REGION NZ | AU
REGION NZ | AU
In business the personal touch can make all the difference. It aids communication and builds trust, and it is one of the key reasons Jill Garrett remains loyal to Accredo.
Garrett is a director of software consulting firm Blue House Computing. Based in Gisborne, the company is an Accredo reseller and promotes the accounting solution to a wide range of small to medium sized provincial businesses.
“We are proud resellers of Accredo. They are a joy to work with and provide a level of dealer support that you won’t find from many other software providers.”
Disappointed with the support the company received from another accounting software provider, Garrett was relieved when Brett Fitzgerald, an existing Accredo reseller (Qualified Support Person), joined the company.
“We had got to the point where we needed to add another software solution to our offering to provide more choice for customers. Brett brought a number of Accredo customers with him and we quickly realised what we had been missing. The team at Accredo is not only very approachable, but very available as well. When we ring them we always get the help we need.”
Garrett says every time a new version of the software is released, she receives a visit from one of the Accredo directors. “Working in the provinces it is easy to be forgotten by companies based in the large urban centres. But Accredo goes out of its way to ensure that doesn’t happen.”
It’s that sort of personal contact that makes the difference, she says. “Every year, Accredo’s channel manager also pays us a visit to talk through any issues and check that we are happy with the way the relationship is progressing.”
But the regular contact is only half the story, and Garrett says that wouldn’t count for much if the software wasn’t up to scratch.
“Primarily we enjoy being Accredo resellers because the software is reliable and stable – which again, places it above many others on the market. From release to release it is consistently good and it makes it easy for us to recommend to customers.”
Blue House services a range of customers, many of whom run trade-type businesses. They are often small operations with specialised requirements, which Garrett says, makes Accredo a good choice as it has a very flexible pricing structure.
“The entry point to Accredo is very accessible. The per seat pricing plan lets a business owner not only get a foothold with all the key accounting features, but it also provides them with specialist functionality such as Foreign Currency, Inventory Control and Job Costing. They get a system which gives them more features, will grow with their business, and last them longer.”
Garrett says many other accounting packages don’t stretch to include business management features – typically business owners have to purchase them as add-ons down the track and that can be an unforeseen cost.
“Accredo is good value. Many inferior systems cost a similar amount, but do not have all the capability that Accredo can offer – including with the scripting and customisation tools – which I believe are superior to anything else out there.”
Garrett says the ability to tune the software to suit the unique needs of the customer makes it easier for her to provide strategic advice to business owners.
“Take Accredo’s reporting for example. The system has excellent data capture and the reporting is exceptional. It is easy to create reports and that empowers staff to get to grips with how the company is really working. They start looking for ways the system can help further improve the visibility and control of the business.”
And, the reports are very customisable, says Garrett. “Each user can change how a particular report presents information based on their specific requirements. Again, it is just one example of the flexibility in the system that ensures Accredo punches well above its weight.”
When your job is to provide computer support saying ‘no’ to a change a customer wants to make can be awkward. But Garrett says with Accredo that rarely happens.
“The fact the system can be tailored to better suit the way a business operates is something Accredo customers really appreciate about the company and the software. When a customer requests a change, I simply modify the system – or ask Accredo to do it for me. It is usually inexpensive to do but can make a huge difference to the day-to-day running of a business.”
