Business intelligence tools are fast becoming one of the most important business decision support systems available. This applies to small businesses as well as enterprises.  It’s just a matter of scale.  While there is no doubt that properly configured business intelligence tools can give people critical data that will help them make more effective business… » More

Online accounting software is quickly attracting the attention of firms searching for new accounting software or ERP software.  While online accounting software hasn’t reached 50% market share, most people see that happening within the next few years.  Does this mean firms must include online accounting software products when evaluating their options?  No, but the prudent… » More

Selecting accounting software consists of three primary components: software functionality, technical (workstations, servers, network software, cabling, printer selection, transaction volume, speed, etc.) and people.  While most accounting software selection projects address the first two fairly competently, the personnel aspects of these projects fall short in many instances and that’s one of the primary reasons why… » More

Accounting software selection, installation and operation is not easy not withstanding all of the marketing literature to the contrary. In fact, accounting software selection can be one of the most frustrating experiences any company will ever undertake. The time wasted in the selection of a new accounting software system that will be replaced is of… » More

Let’s say you are the leader of an accounting software selection initiative for your firm.  What should you expect from resellers of the products in which you have an interest? Conversely, what should resellers expect from you? The accounting software selection process (or ERP selection process as well) is a bit like a dance competition… » More

Firms that outgrow their current accounting software system might need to consider an upgrade to a more feature rich accounting or ERP software system.  There are literally millions of small to mid-sized business firms.  Many remain small in terms of revenue and complexity.  Some grow over time and a very few become large firms with… » More

An ERP software solution doesn’t last forever.  If you have reached that point where a critical mass of your employees have decided that your current ERP software solution might need to be replaced, what’s your next step? Many firms just launch a search, assuming that at some point they will find the best suited ERP… » More

Exception reporting eliminates the need to review countless reports to identify and address key business process issues before they begin to negatively impact a firm’s operations or profitability.  Think about it for a moment.  There are a lot of things happening at any point in time, even in a small business.  How can you identify… » More

If you are in the process of selecting a new accounting software system, product customization may be the only way you can create a system that meets all of your requirements.  Having said that though, please don’t assume that customization is the only viable alternative.  Instead, base your initial search on finding an accounting software… » More

Web page design must be seen as a critical element of your CRM and ERP systems.  CRM functions track prospects and manage customers.  An ERP system processes customer orders and deliver goods and services.  However, if your web page design doesn’t attract and hold a prospect’s attention or makes it difficult for customers to do… » More

An effective accounting software review must include each of the critical steps you need to accomplish when searching for a new accounting system.  Although you might want to move forward with your accounting software review as quickly as possible, history tells us that the failure rate of accounting software selection projects is high.  In many… » More

Your ERP software solution will need to be replaced at some point in time.  In support of your anticipated efforts, there are any number of articles and blogs that list the top 5 or 10 steps or top 5 or 10 mistakes to avoid when it comes to purchasing an ERP software solution.  In truth… » More

Given the fact that many ERP system selection and implementation projects fail to achieve their objectives or worse still fail altogether, it’s critical that firms organize the process effectively.  One element that needs special attention is the selection of the project leader.  Since this person will be responsible for driving the project forward, who should… » More

There are any numbers of articles that have been written regarding ERP accounting software selection, including several that I have written myself. While the techniques suggested may differ, the success of any ERP accounting software selection initiative is dependent on the support given to these projects by each of the various groups of people that… » More

ERP software selection can become a tedious and at times frustrating exercise. While you can follow the steps we have suggested in any of the articles we have written, Accounting Systems Software Selection – Key Hands-On Evaluation Steps Accounting Software Selection and ERP Software Selection Process Tools to Select Accounting Software That Meets Your Unique… » More

If you think you need a new accounting software system or know you need one, what should you do? The path from idea to project completion is littered with potholes, obstacles, ignorance, false starts and the debris of so many well-intentioned accounting software selection initiatives. Now for the bad news. There is no “right” process… » More

Most accounting systems and ERP products cannot meet all of your requirements unless they are customized or integrated with solutions developed by independent third parties.  Does this mean that these accounting systems or ERP products are somehow weaker? No.  All it means is that vendors cannot be everything to everyone.  Actually if you were to… » More

The purchase of accounting software applications, just as you would find for any business transaction requires two parties; a seller and a buyer.  The more each knows about the motivations and objectives of the other, the closer the transaction will come to being mutually satisfactory or beneficial.  This certainly holds true for the process of… » More

Business Intelligence can play a significant role in increasing internal productivity as well as competitiveness. To some extent I am going to play the role of devil’s advocate in this article and challenge people to utilize Business Intelligence at the right time and by the right people. While large enterprises can afford dedicated Business Intelligence… » More

The ERP and accounting systems software selection process can become very time consuming and frustrating.  Rather than presenting a multi-page document that discusses each task you need to accomplish, let’s concentrate on a single issue: evaluating the system itself.  Since this article is relevant to both accounting systems software and ERP software, we are going… » More