Intuit has rolled out its annual QuickBooks update --- and I have a couple of observations:
1) this year they’ve really beefed up the application for both end-user small businesses and also (finally!) for practicing accountants. I got a walk-thru last week and was particularly impressed with the improvements in the “Client Data Review” function. The system now allows practitioners to set up internal processes for handling each client. The “electronic checklist on-steroids” travels with the file but is accessible only by the accountant via the QuickBooks Premier Accountant version, and not by the client. [WARNING: I see a huge problem with the logic here! Your internal processes, included review notes and staff communications, are available to anyone with the Premier Accountant version. That would include your competitors! Can you imagine the havoc this could cause in the unlikely, but very foreseeable event of a court case? OUCH!! I would be extremely careful with this function until Intuit provides some special security.]
2) I’m pretty impressed with the “App Center” --- if you have ANY doubt as to the future of SaaS you’ll want to take a look. In the spirit of multi-media I’ll simply point you to what I think it a pretty good video (2 minutes) describing how Intuit Workplace Apps work.
3) The new “Document Management” feature allows users to Electronically "paperclip" documents transactions and have them saved “in the cloud”. [WARNING: While I applaud the advance I have to say that this is a pretty blatant rip-off of the SmartVault concept. It’s different in that it’s not nearly as well done, and lacks many of the features that have made SmartVault such an early success. Let’s hope it’s a LOT cheaper. My advice here is to take a REAL HARD LOOK at SmartVault before “settling” for the built-in feature. This is one time that “best-of-breed” definitely wins over “good enough”.]
Now – go give Intuit their annual update fee and feel good about it. You’re getting your money’s worth this year!
gll
