Why machines won’t replace humans in the world of accounting.

Back in the day accountants were running their businesses on ‘accounting machines’ – perforated cards with magnetic strips into which you’d enter data. Maybe ask your dad… he’d remember...

Around the 1980s computers began showing up in the world of accounting and data management, yet owning one as part of your business was still a costly luxury.

We got our first computer in 1984, significantly improving our business efficiency overnight.

Suddenly everything became much faster and we were able to do a lot more analysis work in shorter periods of time, which effectively opened up a whole new level of client service.

In time, computers have become quicker, cheaper and more intelligent. The internet is filled with online tax and management software and ‘bots’ who answer your business advisory questions in milliseconds.

So with this level of improved service, why not digitalise the entire process? Well, there’s one crucial reason: 

Each client comes with a set of expectations specific to them.

    
Processing huge amounts of data is great, but if you don’t talk directly to your client, you won’t gain an understanding of what it is they are trying to achieve. And without that understanding it’s all too easy to miss the mark on an effective service delivery.

For example, when we do management reporting it all comes down to accurately identifying business drivers and hotspots. These can only be assessed by interpreting data with a client’s specific expectation in mind – and with a human awareness that understands those expectations. 

And while digital elements of accounting have drastically increased our abilities to deliver services, a goal-orientated proficient human eye remains the baseline necessity when working towards our client’s goals.   

If you’d like to sit down with a human (and not an online chat messenger) to discuss your real needs, please give us a call on 02 9959 5599. We look forward to meeting with you!