Sample Screens
The process of selecting a new accounting system isn't as straight forward as you might imagine. Accounting software doesn't just track IRS related financial data anymore. It has the ability to serve the informational needs of each person in the organization, no matter what role they play. Because of this extension into all areas of a business, accounting software has become very complex to say the very least. You can get just about any feature, function or report you want, as long as you are willing to pay for it, and in some instances run your business according to the rules laid down by the software itself. Since accounting software now touches all areas of the business, the selection of a new system is not unlike defining exactly how that business should be run on a daily basis.
Take whatever time is required to look at your business, and make sure you know what you need to do very well in order to succeed. Involve each person in this process. Ask them for their input and their opinions as to how the business might be improved. You will have but this one opportunity to select both an accounting product and a business model at the same time. Use this time wisely. Read as much as you can. Talk to others who have already been though this process. Seek the help and knowledge of those outside your organization. Above all else, don't forge ahead just because you think you know what the answer should be. There is no right answer, and your success in business won't be dependent upon the product you select. It will be dependent upon the people who use that product.
Basic Screen Organization
(click to enlarge) |
| File Menu |
 |
| Reports Menu |
 |
| Report Formats |
 |
| Selecting Products |
 |
| Options Menu |
 |
Add Questions Menu
(Modifiable Edition only) |
 |
Add Questions Field
(Modifiable Edition only) |
 |
Although the analysis program is the central point of The Accounting Library, its real power is released only after you have completed several critical prerequisite steps.
- First, you must understand what your organization needs to do well in order to succeed.
- Second, you must translate this definition of success into its individual components (strategy, organizational structure, business processes, personnel management philosophy, and finally the role your information system will play.
- Third, you must construct a detailed needs definition which reflects the objectives you have set for your information system.
- Finally, you can utilize The Accounting Library to identify and analyze those products which seem to meet the requirements set forth for your information system.
The analysis process doesn't have to follow a single methodology, but we will utilize one that should fit most users. It starts with the needs definition process, then moves on to product ranking, and finishes by suggesting how you might interpret the information generated, and what questions you might want to ask each vendor. The process itself is straight forward as described in the summary analysis list below.
- Create Initial Needs Definition.
- Print and Verify Needs Definition.
- Run Initial Analysis.
- Modify Needs Definition if Required (Modifiable Edition only).
- Revise Needs Definition if Required.
- Print and Examine Ranking Reports.
- Create Semi-final Product Grouping.
- Reprint Basic Ranking Reports.
- Identify Specific Strengths and Weaknesses.
- Prepare for Final Analysis.
While the analysis program is very easy to use, there are still too many operations to show on a single Web page. We have elected to show you only the highlights, but they should be sufficient for you to understand how easy the program is to operate as well as how powerful it really is.
|
)
)
)
)
)
)
)