"Whether it's entering invoices or updating inventory information, our mobile applications let customers do it on the spot," says Accredo's Channel Manager, Kevin Carberry. "They help speed up key processes allowing customers to run their business more efficiently."

Click here for more information about Accredo's mobile sales and inventory apps.

“I am excited about this change of direction. I enjoy helping customers get the best out of their accounting software and I want to ensure people are utilising Accredo to its full potential. I think Accredo has a lot of functionality that often goes untapped by customers.”

She says it is important to ensure the basic compliance and reporting procedures are structured properly to facilitate the smooth running of a business.

“Attention to this type of detail is important as it is a way of giving customers better control over their business. Ensuring all the regular checks and balances are in place and automated as much as possible frees up time for business owners to think and act more strategically.”

Her key piece of advice to customers? “Make sure you keep a close eye on the numbers. To do that you need an integrated system that gives you visibility across all your operations, then you need to be proactive about making improvements based on the facts at hand.”

City/town: Christchurch
Mobile: 021 902 133
Email: alicia.bulley@outlook.co.nz

John says if he has learnt one thing in his career as a business software reseller it is that every customer is different and likes to be treated that way.

“That is where Accredo come into its own. Its powerful script and report writing capabilities allow you tailor to do exactly what the customer wants it to do. You can create a particular form or workflow that matches the business owner’s specific requirements. And for me, that is where all the fun lies. Creating scripts that help automate processing and reduce repetitive tasks.”

He says Accredo is perfect for the medium-sized kiwi business. “If you are a business owner with between 5 and 50 staff, across various locations and your turnover is between $1m to $20m, Accredo offers the best mixture of affordability and functionality.”

City/town: Auckland
Mobile: 027 598 6752
Email: john@blueskysystems.nz

Automate, facilitate…celebrate
Accredo facilitates sales success by providing mobile functionality and automation tools that make it easy for you to keep customers satisfied, while reducing time-consuming drudgery. Accredo’s sales functionality helps eliminate the potential for human errors – mistakes that can be the difference between a one-off sale to a disgruntled customer or profitable repeat business to a satisfied one.

Think of your sales process as a timeline. If you reduce the time it takes to process an order, undertake invoicing and then collect payment, you’ll reduce costs, hasten cash flow, and provide better customer service.

If your accounting software is efficient, it will let you do business on the spot. And that is a recipe for success. Whether it’s creating quotes, querying inventory to see if items are in stock, ensuring your customer gets the deal they are entitled to, or customising information on an invoice, Accredo can do it all.

Find out more. Download the PDF below and discover FOUR ways Accredo's integrated accounting software functionality can simplify your sales process.

Available for purchase now, Accredo Sales Manager, Kevin Carberry, says the new web services module makes it even easier for mobile applications to exchange information with Accredo while ensuring all its fundamental rules are abided by when transaction data is entered.

“The module is built on best-of-breed web standards and is open to compatible third-party integration technologies. In technical speak, it follows a modern RESTful model using JSON payloads, which means it is easy for browser-based solutions and mobile apps to talk to,” says Carberry.

“Customers can now develop mobile apps unique to the way they operate with much less difficulty. It opens up the potential for more mobile integration to the Accredo system.”

The focus of Accredo’s mobile application development is on business and operational enablement. To that end, its first mobile release is an invoicing app that empowers customers to enter transactions while they are on the move.

Carberry says the ability to raise invoices anytime, anywhere, rather than taking information back to the office to be rekeyed, has tremendous advantages for many Accredo customers.

“Implementing a mobile invoicing capability will be attractive for those businesses whose staff spend much of their working day out of the office. When a distributor visits a retailer to restock items, for example, he or she can create an itemised invoice and email it to the retailer on the spot. Time saved, and job done.”

The invoicing app is a streamlined version of Accredo’s full-function desktop invoicing module. It allows customers to raise invoices, quotes, duplicate invoices and credits, and has a familiar mobile user experience.

“The app meets Android and iOS standards for mobile functionality. It has a simple, intuitive design and meets the basic invoicing needs for a business.”

Carberry says Accredo customers wanting to adopt mobile technology should be aware there are upfront investment costs.

“They will need to purchase our web services module and the appropriate number of user licences before using our mobile invoicing application. There will also be other associated infrastructure costs, such as investing in appropriate internet security, that customers need to examine carefully.”

Accredo’s mobile invoicing application is available to download for free at Google Play or the Apple App Store. To operate the web services module customers must be running Accredo’s latest desktop software, Version 5.

The company was handed the top gong at the business awards' gala dinner held at Forum North on October 28. The judges said: ''Clements Contractors has developed a great vision for its future. The owners of the business are clearly encouraging employees to be actively involved with decision making and responsibility for achieving goals.

Read the full Northern Advocate story.

Read our customer case study on Clements Contractors: Accredo’s integrated functionality does heavy lifting for growing contracting company 

As always many of these enhancements came about as a result of valuable feedback from customers. Here are five improvements that will save time and make the Accredo system that much easier to use.

• All Documents in one list: The new Document Lists function “Both Current and History” allows you to view all the Documents you are looking at on one list. No need to flick between Current and Historic Documents – now both are available to be viewed on one list.
   
• Improved Receipting and Payment Allocation functionality: The new Whole Balances option will only allocate a Receipt or Payment automatically if it is paying off Customer or Creditor whole balances. Previously, the only option for Automatic Allocating was the Balance Forward option where the amount of the Receipt\Payment would be allocated to the oldest debt, which may not always be the desired result.
   
• Less clicks for cash sales: Previously, when you put through a Cash Sale Invoice, the Receipt would have to be added to a Banking Summary and then banked through to Cashbook. In Version 5, you have the option of Banking the Receipt through to the Cashbook as part of the Cash Sale process. Less clicks equals time saved.
   
• Easier report identification: In Version 5 if you run a report to Microsoft Excel, it now renames the Worksheet with the Report Title. You no longer have to rename worksheets individually to identify them in a Workbook.
   
• Improved Cashbook rules: If you have a regular transaction on a bank statement that’s for more than one Analysis Code, for example, a payment to the IRD that’s for PAYE and Kiwisaver, you can add a Rule using both Analysis Codes. Previously, you could only add Rules for one Analysis Code, which meant information had to entered manually for amounts corresponding to two or more codes.

Version 5 includes a range of new functions – and enhancements to existing ones – that will improve the quality of life for both day-to-day users of the software and business owners and managers, says Carberry.

“Company managers will appreciate the introduction of improved encryption and new single sign-on functionality that will help minimise business risk.”

He says new single sign-on protocols add a second layer of defence to Accredo’s existing security system. “It is an optional feature that when turned on streamlines password management and system access.”

In a response to growing cybersecurity concerns, Accredo has also added database encryption to Version 5. “This offers added protection for those customers who store sensitive data, such as bank account details, in their system. Information is saved in an encrypted format and cannot be read by external sources.”

Carberry says new logging functionality in Version 5 will give managers and owners a better ability to track changes made in the system. “The software can be asked to record key data about changes made to certain fields. It creates an electronic record that can be valuable for auditing purposes.”

Those users tasked with filing GST returns will appreciate the software’s ability to talk directly to the New Zealand Inland Revenue Department’s (IRD) electronic GST Gateway. Accredo is one of the first desktop accounting software providers to offer customers the ability to communicate electronically with the GST Gateway.

“Filing electronically is the way the IRD wants businesses to operate going forward,” says Carberry. “This is a future-proofing feature that we have included along with a number of other GST enhancements, such as our new multi-regime tax capabilities, that will reduce paperwork, save time and generally simplify company GST administration.”

Enhancements to Accredo’s Inventory Control module in the area of batch manufacturing will give businesses more up-to-date and granular information about materials moving from stock to production.

“As usual, we have included improvements that will simplify life for heavy system users,” says Carberry. “We are always looking to minimise the number of clicks people need to do to find information. Small improvements, such as users now being able to see both current and historical documents in a list on one screen, can add up to significant time saved.”

Accredo will be delivering training to its New Zealand and Australian network of Qualified Support People (QSP) prior to the launch of Version 5 and Carberry recommends customers consult their QSP prior to installing the software.

“It is important customers go over the new features and enhancements with their QSP to get up to speed with the changes in the new version. They know the customer’s business and will be able to guide them through the upgrade process.” 

“Customers who have an up-to-date software subscription will be receiving a comprehensive release pack that explains all the new software features,” he says.

Read the full story at ChannelLife

Accredo Channel Manager, Kevin Carberry, says “Customers who have an up-to-date software subscription will be receiving a comprehensive release pack that explains all the new software features.”

Version 5 includes a range of new functions – and enhancements to existing ones – that will improve the quality of life for both day-to-day users of the software and business owners and managers, says Carberry.

“Company managers will appreciate the introduction of improved encryption and new single sign-on functionality that will help minimise business risk.”

He says new single sign-on protocols add a second layer of defence to Accredo’s existing security system. “It is an optional feature that when turned on streamlines password management and system access.”

In a response to growing cybersecurity concerns, Accredo has also added database encryption to Version 5. “This offers added protection for those customers who store sensitive data, such as bank account details, in their system. Information is saved in an encrypted format and cannot be read by external sources.”

Carberry says new logging functionality in Version 5 will give managers and owners a better ability to track changes made in the system. “The software can be asked to record key data about changes made to certain fields. It creates an electronic record that can be valuable for auditing purposes.”

Those users tasked with filing GST returns will appreciate the software’s ability to talk directly to the New Zealand Inland Revenue Department’s (IRD) electronic GST Gateway. Accredo is one of the first desktop accounting software providers to offer customers the ability to communicate electronically with the GST Gateway.

“Filing electronically is the way the IRD wants businesses to operate going forward,” says Carberry. “This is a future-proofing feature that we have included along with a number of other GST enhancements, such as our new multi-regime tax capabilities, that will reduce paperwork, save time and generally simplify company GST administration.”

Enhancements to Accredo’s Inventory Control module in the area of batch manufacturing will give businesses more up-to-date and granular information about materials moving from stock to production.

“As usual, we have included improvements that will simplify life for heavy system users,” says Carberry. “We are always looking to minimise the number of clicks people need to do to find information. Small improvements, such as users now being able to see both current and historical documents in a list on one screen, can add up to significant time saved.”

Accredo will be delivering training to its New Zealand and Australian network of Qualified Support People (QSP) prior to the launch of Version 5 and Carberry recommends customers consult their QSP prior to installing the software.

“It is important customers go over the new features and enhancements with their QSP to get up to speed with the changes in the new version. They know the customer’s business and will be able to guide them through the upgrade process.” 

That’s where a good accounting software package comes in. Software that is able to help you extract the right information, quickly and usefully, can make a huge difference to the growth potential of your business.

Accredo has been providing exactly this for New Zealand customers for over 30 years. Its accounting software is specifically tailored for small and medium enterprises that have started to outgrow the basic accounting products they may have started out with.

“Most solo-preneurs have figured out some magic,” Accredo director Paul Wilson says. “They know their point of difference. They know how to serve their customers’ needs. The business is growing. They need to start adding troops. And now the question is, how do they make sure the things that made them successful keep happening – so they’re not having to apologise to customers, or not really knowing where the business is going anymore because they can’t hold it inside their head.

“That’s often when businesses come and talk to us. They feel the business is growing, and as owners they feel they’re starting to lose control – getting speed wobbles. That’s where we can help.”

People sometimes think of accounting systems as a cost, but they can actually be an incredibly valuable asset, says Wilson. For instance, if you are able to see at a glance exactly what, when and how much your business spent with a creditor last year, you have an immediate and powerful negotiating tool next time you meet that creditor. Accredo provides information about spending trends which offer deeper insights into spending behaviour.

It’s the power of information: “Any accounting product can print out a list of transactions,” Wilson says. “But that’s data, not information.” 

As a New Zealand company, Accredo also understands the complexities inherent in New Zealand businesses of all sizes: our geographical diversity, our distance from key markets.

“Most accounting software packages from overseas have no idea,” says Wilson. “They think, ‘Fifteen staff, how complex can it get?’ Well, quite complex actually. New Zealand companies have to deal with what’s there and can’t dictate terms. If their customers or suppliers do things in a certain way they have to ‘get with the programme’.”

Accredo is currently reviewing the new option and with a view to supporting it as an option in the software in the future.  We are also working with the IRD on their new ‘gateway’ that will allow on-premise applications (Accredo) to communicate directly with the IRD over the web. This is not currently available for on-premise/desktop systems.

If users would like to use AIM in the future, they should inform their Qualified Support Person, who will register their interest with Accredo so we can assess demand.

Two other improvements we think users will welcome include:

• General Ledger reconciliation made simpler: A new General Ledger Reconciliation report compares the general ledger to other control account modules. It checks that everything is posted and balances between the general ledger and other ledgers, such as debtor control, GST and bank accounts. Previously this had to be done manually, so it will save administration time for those tasked with general ledger reporting and reconciliation. It will also make it easier to identify any posting/balancing irregularities a customer may be experiencing.

• More control over email: In the latest version of the software users have the option to create an email from within Accredo, instead of their default mail application. Once the email is drafted it is then sent to the user’s mail application (Outlook or Gmail, for example) for transmission. The addition of ‘before send’ and ‘after send’ events allow users to do such things as automate the recording of emails as memos on the contact or client the email was sent to.