Out of the Clouds

Welcome to Bowne's blog on XBRL for the business user! Many of you have heard about XBRL. Some of you may have even looked into the technology a little bit. Well, it's about to take on new importance when the SEC proposes a rule to mandate XBRL filings on May 14th. I've personally been involved with XBRL since day 1 almost 10 years ago and I'm excited to be able to speak with you as the technology takes its next big step forward.

My goal is to help you explore the implications of this change and understand how it will impact finance and external reporting teams. Just like the move from paper to spreadsheet, the move from paper-based reporting to data-based reporting will open up new possibilities, require new skills and pose new challenges. The regulatory playing field is sure to evolve over time as XBRL is adopted and I want to help you prepare for and leverage this technology so you can bring value to your company.

Backed by a team of experts who will guest on this blog from time to time, I'll help you navigate these changes by focusing on real life issues rather than the technology itself (dimensions or tuples? who cares?). Please use the comments links or email me directly with any questions, comments or suggestions. Together we can make this the best, most relevant source of XBRL information for the business user by bringing it out of the clouds and into reality!

-- Rob