This web page is directed towards public practitioners who are not involved in electronic commerce or involved only in a limited way. It is intended to illustrate some of the benefits practitioners derive from the use of electronic commerce. The information is a summary of telephone discussions with the three major national accounting bodies, representative provincial organizations and recommended practitioners. The practitioners interviewed were considered leaders in their field by their representative bodies and ranged in size from sole practitioners to one of the major accounting firms. Applications and Benefits Practitioners interviewed were unanimous that electronic commerce had enhanced their practice in some manner.
Practitioners use e-mail for mail outs and to transfer general information to and from clients.
This saves time and costs, and delivers time sensitive information instantaneously. As clients become more sophisticated practitioners do less mundane and more professional level work. This has not only decreased training costs for new staff but also allowed him to retain staff in a small rural centre where it is almost impossible to hire. Additionally, production has risen and a much better appreciation of the technology has been developed. If staff is overloaded in one location but time is available in another location, the file is transferred.