Mendelson Insights: Building the Foundation for What’s Next

Every month seems to bring another breakthrough in AI, analytics, or business technology. It’s an exciting time, but it can also make it difficult to separate meaningful progress from the latest headline.

This month’s edition focuses on something more enduring: Building the right Foundation. From modern data strategies to insights shared at Scaling New Heights, each story reinforces a simple idea:

Organizations that invest in reliable information, connected systems, and thoughtful technology decisions today will be better prepared for whatever comes next.

From the CEO

Over the past several weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to meet with business leaders, advisors, technology partners, and peers at Scaling New Heights. While the conversations covered topics ranging from AI and business intelligence to ERP modernization, one message kept coming up in different ways: Technology is moving faster than ever.

For many, that creates both excitement and uncertainty. New tools promise greater efficiency, better reporting, and smarter decision-making. But adopting the latest technology is not what creates long-term success.

What matters most is having the right foundation. Reliable data. Well-defined processes, connected systems. Those fundamentals have always mattered, and they are becoming even more important as AI becomes part of everyday business operations.

Those that will benefit most from the next generation of technology will not necessarily be the first to adopt every new innovation. They will be the ones that understand their business, trust their data, and make technology decisions with purpose.

As you will read throughout this month’s newsletter, whether we are talking about Microsoft Fabric, insights from Scaling New Heights, or the future of advisory services, the common thread is the same: Preparing today for the opportunities of tomorrow.

I hope the insights in this edition help you think differently about how your organization prepares for what is next!

Sincerely,

Mario Nowogrodzki, CPA.CITP

CEO and Founder

Featured Insight

How Small Businesses Can Use Microsoft Fabric

to Ditch Spreadsheet Chaos

For many growing businesses, spreadsheets become the default solution for reporting, analysis, and decision-making. While they can work for a time, they often lead to duplicated effort, inconsistent data, and limited visibility as organizations grow.

Microsoft Fabric offers a different approach by bringing together data integration, analytics, and business intelligence into a unified platform. Instead of spending hours collecting information from multiple sources, businesses can focus on understanding what their data is telling them and making better-informed decisions.

The article explores how Microsoft Fabric can help small and mid-sized businesses move beyond manual reporting, strengthen data foundations, and prepare for an increasingly AI-driven future.

Read the full article →

From the Industry

5 Takeaways from Scaling New Heights 2026:

Building the Foundation for What’s Next

Every year, Scaling New Heights brings together accounting professionals, technology leaders, and advisors to discuss the trends shaping the future of our industry. This year’s conversations reinforced a message that aligns closely with what we see every day when working with growing businesses.

While AI, business intelligence, and modern ERP platforms received plenty of attention, the strongest takeaway wasn’t about adopting the latest technology, it was about building the right foundation to make that technology successful.

Throughout the conference, our team led and participated in sessions covering AI, business intelligence, critical thinking, and ERP transformation. We also had the opportunity to engage with customers, partners, and industry peers, gaining valuable perspectives on where businesses and the accounting profession are headed.

Our biggest takeaway? Organizations that invest in reliable data, connected systems, and thoughtful decision-making today will be far better prepared for the opportunities that tomorrow’s technology will bring.

We’ve summarized five key insights from the conference and what they mean for growing businesses.

Read the full recap →

Mendelson Spotlight

Mario Nowogrodzki Named a 2026 Top 100 ProAdvisor

We’re proud to share that Mario Nowogrodzki, CPA, CITP, Founder and CEO of Mendelson Consulting, has been recognized as one of the Top 100 ProAdvisors for 2026. Even more notably, Mario is the only ProAdvisor to have earned this distinction every year since the Top 100 ProAdvisor award program was established.

While individual recognition is always an honor, what makes this achievement especially meaningful is what it represents: a continued commitment to helping businesses navigate technology with confidence.

For more than three decades, Mario has helped business owners navigate technology decisions with a practical, business-first approach, evaluating financial systems, modernizing operations, improving reporting, and implementing solutions that support long-term growth. From QuickBooks and Intuit Enterprise Suite to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, business intelligence, and emerging AI technologies, the focus has remained the same:

Helping organizations select, implement, and optimize the right solutions for their unique business needs.

This recognition reflects not only professional expertise but also the trust our clients place in us every day. We’re grateful to everyone who has been part of that journey.

Read the full announcement →

Practical Takeaway

Three Questions to Help Prepare Your Business

for What’s Next

As technology continues to evolve, it’s easy to focus on the latest tools. Before evaluating new platforms or AI capabilities, it’s worth taking a step back and asking a few foundational questions.

1. Can you trust the data you’re using to make business decisions? AI, business intelligence, and reporting tools all depend on reliable, well-organized data. If your team spends more time validating information than using it, strengthening your data foundation may be the next best investment.

2. Are your systems helping your team work together or creating more manual work? Disconnected applications, spreadsheets, and duplicate processes often slow growth more than businesses realize. Connected systems create better visibility, improve collaboration, and reduce time spent reconciling information.

3. Is your technology strategy supporting where your business is going, not just where it is today? The right solutions should help your business scale, adapt, and take advantage of new opportunities without adding unnecessary complexity.

There isn’t a single technology that’s right for every organization. But asking the right questions today can help you make better decisions tomorrow.

Final Thought

Technology will continue to evolve. New platforms will emerge, AI will become more capable, and the pace of innovation will only accelerate.

What won’t change is the importance of understanding your business, trusting your data, and making technology decisions with purpose.

The organizations best prepared for tomorrow won’t necessarily be the first to adopt every new innovation, they’ll be the ones that invested in the right foundation long before they needed it.

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