CHANGE!

Yep, change is the theme of this year’s note. And to use an unchanged cliché: the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Eight years ago, I wrote a Christmas note wondering what changes the (then) prospective Trump regime might bring. Years later, I could ring in the same note… And I expect we would have the same lack of clarity as to what, exactly, will get changed now as we did then. We might try to guess what changes in the USA might impact business and investing here in Australia. Even so, change seems likely, perhaps more so this time than the last.

Change happens. The now emerged but still new technology of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the next “Big Thing”. It is already being used in ways we don’t always see – which means it probably works well in those uses! It is also being used in ways we sometimes do see, and that might mean it is less effective. We often hear that AI will eliminate this or that job (often accounting jobs are quickly referred to!), and whilst that is possible, what makes more sense is that people using AI will take the jobs of people who are not.

Here at Everalls, we carefully investigate what changes we can put AI toward… We are trying to do so in a way that is as cyber-safe as possible and does not impact client experiences until we are ready and can ensure the impact is positive! Where there is a business case to adapt and adopt AI, we will do so… What are you doing in your business to review this changing technology?

Significant change has been happening in our office for some time. We have thrown out our old, server-based legacy software platform, which has been in use since the early 2000s. We now have a connected, cloud-based “app stack ” that is far more modern. Moving to this stack has been a two-year project, with the real data cut-overs done from April onwards.

This change has been a huge amount of work, a few side-trips and even some stumbles, but it has been worth the effort. Hopefully, you will also see the benefits of greater use of technology to assist in your work, whether in tax, accounting, special projects, bookkeeping, financial planning, superannuation, or anything else we do for you! And if you have felt the effects of one of our “side-trips or stumbles”,… Thank you for your patience and even for finding something out for us. Some things have been a surprise to us as much as you.

Thank you to all who have supported us during this massive change programme—and this “Thank you” includes our team, who have had to move all the “business as usual” mountains while also embracing changed ways of doing… everything.

What changes are yet to come? As we head into 2025, there is a Federal election, a re-energised and much more harshly active ATO, various new laws to comprehend in business, superannuation, tax, and so much more… We at Everalls have some new team members (but most of the old guard are still around!). AI offers changes with both risks and great opportunities to do things better and differently. The new year should always bring hope and change for better times.

As many people head into times of celebration, get-togethers with family and friends, and perhaps breaks from the normal works of life, we hope you can kick back, relax, and dream of positive changes for the next year.
Merry Christmas, please have a safe and happy New Year, and see you in 2025.

Rob Shelton
Managing Director