EP#221 ~ The Intuit GetConnected Conference Smallbiz Learnings: AI, Advocacy, Advisors and Open Banking

Small Biz Matters: People, Policy, Purpose ~ Episode #221

Broadcast date: 30th January 2024

Host: Alexi Boyd, Small Business Advocate & Policy Advisor

Guest: The speakers and attendees at the Intuit GetConnected23 conference!

Conferences are a great way to connect with your peers, learn the latest industry trends and grab some swag! And last year’s Intuit GetConnect conference was no exception. But what made this accounting and bookkeeping get together different was the quality of the discussions and the focus on the future of tech.

A big focus for me at the conference was Open Banking and what small businesses can expect in the near and distant future. How have international companies supported advocates in the fight to ensure small businesses control, retain and utilise their banking data as an all-important tool.

I’m keen to share those interviews with captains of industry, economists and innovative app founders to find out what they think will be the impact of AI on the Fintech Industry, advisors and small business owners. Small Biz Matters went on the road to find out.  We interviewed:

• Lars Leber, Vice President Australia, RoW & Global Expansion at Intuit
• Robyn Jacobson, Senior Advocate at The Tax Institute
• Danielle Franklin DeSarzant - Global Senior Product Marketing Manager at Mailchimp
• Damien Greathead - Head of Marketing - Accountant & Advisor Group, Intuit Australia
• Grant Augustin, Founder of SISS Data Services and Steve Kemp, Head of Financial Institute Partnerships at Intuit

Let’s have a listen to their thoughts on the digital future, advocacy and open banking!

PEOPLE - Are small businesses in Australia more digitised? Are they really that different than those in other countries? What’s the key piece of advice you’d give to FinTech startups just starting out? How does the Tax Institute work across so many policy areas to improve the tax system?  How does a massive industry shift like AI impact a product like Mailchimp and help the end user like a small business? Does AI really make life easier?

POLICY - What will the Australian Government’s open banking and CDR changes mean for small businesses? What sort of incentives would encourage small businesses to fix tax unintended errors and make the system educative rather than punitive? Why are late payment times so problematic for small businesses and what can be done to speed up this problem?

PURPOSE - What are the benefits of digitisation for small businesses and their advisors?

What international experience does a global company bring to the table in the policy areas of open banking and digitisation?  How have you been active in this space and helped policy makers to make these policy areas work for small business?

So what is it? GetConnected brings together accounting professionals and industry experts for two days of inspiration, education, and networking. Speakers share their experiences and provide insights and strategies to help advisors grow and succeed and support their small businesses.

To find out more go to: https://quickbooks.intuit.com/au/events/getconnected/