Are Your Manual Systems Up To Spec?

Changing over to a new accounting system is often considered a good way to improve cash flow and profitability. For example, tighter stock control and better forecasting will result in lower stock holding costs as just enough stock is held to avoid stock outs and reduce the incidence of stock shrinkage.

Great in principle, but before implementing a new software system, you should ensure there are adequate internal controls in your manual systems to complement the software systems. Examples include:

• Transport registers and security checkpoints at the warehouse gates
• Cheque and cash received registers

Segregation of duties is also important with medium to large organisations. This is where the custody of assets (stock, cash, debtors, fixed assets etc) is a separate function to the authorisation of transactions involving these assets. Examples include:

• sales order takers and stock control
• cash receipts and sales invoice/credit
• cash payments and creditors control
• payroll and human resources

Other areas that will reduce risks include:

• Providing "blind" Stocktake Sheets and Cash Count Sheets i.e. without expected values
• Surprise cash counts of random tils and petty cash
• Random stock counts of specific product lines or location.

Axsapt Business Software Consultants can help you identify the potential risks within your business and recommend appropriate changes to your systems (both manual and computerised) to reduce those risks.

More information: Axsapt

Torturous Training

This week at Axsapt, we threw out our perfectly good SAP Business One Accounting System and replaced it with Sage Accpac ERP and Sage CRM.

We've been using SAP B1 for 4 years successfully and it was time, yet again, to put the A-Team through the torturous process of kicking over to another system.

Over many years we've used a variety of accounting systems including Attache, Arrow, Nexus, Sybiz, Advanced Business Manager, SAP and now Sage. All good systems with their specific strengths and weaknesses that are not obvious until you have used them for a while.

Our journey with Sage started just over 12 months ago, during which time we have been steadily learning this comprehensive Enterprise Resource System. Although we have learned well from the excellent training resources available, we've found that the deep knowledge that we require as Business Consultants, can only be achieved by first hand experience.

This knowledge stands us in good stead with any business wanting an appraisal of their current business systems.

More information: Axsapt