technology roadmap for cpa firms in 2011 by: andrew spottswood

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TECHNOLOGY ROADMAP FOR CPA FIRMS IN 2011 By: Andrew Spottswood

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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 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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

TECHNOLOGY ROADMAP FOR CPA FIRMS IN 2011

By: Andrew Spottswood

Page 2: TECHNOLOGY ROADMAP FOR CPA FIRMS IN 2011 By: Andrew Spottswood

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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

Page 3: TECHNOLOGY ROADMAP FOR CPA FIRMS IN 2011 By: Andrew Spottswood

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Agenda

1. Why have an IT Roadmap?2. Roadmap Overview3. Build Your Own Technology Roadmap -

Step by Step Process4. TROI Propaganda

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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

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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

Why do we need an IT Roadmap?

“We used to work that way?”

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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

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Build Your Own Roadmap

1. Technology Committee2. Foundational Technology Goals/Best Practices3. Documentation4. Technology Requirements5. Technology Opportunities6. Budgeting7. Meet Regularly

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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

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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?”

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3. Documentation• Inventory

– Servers– Network Equipment– PCs/Laptops– Printers– Phones – Mobile+Office

• Visio Diagrams• Passwords• Software Maintenance• Vendor Maintenance• Business Continuity

Plan

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4. Technology Requirements

• Necessary Upgrades• Prioritization of

required upgrades throughout the office

• Technology Committee Recommendations

• Examples – PCs, Toner, Software

Maintenance, etc

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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?”

Page 13: TECHNOLOGY ROADMAP FOR CPA FIRMS IN 2011 By: Andrew Spottswood

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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?

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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

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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

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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

Bank of America

Bldg.

Tier Point

US Bank Bldg.

Page 17: TECHNOLOGY ROADMAP FOR CPA FIRMS IN 2011 By: Andrew Spottswood

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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.”

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Questions?

Andrew Spottswood(425) 216-2727

[email protected]