Choosing Between Module Based and All-in-One Accounting Software
Selecting the accounting software for a business organization is a daunting task. The application must be just right. Ideally, it should have all the necessary features that streamline business organizations while being easily customizable to accommodate unique organizational requirements. At the same time, it should not contain more functionalities than what is required because it adds to the cost and makes the application more difficult to use.
Finding the right financial software for your needs is never easy. You have to look beyond the software's specs to see what features and functionality it has. Knowing what kinds of functions you need your accounting software to perform is also of utmost importance. A number of software solutions exist that are easy to confuse with each other and tough to differentiate, they key is knowing what solutions you require and what modules you can do without.
Two modules that are a part of nearly all accounting software solutions are accounts payable and accounts reveivable. These are two of the most important financial management capabilities and can be found as parts of complete software packages or can be sold as individual modules.
Purchasing a complete package has the benefits of being easy to install and generic enough to fit most applications. However, the all-in-one functionality is also one of the pitfalls of these complete systems. Some businesses do not need all the functionality that these systems provide and can actually end up with software that is harder to configure and slower to use due to the excess baggage that the software must always work around and through. If you do not need all of the functionality that a complete system offers, you may be better off with a module based system that integrates with other programs that you use.
There are some all-in-one solutions that come in different editions. Usually, certain editions contain greater functionality in certain areas or permit a higher number of users. Note that if you decide to support more users, you will need to acquire separate software licenses for them.
On the other hand, module-based software systems allow businesses to select the functionality they want from the software. If your company is unsure about what functions they need right now or may need in the future or is working within a tight budget with specific requirements, module based systems provide the flexibility they may need. Module based systems allow room to grow by simply adding new modules. So long as the modules are from the same manufacturer/vendor, the data should be transferable and compatible.
The catch with module based systems is compatibility. Generally, once you begin to build an accounting software system with modules from one software vendor, you will have to purchase future modules from that same vendor. As such, it is important that you find a vendor that you are comfortable working with for years to come.
Before you buy an accounting software module, determine if their operation depends on other modules. For example, in an accounts payable module, the software requires that the general ledger and system management first be installed before it works.
David Kraft is a freelance author with many areas of specialization. He offers advice for selecting new accounting software for businesses of all sizes at his accounting software reviews site.
