example, a business grows
beyond the need for simple checkbook accounting to order or
inventory management, shop floor controls, manufacturing or
enterprise resource planning, etc. As this evolution in the
business occurs, the sophistication of the systems grows - but
the basic requirements of the business process remain the
same.
The value of centralized management of the application and
data resources for an enterprise organization can have a
significant positive impact - frequently to a greater extent
than with the enabling of the small business. And, once the
systems are centrally managed and accessible, the accounting
professional (you) can now connect and work in realtime with
your enterprise client. The benefits to be derived are many,
and the result is the e-Accounting result: improved
profitability in the engagement, and a more accurate and
insightful result for the client.
Enterprise
applications - delivered
|
|
|
ADVISOR Provider Network and
Directory |
| |
 Find the provider support your
professional practice needs. Improve the cost-efficiency of
certain processing operations, and at the same time improve
client service and turnaround times. Using the e- Accounting
ADVISOR Provider Network can help your business manage current
capacity, and even grow the client base with sales and
business development support.
ADVISOR Providers are committed to supporting your
professional practice, not competing with it. If you want
domestic (US-based) processors, our providers offer that. If
you want the cost-efficiencies introduced through the
participation of offshore providers - we have those, too.
Visit the ADVISOR Provider Network site, and see for yourself
how e-Accounting is supporting your practice growth and
performance initiatives.
ADVISOR Provider Network
- Support For Your Practice
|
|
|
Marketplace |
| |
 Link to
online license purchasing for QuickBooks or ACT! Obtain access
to Web-based tools and services. Get discounts on check stock
and printing solutions.
Marketplace...
purchase licenses, supplies and more!
|
|
|
Past Issues of Practice Development
News |
| |
 Read the
July 2003 edition...where we discuss ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES FOR
YOUR PRACTICE and addressing your firm's core IT
requirements,.
Read the June 2003 edition... how online accounting and
offshore outsourcing are making a big play together... and how
e-Accounting FACILITATES THE OUTSOURCE SERVICE MODEL
Read
more...
|
| |
