I am a big fan of technology in accounting. I see how it can transform the way businesses manage their finances and change the way accountants work with their clients.
There has been more change related to technology in the accounting industry in the last few years, than I have seen throughout my career. As a result, I am constantly interacting with tech savvy accountants across the country as well as with software vendors to keep up with new developments and determine better options.
I don’t like being “first in” when a new software comes into the market. I like someone else to work out the kinks, but once I am confident in a tool, I enjoy seeing my clients reap the benefits.
I’ve had great success moving our business clients to the cloud with the help of Xero and QuickBooks Online. We are now ready to get to the next level of financial management by supporting more cloud products that integrate with these core accounting platforms.
We’ve started using some new tools with several clients and we are seeing benefits. We are obtaining certifications in the products and interacting closely with the vendors.
Below is a list of new cloud based software products that Beyond Financials Consulting will be incorporating regularly into the firm and using with our client base where appropriate.
Over the coming weeks, I will be sending out more detailed descriptions about their purposes and benefits. If you would like more information beforehand, I am happy to share.
The List
Spotlight Dashboard – Financial reporting add-on that uses charts, graphs, and KPI’s to provide a visual overview of business performance.
Zen Payroll – Easy, user friendly, less expensive payroll that works best for small businesses with simple payroll needs.
ADP RUN Wholesale – The ADP RUN cloud platform managed by Beyond Financials. If a client comes under the Beyond Financials ADP account, we can provide much better pricing on a very robust platform. ADP isn’t as much fun as Zen Payroll, but they do have capabilities that sometimes make them necessary.
Bill.com Payables – Online bill payment software that integrates with your bank and accounting software. Vendors send their invoice directly to your Bill.com e-mail address and the bill can be approved, scheduled, paid, and stored in the software.
Bill.com Receivables – Online invoicing where customers can pay via credit card or direct bank deposit. For businesses still receiving a lot of checks in the mail, this is a great way to speed up your receivable process.
Receipt Bank – More automated expense management. E-mail or take a picture of an invoice, receipt or bill and Receipt bank will import the transaction details and a picture of the document into the accounting software. This is a great tool for the small businesses that need a better solution for receipts.
There are so many cloud products out there, it is hard to keep track. We certainly cannot be experts in every one. The options mentioned above are popular, tested, accounting industry providers who have built trust with accountants (not easy) and I have personally seen work well. Plus, they all seamlessly integrate with your accounting software.
If you would like to discuss how any of these tools can improve your accounting process, let us know.