The 2005 Innovation Awards

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• August 2005 Issue
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From the August 2005 Issue

Technologies focusing on data security, productivity enhancement and client convenience took top honors at the 2005 Tax and Accounting Technology Innovation Awards, which were announced at a special reception on June 6, at the California Accounting and Business Show & Conference in Los Angeles. Sponsored by The CPA Technology Advisor and The NSA Technology Advisor, the awards recognize advancements to existing technologies as well as innovative developments in software, services, hardware and other applications marketed to the tax and accounting profession.

This year’s class of award winners included CCH, DoubleSight Displays, Maxtor, Thomson Creative Solutions and Universal Tax Systems. In all, more than 75 products and services were nominated for the awards. Nomination packets were sent out to over 25 individuals, including the magazine’s editorial staff, contributing writers and advisory board, which includes accounting and tax professionals from across the country who are engaged in public practice in firms ranging from sole practitioners to major, multi-office regional practices. Nomination packets were also sent to various thought leaders in the tax and accounting profession. Each was asked to rank and rate all the nominated products and services via an online survey. The results were then tabulated to determine what products and services would be the recipients of this year’s awards.

The awards were presented by Executive Editor Gregory L. LaFollette, CPA.CITP, at a reception ceremony attended by more than 150 conference vendors.

“Our profession faces many challenges in today’s marketplace,” said LaFollette. “Innovative technology can help us meet those challenges and maintain our high levels of trust and even improve our personal client relationships.” The Tax and Accounting Innovation Awards recognize and celebrate the significant accomplishments of companies who provide that technology.

“These products improve the daily lives of tax and accounting professionals. The technologies these companies provide consistently improve not only the client-accountant relationship but also the overall productivity and profitability of practicing accountants,” noted LaFollette.

Any software or hardware product or technology service can be nominated for an award, but to qualify, the technology must enhance the productivity of tax and accounting professionals, be commercially available at the time of judging, and be either less than two years old or have undergone a significant redevelopment or addition within that timeframe. All award recipients were selected on an “at-large” basis — there are no categories represented by the winners, nor are the winners ranked against each other. Nominations can be made by any person, including vendor representatives, resellers and end users.

CCH Tax and Accounting (www.tax.CCHGroup.com) received an award for CCH@Hand, a tax and accounting research-focused application that gives users one-click access to research answers in CCH’s Internet Tax Research NetWork from Microsoft Office 2003 products, including Word, Excel and Outlook, without leaving the document before them. CCH@Hand takes the user directly to the necessary information within the NetWork product, without ever opening a browser or logging in and without interrupting workflow.

“We’re very honored by this special award, which confirms what our users already experience — that CCH is leading the way with innovation and integration to make them more productive and profitable,” said CCH Tax and Accounting CEO Kevin Robert.