We often run across companies that have an old Accounting/ERP system in place that is more than five years old. While five years doesn’t sound like much, in technology it’s more than a lifetime.
Your system is paid for, why change?
There could be several reasons why you may be stuck on an old system: you may have made customizations that seemed simple at the time, but now you’re locked into a version. You may have somebody in accounting that likes everything the way it is and may resist any changes, or your IT department feels that changing one application may disrupt your infrastructure and they don’t want to learn anything new.
The argument usually is, “The system is paid for, so why would we want to spend money on something that is working?” Well, your old Accounting system is costing you money, more than you can imagine.
Old accounting systems issues
Old Hardware and Operating Systems
Old applications were designed to run on databases and operating systems that were current as of that point in time when they were created. An eight year old application is running on an eight year -old database and operating system. As infrastructure ages, it becomes more expensive to maintain. It gets harder and more expensive to find support. Security becomes a huge issue as older operating systems aren’t patched for today’s vulnerabilities. Do you really want to invest money in hardware?
Real-Time Accessibility
Old applications were designed around how we worked many years ago when you could only access information in the office, before the internet gave us real time access. Your accounting application could be locking up your information so your employees don’t have access to it when they need it. Customers can’t place orders when they want to. You can only work when you are in the office.
Reducing Operational Performance
In today’s world, customers demand fast access to information, fast response and fast turnarounds, or they will go to your competitor. Older applications were designed around business processes that batched orders together, processed them through many steps and almost prevented the ability to ship the same day. The customer interface was the rep on the phone, not a web portal.
Centralized Control in a Decentralized World
Today, the business world demands empowered employees with information available when and where they need it. Companies have remote employees, multiple locations processes like Vendor managed inventory. Old accounting systems were designed in the era of central control and walls of information making it almost impossible to work in today’s decentralized mode.
Cloud-based accounting
It may be time to move to a cloud based ERP/Accounting system so you never have to worry about hardware or infrastructure. Your application will always be on the latest version and the new architectures allow you to personalize your accounting system without locking you into an old version. Your software will be available with security anytime, anywhere.
Gravity Software® (Gravity) is a robust accounting application written on the Microsoft Power Platform (aka Dynamics 365). Microsoft Power Platform is a very open and robust platform allowing users to pick and choose which modules they want to include for their business. For example, a company can choose accounting from Gravity, Sales from Microsoft and Time and Billing from a 3rd party like TotalServ Pro.
Gravity’s cloud-based solution achieves data accessibility at a cost-effective price point. Now you and your team can work effectively from anywhere. Gravity’s goal is to fill the gap between entry level accounting software like QuickBooks and expensive enterprise applications. Learn more and schedule your online demo today. My business is connected. Is yours?
Gravity Software
Better. Smarter. Accounting.
