I have heard many good things about online software especially Kashflow and even looked into it myself. But I have decided to stay traditional using Sage for two reasons 1, that I want to be in control of the software and not leave that to somebody else 2, I have used it for many years and am comfortble with it. Though I am looking at VT+.
It will be interesting to hear other views on these products
Regards
Mark
-- Edited by Marky65 on Thursday 4th of February 2010 08:08:54 AM
Don't know about your practice but they're always trying to sell to me.
Nothing against keytime but personally I wouldn't touch online offerings as your completely at the mercy of the owners of the servers.
Your clients data does not exist on your machine so if there are server issues you would not be able to service them.
At least when you have the data it is down to you where the data resides. Personally I've got a setup where PC's mirror each other plus external hard drive backups.
If you're looking at smallish clients why not take a look at VT Cashbook? you can give this to clients free to keep their books and then they just email you their files which can be plugged straight into VT Transaction+.
The VT suite isn't the prettiest software in the world but it makes up for it with excellent functionality.
I've only gone as far as VT Transaction+ so not tried VT accounts yet. Would be interested to hear anyone elses reports on that as when the free trial of VT Tranaction+ end's don't know whether to just buy that or upgrade to the full package including accounts.
Talk soon,
Shaun.
__________________
Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
I'm the founder at KashFlow, so just thought I'd clarify some points on the data questions raised above.
Within the software you can set it to email a full back up of all data in CSV/Sage format every week, so you have a copy on your machine.
However, you're right in saying that if you have no internet connection, you wouldn't be able to work on the data as you wouldn't have access to the software. Compare it with a local application though - if the computer dies you're screwed. Hopefully you have a backup. If you do then you need to get another computer, reinstall the software and reinstate the backup. With a down internet connection you can just go to another location with internet access and you're up and running straight away.
As for server issues at our end - we have a "Stand by" environment in a different city to our main data center. Data is synchronized in real-time to the second set of stand-by servers. So if there was a major problem with our main servers, we just bring out stand-by environment online.
We've not heard from Keytime ourselves but I am aware of them as we have been researching payroll software recently for 250+ employees. I have tried to use their online demonstration option; but it has not been working for some time, perhaps a bad omen!
We already us VT Transaction + and are very happy with it, so much so that we even sell it on to our clients! I have to admit I've not used the accounts either as we use IRIS for this, although there are an increasing number of issues with bugs at the moment.
Thanks for you comments, I have been in contact with KashFlow regarding the demonstration version you have set up for me. Now all the tax returns are out of the way I might finally get time to have a look at it.
In principal I do not have an issue with the software being online rather than local; especially if the software would be "useable" by our clients.
There has been many things siad about online programs, the main one always about the data, not being in control and having to be online to access it.
I guess it is a personal choice for everyone but I'm old school and prefer to be in control of the data on my pc and not on someone elses where i cannot access it for a variety of reasons.
VT Cashbook is great, I would recommend it. I also use Sage, which can be expensive.
