I recently experienced the most "differentiating" firm retreat (I prefer to call it a firm summit). It occurred in May at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas. I know what most of you are thinking ... the partners must have had a great time.

Intuit Inc. announced that it will increase its commitment to accountants by rolling out a series of new and enhanced programs, including free technical support for QuickBooks ProAdvisors, an accountant-dedicated support team, and free in-person training seminars in 80 cities.

Paychex Inc. has launched Paychex Premier Human Resources, a new offering in the company's suite of human resource products and services.

Will the Certified Information Technology Professional designation survive?

Speaking to a conference of small technology partners in July, Microsoft Corp. chief executive Steve Ballmer said that his company will continue to expand its small business software lines for a variety of industries, beginning with accounting.

Though among the least complicated computing applications in the accounting marketplace, payroll software and services continue to set the trends in both utilization of advanced technologies and business development for accounting firms.Payroll was one of the first practice areas to make a strong move toward the Web-based application service provider model. It was one of the first to encompass non-traditional practice areas, such as human resources and 401(k) plan management, enabling accountants to expand their services to clients. And it was one of the first areas to recognize the dangers of bypassing accountants in an effort to sell directly to small businesses - payroll systems and services now are almost all directed to using accountants as a primary channel to reach SMB customers.

Striving for objectives - such as a paperless office - generally results in attaining objectives that typically were not given consideration during the planning process.

NetSuite Inc., an on-demand business management software developer, unveiled their new release yesterday -- NetSuite Version 10.6.

There was a point where Comdex, the computer dealer show, reigned supreme. So did the dinosaurs. Both got larger and larger. Both collapsed.

Buoyed by double-digit increases in license and subscription revenue, non-profit software provider Blackbaud Inc. posted second-quarter profits of $8.5 million, compared with $5.3 million for the same period last year.

Carillon Financials Corp., an enterprise resource planning and accounting software developer, has launched an attack on Microsoft's and Oracle's shares of the ERP market by giving away over $100 million of software to businesses.

North 40 Systems, a practice management software provider for small and mid-sized businesses, revealed its latest version of Office Tools Pro, a practice management software package.

* PLANTE TAPS TECHNOLOGY VET DICKSON: Top-ranked accounting firm Plante & Moran has tapped technology veteran Michael Dickson, CPA, CITP, as manager with the firm's technology consulting and solutions practice.In his new role, Dickson will focus on providing information technology strategy and planning, risk assessments, systems assurance, HIPAA Security Rule assessments, and Sarbanes-Oxley 404 compliance services to P&M clients.

James Bourke, CPA, CITP, of the regional New Jersey accounting firm Withum- Smith+Brown, saves his staff and himself hours of rummaging through filing cabinets filled with thousands of clients' files by searching for forms using a document management system.Once a tax return has been completed at one of the nine offices in Bourke's firm, the form is scanned or saved electronically; the image is turned into a searchable PDF using optical character recognition software; and then Bourke uses the interface or the DM application to search for a file. For instance, he can use the name, number or address of a client, the tax type, or the year that the form was completed to find the correct form - and he can do it all from his handheld device.

If your clients are still using Excel to do their budgeting and forecasting, they may not be using the most effective or efficient means to an end.That was the message delivered by K2 Enterprises' chief executive Val D. Steed at the recent American Institute of CPAs' National Not-for-Profit Industry Conference, here.

Professional service companies can be successful as either shared services or shared vision firms, although there are limitations on shared services firms.Your question may be, "What is the difference?" Conducting an honest assessment of your firm is the first step that should be taken. Next, develop a strategic plan. Shared services firms can grow and prosper financially, while shared vision firms can provide more than just financial results. Shared vision firms can also provide exponential growth, as well as a differentiating culture where individuals are rewarded for their significance in support of the firm's strategic objectives. Shared vision provides direction, growth and integration with personal goals and a differentiating culture.

Intacct Corp., an on-demand enterprise resource planning software provider, announced that its corporate headquarters have moved from Los Gatos, Calif., to downtown San Jose to accommodate their doubling workforce.

Non-profit and point-of-sale software provider Cougar Mountain has released new shipping software called CMShip.

Avalara, a provider of Web-based sales tax solutions for the small and midsized business market, and Taxware, a provider of global transaction tax calculation and compliance software, have entered into a strategic partnership.

Speaking to a conference of small technology partners Sunday, Microsoft Corp. chief executive Steve Ballmer said that his company will continue to expand its small business software lines for a variety of industries, beginning with accounting.