I've just stepped into the role of IT Manager at a small mechanical and specialty vehicle shop. Currently, we're using QuickBooks on-premises for accounting, and while the head accountant is quite familiar with it, I'm aware we need to consider alternatives down the line. Our company file is already 2.6 GB and it's growing, plus QuickBooks Online doesn't seem like a suitable option. We have our current setup running on a local server and employees from different locations access it via an RDS server. I'm also aiming to move the company towards a serverless solution since the server primarily hosts QuickBooks and file storage. Since I'm not an accounting expert and haven't dealt with migrating to alternatives like Sage before, I would really appreciate any suggestions for viable replacements for QuickBooks. Additionally, if switching is too ambitious right now, what options do you recommend for hosting QuickBooks effectively?
3 Answers
From my experience, after a certain revenue point, QuickBooks really falls short. I'd suggest looking at alternatives like Acumatica, Intacct, Microsoft Dynamics, Sage 100, or Sage 500 (which can be hosted on Azure). Each has its strengths, but I'd recommend writing down your specific needs like inventory or bill management to guide your choice. It's crucial to involve other departments too, as this is a business-wide issue, not just an IT one. If you do that, you can find an ERP that fits all your specifications.
Definitely consult your accountant, whether internal or an outside expert. If things go south after a switch, the pressure will fall on you, especially since you’re new to the position. Getting professional recommendations could really help you navigate this situation better.
I plan to stress that this isn't my area of expertise and that I'm focusing on the tech side. I’ll be advocating for an outside consultant to collaborate with the finance team if we make a transition.
We've been quite happy with Rightworks for hosting QuickBooks for the past 8-10 years. They’ve been reliable and we’ve had zero issues.
I’ll definitely check that out. Does it allow multiple users to remote in and work simultaneously?
Do you have any good recommendations for ERP resellers who could help guide us through the selection process?