AICPA Engage 2021: Conference Recap & Highlights

Unlike the 2020 iteration of the AICPA and CIMA Engage conference, where the event was held entirely virtually, the ENGAGE 2021 iteration allowed for both in-person and virtual attendance. As the AICPA's exclusive member discount partner for online payments, the CPACharge team was proud to sponsor ENGAGE 2021! Here are some of our biggest highlights from the event:

AICPA ENGAGE 2021 at a Glance

• Official Website: aicpaengage.com
• Date: July 26-29, 2021
• Location: In-person and online
• Attendees: 3,481 (~50 percent split in-person vs. online)
• Exhibitors: ~150
• CPE Credits Available: 40+ hours
• Keynote Speakers: Amobi Okugo, Jeremy Bloom, Nicole Lynn, Caroline Kennedy, Barry C. Melancon, William Pirolli, Susan Coffey, Erik Asgeirsson

CPACharge's Recap and Highlights from Engage 2021

The big theme resonating throughout the ENGAGE 2021 conference was “Reimagine what is possible.” In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, many professionals in 2020 had to reimagine their practices and their operations, often needing to not only adopt new technologies but new perspectives to move forward. There’s no question that these shifts will continue to reshape the face of the accounting and financial industry today.

The hybrid model of the conference is a perfect reflection of how these shifts have impacted the world. As parts of the world have begun returning to the office and in-person interactions, many businesses now allow for both traditional and virtual services. For ENGAGE 2021, we had both a booth on the show floor as well as a virtual booth to interact with attendees.

One of our newest features, QR code payments, was also designed with this hybrid model in mind. With QR code payments, clients can make secure, contactless payments by scanning your unique QR code. This can be accomplished either in person (such as in your office) or from a distance via a digital or paper invoice.

We were able to kick off the conference by showcasing this feature (as well as all the other great CPACharge features) in a tech demo presented on Monday, July 26, 2021, by Erika Segal, Associate Brand Manager of CPACharge, and David Reat, Account Manager of CPACharge. We also got to speak with many attendees at our booth about CPACharge and our latest features. Many attendees learned that we now offer the ability to apply a surcharge to credit card transactions (if the practice is permitted in their region).

Prior to ENGAGE 2021, we asked our existing users who filled out our Client Survey. Respondents provided feedback on their usage of CPACharge as well as data on how their clients were enjoying our online payment solution. We then selected a random respondent and gave them a free pass to ENGAGE 2021! Congratulations to Travis Fenton, who was the lucky winner of our giveaway! And thank you to everyone who filled out the survey and shared their CPACharge experiences.

We can’t wait to see what ENGAGE 2022 has in store for us next year!