Accelerating the Use of Tech Tools to Reach the Next Level.

This is the seventh installment of our Tax Technology Corner. As a corporate tax professional, you know how important technology is and how it's evolving at warp speed. With new regulatory and compliance initiatives in the federal, state, and international areas, landmark tax reform legislation, and globalization of tax monitoring and enforcement, keeping up with tax technology is not a luxury--it's a necessity. Each installment of this column will pair a taxpayer with a service provider. Together, in Q&A format, they'll tell a story about how they have worked together to solve a specific tax problem, implement a better solution, cut costs, or improve productivity. In this installment, Shawn Carter, global indirect tax director at Baker Hughes, and Stephane Lunan, a partner at Deloitte Tax LLP in tax technology, discuss how they could work together to capitalize on the burgeoning use of new technology tools, such as bots, to move Baker Hughes to next level in the tax space. Michael Levin-Epstein, senior editor of Tax Executive, moderated the discussion.

Michael Levin-Epstein: Shawn, why don't you give a description of Baker Hughes?

Shawn Carter: Baker Hughes is a global energy technology company that delivers value through four product companies: our oil-field services, oil-field equipment, turbo machinery/process solutions, [and] digital solutions. We employ around 67,000 people and operate in over 120 countries. We incorporate the latest in leading technology, such as 3D printing and artificial intelligence, to deliver customer value in our product and service offerings. One of Baker's continued focus areas is improving upon the next wave of digital processes, efficiency through digital capability and artificial intelligence.

Levin-Epstein: Stephane?

Stephane Lunan: Deloitte Tax is a global professional services company. We serve clients, providing them a range of fully integrated tax services, combining insights and innovation with both business and industry knowledge to serve our clients. At Deloitte, we are leading clients through the tax transformation taking place in the marketplace [by] helping clients transform to a digital tax platform, developing innovative future-forward tax departments embodied by strategic planning and compliance, and serving as enterprise partners within their organization.

Levin-Epstein: Shawn, what was the impetus behind your seeking assistance from Deloitte?

Carter: In getting to our technology challenge...