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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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TECHNOLOGY ROADMAP FOR CPA FIRMS IN 2011
By: 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
1. Why have an IT Roadmap?2. Roadmap Overview3. Build Your Own Technology Roadmap -
Step by Step Process4. 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
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?”
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
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?”
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
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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?”
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
Bank of America
Bldg.
Tier Point
US Bank Bldg.
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.”