When it comes to managing your business finances, some companies have it all together, and other companies find themselves in a disaster.
Business finances can be tricky to handle, and some believe that using financial software is the answer to all business-related financial problems. In some instances, it may be. But financial software is not as magical as some companies may make it out to be.
If your company is considering financial software, the following are a few pros and cons to familiarize yourself with before taking the plunge.
Pro: It can handle a variety of financial tasks.
One of the best things about financial software is its ability to perform a multitude of financial tasks. Most programs, even the basic options, can not only store and organize your financial information, but they can also generate invoices, create financial reports, and help you project your future finances in monthly or annual increments based on current trends.
Con: It can be expensive.
While there are a variety of financial programs out there, even the most basic options can be expensive. Depending on the size of your business and your current financial situation, this just may be too much for you to handle.
Pro: It can integrate with current systems.
Some companies worry that their financial software will not integrate with other programs that are currently in use by the company. In most cases, this isn’t anything to worry about. Software designers and programmers know that companies don’t just use one program, so they design their program to work in tandem with other programs. If you have questions about whether or not a certain program will work with your current software, simply ask the manufacturer.
Con: It requires training.
Like any new program or software, your employees will need to take the time to learn how to use it. This means that they’ll have to take time away from their original responsibilities in order to learn how to handle the new program. If there are any issues, they’ll need to contact support services to learn how to fix the issue. If you are going to purchase financial software, be sure to estimate the cost of training your employees, and calculate that into the overall cost as well.
Pro: It can provide real-time information.
Having real-time information about your company’s financial situation is always beneficial, and financial software will allow you to do just that. With the software, you can generate a report based on last month’s financials, or you can generate information to tell you where you currently sit today.
Con: You may still need additional financial programs.
Even if you spent the money on a high-end financial program, it’s still possible that this software cannot do everything you actually need it to do. This means that you may still need to spend the money on other software programs in order to handle every responsibility. For example, if your large company’s accounting department is constantly noticing bank reconciliation issues between your financial statements and your program, you may need to invest in bank reconciliation software that many companies employ to alleviate the situation.