Source: Journal of Accountancy

In 2003 and 2005 the Association for Accounting Administration conducted surveys on the degree of implementation of paperless offices. You can compare your firm to similar size firms in the survey by viewing the results at http://www.aicpa.org/pubs/jofa/may2006/zaro_ex1.htm.

Highlights:

• Forty-six percent use computer generated invoices, but only 27 percent send them electronically.
• Thirty-five percent have asked staff to use e-mail to request information from clients.
• Storing of firm information such as policy and procedure manuals and personnel information on their Intranet is done by 72 percent.
• Seventy-four percent save tax returns in a digital format.
• Eighty-two percent of large firms v. 62 percent of small firms use paperless systems.
• Eighty-nine percent use notebook computers.
• Fifty-nine percent use paperless software to store audit work papers.
• Thirty-three percent of firms with only one or two CPAs use paperless software to store work papers.

From Journal of Accountancy, May 2006. For the complete article, click on the following link: http://www.aicpa.org/pubs/jofa/may2006/zarowin.htm.