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.

Sage North America has launched Sage Mobile Sales, Sage Mobile Service, and Sage Billing and Payment offerings to integrate with their Sage 100 and 300 ERP systems.

Top Sage North America partner Net@Work has hired former Sage channel partner head Tom Miller to lead its own Partner Alliance Program, four months after he officially retired.

A continued focus on customer experience, cloud and mobile initiatives and payments -- along with staying the branding and product course laid out over the past two years -- was the primary tone of this year’s Sage Summit user and partner event.

I'd like to take this opportunity to diverge from the news of the week to expound upon a couple of topics, namely what has become somewhat of a religious debate over the cloud as well as some thoughts on upcoming vendor events.

Seth Zarny, head of Raffa P.C.'s technology consulting practice, explores the renewed interest in CPA firms providing technology consulting services, and summarizes the reasons for successes and failures in this area.

Everyone is talking about moving to the cloud as though you can just snap your fingers and suddenly change everything from software to workflow to paperless systems. But the reality is that getting completely to the cloud, no matter how compelling, will take a while.

Intuit has purchased Australian-based online accounting practice management software maker Fifo for an undisclosed sum.

Acumatica has launched a campaign to add new reseller partners by mailing out a pair of “flip flop” sandals complete with a URL to the registration site for the company’s upcoming partner conference.

Online bill payment and invoicing service Bill.com has introduced the Bill.com Approval Solution, which promises to speed the invoice approval cycle for accountants, small and midsize businesses, and nonprofit organizations, while adding important checks and balances to the approval process.

Armanino has released Dynamic Insights, a software package for reporting and analytics designed to integrate with and utilize data from a company’s existing Microsoft Dynamics AX or GP system.