John Savignano Believes The Human Element Is Still Important To Accounting
Even though technology has taken the finance industry by storm, it does not mean it should completely replace the human element. Businessman and Entrepreneur John Savignano feels consumers should still interact with a human, not a bot. Savignano believes that accounting is more than numbers on a balance sheet. After working with clients for many years, he realizes clients need human contact. Savignano believes personalization is necessary for his job.
As a part-time professor, John Savignano lectures his students about the personal approach to accounting. Not that technology does not have a huge role, but at the end of the day, it is a tool. Technology can not talk to clients, understand their situation, and become part of their team. We need a person for all of that.
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The industry will continue to become more automated, but the human part of the equation is needed. Technology can certainly make the process easier. It can balance the ledger, record invoices, input bank statements, scan receipts, and increase accuracy. However, does relying strictly on technology come at a cost? Savignano thinks so. Accountants who rely only on their computers do not make human connections. The human connections are their clients. As a result, clients will go to other accounting firms who listen to them, answer questions, and even hold their hands if necessary.
At his company, Savignano stresses to his team members the importance of making personal connections with clients while staying up to date on all technological advances. Technology and the human element can coexist. The technology shows the numbers, but phone calls and personalized emails help to form a relationship. A client you have a personal connection with is a client for life. A client who never hears from you except for an occasional text message will shop around for someone who cares.