Posted: October 4, 2011 | Author: The Modern Accountant | Filed under: Accounting, Accounting Technology, Online Collaboration Tools, Online Tools, Technology for Accountants | Tags: accounting professionals, online collaboration tools, online tools, technology |
If you’ve ever worked on a project remotely or just find it difficult to get your team members together in the same room on the same day, it might be time to consider exploring some online collaboration tools, which are designed it make it easier to share, comment, review and edit project documents and files. Maybe you don’t need an hour-long meeting to discuss something. Maybe you just need five minutes. Sometimes it’s not efficient to hold a meeting when all you need is some quick feedback or to demonstrate how far along you are on a specific project.
We’d like to share three online collaboration tools with you that make the process of working remotely much easier.
Talkwheel is a collaboration platform that allows groups to participate in a visual roundtable. It was created to combat the static nature of current online discussion models, which may work for one-on-one interaction, but are not ideal for group interaction and discussion. Talkwheel is designed to make group conversation and collaboration more efficient by creating a discussion platform that accommodates real-time activity.
It visually maps out discussions and allows groups to interact, share information and edit projects collectively. Its threaded conversation clearly defines specific and separate topics, users and comments, and allows participants to easily create new topics to steer conversations in new directions. It is able to be integrated with any software or networks and is easily customizable.
GroupZap is a platform that provides a virtual online whiteboard that can be easily shared with group members. Users can easily drag and drop images, documents and other files onto the whiteboard space along with editable sticky notes. GroupZap is ideal for the editing process, as early versions of projects can be dragged onto the whiteboard and team members can quickly comment by leaving a note for the creator.
Instead of gathering an entire team around a conference table to review an email ad, for example, the file could be shared via the whiteboard and members can provide feedback or suggest changes and edits. The entire session can be saved as a .pdf for future reference.
Google+ Hangouts is a feature of Google+, which just recently opened up to the public after initially launching by invite only. Essentially, it’s a video chat function which makes group chats easier and more efficient. Google+ users can start a “hangout” and invite team members to participate in a quick video meeting or conference – making it simple for groups working remotely to convene and discuss a project or issue without having to be in the same room at the same time.
In addition to being available online, Google+ Hangouts works with iPhones as well, making it even easier to get group members together for a video chat.
What are some of your favorite online collaboration tools? Have you had any experience with the ones we just mentioned? What do you like or dislike about them?
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Posted: August 10, 2011 | Author: The Modern Accountant | Filed under: Accounting, Accounting Professionals, Accounting Technology, Social Media, Technology for Accountants, Texas Society of CPAs | Tags: social media for accountants, technology for accountants, Texas Society of CPAs, TSCPA |
This past April the Texas Society of CPAs (TSCPA) launched a new initiative on its website designed to help members become more familiar with newer technologies as well as to more easily locate information they may need on a daily basis.
TSCPA’s “Information Technology Community” is comprised of several online “neighborhoods,” each of which is designed to offer information on particular issues.
Neighborhoods include:
- Enterprise Resource Planning
- Microsoft Excel
- Governance, Risk and Compliance
- Implementing Technology
- Security
- Social Media
Each neighborhood offers a virtual library that contains articles, videos and links to outside sources that pertain to that specific issue, as well as an “Ask a Question” section.
For example, TSCPA’s social media neighborhood includes information on social media that is specific to CPAs, including important social connections to make, profile customization tips and profile privacy settings.
Jim O’Guinn, director of information systems at TSCPA, says that he believes the most beneficial aspect of the online communities will be the “Ask a Question” sections.
“For several years the TSCPA has had numerous calls from partners in small and medium firms and CFO’s in small- to medium companies requesting that TSCPA provide some means of assisting them with decisions they were making regarding technology,” said O’Guinn. “These communities, hopefully, will help us reach that objective.”
What about you? How does your CPA society help with learning about new technologies? Are they doing something similar?
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Posted: July 20, 2011 | Author: The Modern Accountant | Filed under: Accounting, Accounting Blogs, Accounting Professionals, Accounting Technology, Social Media, Technology for Accountants | Tags: accounting, accounting blogs, accounting professionals, best accounting blogs |
If you’re like me, you’re always looking for interesting accounting-related blogs to read. They are an excellent source of industry information, personal stories, and helpful tips and how-to’s from experts in the industry.
Today I’m sharing five of my favorites with you and the reasons I read them. If you haven’t heard of them, be sure to check them out and add their RSS feed to your reader.
1. CPA Success is a blog run by the Maryland Association of CPAs. It covers issues like career development, education, legislation and regulation, social media and leadership. Authors include Tom Hood, CPA, executive director and CEO of MACPA since 1997, and Bill Sheridan, CAE, MACPA’s electronic communications manager and editor.
Why I love this blog: CPA Success is a very well-written and well-rounded blog that covers a variety of important issues affecting the accounting profession. They creatively cover issues like social media and technology, and their use of humor to highlight accounting-related news and information gives the blog a unique personality.
Where else you can find them: Aside from CPA Success, MACPA can be found on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.
2. THRIVEal+CPA Network (THRIVEal) is a blog run by Jason M. Blumer, CPA, CFE, owner of Blumer & Associates, CPAs in South Carolina.
THRIVEal is aimed at the younger generation of accounting professionals who want to use new marketing initiatives and cloud-based technologies to grow their careers. Its goal is to educate accounting professionals on the newest technological advancements and workflow strategies in order to bridge the gap between older and younger CPAs.
Why I love this blog: THRIVEal’s use of video posts to introduce its audience to important concepts and people in the industry is unique and original. The videos are short and engaging, and they make the blog interesting and entertaining to read.
Where else you can find them: You can find Blumer & Associates on Facebook, Twitter and Flickr.
3. CPA Speakers is a blog run by the Ohio Society of CPAs (OSCPA) and authored by several different bloggers within the organization. They regularly post on topics like education, international accounting standards, financial literacy, technology and social media.
Why I love this blog: OSCPA does a great job incorporating relevant and timely information into their blog posts, making crucial connections with readers. The blog uses humor and personal stories to impart important information, which makes it interesting and entertaining to read.
Where else you can find them: You can find OSCPA on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube and LinkedIn.
4. SocialCPAs is a blog dedicated to helping accounting professionals and firms use social networks to increase brand awareness and generate revenue. They mainly cover social media platforms, including CPA blogs, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.
Why I love this blog: SocialCPAs is great for getting actionable tips on social media and the accounting profession, and even includes step-by-step directions when necessary. And, not only do they provide actionable tips, they provide actionable tips on relevant topics that accounting professionals will find useful and appropriate to their business.
Where else you can find them: You can find SocialCPAs on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook.
5. The Fraud Files Blog is authored by Tracy Coenen, CPA, CFF, of Sequence Inc., who has more than 16 years of experience in accounting and investigations. The blog covers topics like auditing & regulations, financial investigations, pyramid schemes and fraud news.
Why I love this blog: To be perfectly honest, the Fraud Files blog is one of the most interesting accounting-related blogs in the industry. But it isn’t just interesting – it’s useful. It doesn’t just tell readers about various types of schemes and fraud, but it provides tips on how to avoid them and what to do if you find yourself involved in something you aren’t completely sure is legitimate.
Where else you can find her: You can find the author of the Fraud Files on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Your turn. What are some of your favorite accounting-related blogs and why?
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