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August 2019 Tech Update Newsletter

Does Your Version of Excel Contain
Power Pivot?

Over the years, knowing whether you have access to the Power Pivot feature in Excel has been challenging at times to say the least. First introduced as an add-in for Excel 2010, availability of the tool has varied, depending upon which version of Excel you utilized. Fortunately, Microsoft simplified access to Power Pivot with the release of Excel 2019 and now, more people than ever have access to the feature.

The Benefits of Workflow Automation

The Benefits of Workflow Automation

So, what is a business workflow engine? In the simplest terms, it’s a system that automates business processes. Workflow engines allow me to be more creative and focus on more important tasks. For instance, I get an email notification when a client adds new accounting users and it sends a thank you for me. Workflow automation allows me to be proactive instead of reactive. It can be amazing!

Technology Tools

Technology Tools - Change with the Times

Are you doing things the same old way? Do you wish there were an easier way? Have you noticed how rapidly our technology tools are changing? Continuous updates via the internet has become the standard for technology on our mobile phones, for Software as a Service (SaaS), and applications like Microsoft Office. Addressing security needs, new features and evolving the product can’t be a once a year process releasing all the changes at one time using the waterfall approach. Developers are using short sprints spanning just a few weeks to add features and repair bugs while following scrum methodology.

Five Technologies We Gained From
the Space Race

With all the headlines surrounding the 50th anniversary of “man on the moon,” I’ve been intrigued by some of the technologies that were associated with the Space Race and how they permeate our culture today. Clearly, developing a rocket that could carry man to the moon and back necessitated developing some extraordinary technologies. Of course, many of these technologies we now use daily without realizing that they are spinoffs of the space program. In fact, NASA reports that approximately 2,000 spinoff technologies have evolved into commercially successful products.

   

K2 Enterprises Highlights August/September 
Webinar Series

Throughout the remainder of August and September, K2 Enterprises is producing twenty-six webinars, providing technology-focused CPE opportunities to accountants and other business professionals. The topics for these sessions include coverage of Excel, QuickBooks Online, identity theft, technology tools, Power BI, Office 2019/Office 365, and many other topics. Specific dates and topics for these webinars are listed below.


August 13

  • K2's What to Ask Your Technology Provider
  • K2's QuickBooks Online - Changing the Paradigm of Small Business Accounting
August 14
  • K2's The Right Stuff: Best Practices for Purchasing Technology
  • K2's Client Accounting and the Outsourced CFO
August 15
  • K2's Critical Tips for Avoiding Identify Theft
  • K2's Tech Tools and Gadgets for a More Efficient You
August 29
  • K2's Excel Tables - Database Technology Comes to Spreadsheets
  • K2's Excel 2013-2019 - Best New Features for Accountants
  • K2's Office 2019 or Office 365 - Make the Right Decision
September 4, 2019
  • K2's Excel Budgeting Techniques
  • K2's Detecting and Preventing Spreadsheet Errors
  • K2's Top Excel Tips and Tricks
September 5, 2019
  • K2's Array Formulas - Exceptional Power at Your Fingertips
  • K2's Excel PivotTables for Accountants - Part I
September 11, 2019
  • K2's Introduction to Power Query
  • K2's Word Advanced Tips, Tricks, and Techniques
September 12, 2019
  • K2's Mastering PivotTable Calculations and Data Summaries
  • K2's Create Stunning Dashboards with Power BI Desktop
  • K2's Excel Guru - Tips to Make Your Head Spin
September 17, 2019
  • K2's Tech Update
September 18, 2019
  • K2's Understanding Key Internal Controls Over Technology
  • K2's Six Emerging Technologies for Accounting, Auditing, and Bookkeeping
September 25, 2019
  • K2's QuickBooks Power Reporting with Excel
  • K2's Excel PivotTables for Accountants - Part II
September 26, 2019
  • K2's Mastering the Excel Macro Recorder
  • K2's Power Query Tips, Tricks, and Advanced Techniques
You can obtain complete details for each session, including learning objectives and registration information by clicking the button below.

     
Excel

Using Power Query to Combine
Excel Workbooks

The more we dig into Excel’s Power Query feature, the more we find out just what a powerful tool it really is. For example, Power Query includes tools to ease the process of linking data into Excel from external data sources and applying transformations to make that data more useful. But it also facilitates quick-and-easy data transformations to make our data more usable and useful. And, as you will learn in this tip, you can use Power Query’s Combine Queries feature to quickly merge data from multiple worksheets or workbooks.

     

K2 Team Members On The Road In August and September

During the remainder of August and September, K2 team members are scheduled to deliver 124 in-person training sessions in 53 venues across North America! A summarized schedule is shown below. We hope that you will be able to attend one or more of these sessions, and we look forward to the opportunity of serving you soon.

     
Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Adding Two New Features to Teams

During July, Microsoft announced that two new features will become available in Microsoft Teams – 1) Focus Time and 2) Private Channels. Both these features will be rolled-out worldwide to users by the end of September 2019.