2025 is just around the corner and many of you will be joining the PrimeGlobal team in Scottsdale, Arizona on January 14 2025, where I will have the privilege of sharing the latest Techs, IT Trends and potential CPA Disrupters that could impact you and your firm in the year ahead. For this session, I will be covering five key themes which should be incorporated into your firm’s strategic thinking: the impact of generative AI, the importance of collaborative 'datafication', the latest hardware recommendations and specifications, the optimum firm 'Tech Stack' of applications, and why you need to bolster your security now!

Generative AI

Have you integrated AI into your firm’s strategic initiatives or are you still taking a 'wait and see' approach. The latest CPAFMA survey points to only about one in five firms actively addressing how OpenAi’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude, and Microsoft’s Copilot could impact or be utilized within firms. The consensus is clear: You won’t be replaced by AI, but by someone using AI so I will walk through steps to get your firm safely onboard including specific guardrails to have in place as well as examples of how to optimally use a few of these tools.

Datafication

The pandemic years mandated stable and secure remote access for firm personnel, but the legacy from COVID will be that hybrid and offshore employees are a necessary reality (along with technology) in today’s staffing equation. In addition, we have seen first-hand during our IT consulting the difference in efficiency of client “datafication,” which is the use of modern portals and secured email solutions to digitally collect client information as well as the collaborative power provided by tools such as TEAMS and ZOOM, which we all need to be proficient at.

Equipment Tech Stack

Just before our Scottsdale meeting, I will be wrapping up my investigation of the latest tech tools and gadgets showcased at the International Consumer Electronics Show. The CES event encompasses more than 2.1 million square feet to 'bleeding edge' technology (covering about 37 football fields) which I will highlight along with specific recommendations for what your firm should be buying in 2025.

Application Tech Stack

I’ll also be sharing the 2025 CPAFMA survey findings targeted to the applications your firm will be using for tax, assurance, advisory and administrative production. We are already seeing the transition towards “Best of Breed” as well as how generative AI is becoming a gamechanger in terms of which application vendors are leading (and lagging) in the CPA space.

Managed Security a Must

By now, we all know we need to have a WISP (written information security plan) but do we know if our IT personnel are really protecting the firm (in addition to all the other IT responsibilities they have?). Our experience is clear, hacking groups have accelerated their sophistication and threat vectors well beyond the capabilities of most internal IT teams. Today, all organizations need “enterprise” class security teams and tools, which require enterprise class solutions.

Roman will be presenting at the Tax and Assurance Summit in Scottsdale this January, where he will provide tailored recommendations on the core themes outlined above. In addition, he plans to shed light on the often-overlooked disruptors quietly reshaping the CPA firm IT landscape. Prepare for an insightful and engaging discussion designed to equip you with actionable strategies for navigating the challenges ahead.