Solutions14 Conference Sponsors and Vendors - Part 1

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In looking forward to next week’s Solutions14 Conference, I want to share some information about the sponsoring vendors who are making presentations during the conference. 

The ‘vendor world’ is an interesting balance between promoting your own product, and at the same time, being willing to educate users on the virtues of a product-related topic without simply telling your own product story.  We see this even here at Intuitive Accountant, and have been very fortunate to have contributions from time to time that look toward the greater good than simply self-focus. 

The Conference Expo Hall with over 90 exhibitors really provides as much of a learning experience as many of the other conference sessions. Doug Sleeter said, "Now, more than ever, accounting professionals and business consultants are expected to be well versed in more than just the numbers; we are arming our attendees with information about marketing, customer relationship management, software and hardware, mobile applications and much more."  In my opinion that is just as true true in the exhibit hall as anywhere at the conference (Murph); in the expo you can easily meet with vendors face-to-face to get an in-depth look at their solutions which range from accounting software to business analysis tools, from financing alternatives to communications channels, from promotional opportunities to outsourcing mechanisms. 

I have always found that the exhibit halls not only provide a wealth of ‘swag’, but more importantly a volume of contacts and opportunities to build relationships that can not only help you meet the needs of your clients but grow your own practice as well.  By the way, most of the conference sponsors have some form of a 'prize' that you can potentially win, but only if you stop-by their booth. But as I mentioned earlier, many of the conference sponsors will be presenting a variety of learning sessions, so let’s give them a look.

I can’t cover all of the vendors in this one article, so look for another feature in a day or two about some more of the vendors who are going to rock your world at Solutions14 November 9-12 in Las Vegas.

Intuit: Realize the Benefits of End-to End Workflow with QuickBooks Online

Intuit Product Managers will showcase the newest edition to the QuickBooks Online Product Line Up and demonstrate an end-to-end workflow between accountants and small businesses.  While you can be certain that Intuit team members will be available during expo hours to discuss almost every aspect of their entire product line, you can be assured that the focus will be on QuickBooks Online and the newly announced and reimagined from the ‘ground-up’ QuickBooks Online Accountant.

Intuit creates business and financial management solutions that simplify the business of life for small businesses, consumers and accounting professionals. Their flagship products and services include QuickBooks®, Quicken® and TurboTax®, which make it easier to manage small businesses and payroll processing, personal finance, and tax preparation and filing. Mint.com provides a fresh, easy and intelligent way for people to manage their money, while Demandforce® offers marketing and communication tools for small businesses. ProSeries® and Lacerte® are Intuit's leading tax preparation offerings for professional accountants.

Sage presents: Expanding Your Business through Advisory Services

Sage will share how to use cloud technology to analyze and interpret financial data in order to provide additional accounting and advisory services to your clients. Participants will learn how to expand their client relationships into the role of being a trusted (and more valuable!) advisor while generating new revenue streams.

For over 25 years, Sage customers-from start-ups to complex multi-divisional organizations have trusted our software to help run their businesses. Sage offers a choice of flexible, scalable, integrated solutions to manage anything from one aspect of their business software needs to complete solutions linking back and front office operations. The Sage Accountants Network is a program of product solutions, support, and benefits for accountants and bookkeepers who support Sage products and seek to better manage their practice. At Sage we recognize the work our network partners provide in top notch business and financial services to our mutual clients.

Xero presents: Running a Small Business in the Cloud

This session illustrates options that are customized to fit the needs of your clients business as well as giving them the power to save time and money with anywhere anytime solutions. Xero allows your client to integrate other applications into their accounting to perform core business tasks using the best solutions on the market. This gives them the freedom to grow their business and still receive valuable advice from their accountant and bookkeeper. 

Xero is beautifully designed online accounting and payroll software for small businesses and their advisors. Xero allows clients to access real-time financials with an online accounting system that features automated bank feeds, invoicing, sales tax, expense claims, fixed assets, multi-currency, comprehensive reporting and more. Xero also makes it easy for advisors to collaborate with their clients online anywhere at any time. More than 250,000 people in over 100 countries around the world use Xero. Find out why at www.xero.com.

Bigtime Software presents: Don’t Work Harder - Work “Smarter” with PSA (Professional Services Automation) Software.

Jake Matyas, COO of BigTime Software, will show you how the latest in Professional Services Automation (PSA) technology can help you identify pain points in your firm’s task-flow, spot your industry’s trends in real-time, and manage your entire process anytime, anywhere through a slick, up-to-date mobile strategy eliminating the need for spreadsheet shuffling and all those scheduling whiteboards.   

BigTime Software, Inc. is a leading provider of pro-level time and billing tools for professional services firms and a market leader in QuickBooks integration. Its next-generation mobile app, BigTime Mobile, was named a 2014 Awesome App and is available for both iPhone and Android users. http://www.bigtime.net

TSheets presents: Persistence is key: Because if being badass was easy, everyone would do it.

Matt Rissell, CEO of TSheets, and accounting geniuses Stacy Kildal and Bill Gerber will discuss how to set your business up to succeed, against competitors who have more education, money, talent, experience, a nicer location and higher pedigree. Discover how to think to succeed, set smart goals, and why it’s OKAY to be the underdog. Matt, Stacy and Bill are industry powerhouses, and are ready to help your business persistently overcome your competition in a BOLD, BRILLIANT and BADASS way.

TSheets professes to be the #1 employee-rated and requested time tracking software on the planet!  They are at the very least a leading time tracking, reporting and management solution that’s causing a top-rated, 5-star sensation on Intuit’s Apps.com. With 1-click, TSheets syncs up real-time timesheet and job-related data to QuickBooks, making billing, invoicing and payroll a snap. Be sure to go by the TSheets booth to enter to win their iPad Mini raffle prize, you can bet you will have a lot of fun at the booth even if you don’t win. Team-TSheets always has some contagious enthusiasm and makes the most out of every conference they exhibit. (Murph)

Supporting Strategies presents: Business Process Outsourcing

Learn about the opportunities available to you based on the rising demand for BPO (business process outsourcing) services! BPO is the outsourcing of specific business functions or processes. This session focuses on how to best build and manage a BPO practice focused on the outsourcing of the back office. Three main topics of discussion include: Best Practices in Building a Virtual Accounting Support Business, BPO Practice Management Roadmap, and WorkFlow 101: Automate Service Delivery and ensure Service Excellence.

Leslie Jorgensen launched Supporting Strategies in 2004 to provide affordable bookkeeping services for small businesses. Today, our business model takes advantage of the rising demand among small businesses for outsourced accounting support. Now you can capitalize on this trend to build your own thriving business.

Unanet: Go All-In! Project Accounting and Project Management in One System

Managing Projects, People and Accounting in Unanet empowers teams with real-time data and graphical dashboards so they can proactively manage projects, people and profitability. Donna Gandt, Director of Partner Management at Unanet, will discuss partner opportunities for your firm to help you expand your market, scale your business as your customers grow and improve your employees' satisfaction.

Unanet Professional Services Automation helps organizations of all sizes better manage project, product and services work. Available anytime and anywhere via a 100% Web-based interface, Unanet customers increase corporate value through improved utilization, delivery, revenue, and profitability. Unanet Professional Services Automation is available in the Cloud or On-Premise, and facilitates resource planning, skills management, time & billing, expense reporting, project reporting, and management dashboards. With over 1,000 customers, Unanet has the proven leadership, innovative technology, and domain expertise to address the demands of today’s project-based business environment.

BizTools: Making money as a Trusted Advisor to your clients with data driven analytics for QuickBooks

Learn how to profit from helping your clients manage their business better. Discover the keys to building your consulting practice and becoming a valued partner to your clients. This session is for ProAdvisors or accounting professionals who want to grow their practice and profit from helping their clients become more successful by leveraging advances in data driven analytics for QuickBooks. You can also rock-your-way to a chance to win a $150 Amazon Gift voucher by attending this session.

John Power, CEO of BizTools, will show you why “Trusted” is not enough, what 3 skillsets you really need to succeed, why Dashboards are not the end game, why the right technology is key to your success, and which clients most need your services, as well as how to price your services and build a recurring revenue stream.

BizTools develops award winning business intelligence, KPI and multi-dimensional analytics solutions that seamlessly integrate with QuickBooks. BizTools Professional Analytics enables accountants and advisors to deliver high value, data driven analytical services to their clients as trusted advisors to help them gain actionable insights, make informed decisions & achieve better results. BizTools helps you differentiate your practice, attract new business and retain more clients.

Method: Simplify how your small business clients get work done with "Made for Me" CRM

Every small business is unique.  They have different ways of attracting new business, processing orders, connecting with their customers and tracking money in and out of their business.  Small businesses deserve solutions that can be tailor made to the way they work.  At this session you will learn about the benefits of personalization and  how Method:CRM, the #1 CRM for QuickBooks, can give you and your clients the customization tools required to build a truly unique, one of a kind customer management solution.  By the way Method was the ‘grand prize’ winner of the recently held QuickBooks Connect Hackathon.

Method simplifies the unique way every small business gets work done. Our platform makes getting work done easier by integrating our flagship CRM app with QuickBooks and numerous other customizable Method apps, which become made for you through simple drag and drop tools.

Expensify: "Expense Reports that Don't Suck!"

David Barrett is the founder of Expensify, he hated expense reports so much he decided to do something about it, and created the first expense report that "doesn't suck." That initial spark grew into Expensify, a complete online expense management service that does everything from import expenses and receipts from credit cards and mobile phones, to process expense reports online, and reimburse electronically with direct deposit, PayPal or even Bitcoin.

With Expensify managing a company's expenses has never been simpler. Expensify includes automatic bank and credit card import, receipt image capture & SmartScan transcription, corporate card reconciliation, automatically generated eReceipts and industry leading product design makes the client happy and the accountant's life easy. Integrations like QuickBooks, Xero, Sage, and Bill.com, make it easy to see why Expensify is the leader in SMB expense management.

Look for Part 2 of this Vendor Review in a day or two.