Accounting Systems:Accounting Systems: Past, Present & Future Past, Present & Future

Steve ChapmanSteve Chapmanschapman@rosebizinc.comschapman@rosebizinc.com

Rose Business Solutions, Inc.Rose Business Solutions, Inc.www.rosebizinc.comwww.rosebizinc.com

Rose ASPRose ASPwww.roseasp.comwww.roseasp.com

With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicateWith thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicateOf life at once untie: poor venomous foolOf life at once untie: poor venomous foolBe angry, and dispatch. O, couldst thou speak,Be angry, and dispatch. O, couldst thou speak,That I might hear thee call great Caesar aspThat I might hear thee call great Caesar aspUnpolicied!"Unpolicied!"

——Cleopatra, Act V, scene II, Cleopatra, Act V, scene II, Antony & CleopatraAntony & Cleopatra by William by William

ShakespeareShakespeare

1983

General Trends:General Trends:

IntegrationIntegrationInter-company Connectivity Inter-company Connectivity ReportingReportingCollaborationCollaborationDeployment Deployment

Integration - Integration of Integration - Integration of back-office systems and back-office systems and integration with websites. integration with websites.

Problem: Business data and Problem: Business data and functionality was dispersed in functionality was dispersed in various systems. No common various systems. No common control. Double entry of data.control. Double entry of data.Solutions: Broad application suites, Solutions: Broad application suites, integration tools, open databases, integration tools, open databases, programming toolsprogramming tools

Examples:Examples:Great Plains, Oracle, SAP. Application Great Plains, Oracle, SAP. Application suites with broad functionality.suites with broad functionality.SQL Server database softwareSQL Server database softwareAPI for UPS and FedExAPI for UPS and FedEx

Inter-company Inter-company Connectivity – More EDI Connectivity – More EDI and Internet based and Internet based alternatives.alternatives.Problem: Exchanging information Problem: Exchanging information

between business partners was between business partners was cumbersome; usually required cumbersome; usually required double entry.double entry.Solutions: EDI is more integrated Solutions: EDI is more integrated with ERP systems and there are with ERP systems and there are alternatives. alternatives.

Examples:Examples:e-mail forms that are recognized by ERP e-mail forms that are recognized by ERP systemssystemsXML data is becoming a widely used XML data is becoming a widely used method of exchanging datamethod of exchanging dataEDI functionality imbedded in ERP EDI functionality imbedded in ERP systemssystemsExternal access to business data for External access to business data for vendors and customers (business and vendors and customers (business and non-business). Self-service usersnon-business). Self-service usersSupply chain managementSupply chain management

Reporting – Distributed Reporting – Distributed reporting allowing users to reporting allowing users to easily design and run easily design and run reports. reports.

Problem: Centralized reporting was Problem: Centralized reporting was slow and not readily adaptable. slow and not readily adaptable. Solutions: Reporting tools, data Solutions: Reporting tools, data access, and delivery methods are access, and delivery methods are more user-oriented. more user-oriented.

Examples:Examples:Push reporting. Push reporting. Portals.Portals.User-designed reportingUser-designed reportingOLAPOLAPCrystal Reports, Excel, AccessCrystal Reports, Excel, Access

CollaborationCollaboration

Problem: Employees and business Problem: Employees and business partners all working on parts of the partners all working on parts of the same project independently.same project independently.Solutions: World-wide access to Solutions: World-wide access to data, version control, virtual meeting data, version control, virtual meeting places.places.

Examples:Examples:Live Meeting, WebexLive Meeting, WebexBudgetingBudgetingSales Forecasting: input from Sales Forecasting: input from merchandisers customers, POS datamerchandisers customers, POS dataEProcurement, eMarketsEProcurement, eMarkets

Deployment – Multiple Deployment – Multiple options to fit needoptions to fit need

Problem: Centralized data Problem: Centralized data processing and storage results in low processing and storage results in low user value.user value.Solution: Client/Server, Internet.Solution: Client/Server, Internet.

Examples:Examples:CitrixCitrixASPASPThin-client software, e.g. Oracle Thin-client software, e.g. Oracle NetSuiteNetSuiteMobile users. Ordering and scheduling Mobile users. Ordering and scheduling from a PDAfrom a PDA

Specific Changes:Specific Changes:

SOX SOX RFIDRFID

Pitfalls:Pitfalls:System Back UpSystem Back UpHardwareHardwareCompetency of I.T. professionalsCompetency of I.T. professionalsOutdated systemsOutdated systemsUser TrainingUser TrainingSecuritySecurity

Overly broad user access to functionalityOverly broad user access to functionalityExternal threatExternal threatFraudFraudUsually an after-thoughtUsually an after-thought

Five-year average annual Five-year average annual productivity growth, first quarter productivity growth, first quarter to first quarter:to first quarter:

1960-19651960-19652.792.79

1965-19701965-19702.092.09

1970-19751970-19752.312.31

1975-19801975-19801.551.55

1980-19851980-19851.381.38

1985-19901985-19901.651.65

1990-19951990-19951.591.59

1995-20001995-20002.282.28

2000-20052000-20053.393.39

Steve ChapmanSteve Chapmanschapman@rosebizinc.comschapman@rosebizinc.com

Rose Business Solutions, Inc.Rose Business Solutions, Inc.www.rosebizinc.comwww.rosebizinc.com

Rose ASPRose ASPwww.roseasp.comwww.roseasp.com