Low-Cost Tech Options Help Small Firms Stay Competitive

In the April 2011 issue, the article about emerging technology trends (“Survey Highlights Emerging Tools for Firms of All Sizes,” page 28) was encouraging to me, as I came to realize that the local firm at which I am employed utilizes many of the tools highlighted, such as multiple screens and a well-maintained website. In my opinion, one of the strong points of these technologies is that many are very low cost, such as Twitter or Facebook pages, where many of our followers and fans are potential and existing clients; accounting students at the local university; and employees. It’s not only a quick and easy way to communicate news, but also a way to reach out to the community. Our client portal has also been a boon for transferring files and adding a level of security that our clients appreciate. In the end, I feel using these measures really gives smaller, local firms a way to be just as visible as larger, national firms; and it makes us competitive with them on a 21st-century scale.

Brad Garland, CPA
Huntsville, Ala.