Post 3 of 4 … Look for the last post of the series on Thursday!
By: Tommy Stephens
What software titles will you need in your mobile office? The answer is simple—the same ones you need in a traditional office. For most of us, that means Microsoft Office and some form of PDF software such as Adobe Acrobat. If you work in public accounting, that also means—depending on your area of practice—access to tax, write-up, payroll, engagement, practice management, and document management systems. If you work outside of public accounting, you may need access to the corporate accounting/ERP system and other specialized software applications currently used by your organization.
When considering software for the mobile office, you may wish to examine Cloud-based solutions, instead of traditional software implementations. Moving to this environment eliminates the need to install the software locally on your computer and provides you with access to your tools of the trade whenever and wherever you have access to the Internet.
Additionally, for your Microsoft Office licenses, you should examine obtaining those licenses through a Microsoft Office 365 subscription plan. Depending on the Office 365 plan you choose, you also receive Microsoft-hosted email through Exchange Online, intranet services through SharePoint Online, communications through Lync, and synchronization of data through SkyDrive Pro. Further, many companies will find that the cost of licensing through the Office 365 subscription model is much less costly than licensing through traditional models, as it allows for installation on up to five computers.
To hear Tommy address more on the best practices of implementing a mobile office, as well as how it can help you maximize partner income, sign up at attend the TechFest Winter Conference today!
Mr. Stephens is a shareholder in K2 Enterprises, where he develops and presents continuing professional education programs to accounting, financial, and other business professionals across North America. You may contact him at [email protected].