Adam Bluemner is the Project Specialist Manager for www.FindAccountingSoftware.com, a service providing free software selection assistance. Over the last decade Adam has spoken with over 10,000 companies, helping them achieve business success through intelligent software investment. Adam writes extensively on ERP and business software.

What's the part of your job you enjoy the most? I can tell you mine. But first let me ask you this: Have you had a time where you faced a slew of challenges, but just making one great decision completely changed things for the better? As you think about that, let me explain that my favorite part of my job helping companies find great software is that I get to be a part of that process every day. When a business software decision is done correctly, it not only can be, but it will be transformative.

How much of our daily work these days takes place within the software systems we use? Quite a bit of course. Having capable and intuitive tools is a game changer. The effects are felt not only qualitatively in ease of use and the ability to overcome challenges, but quantitatively in increased efficiency and ultimately overall profitability.

Software is a specific kind of business tool, though. It's no accident that business software options are referred to as software "systems." There is a certain level of complexity to contend with. Software isn't a tool that you just pick up and start using. It is a tool whose benefits rely on proper configuration and user training.

Here's another reality related to purchasing software: A solution that costs more than the problem it solves is no solution at all. So in order to make a good decision the educated buyer should be looking at all costs critically. One cost that often sticks out is the cost related to having a software provider assist with implementation and set-up. When a buyer looks at a software proposal, it's only natural to wonder do I really need to pay 20, 30 or 50 percent of the overall costs to have the software provider work with me to help set this up? It's a good question! After all, accessing professional implementation assistance is a significant cost. It raises the question: Is it worth it? In order to answer that question, let's take a look at a number of the benefits of working with your provider to have your software professionally implemented.

5 Benefits of Getting Assistance with Your Software Implementation

1. Time savings related to converting existing data.

   New software means bringing over existing data. Manually doing a conversion can be extremely time consuming. Think about payroll software, for instance. Just to start, you need to set up all the employee data (name, address, bank account for direct deposit, social security number, benefits, other deductions, etc.). And, typically, you also need to load in pre-existing payment histories in order to stay on top of overall tax liabilities. That's just scratching the surface of the data set-up required for one application.

   There are two important time related questions you'll want to consider before handling your own records set-up. First, do you have the time to take someone off of other duties to do a week or maybe even several weeks of data entry? Second, are you able to handle the opportunity cost of that person not working on their normal responsibilities? Often the answer to those questions is no. Even if you do have the resources to facilitate the data set-up, though, it may be more cost effective to simply outsource it. Software providers have lots of experience (and often even software utilities) that can help them more efficiently handle getting your data established. Working with your provider to understand what's all involved in your data set-up, can help you determine if you should outsource the data transfer to the provider completely or maybe just rely on remote assistance for help with the more difficult points.

2. Time savings related to configuring your software.

   Importing your existing data is important, but it's really only half the battle. There's also a process of configuring your system to meet your needs. What kind of configuration will you need to do? Let's take a look at the payroll example, again. You'll need to handle configurations related to setting period end dates, payroll cycle times, deduction options, direct deposit set-up, basic check template design, and so on. Of course, these are things that you can do internally. But, again do you have the time and how much more quickly could a provider handle these configuration tasks? Again, often times the best approach is to work in concert with the provider, so you learn your configuration options, while also getting help to make configuration a less tedious task.

3. Improved processes.

   An underrated benefit of working with a provider is that you get another set of eyes on the processes your software supports. It's also not just any set of eyes, but someone who understands the full capabilities of the software and has seen first-hand how many other companies have gotten the most out of it. Can certain tasks be successfully batched? Are there approval points in processes that will help you catch errors and get more control? Can certain workflows be optimized for efficiency? Working with a provider to implement software gives you an opportunity to get answers to these questions that are coming from a place of experience and expertise.

4. Better integration.

   Software doesn't exist in a vacuum. And, it's very common that data from one system will need to get passed into another at some point. Even something that intuitively feels like it is somewhat standalone (like a payroll system) can have a number of integration points (for example, with a general ledger, time and attendance, or HR system). Setting up your systems to pass data seamlessly is critical to creating on-going efficiencies, in terms of avoiding the necessity of manually re-entering data on a continuous basis.

5. Reduced risk.

   What kind of risk can be reduced by ensuring proper software configuration and set-up? All kinds, as it turns out. Returning again to our payroll example, having a provider offer assistance with the import of your data can not only be a time-saver, it can help to ensure you are starting from a baseline that will allow you to accurately calculate your payroll tax liabilities. What about employee satisfaction? What's the net effect on employee satisfaction, if there are errors in their paychecks? Also, the quality of your data has a profound effect on the quality of your financial decision-making. Knowing you have taken the right steps to have clean reliable data means having the confidence to make the right business decisions based on accurate info.

The web site www.findaccountingsoftware.com (and the services they provide) have been helping people find the right accounting software for many years. They do an incredible job of asking the right questions, so software seekers can get to their ideal results more efficiently. In this short video, they do a nice description of how their service works.

http://findaccountingsoftware.com/video/grow-your-business-with-the-right-software/

By Stephanie Elsen

Red Wing Software provides accounting software for businesses, so the user can be in complete control of their own finances. CenterPoint Accounting Software is Red Wing Software’s accounting application that can fit for many types of businesses, ranging from distribution companies to service-based businesses, manufacturers, and many more

Because of their wide-appeal, basic, mass-marketed accounting systems get a lot of press and have a massive number of users. These products are top-of-mind for many people in search of accounting software. Many people ask us to compare CenterPoint against those products. Well, without doing a feature-by-feature comparison of the two products, here are some of the main differences between CenterPoint and basic accounting programs. To summarize the reason: many CenterPoint users come from basic programs and are seeking features that can help them manage their business better.

Improve Financial Management.

Businesses outgrowing basic accounting systems typically need better financial tools. After all what good is a system you plug information into if you are unable to pull it out in a meaningful way for your business. Here are some of the ways CenterPoint is an improvement on a basic system’s financial management.

• Audit Trail

  A good audit trail can help prevent and detect fraud. It also enables you to provide necessary documentation for third party organizations that require it. Also, a good audit trail can help reconstruct events, once an issue is detected. CenterPoint has an excellent audit trail and makes it easy to determine who entered a transaction, created date and time, how many times edited, who voided, and much more. How’s your audit trail?

• Information Tracking

  Get a better picture of your financials by setting up and tracking income and expenses by project, department, or custom parameters that you set up. You are then only a report away from knowing how much a project costs, the income for a specific department, or much more.

• Reporting

  A standard report is a great starting point, but what happens if you or someone else would like fields of information changed, added, or removed from a financial report? CenterPoint allows complete custom editing of reports, and you can save reports as you like for ongoing use. Don’t get stuck with templates that were made for the masses! Get the information you need, in a way that is useful to you and your business.

Expand Limited to Unlimited.

Some programs limit the amount of data you can have in your system. When you reach these limits, which you were likely unaware of at the start, you will need to move on to something new. Here are some of the ways CenterPoint compares to typical basic systems when it comes to limits:

Beef Up Security.

One person might start out running the whole accounting system, but eventually tasks will be divided up. At that point, you will likely want to limit what employees can do and see in the accounting system, based on their job. CenterPoint has menu level security, so users can see only the screens they are given access to within the system.

Not all programs are created equal. Any accounting system has its positive and negative points. Just because something is used and known by the masses does not mean it’s the best product available. Basic programs do a great job for many businesses, for many years. But when your business starts to outgrow its accounting software feature set, it might just be time to contact Red Wing Software. 800-732-9464, info@redwingsoftware.com.

By Stephanie Elsen

Red Wing Software provides payroll software that streamlines the payroll process, and makes tax filing and paying employees easier. For businesses just starting out, basic payroll programs may work fine. As a business grows, payroll management needs can quickly outgrow a basic payroll system.

Basic, mass-marketed payroll systems get a lot of press and have a massive number of users. These products are top-of-mind for many people in search of a payroll system. Many people ask us to compare Red Wing Software's payroll solution, CenterPoint Payroll, against those products. Well, without doing a feature-by-feature comparison of the two products, here are some of the main differences between CenterPoint and more basic programs. To summarize : Many CenterPoint Payroll users come from basic programs and are seeking features that can help them manage their payroll better.

Flexible Calculations

Where your basic payroll system stops short, CenterPoint can take over and allow you to perform calculations the way you need to for your business payroll. Ditch the spreadsheets and keep all your calculations within one system for more streamlined payroll management.

• Track Pay to Multiple Variables:

  Get more information from your payroll system. Track information the way you need to, and run reports to quickly see labor expenses by department, location, and any way that is meaningful to you. Many basic systems allow for limited methods of payroll information tracking.

• Tax Filing Options

  File taxes manually if you prefer, or upgrade any time to online tax filing or ‘eFiling’. To streamline even further, have the whole process of tax filing completed for you.

• Custom Earning and Deduction Codes

  As a business grows, earning (pay) and deduction (benefit) codes become more complex, and a standard earning or deduction may not handle the calculation as necessary. CenterPoint allows you to set up as many custom earning and deduction codes as you need, with the correct calculation method. Don’t limit yourself to a limited set of codes that often drives people to complete calculations on paper or on a separate spreadsheet.

• Variety of Time Entry Methods

  Choose to enter pay for hourly and salaried employees separately, copy pay from a previous pay run, or pull hours directly from a time clock. You can even enter different pay rates for different jobs done in the same day. There is rarely a pay scenario that can’t be handled in CenterPoint, unlike more basic systems that limit time entry methods.

• Employee Pay Options

  Employees are happier when they have fast and easy access to their pay. This might mean some employees get paper checks, others get direct deposit, and still others receive pay via prepaid debit cards. Does your payroll system offer all these choices?

Expand Limited to Unlimited.

Some payroll systems limit the amount of data you can have in your system. When you reach these limits, which you may not have known about when you started it, you will need to move on to a new system . Here is a chart that shows some of the ways CenterPoint Payroll compares to typical basic systems when it comes to limits:

Beef Up Security.

One person might start out running the whole payroll software system, but eventually tasks will be divided up. At that point, you will likely want to limit what employees can do and see in the payroll system, based on their job function. CenterPoint has menu level security, so users can see only the screens they are given access to within the system.

No two payroll systems are created equal, and some will excel where others fail. Just because something is used and known by the masses does not mean it’s the best product available. Basic programs do a great job for many businesses to start out. But when your business outgrows its payroll software feature set, it might just be time to contact Red Wing Software. 800-732-9464, info@redwingsoftware.com.