New software products aim to help companies get the whip hand over ubiquitous but risky spreadsheets. Concur Technologies helps companies automate the processes by which they manage employee travel and entertainment spending, but some of its own processes aren’t fully automated. “We’re like everyone,” says Terry DePolo, Concur’s director of accounting. “We’re trying to minimize the number of spreadsheets we rely on. We’re currently on the Oracle 11i system, and it’s … Read more »

New services deliver a range of technology without up-front capital investment. The downside could be giving up control. More than a new buzz phrase to add to the list of client-server, ASP, hosted provider and software as a service (SaaS), cloud computing is a new stage in technology evolution. Clouds provide technology such as software, storage or extra computing cycles more cheaply, more flexibly and with no … Read more »

More companies are using virtual worlds for training and gatherings while new technology aims to make them a mainstream reality. Accountant, CEO and executive director of the Maryland Association of CPAs, Tom Hood might not look like the kind of guy who spends a lot of time in an imaginary world. But he does—at work. And he encourages other accountants to do the same. That’s because MACPA runs continuing education sessions for … Read more »