This week I
came across an article written by someone I’ve long respected and in fact, used
to write for me on a semi-regular basis during my tenure as editor in chief at
Accounting Today.
The piece
focused on why some accounting firms, particularly smaller ones who,
understandably, are comfortable with their current processes and workflow even
though it may be outdated, and are resistant to adopting new technologies. And
in addition, she writes, they’re often too busy and are happy with the way
things are.
Now before I climb
on any type of soapbox let me preface this by revealing that I do not own a
Kindle, preferring paper books to any type of E-book and have two newspapers
delivered daily. From 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. speaking or interacting with me is
strictly prohibited while I’m enjoying my oversized cup of coffee and poring
over the editorial and sports pages.
Yet I will
always remember what one prescient IT staffer told me in the early-1990s,
before nouns like Google, Netscape and Explorer became embedded in the
mainstream lexicon.
“Those that do
not run to technology will no doubt be the ones left behind.”
I’m sure we’ve
all witnessed what happens to companies and once-heralded brands when they
don’t adapt to change or encroaching competition – and to be fair not always
did their demise involve a failure to implement the latest technologies.
Those who grew
up in the Northeast and New England no doubt have at one time or another enjoyed
a burger and a Fribble at a Friendly’s Restaurant. Apparently unconcerned over
more vibrant concepts moving in on their market share such as Chipotle Qdoba or Five Guys with 21st century ordering systems
and interactive menu boards instead of incredibly bad and slow service,
Friendly’s began shuttering units at an alarming rate. In fact, all their units
within a 20-mile radius of where I live can now be seen sporting large
“Building for Lease” signs.
For New
Yorkers like me, for years the go-to venue for sporting goods was a company
called Herman’s. Despite high prices and poor service, it was too arrogant to
respond to penetration from Sports Authority which boasted a far more helpful
staff and online ordering and soon Herman’s was soaping the windows and padlocking
their doors.
And the list
goes on. I’m sure you can all cite your examples here….
I doubt it’s
all that different for CPA firms.
Gerald Ford is
no longer President so there’s no reason your back office processes should
mimic something from circa 1974. Expense is no longer an excuse for technology procrastination
as cloud adoption has pared down the cost of applications exponentially.
I once visited
an accounting firm in New York’s financial district where the managing partner
didn’t even have a computer on his desk and the stacks of paper littered
throughout the office on occasion measured four feet high. It’s amazing that it
didn’t warrant a citation from the fire marshal. That’s usually what happens
when you continue to live and work in era when The Brady Bunch was on prime
time.
Look I don’t
want to dictate how folks run their firms. But I’ve seen too much historical
evidence to sway my thinking when leaving things status quo.
Those CPA
firms that are glacial in change will no doubt create client and real estate
opportunities down the road for those that aren’t.
No comments:
Post a Comment