The rumor mill was in full swing last week at the 2006 New Jersey Accounting, Business & Technology Show Here are some observations and "chirpings" that I've been hearing:
INUIT LACERTE is set to roll out a "premium" version of their DMS. The premium versionwill add ONLINE backup automatically for the entire DMS database. If a practitioner were to fully utilize the DMS system they could effectively backup nearly all their client files --- overnight and automaticallyI I wonder if Thomson Creative Solutions' FileCabinet CS (the grand daddy product in this space) will follow suit ... ? Note: [I can personally guarantee you that it HAS been discussed out in Dexter!!]
MORE INTUIT: I keep hearing rumors that several (three, four, five?) vendors have been selected as authorized third-party ASP hosters for QuickBooks and that Intuit will soon announce some sort of endorsement and/or special support for "the chosen". I wonder what the QB OnLine team thinks of THAT idea ..... ?
GO FILE ROOM was at the show but pretty much without any Thomson markings. If I didn't know for sure they'd been acquired, I sure wouldn't have guessed it by their presence at this show. I wonder how soon the "transformation" will begin ....?
WIZSOFT --- the most poorly named software since BOCDIP was acquired and immediately rechristened ProSystem Scan, made their U.S. debut (to our profession anyway) at the Meadowlands. Very interesting product set, especially in the Sox 404 world in which we seem to have found ourselves. They claim an 80% market share in their native Israel. Nice people ... I wonder if we'll see them at more shows?
CCH PROSYSTEM FX --- I took an attendee to their booth to facilitate him looking at ProFX Tax and was amazed to find that no one at the show was familiar with the product and that they didn't even have it loaded on their demo computers! Oh, BTW --- we asked a half dozen booth workers and watched (it was pretty amusing) as they scurried around askind EACH OTHER if anyone was familiar the product. They were all interested in showing us the other CCH products --- of which there are many --- but none knew the core application. I wonder what sort of planning goes into selecting booth staff up in Riverwoods?
On to Orlando next week, then LA the following week, and finally on to Austin for TECH2006 the week following that. Look for a lot more "chirpings" coming up!
gll
