The Technology Lab – Episode Tracking
Latest Episodes Available at https://cpate.ch/podcast
Broadcast Date	Product	LandPage	Direct	Product Link	Type	S	E	S-Ep	Seq Ep#
4/2/2021	QuickBooks Online	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	SMB Accounting	1	1	101	1
4/15/2021	Xero	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	SMB Accounting	1	2	102	2
4/23/2021	Sage Intacct	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Midmarket Accounting/CAS	1	3	103	3
4/29/2021	Fathom	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Financial Reporting	1	4	104	4
5/14/2021	Qvinci	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Financial Reporting	1	5	105	5
5/17/2021	Spotlight Reporting	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Financial Reporting	1	6	106	6
5/27/2021	Abrigo ProfitCents	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Benchmarking	1	7	107	7
6/3/2021	Aero Workflow	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Practice Mgt.	1	8	108	8
6/9/2021	Canopy Practice Management	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Practice Mgt.	1	9	109	9
6/17/2021	Jirav	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Business Intelligence	1	10	110	10
6/23/2021	Karbon	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Practice Mgt.	1	11	111	11
6/30/2021	OfficeTools	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Practice Mgt./Document Mgt.	1	12	112	12
7/7/2021	AccountantsWorld Practice Relief	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Practice Mgt.	1	13	113	13
7/16/2021	ONVIO Firm Management/Documents	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Document Mgt	1	14	114	14
7/22/2021	CCH Axcess Document	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Document Mgt	1	15	115	15
7/29/2021	Clarity Practice Management	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Practice Mgt.	1	16	116	16
8/6/2021	TPS	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Practice Mgt.	1	17	117	17
8/23/2021	ProConnect Tax	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Tax	1	18	118	18
8/31/2021	Corvee	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Tax/Advisory	1	19	119	19
9/1/2021	Drake Tax	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Tax	1	20	120	20
9/24/2021	Ledgible Tax Pro	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Tax/Cryptocurrency	1	21	121	21
10/1/2021	IRIS STAR Practice Management	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Practice Mgt.	1	22	122	22
10/15/2021	eFileCabinet	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Document Mgt	1	23	123	23
10/20/2021	AccountantsWorld Payroll Relief	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Payroll	1	24	124	24
10/29/2021	Simplex Financials/PATH	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Financial Reporting	1	25	125	25
11/5/2021	AccountantsWorld Cloud Cabinet	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Document Mgt	1	26	126	26
11/11/2021	NetSuite	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Midmarket Accounting	1	27	127	27
11/15/2021	Automatic Data Processing (ADP)	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Payroll	1	28	128	28
11/22/2021	Spire	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Midmarket Accounting	1	29	129	29
12/2/2021	AccountantsWorld Accounting Power	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	CAS	1	30	130	30
12/5/2021	Rippling Payroll	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Payroll	1	31	131	31
12/5/2021	Lucion FileCenter	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Document Mgt	1	32	132	32
1/7/2022	Corpay One	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Accounts Payable	1	33	133	33
1/13/2022	OnPay	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Payroll	1	34	134	34
1/18/2022	Intuit Payroll	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Payroll	1	35	135	35
1/26/2022	Gusto	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Payroll	1	36	136	36
2/4/2022	Paychex	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Payroll	1	37	137	37
2/8/2022	Caseware Working Papers	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Audit	1	38	138	38
2/8/2022	Dynamics 365 Business Central	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	MMkt	1	39	139	39
2/10/2022	Thomson Reuters AdvanceFlow	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Audit	1	40	140	40
3/4/2022	Computer Hardware/CES	Landing Page	Direct Link		Hardware	1	41	141	41
3/11/2022	IRIS/AccountantsWorld Part 1	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Guest	1	42	142	42
3/11/2022	IRIS/AccountantsWorld Part 2	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Guest	1	43	143	43
3/23/2022	LivePlan (Palo Alto)	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Budgeting/Forecasting	1	44	144	44
3/29/2022	Thought Leadership Part 1	Landing Page	Direct Link		Commentary	1	45	145	45
3/29/2022	Thought Leadership Part 2	Landing Page	Direct Link		Commentary	1	46	146	46
4/12/2022	Pascal Workflow	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Workflow	2	1	201	47
4/22/2022	Suralink	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Portal	2	2	202	48
4/28/2022	Inflo (Inflo Workpapers)	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Audit	2	3	203	49
5/5/2022	Avalara	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Sales Tax	2	4	204	50
5/12/2022	Liscio	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Portal	2	5	205	51
5/20/2022	BizEKG from 4Impact Data	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Business Intelligence	2	6	206	52
5/26/2022	Calendly Meeting Scheduler	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Utilities	2	7	207	53
6/2/2022	CPA Firm Software Tech 2022	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Commentary	2	8	208	54
6/2/2022	CPA Firm Tech 2022	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Commentary	2	9	209	55
6/24/2022	Audit Miner	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Audit	2	10	210	56
6/29/2022	Rewind	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Utilities	2	11	211	57
7/8/2022	Uncat	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Utilities	2	12	212	58
7/10/2022	Zoho Expense	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Expense Reporting	2	13	213	59
7/22/2022	Auvenir	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Audit	2	14	214	60
7/28/2022	Fieldguide	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Audit	2	15	215	61
8/6/2022	Gilded	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Accounting/Cryptocurrency	2	16	216	62
8/6/2022	BacoTech/Once Accounting	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Utilities	2	17	217	63
8/18/2022	Zenwork/Tax1099	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Year End	2	18	218	64
8/24/2022	QuickBooks Desktop	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Accounting	2	19	219	65
8/25/2022	nettTracker	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Close Books	2	20	220	66
9/5/2022	Tallyfor	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Tax	2	21	221	67
9/13/2022	Xenett Autoreview	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Close Books	2	22	222	68
9/21/2022	Desktime	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Utilities	2	23	223	69
9/26/2022	DoMore CRM	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	CRM	2	24	224	70
10/5/2022	WeIntegrate	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Utilities	2	25	225	71
10/5/2022	PlanGuru	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Tax Planning	2	26	226	72
10/19/2022	Dext	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Data Extraction	2	27	227	73
10/19/2022	Doc-IT by IRIS	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Document Mgt	2	28	228	74
11/3/2022	e-Courier	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Portal	2	29	229	75
11/9/2022	Knuula	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Utilities	2	30	230	76
11/17/2022	SmartVault	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	DM	2	31	231	77
11/23/2022	Zoho Invoice	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Accounting	2	32	232	78
12/1/2022	Backup Strategies for SOHO	Landing Page	Direct Link	N/A	Backup	2	33	233	79
12/7/2022	CData	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Utilities	2	34	234	80
1/6/2023	Conferences 2022 (CCH/TR)	Landing Page	Direct Link	N/A	Commentary	2	35	235	81
1/12/2023	Bill	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	AP	2	36	236	82
1/19/2023	Booxkeeping/Max Emma	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Outsourcing	2	37	237	83
1/25/2023	FileThis	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Utilities	2	38	238	84
2/2/2023	Hubdoc	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Utilities	2	39	239	85
2/9/2023	LEO Satellites	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Hardware	2	40	240	86
2/14/2023	Validis	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Utilities	2	41	241	87
2/22/2023	Zapier	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Utilities	2	42	242	88
3/1/2023	FreshBooks	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Accounting	2	43	243	89
3/5/2023	CES 2023: Meeting Tech	Landing Page	Direct Link	N/A	Commentary	2	44	244	90
3/7/2023	CES 2023: New Standards	Landing Page	Direct Link	N/A	Commentary	2	45	245	91
3/8/2023	CES 2023: Industrial Tech	Landing Page	Direct Link	N/A	Commentary	2	46	246	92
3/9/2023	CES 2023: Firm Tech (Four Episodes)	Landing Page	Direct Link	N/A	Commentary	2	47	247	93
3/9/2023	CES 2023: Evolving Tech	Landing Page	Direct Link	N/A	Commentary	2	48	248	94
3/16/2023	Valid8	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Audit	2	49	249	95
3/23/2023	Acumatica	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Accounting	2	50	250	96
3/30/2023	FloQast	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Close Management	2	51	251	97
4/7/2023	Zoho Data Prep	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Utilities	3	1	301	98
4/11/2023	MS Power Query	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Utilities	3	2	302	99
4/11/2023	Recap of 2023 TLS	Landing Page	Direct Link	N/A	Commentary	3	3	303	100
4/25/2023	Data Wrangling	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Utilities	3	4	304	101
5/11/2023	ChatGPT and Accounting Firms	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Artificial Intelligence	3	5	305	102
5/17/2023	MS AI: Bing, MS365 CoPilot, MS Designer	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Artificial Intelligence	3	6	306	103
5/23/2023	Dall-E, MS Designer (Brian Livingston Competitors)	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Artificial Intelligence	3	7	307	104
5/30/2023	AI Results: Truthiness/Hallucinations	Landing Page	Direct Link	N/A	Artificial Intelligence	3	8	308	105
6/8/2023	Large Language Models	Landing Page	Direct Link	N/A	Artificial Intelligence	3	9	309	106
6/13/2023	Data Snipper	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Audit Utilities	3	10	310	107
6/21/2023	AICPA ENGAGE 2023	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Trends	3	11	311	108
6/29/2023	Audit Tech Trends	Landing Page	Direct Link	N/A	Trends	3	12	312	109
7/6/2023	Tech Governance	Landing Page	Direct Link	N/A	Trends	3	13	313	110
7/12/2023	Outsourcing for Tax & Accounting Firms	Landing Page	Direct Link	N/A	Commentary	3	14	314	111
7/18/2023	Scaling New Heights 2023 Recap	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Trends	3	15	315	112
7/28/2023	Verizon Data Breach Report	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Security	3	16	316	113
8/4/2023	Audit Technology/Jeff Gramlich	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Guest	3	17	317	114
8/11/2023	AFOT Survey	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	AFOT Survey	3	18	318	115
8/16/2023	FTC Safeguards Rule/IRS 4557	Landing Page	Direct Link	N/A	Security	3	19	319	116
8/23/2023	Bookkeep / Jason Richelson	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Guest	3	20	320	117
8/31/2023	Microsoft CoPilot	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Commentary – AI	3	21	321	118
9/7/2023	Security Risks in New World	Landing Page	Direct Link	N/A	Security	3	22	322	119
9/12/2023	Audit Sight	Landing Page	Direct Link	Product Link	Audit Utilities	3	23	323	120
9/14/2023	Keeping Up With Technology	Landing Page	Direct Link	N/A	General	3	24	324	121

Randy Johnston and I are about half way through the third season of our podcast called The Technology Lab for the CPA Practice Advisor. We’ve had a lot of good conversations over the 121 episodes we’ve published so far. A summary of those episodes appears below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Announcing the Launch of the 9^th Annual Accounting Firm Operations and Technology Survey

The accounting profession’s first and only national, independent premier benchmark survey for practicing accounting, tax and bookkeeping professionals

July 20, 2023 – Hutchinson, Kansas and Knoxville, Tennessee – Randy Johnston, Chairman Emeritus, Network Management Group, Inc. and Brian Tankersley, President of Adept Practices, Inc., announce the launch of the 9^th Annual Accounting Firm Operations and Technology (AFOT) Survey.  The AFOT Survey will remain open through September 1, 2023.  The survey results eBook, to be released in November 2023, will continue to remain a free resource delivered to practicing accounting, tax and bookkeeping professionals who complete the survey.

“We are always pleased to understand the technology in use by CPA firms across the United States. The survey provides operational information to CPA Firm Leading or Managing Partners while revealing new trends,” said Johnston.  The AFOT Survey continues to lead the profession as the nation’s most valid and complete, professional, and insightful presentation of data impacting decisions being made centered on technology budget spend, software adoption and practice management. “I’ve learned something of note every year of the survey,” continued Johnston.

 *** Take the survey now:

• Direct link:                  https://survey.zohopublic.com/zs/tCCzb1 
• Short URL:                  https://bit.ly/afot9
• Alternate URL:            https://cpate.ch/afot9

The 9^th Annual Survey eBook will feature a familiar design, trend lines and consultative commentary from Johnston and Tankersley.  “The survey’s validity is hugely important to us; we take this aspect seriously due to critical operational and technology decisions being made by practitioners based on the trend lines our survey reveals,” said Tankersley. “This survey is the premier benchmarking tool for practitioners nationally.”

Facts about the 9^th Annual AFOT Survey

·       Take the survey, get the $495 Survey results eBook, FREE OF CHARGE.

·       74 survey questions.

·       30 minutes is the average amount of time required to complete the survey.

·       Only one survey respondent per firm is required; the survey respondent will receive the AFOT Survey eBook via email on or before December 1, 2023.

·       Who is the best person to take the survey in your firm? The person most familiar with operations, practice management and technology and how decisions in the firm are made.

·       Survey areas include:

• Demographics
• Practice Management
• Technology Management
• Operating Systems
• Computer Hardware
• Application Software
• File and Data Storage/Management
• Remote Access/Internet/Telecommunications
• Technology Spending, Decision-making
• Annoyances and Trends

###

 About the Principals

Randy Johnston is Chairman Emeritus of Network Management Group, Inc. (NMGI), a company he helped to create in 1983. Johnston is renowned throughout North America for consultation he provides on CPA Firm on their operations and technology, while also serving hundreds of CPA firms by proactively managing their technology.  Johnston provides insight and guidance for firms of all sizes interested in growth, profitability, mergers and acquisition.

Brian Tankersley, CPA,CITP, CGMA is President of Adept Practices, Inc.  Tankersley is a consultant, an author, and a speaker with K2 Enterprises who specializes in accounting technology issues.  Tankersley has spoken in 48 US states, and multiple Canadian provinces, and writes for major accounting press outlets.  Brian has over 30 years of experience working with firms and software publishers on accounting and technology-related issues.

Press Contact: Brian Tankersley – (865) 684-4707 or brian@tankersley.cpa

Generative Artificial Intelligence – AI that creates detailed responses – has captured the zeitgeist of the world in 2023. We’ve been hearing all about AI in the press for the last few months… so I asked ChatGPT-4, the leading generative AI tool in the market today, to explain some AI concepts to acccounting professionals. Here’s its response.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a rapidly evolving field that focuses on creating intelligent machines capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence. For accounting professionals, understanding AI concepts can be essential to staying ahead in an increasingly technology-driven industry. In this brief overview, we will introduce key AI concepts and discuss their potential applications in accounting.

Machine Learning (ML) is a subset of AI that enables computers to learn from data and make decisions or predictions without explicit programming. ML algorithms can identify patterns, trends, and relationships within large data sets, making them particularly useful in the accounting domain. For example, ML can be used for fraud detection by analyzing patterns in transaction data to identify suspicious activities.

Natural Language Processing (NLP) is another AI subfield, focusing on enabling computers to understand, interpret, and generate human language. NLP can help automate tasks such as document analysis, contract review, and client communication. For instance, an AI-powered chatbot can assist clients with tax inquiries or provide real-time assistance during audits.

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) involves using software robots to automate repetitive, rule-based tasks. RPA can be particularly useful in streamlining accounting processes, such as invoice processing, data entry, and account reconciliation. By automating these tasks, accounting professionals can focus on more strategic and value-added activities.

In the near future, AI may help automate even more complex tasks, such as financial forecasting and risk assessment. By analyzing historical financial data and market trends, AI algorithms could provide more accurate predictions and enable better decision-making.

In conclusion, AI has the potential to significantly transform the accounting profession by automating repetitive tasks, improving efficiency, and enabling more strategic decision-making. As an accounting professional, it is crucial to stay informed about these emerging technologies and adapt to the changing landscape. Embracing AI can not only enhance your productivity but also help you stay competitive in an increasingly technology-driven world.

Response from ChatGPT-4 to the query in the image above

The COVID-19 Pandemic brought a lot of changes to my world – my whirlwind travel schedule abruptly came to a screeching halt, I got much better at teaching virtually (over a hundred virtual seminars and conferences), I started keeping bees, and my friend and mentor Randy Johnston and I started a podcast called “The Technology Lab” for CPA Practice Advisor. This post will provide some background on The Technology Lab and will also categorize some of the past episodes.

Why Did You Do A Podcast?

One of the first questions many people asked is, “why did you do a podcast?” The answer is actually pretty simple – the accounting community needs credible expert advice on software selection. Randy and I spend a lot of time together on the road, and we were speaking at dinner one night after a conference about how practitioners can learn more about software for their firms. We were both struck by how few credible reviews were created, and the low wordcount on those reviews made it difficult to learn the major things you want to learn when making a purchase decision – what the product is designed to do, what it costs, where it integrates, how it works, and the good, the bad, and (most importantly) the ugly.

What’s The Podcast Format?

The podcast is a 10-20 minute discussion between Randy and me about a single topic. That topic is commonly a software product/solution, but it can also be an interview, a discussion of important trends, or what we learned at a conference or other event. We try to keep things at the practical level – while we may mention technical topics like encryption or blockchain, but we know our audience neither wants nor needs to have a detailed review of the different algorithms/methodologies used to provide either of these technical topics. As my friend Gary Boomer is wont to say, “You don’t have to know how to build a watch in order to be able to tell time,” and our goal is to help you learn some of what you need to know about products and trends in accounting technology.

What Topics Have You Covered In The Past?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The accounting profession’s first and only national, independent premier benchmark survey for practicing accounting, tax and bookkeeping professionals

December 6, 2019 – Hutchinson, Kansas and Knoxville, Tennessee – Randy Johnston, Chairman Emeritus, Network Management Group, Inc. and Brian Tankersley, President of Adept Practices, Inc., announce the launch of the 7^th Annual Accounting Firm Operations and Technology (AFOT) Survey.  The AFOT Survey will remain open through February 15, 2020.  The survey results eBook, to be released in April 2020, will continue to remain a free resource delivered to practicing accounting, tax and bookkeeping professionals who complete the survey.

“We are always pleased to understand the technology in use by CPA firms across the United States. The survey provides operational information to CPA Firm Leading or Managing Partners while revealing new trends,” said Johnston.  The AFOT Survey continues to lead the profession as the nation’s most valid and complete, professional and insightful presentation of data impacting decisions being made centered on technology budget spend, software adoption and practice management. “I’ve learned something of note every year of the survey,” continued Johnston.

*** Take the survey now: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AFOTS7  ***

The 7^th Annual Survey eBook will feature a familiar design, trend lines and consultative commentary from Johnston and Tankersley.  “The survey’s validity is hugely important to us; we take this aspect seriously due to critical operational and technology decisions being made by practitioners based on the trend lines our survey reveals,” said Tankersley. “This survey is the premier benchmarking tool for practitioners nationally.”

Facts about the 7^th Annual AFOT Survey

• Take the survey, get the $495 Survey results eBook, FREE OF CHARGE.
• 91 multiple choice survey questions.
• 30 minutes is the average amount of time required to complete the survey.
• Only one survey respondent per firm is required; the survey respondent will receive the AFOT Survey eBook via email on or before April 15, 2020.
• Who is the best person to take the survey in your firm? The person most familiar with operations, practice management and technology and how decisions in the firm are made.
• Survey areas include:
  • Demographics
  • Practice Management
  • Technology Management
  • Operating Systems
  • Computer Hardware
  • Application Software
  • File and Data Storage/Management
  • Remote Access/Internet/Telecommunications
  • Technology Spending, Decision-making
  • Annoyances and Trends

###

 About the Principals

Randy Johnston is Chairman Emeritus of Network Management Group, Inc. (NMGI), a company he helped to create in 1983. Johnston is renowned throughout North America for consultation he provides on CPA Firm on their operations and technology, while also serving hundreds of CPA firms by proactively managing their technology.  Johnston provides insight and guidance for firms of all sizes interested in growth, profitability, mergers and acquisition.

Brian Tankersley, CPA,CITP, CGMA is President of Adept Practices, Inc.  Tankersley is a consultant, an author, and a speaker who specializes in accounting technology issues.  Tankersley has spoken in 48 US states, and three Canadian provinces, and writes for major accounting press outlets including CPA Practice Advisor and AccountingWeb.  He is also a faculty member for Yaeger CPA Review and K2 Enterprises.

Press Contact:

Brian Tankersley, +1 865-684-4707 or brian@adeptpractices.com