3 keys to a successful accounting system upgrade

Technology is tricky. Much of today’s software is engineered so well that it will perform adequately for years. But new and better features are being created all the time. And if you’re not getting as much out of your financial data as your competitors are, you could be at a disadvantage.

For these reasons, it can be hard to decide when to upgrade your company’s accounting software. Here are three keys to consider:

Your users are ready.

When making a major change to your accounting software, the sophistication of the system needs to align with the technological savvy of its primary users. Sometimes companies buy expensive software only to have many of its features gather virtual dust because the employees who use it are resistant to change. But if your users are well trained and adaptable, they may be able to extract added value from a more sophisticated accounting system. For instance, they could track key performance indicators to generate more meaningful financial reports.

The price is right.

You’ll of course need to consider the costs involved. As holds true for any technology purchase, project leaders must set a budget and focus the search on products and vendors offering only the functions your company needs. But don’t stop there. Explore add-on services such as free trials, initial training and ongoing support. You want to get the most value from the software, which goes beyond the new and improved features themselves.

You need to integrate.

This is the concept of networking your accounting system with your other mission-critical systems such as sales, inventory and production. For most companies today, integration is essential to maximizing the return on investment in accounting software. So, if you haven’t yet implemented this functionality, an upgrade may be highly advisable. Just be aware that a successful company wide integration will call for buy-in from every nook and cranny of your business.

Sometimes a complete overhaul of your accounting system is not necessary.  We have created partnerships over the years with vendors of various applications that compliment accounting systems.  

For instance, a client with a small accounting office was looking to implement controls and efficiencies in there payables process.  We assisted them with implementing bill.com, a payables automation system.  We had another client that was looking for an easy way to gather credit card receipts that would sync with QuickBooks Online. We helped put receipt-bank in place to track and automatically sync with their QuickBooks.  In addition, we have also used other tools like Mile IQ and expensify to assist clients in organizing their spending.

If a company doesn’t need any major accounting process changes, it probably doesn’t need a major accounting software change either. But if upgrading both will help grow your business, it’s absolutely a step worth considering. It’s time to see how we can help.