If you attended Intuit’s recent epic "QB Connect," I'm sure you were inspired to implement some new practice strategies and tech solutions for your firm. You likely saw lots of shiny new apps and some up and coming solution providers in the exhibit hall, too.
I know I did. It is so exciting to see the new options and the opportunities available to us to improve workflows, create new efficiencies, and have a better overall experience for our teams, our clients and ourselves.
But before you start ditching your tried and true tech for what’s new and different, take a hot second to reassess your success with your existing technology. This applies to all practitioners, whether you went to the conference or not.
Why? Because there is no good reason to ditch tech that works, in lieu of something that might not be all that it is hyped up to be, or to put the time and effort into changing things up for your team and clients for a solution that doesn't meet your needs after all.
The solution providers who continue to evolve and grow so that my firm can do the same are partners who deserve my loyalty, and I give it to them. We are in it together. That is what my Starting Lineup represents to me, so even though I have seen plenty of amazing new apps, I will continue to add those that make sense to my firm’s tech ecosystem.
I recommend breaking down your decision into these four steps designed to give you clarity and confidence before you make a move to change up your tech stack.
1. Clearly define each solution you want to implement in terms of what problem you want them to solve in your practice
More specifically, consider how you want to use each solution. Is it to fill a gap? To facilitate expansion? Or to offer a new service? For example, if you have a manual bookkeeping process you need to prioritize eliminating that, so if you don’t already have a tool like Bookkeep to automate bookkeeping it makes sense to implement it because it will increase efficiency and save you billable time.
2. Consider other alternatives
Before you make a move, especially if you already have an app doing what you want a potential replacement to do, make sure you perform due diligence on the app. Are other practitioners using it and how do they use it?Should you consider something else? Or just stay with what has been working right now? Make a short list of other potential solutions and the pros and cons of each alongside your new app recruit.
3. Confer with other sources using the solution
If you went to QBConnect, you likely had a chance to learn about your new potential solution in a class or from another practitioner. Maybe you heard about it straight from the solution provider. It’s always a good idea, in my opinion, to get some real-firm proof. Reach out to another practitioner and ask (Send me a note and I'll help if I can). Do another demo (If you have not done one, then you definitely need to!) and watch a webinar to see it in action again. Make sure the app provider will support you in the implementation process and beyond.
The solution providers who continue to evolve and grow so that my firm can do the same are partners who deserve my loyalty, and I give it to them. We are in it together.
4. Do a cost-benefit analysis for each potential new app in light of your existing tech
Before you throw the proverbial baby out with the bathwater when it comes to adopting new apps and eliminating older ones, I think it also is important to do a cost
benefit analysis and put the new potential solution head-to-head with your trusted tech. This will help you see if you are comparing apples to apples and if there are any potential pitfalls of switching which you may be overlooking in the glare of the shiny alternative.
To me, there are few things more exciting than trying out new tech, however, I am also a huge proponent of sticking with the solutions that have performed well year after year. After all, how can you ever be sure that you will have success with a solution until you try it? Sometimes you cannot, so it really is critical to know why you want to make a change.
Based on the four steps above, I am also psyched to know that the existing solutions I have are serving me well. My tried and true tech partners are keeping my firm efficient, my team and I productive, and they truly facilitate new levels of profitability. I really cannot ask for more than that.
Dawn Brolin is "The Designated Motivator" for accounting professionals and CEO of Powerful Accounting Inc. For more than two decades, Dawn has been a well-known and respected educator and motivator for her clients, other accounting professionals and technology solution providers. She is known for innovative collaborations within the accounting profession including with her technology ecosystem partners which are included in her Team Brolin Starting Lineup. Dawn is a member of the Intuit Tax Council, the ADP Advisory Board, and the Avalara QuickBooks Advisory Board. She also received many designations and recognitions throughout her career, including “The 2022 Top Presenters Awards“ by CPAacademy.org as well as Insightful Accountant’s 2020 Top Niche Practice ProAdvisor: Forensics” and one of Accounting Today’s 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 "Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting.”
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