Top Ten Technologies impacting Accounting and Finance in 2021
Since the AICPA commissioned the CPA Vision Project and subsequent CPA Horizons 2025 report, technology has been THE biggest driver of changes in the accounting profession. This was reaffirmed in the CPA Convene Session on October 3, 2019, as Technology emerged as one of the top four themes in the category ‘New Tools of the Trade’.
Starting with Daniel Burrus’ Top 20 Technology-Driven Hard Trends Shaping the Future, we asked the 600+ attendees to identify the top seven technologies impacting them in the next 2-3 years:
- Artificial intelligence, cognitive computing in audit, tax & consulting
- Big Data analytics
- Advanced cloud computing
- Mobile apps for business processes
- Adaptive and predictive cybersecurity
- RPA - Virtualization and automation of processes and services
- Smarter smartphones and Tablets
- Blockchains
- Visual communications for business
- Virtualization of desktop and storage
Since we started this analysis in 2016, we have seen changes in the technologies identified by the accounting profession. Blockchain moved from the #4 spot in 2017 to #8. Big Data analytics moved up from #7 in 2018 and stayed in #1 or #2. AI has stayed in the top 2 spots since inception. Mobile apps rose up one from #5 in 2019. Cyber-security has moved up to #5 from #7 in 2018. New to this year’s list is Visual communications at #10.
What opportunities can you anticipate with these technologies?
What predictable problems can you imagine if you elect not to use these technologies or what we call the RONI - Risk of Not Investing?
Learn how to anticipate these trends and turn them into game-changing strategies with the Anticipatory Organization: Accounting and Finance Edition.
Listen to futurist Daniel Burrus talk about Anticipatory Thinking in Uncertain Times | with Daniel Burrus.
And how one Top 50 CPA Firm transformed itself into an Anticipatory CPA Firm - Joey Havens at HORNE LLC talks about Evolving Your Firm into an Anticipatory Organization.
The Hard Trends that Matter More Than Ever Now - Journal of Accountancy
Join us on December 15th to Reimagine our Profession post-COVID19 at the CPA Innovation Summit