Fujitsu and SpeedTax Form Strategic Alliance to Expand North American Accounting Industry Outreach

SUNNYVALE and LAGUNA HILLS, Calif., July 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Fujitsu Computer Products of America, Inc, the market leader in document imaging scanners and services, and SpeedTax, a provider of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), fully-automated sales tax management solutions, today announced a strategic alliance that will deliver hands-on marketing tools to help North American accounting firms better serve their clients and promote firm growth via adoption of smart technology.

The new alliance offers the combined thought leadership from both companies, which translates into business value for Fujitsu and SpeedTax customers. The two companies initiated the alliance in early June at the AICPA Tech+ and Practitioners Symposium in Las Vegas, where SpeedTax co-exhibited with the Fujitsu ScanSnap division and co-hosted a media reception. The reception was attended by AICPA Chairman Robert Harris, in addition to several leading SaaS vendors, including Bill.com, Intacct, Copanion, XCM, and Ketera.

In addition, Fujitsu and SpeedTax released a new, free white paper during the conference, authored by Jim Bourke, CPA CITP, Partner at WithumSmith+Brown, PC, titled "3 Key Tech Strategies of Successful 21st Century Accounting Firms".  As part of the white paper, Bourke describes how competitive, growth-oriented firms are leveraging technologies like document management and Software-as-a-Service to better serve clients and improve internal operations.

Bourke's white paper is the first in a series of resources to be underwritten by Fujitsu and SpeedTax, giving CPA firms access to the best possible information related to making smart technology choices for them to streamline processes, maximize staff time and promote stronger client relationships that lead to increased retention.

"Fujitsu has demonstrated a strong commitment to the CPA community, and today's announcement shows excellent continued forward progress in helping firms understand how combined technologies can fit together as a total solution," said Jeff DeCarlo, senior director of business development, Fujitsu Computer Products of America.  "Our work with SpeedTax, and associations with key industry voices like Jim Bourke, allow us to reach more accounting firms and ultimately help a greater number of CPAs overcome hurdles and more efficiently service their valued clients."

"As technologies related to document management and sales tax compliance have captured increased mindshare among firms in the past year, there's been a much greater need for mission-critical information related to how to onboard the right solutions and bring it all together," said James Bourke, CPA.CITP, partner at WithumSmith+Brown. "Fujitsu and SpeedTax have taken the lead in forming an alliance that will provide real tools that firms can access to become better informed, provide better service, run more smoothly, and achieve a competitive edge."

"We're very pleased to have found a partner in Fujitsu who shares our passion for working with CPA firms to help them improve client service, substantially improve the way their business operates, and offer new services that add value and increase overall profitability," said David Lahey, executive vice president at SpeedTax. "SpeedTax is looking forward to a long-term alliance with Fujitsu that delivers real value for firms across North America."

About Fujitsu

Fujitsu is a leading provider of ICT-based business solutions for the global marketplace. With approximately 170,000 employees supporting customers in 70 countries, Fujitsu combines a worldwide corps of systems and services experts with highly reliable computing and communications products and advanced microelectronics to deliver added value to customers. Headquartered in Tokyo, Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.6 trillion yen (US$50 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010. For more information, please see: www.fujitsu.com

About Fujitsu Computer Products of America, Inc.

Fujitsu Computer Products of America, Inc. is an established leader in the Document Imaging industry, delivering innovative scanning solutions and services that enable our customers to solve critical business productivity issues and streamline operations. We provide cutting-edge document capture solutions for business and personal environments, backed by a comprehensive portfolio of service and support programs. For more information about Fujitsu Document Imaging solutions and services, please call us at 800-626-4686. For more information, please see:http://us.fujitsu.com/fcpa

About SpeedTax

SpeedTax is an easy-to-use, affordable and technologically advanced Software-as-a-Service sales tax solution. SpeedTax performs real-time, automated sales tax calculations, integrates seamlessly with its customers' financial or e-commerce systems, and provides automatic returns preparation and filing, while enabling reporting, treasury management and audit defense with sophisticated, web-based compliance management and reporting tools. SpeedTax helps businesses of all sizes to accurately and affordably outsource the most tedious, repetitious and time-consuming aspects of sales tax compliance – researching, calculating, posting, reporting and remitting sales taxes – while simultaneously acquiring the ability to better manage their business via online, real-time access to sales tax data. For more information, visit www.speedtax.com, or contact us at 888.349.2441.

SOURCE Fujitsu Computer Products of America, Inc.