•
The end of 2011 is an important deadline for thousands of MYOB customers in the UK – that’s when their accounting software will be deactivated and they’ll need to have migrated to a new accounting system. This should come as no surprise: the cutoff date was set back in 2008 when the UK arm of MYOB was bought by Mamut.
Moving to a new accounting system is a critical task! If you’re one of the potentially thousands of companies affected by this change, you’d be well-advised not to wait any longer. Accounting software is the backbone of your business systems, and it will take time to properly evaluate and select a replacement and manage the migration process. Make sure you factor in budget not just for the software itself, but also for any required consulting support in managing the setup and migration.
A good place to start is by looking at our accounting software directory – this will help you understand some of the options available. If you have a budget of £3000 or more, then it’s worth considering our free Get A Shortlist service. We’ll talk to you about your requirements on the phone, and can match you up with a shortlist of 2-3 vendors that are well suited to your business needs. For smaller budgets, our review pack and online comparisons provides a good overview of suitable options.
•
Some interesting insights we came across recently from Dr Tom McKaskill, an expert on high growth businesses.
“Research into high growth businesses has shown that they typically spend more on selling than marketing, focus on creating excellent customer experiences and generate a significant part of their new sales through referrals. (…) The lesson here is obvious – to what extent are you working your current customer base and what is the untapped potential under your nose?”
He also points out the important role of relevant technologies – e.g. customer relationship management (CRM) software, sales force automation, lead tracking systems, etc – in enabling you to grow revenues and achieve long term success:
“A focused approach to revenue generation which examines systems and processes in marketing and sales will almost certainly uncover areas where improvements can be made. Many smaller businesses simply do not take advantage of the productivity tools now available for sales force management, customer relations management, or lead tracking, yet significant increases in sales force productivity can be gained with the application of technology.”
If you’re looking to maximise the growth prospects of your business, check out the many available solutions in our CRM directory. You’ll quickly get a sense of what’s available on the market – there’s no shortage of choice, that’s for sure! When you’re ready to narrow down your options to a relevant shortlist, why not submit your CRM requirements via our Get A Shortlist service? We’ll call you to discuss your needs and then match you up with 3 relevant providers. It’s a convenient and free service.
•
There comes a time in the lifecycle of a growing professional services firm where you need an integrated system to help manage your growth and streamline your operations. Whether you have a legal practice, accounting firm, IT services company, management consultancy, architecture firm or any other type of professional services organization, it’s reassuring to know there are many powerful business management solutions available that are designed for service firms.
There are various names for this type of software (as is often the way in the IT sector!). Accountants or lawyers often refer to it as practice management software, while consulting and IT firms are more likely to call it professional services automation (or PSA for short). Whatever you call it, it typically includes modules for tracking time on projects, billing clients, and managing client relationships.
To help you start your search on the right foot, we’ve just launched a software directory for practice management and professional services automation (PSA).
If you’re finding the search a bit overwhelming, feel free to call on our Get A Shortlist service. It’s a convenient, free service where we look at your requirements, and connect you with relevant software vendors to continue the discussion.
