Accounting is not the most exciting function of a business but it is certainly one of the most critical functions of the back office. We have some solutions that can make it more secure and automate those functions that are repetitive.

In this article we examine two value added IT solutions for small and medium sized businesses.

1. Thin-Thick Client Solutions

2. Automating Payroll

For those that do not know; thin client solutions is where the major application software (excel, accounting software, email etc.) is hosted on the internet. Your computer connects to a server and the application software is on the internet. Security relating to viruses and hacking is taken care of by the hosting provider and is updated for free.

Why do this?

Have you ever changed note books? The software has to be re-installed in the new computer.Has your computer crashed? Has your notebook been stolen? Do you want to manage confidential data more effectively?

Let's look back at the most high profile case of where a US government employee note book was stolen, it had over 250,000 social security numbers and confidential information on it. If the US government was using thin client solution this security issue would never come up, because the information would be stored on server that is password protected and encrypted. Thin client solutions are more security oriented, more effective and are made for distributed work groups and collaboration. In the long run it is cheaper and more effective to use a thin client solution.

CPA-ASP (www.cpa-asp.com) is based in Washington state, but surprisingly it has many Canadian customers. Why would Canadian companies and even Indian companies seek out a US based e-accounting solutions provider?

The reason is simple.

The Canadian market for Quick Books/ACCPAC is huge, but one distinct characteristic stands out. Canadian companies are risk adverse when it comes to technology. The result is the Canadian market has no ASP version of Quick Books. CPA -ASP can take your Canadian version of Quick Books. or ACCPAC and move it to the internet--even if its on your PC.

ASP vs. PC based Accounting systems & Citrix solutions

As businesses we have all encountered PC problems from viruses to unexplained freezes in our PCs and notebooks. Putting the software on the internet is what we call ASP (Application Service Provider--the name given to those companies that offer the service of a "hosted application"). Now why would we want to put our information on the Internet. Isn't that a little risky?

The fact is "hosting" the accounting software on the internet through a 3rd party provides greater business continuity. IT IS SAFER & LESS EXPENSIVE.

1. Virus & Security Issues are mitigated. If we do have a problem which is very rare it is handled by a support team immediately. The security level is increased through data encryption but also tracking the user activities.

2. We can monitor our data, who uses that data and where that data is sent. This is a security aspect but it also allows us to measure productivity.

3. Our staff can access this data any where any time. Think about sales people in the field, if they need to check an invoice or make a collection "on the fly" they can. The result is productivity enhancement.

4. We have a 24/7 support team at our disposal.

Citrix Solutions:

Any accounting software can be "hosted on the internet". Sometimes the Citrix solution is cheaper than the ASP version from the accounting software maker. In IT terms legacy software is referred to "old" software, sometimes this old software meets the needs of the company better than the "new" software application. The other issue is "data migration", sometimes the cost of implementing new software can be more expensive than we think for the simple reason that moving the data from the "old" software to the "new software" requires more hours and adjustments need to be made in the business processes.

Why not keep the old software and move it to the internet? Exactly!!

Integration:

Hosted accounting systems (ASP) or Citrix solutions can integrate into other ASP software such as ADP's internet payroll for as little as 500 USD (one time fee!!!). See Coastal Software's packaged middleware products, they can be setup in a day by end users.

The piece of middleware can automate the transfer of employee data between the accounting system and ADP or between time & attendance sheet the accounting system and ADP.

Why replace the entire system when a company can use the same IT infrastructure to perform the same functions?

For more information please contact CFOsources.