David Weiner, CEO of Microsoft Dynamics partner UXC Eclipse USA, explains how being a technology consultant has changed drastically in the last 25 years and being a VAR is more about service than software than ever.

Software partner veteran Terry Petrzelka, now a valued advisor and consultant to vendors and resellers discusses the top concerns for accounting technology consultants in this monthly Q&A series.

Business process software company Exact is offering a subscription-free, limited release of its Exact Online product to accountants as well as U.S. manufacturers, distributors, and wholesalers from now until the end of the year.

ADP has integrated its ezLaborManager product with RUN Powered by ADP Payroll for Partners, with the goal of allowing accountants and other payroll service providers to help their clients with compliance while collecting employee hours and calculating and reporting time and attendance.

Nonprofit accounting software maker Blackbaud has released Blackbaud MobilePay, a mobile credit card processing application that is integrated with the company’s payment processing services.

With social media becoming more of an imperative for practitioners and consultants alike, tools like Tweetbot are growing in popularity and importance with this one offering the ability to better manage a Twitter account.

Xero signed an integration deal with ConnectWise, a developer of service management software designed exclusively for IT service providers, VARs, ISVs and MSPs, in order to synchronize accounting data between ConnectWise and Xero.

BigTime Software Inc. has released a mobile app designed for small and mid-sized professional services firms to access project management capabilities in addition to time and expense tracking.

Pricing of accounting services is an important component of the growth and success of any firm. The pricing strategies and clients that brought your firm to where it is today may not be appropriate to grow to the next level, especially in today's collaborative marketplace where technology is changing the entire game -- faster, better, cheaper and easier.

A roundup of technology news from the previous month

New tools mean standardization, efficiency -- and profitability

A recent Forrester survey found that 69 percent of surveyed mid- to large-sized businesses view cloud-based expense management software as beneficial to cost reduction, believing such products could help reduce expenses by 20 percent or more, though few are using them.

SWK Technologies has signed an agreement with UK-based Sage ERP X3 partner Inixion to collaborate on sales and implementation projects of the enterprise product, which will span the territories served by both firms.

These days you’re not likely to pick up an accounting publication or surf the blogosphere without coming across an article on portals, or more specifically, client portals for file sharing.

Whether it’s locked in audit and tax preparation systems, time and billing records, or lying dormant in individual Excel files, there’s a huge amount of value in data residing in CPA firms’ information systems simply waiting to be mined and turned into profitability and growth.

Red Wing Software Inc. has released of an Assemblies Module to its CenterPoint Accounting Software series, which will give users the ability to manage a production plan and build assemblies.

Email is often the first introduction to mobility for many users and the Boxer email app takes it to the next level by combining all user email accounts in one interface.

Once again I feel the need to focus more on a single topic rather than the news of the week -- and I promise this will be the last time for a while -- but with the show floor going through final sweeping at Sage Summit I thought it appropriate to give my take on the week-long user and partner event.

Searer Business Technology (SBT) has released Executive Series Version 6.3 accounting software, which includes 300 enhancements and features across all major modules.

Deltek, has made available Kona Business, a social platform designed to allow all key departments within an organization to stay connected, with a particular focus on project management teams.