Management & Compliance: Accounting Software Is Morphing To Business Management Software

The accounting software market seems to be changing before our very eyes. Maybe it was always this way, but I don't think so. In the last two or three releases of most vendors' products, the nature of accounting systems is changing from operational and tactical to analytical and strategic. Let me

Although accounting software doesn't all function at the same level, it is clear that most of the systems will do an adequate job at core financials today. This is not to say that all products are equally good on GL, AR, AP, costing, inventory and so on, but most will produce a usable financial statement and keep track of routine transactions. The accuracy of the transactions and the ease of processing transactions are being helped in some cases by third-party software. While attending the recent Best Software (now Sage Software) Insights annual conference, it was fascinating to me to walk the exhibit floor looking at the adcl-on products for their mainstream offerings. The same was true at the Exact Software, CYMA Software, and Microsoft Business Solutions conferences. EDI, RFID, Analytics and Sales Tax add-ins abounded. I counted no less than five vendors offering a sales and use tax solution as an add-in to many of the Sage Software products. Upon further questioning, most of the products also worked with Microsoft Business Solutions, Exact Software, SYSPRO, Blackbaud, Epicor as well as Intuit offerings.