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Permalink Reply by Tony on June 22, 2011 at 2:00

We were introduced to Xero by our new accountant.  They charge about double our previous accountant.  

 

We now have a fixed fee agreement with them which covers general enquires - this has given us the confidence to speak with them more.

 

We are going back to our old desktop system but having a bridge built by 3bit ...

see http://www.xerousers.com/forum/topics/3-bit

 

I guess this isn't the answer you were looking for.  For us, Xero is just a simple online "cashbook" program.

 

Cheers

Tony

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Permalink Reply by Cath Peebles on June 22, 2011 at 9:34

I am in touch with my accountant approximately once a month. I would like to think that this is making it easier for her and I as queries are resolved regularly rather than being stored away until financial year-end, by which time the query may have become a full-blown mess. My accountant is very approachable and flexible with problem-solving. I am uncertain whether the costs are more or less - it is too early to tell as I do not have a full year to compare.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Cooper on June 22, 2011 at 9:52

Adrian, I suppose this very limited selection of responses might back-up what I suspect. That is that Cloud based systems require Cloud based minds to use them. We need to wait until our clients are all Gen X until this concept takes off.

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Permalink Reply by Adrian Pearson on June 22, 2011 at 10:01

Possibly Michael, although this forum posting has not been up here long. Hopefully, there are many and varied responses to come.

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Permalink Reply by Tony on June 22, 2011 at 11:03

Maybe this should branch into another topic ... but Michael, could you please explain what you mean by "Cloud based minds".

 

As a Business owner and daily user of Xero, I've found that Xero is significantly slower than desktop system and has considerably less functionality.  This, in exchange for allowing my accountant to access my account file whenever he wants too.

 

To be more productive and produce more profits, I need to spend less time waiting in the cloud and more time collaborating with my clients ... not with my accountant!

 

I think "this concept takes off" when it catches up with desktop accounting software.  So please don't just wait until your clients update to Gen X ... please keep the fires burning under Cloud software designers so their systems really benefit the end users (the people who generate the $$$), and not just other API providers or accountants.

 

Cheers

Tony

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Permalink Reply by Michael Cooper on June 22, 2011 at 13:51

Hmmm, define cloud based minds.... I suppose I would say:

- people who would rather have access to their accounting software via their phone while riding the train/standing in line/waiting at the dentist and looking forward to not having to have a windows operating system (or a bridge) to be able to use it whilst never needing to back up or have multiple versions in existence. Insert something about problems with needing to install software and update it somewhere in there and you about have it.

I agree that 'Cloud' stuff is not quite there yet and 'early movers', whilst brave, are paying the price.

I'm no expert, but I think web based apps are only as slow as the user's bandwidth. I share your pain on that one, no ADSL in my suburb :(

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Permalink Reply by Tony on June 22, 2011 at 22:06

So is it good or bad to have a cloud based mind?

 

If I do my accounts while on a train or bus then I'm not concerned about the lack of security in mobile devices or other people watching over my shoulder.  (This is a real worry if an accountant thinks like this because it means they're not concerned about protecting their client's data!) 

 

On the train or bus I'm also surronded by distractions which means I'm more likely to make mistakes, so why would I choose to do anything important?  Xero's limited functionality means I can't do anything really important anyway.

 

If Gen X (or Gen Why) are technically competent, they'd enjoy doing upgrades ... so nothing is really gained having Xero do it.  And how many nano seconds do we save not having to include our Xero file in the back ups we currently do anyway?

 

Going back to the original question - it's really the accountants job to proactively use the information from Xero to benefit their clients - not the other way round.  In a lot cases people don't know that they don't know ... so they don't know to ask!

 

I tried to imagine Xero as a vehicle and accountants were mechanics:

The Xero vehicle goes slower, costs more and does less.  It is however easier to get fuel into (Bank feeds) and it is easier for the mechanic to work on.  But when the work load increases the Xero vehicle has no more left to give and we have to buy a trailer, take longer routes or change vehicles for a while.

 

A mechanic only works on my car if a) it breaks down or b) it needs a planned service.  Same with my accountant; I see them if I have a problem or when the annual financial returns need to be discussed.  I do not ring the mechanic to find out how the cooling system works.  But if my mechanic is monitoring the way I drive my vehicle and has some suggestions that will help me go further for less ... then he should tell me, not just assume I'll ask him.

 

Obviously if I am seeing my mechanic regularly throughout the year then he hasn't set my car up properly or I have bought a lemon!

 

I believe the onus is on the accountant to make sure their clients are getting the best out of Xero.  And that they're not simply peddling hype about a concept that could (will?) become very effective one day.

 

Cheers

Tony

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Permalink Reply by Alistair McColl-McWha on July 26, 2011 at 22:34

I have been in business for 25 years and so far my accountant is someone who does the tax return once a year. Business is about sales. Accountancy is the essentially the measuring of money. To measure it you must first create it, I have yet to meet an accountant that could tell me how to increase my business. I looked at xero at found that it was just too limited. I could get get the same data from my on line bank account.

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