Managing accounting systems can often feel like a constant juggling act. Whether you’re navigating system integrations, pursuing a seamless "single pane of glass" experience, managing practice operations or harnessing practice analytics for informed decision-making – quickly it becomes overwhelming. Not to mention the endless chances there are to fall short on data management, GDPR, duplication, errors, and missed opportunities due to a lack of a central hub.
What accountants need is a place to gain insight, collaborate, allow robotic process automation (RPA) to do some of the heavy lifting, and, in turn, create a better place to work with a healthier bottom line. This is where integrated accounting systems come into play.
While the concept of having one comprehensive system sounds ideal, practical implementation often falls short. The tool may be well-received by the department it was initially designed for, but other departments may resort to finding workarounds, or integration gaps may lead to a trade-off between efficiency and invested time.
Take a moment to ask the boots on the ground how good the tools they have are. But don't just ask them in passing; take the time to genuinely inquire about their experiences. Encourage them to think about the tasks they perform routinely and ask: "Could technology help in making these tasks more efficient or even automated?"
Getting best-of-breed tools doesn’t have to be a wish. With a good integrated accounting systems plan, any firm will be able to optimise and meet modern-day expectations.
Several excellent tools are emerging, and there are also established, reliable products with a long market presence. Our goal is to facilitate communication among these tools, streamlining day-to-day operations within an accountancy firm and offering integrated solutions for accounting systems while reducing the need for manual intervention.