"If you gave people a third of their time back to do high-value-add strategic stuff, think about the ripple effect on clients, their businesses, and their lives."
In this episode of the RightNOW podcast, host Derek Distin welcomes Davis Bell, CEO of Canopy, for an insightful discussion about how AI is transforming the accounting profession while addressing the challenge of technology adoption.
Bell shares a dual perspective on industry changes over the past year—while AI capabilities have advanced dramatically, actual adoption rates in accounting practices remain relatively modest. This disconnect reveals a critical opportunity for firms willing to embrace change. The conversation explores how the accounting profession can use AI to eliminate the tasks professionals dread most, particularly the time-consuming process of "chasing people for stuff."
For firm leaders evaluating their technology trajectory, Bell emphasizes the importance of clarifying personal and professional objectives before selecting metrics. Whether building an empire or simply seeking better work-life balance, success looks different for each practice. The conversation also addresses the distinction between AI capabilities and practical adoption, comparing today's technological revolution to previous innovations that took decades to fully integrate.
Looking to the future, both Davis and Distin express optimism that accounting professionals who embrace automation for mundane tasks will discover greater fulfillment in high-value strategic work that machines cannot replicate. As Bell notes, the goal isn't to replace accountants but to help them "build the firm of their dreams" by removing the aspects of their work they dislike most.
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