Risk Free Tool Ensures Business Software Is Up To Speed

Ensuring software is up-to-speed is important not just for businesses, but for accountants as well, says Peter Whalley, of Sybiz New Zealand.

“If the capabilities of a client’s business software are being stretched, it’s possible for clients to lose faith in their accountant and switch to another firm.”

Whalley says recent studies have shown that 5-10% of businesses have outgrown their business software and that 63% of accounting firms have no formal processes in place to assess this and move their clients on. “Firms tend to lose a percentage of their clients due to this problem. But it’s a problem that is easily remedied,” he says.

Sybiz has created a tool to help accountants assess their clients’ business software needs and find the most suitable product. Called the Empowerment Pack, it’s a three step process that will indicate whether or not a business needs to upgrade their software.

This pack is to help your clients:

• Determine whether they have outgrown their current business software
• Determine their software needs
• Find software that will meet these needs

Has your client outgrown their off-the-shelf business software? If you are not sure, ask or help your client to complete a Business Software Growth Check form (the first form in the Empowerment Pack). This will determine whether it is likely they have outgrown their business software.

If your client has outgrown their business software, ask the people involved in purchasing software for your client to complete the Business Software Needs form (the second form in the pack). These people may include directors or managers of finance, operations and sales. This form will determine what your client wants from their business software.

Simply complete the Client Summary form (the third form in the pack) and send it, with the Business Software Needs form, to three business software vendors. The software vendors can then contact your client with information on possible software solutions.

Whalley says a lot of businesses use small business software such as MYOB or QuickBooks Accounting, because they’re well-known and familiar to many people. “But as the business grows, the capabilities are stretched and the business might need to add additional “clip on” functionality (cumbersome spreadsheets, or even multiple Access databases), merely to accommodate the short comings with entry level software. This is especially true in the manufacturing and service industries.”

The Empowerment Pack is available to accountants free of charge, although there is a nominal training fee. A choice of Web-based or Face to Face training is offered, with face to face working best, says Whalley, and costs a total of $199 for up to five delegates – excellent value.

Aimed at medium-sized accounting firms with two or more partners and a minimum of 10 accountants, the Empowerment Pack has been implemented across a number of firms within Australia since 2005 with much success. “Without a doubt, it will also now help a lot of New Zealand Accounting Firms help their clients reach a quality decision about their software”.

Sybiz Software is an award-winning Australian Accounting Software developer and distributor.

ENDS