The first step to implementing a new accounting system is evaluating your company"s readiness for change. Before you begin looking at new features and setting fast-track time lines, take time to set realistic goals and build momentum. Pre-production planning is the key to success.
1. Change before you have to.
By the time you are certain that your current systems are inadequate, you"re probably already losing money to reduced productivity, lost opportunities, and inferior data. Don"t wait until that happens. If you"re receiving warning signs that your system can"t keep up (data frustration, slow turn-around, time-consuming or manual processes), begin your needs analysis now. Many professional systems analysts use the steps below. Keep them in mind as you evaluate your system needs.
2. Accept the fact that improvements cost money.
Implementing new accounting software will require an investment of time and money. But the hidden costs of antiquated systems are sapping your productivity and softening your competitive edge. Remember that the right system will pay for itself with process improvements and better data for decision-making. Many businesses are choosing more modern, automated systems for faster processing of accounting transactions, easier retrieval of accounting information, and better formatting of accounting reports. Keep these benefits in mind when considering return on your investment.
3. Don"t ignore hard-to-quantify benefits.
A new system will deliver broad improvements whose overall impact may be difficult to calculate with precision. Consider all the benefits of more reliable and faster access to data. Think about how much it is worth to your company to improve strategic planning. How much will it cost you if your next audit doesn"t stand up to scrutiny? How will your company"s reputation improve if your new system gives your customers better, faster, and more professional service?
4. Compromise is a good thing.
Your final choice of software probably won"t satisfy everyone, but through clear communication and patient education, most people will recognize that the decisions being made are fair and reasonable. Plan to spend more time than you"d like handling objections, especially in the early phases of the project. Plus, have a strategy for fine-tuning the system once it"s installed. Count on a new system to satisfy about 90 percent of your needs and wants, and figure out how you are going to deal with the remaining 10 percent. You may need to consider some staffing changes or revising your policies and procedures.
Setting Objectives
People who buy accounting software usually spend most of their time evaluating features. The fact is, however, you should spend most of your time evaluating your own business. The more you know about the problems you expect the new system to solve, the better informed your final choice will be. Know where in your accounting cycle you experience the biggest productivity losses and highest error rates. Determine how inaccuracies are affecting your business. Understand which tasks require automation. Begin by identifying the problems you experienced this year because your existing system wasn"t adequate.
5. Create a task force.
Financial software affects many departments within your organization. One of the easiest ways to ensure cooperation is to involve representatives from other departments right from the beginning" including not-so-obvious groups like Sales and Human Resources. It may slow down your process and frustrate you, especially if your old system is failing and you need to hurry the new project along. But in the long run, a task force saves time and hassles, and guarantees that other departments will cooperate during the implementation phase.
6. Aim high.
Many people don"t aim high enough when they implement a new system. Just about any product can deliver financial statements. You should be looking for much more. Think back to last year"s planning sessions with your peers. What information could have boosted productivity and profitability? This might include current gross profit by product, customer, or salesperson, or trends on how customers and products are growing or declining. You may want to use financial ratios to measure your company"s performance against your competitors.
7. Know what"s special or unusual about your company.
Your company probably has some unique requirements that can"t be changed. Perhaps you need to track products by lot or serial number. Do you need to price product by warehouse location? Does your industry have special reporting techniques? Make a list of requirements unique to your industry and organization.
8. Know which features you can"t live without.
When you survey your task force, you"ll uncover a few system capabilities that are critical to your company such as particular reports or tracking methodologies. Once you discover that they are absolutes, put them on your must-have feature list.
9. Look for systems that can easily adapt to your business needs.
In order for a system to meet your business needs, it should mesh with your existing business practices and adapt to technological innovations. Again, ideally you want software that"s simple, intuitive, and closely matched to how you already do business. Be sure the system can:
* Embrace industry-standard technology quickly and easily.
* Customize easily to fit the special needs of your business.
* Scale to the changing size of your business.
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