There has been a significant increase in mobile technology use among Oklahoma CPAs in the last few years. Tablets in particular have emerged as the preferred option for helping financial professionals work more accurately and efficiently from any location.
Tablets improve efficiency because they combine the best features of smartphones and laptops: they’re ergonomic, portable, and the latest models have tremendous computing power. They support practically every type of work process and communication method that CPAs need to accomplish their duties online and in real-time.
Improved Communication
Tablets allow CPAs to enjoy unprecedented connectivity between themselves and their colleagues, supervisors, and clients. They can download apps for social media platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, or use their company’s proprietary applications to communicate directly with their contacts.
This level of real-time communication results in more efficient use of the advisor’s time, as well as improved customer service and better teamwork. Examples include:
- Sending files to clients and coworkers immediately, without having to return to the office first
- Making presentations to clients and submitting meeting notes to the office afterward
- Interacting with colleagues while traveling
The Moveable Office
One of the greatest benefits of using a tablet for work is the ability to commence a project on a desktop PC, sync the content with the tablet, and work on it later at a remote location. The CPA can review the document with a colleague during a business lunch, bring it to a manager’s office for feedback, or update it while waiting to board a flight to a conference.
This portability demolishes the physical boundaries that used to define the workplace and increases efficiency by allowing employees to work from anywhere.
An App for Every Task
There is very little that a desktop PC program can do that an app cannot. CPAs in Oklahoma can use apps such as Quickoffice or Keynote to create slick, professional-looking client presentations and even edit them moments before the meeting.
Dropbox is an excellent resource for document sharing while Evernote helps a busy, time-strapped professional stay organized.
Elimination of Workplace Clutter
At one time, Oklahoma CPAs were swimming in paper. Reports, files, invoices, and other paperwork cluttered desks and overflowed filing cabinets.
The dual rise of tablets and digitized files have made the acres of printouts redundant, allowing CPAs to be more organized and retrieve important files in as much time as it takes to make a few keystrokes.
Bottom Line
The tablet has been an important game changer for the accounting profession. It is portable, packed with the apps and resources needed to conduct business on the go, and its capabilities expand with each new system release.
All of these factors contribute to a more efficient workplace and ensure that tablets will remain a central part of the financial services industry.
Does your firm use tablets? If so, have you noticed a corresponding rise in workplace efficiency? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments box below.
And to follow up on the tips introduced in this article, be sure to download your free Oklahoma CPA Mobile Security Checklist.
You must be logged in to post a comment.