this is just me thinking out load, but i would be keen to know other peoples thoughts/opinions.
It seems a bit illogical, that all training companies (ourselves included) offer Sage as the software for any computerised element, the only differential being is it the 180 day trial/full licence/Instants/50. A student uses it to pass their exams and then goes to set their bookkeeping practice up.
Only to find, even if they have a full working version of Sage 50, that if they want to do the books for more than one business Sage will charge them hundreds if not thousands of pounds to have a multi-licence version of Sage. (even if they join the bookkeepers club they only get 5/10 licences). Then from this they decide that the more cost effective option is to use other software, which they then have to purchase and then learn how to use.
Do people think it makes sense for training companies to offer more cost effective software options for bookkeepers in practice to study on, that they may use after they have qualified?
Would people who are studying now be put off if they couldnt use Sage to do their studying on?
it seems daft to learn how to use one software, and then qualify and then have to learn another straight away do to pricing issues.
This isnt a Sage bashing post (Shaun!), as it does have its benefits, but it does not seem to be priced affordably for smal bookkeeping practices.
Any thoughts, or other peoples experiences, would be appreciated.
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Nick
Nick Craggs FMAAT ACA AAT Distance Learning Manager
The key has to be to teach the software that people will need to use in the real world.
At the moment Sage creates it's own market by being the only option that training companies offer so becomes the software that people are comfortable using (old chicken and egg scenario).
However, in industry the standard for anything larger than the smallest businesses seems to be SAP.
That said, such is no good to training companies and bookkeepers as the cost of entry for that one is just too high (my understanding is that it makes IRIS seem cheap).
Offering a bespoke sollution is a hiding to nothing. People want to learn software that exists in the market place and that will provide the required information in a format that the accountant is able to process using their own software as accountants do not want to be learning new bits of software all of the time.
There is certainly market out there for training companies to offer Quickbooks as an option to Sage.
I would also like to see VT offered as whilst I know that many people are adopting that one everyone is sel teaching and I'm sure that we are all doing the same thing in different ways.
Actually, interesting snippet on VT. I don't have up to date figures but did you know that in 2004 on all accounts filed in the UK 16% of them were filed using Sage software and 14% were filed using VT!
I think that software is much bigger than people think it is but I don't kid myself into thinking that it's in the same league as Sage (yet).
As stated in your post there are merits to Sge and many bookkeepers like the product (although that may also be down to liking what you know). The real issue is that licencing and I think that if Premier were to offer one of the other big brands as an alternative that could certainly reap rewards.
Much as I would like to see a VT course though I suspect that if Premier do choose to offer an alternate path it would be Quickbooks.
There, that wasn't anti Sage at all,
Shaun.
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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 was trained on Sage and I a couple of Sage Instants on my laptop although not by choice. One I had to get for a client and the other one was given to me as they wanted me to do their books and had a spare copy, and their accountant had always had it on Sage.
I can use it but I doubt very much if I will ever buy SAGE 50 as its just far too expensive and i don't like it that much to spend the money.
However I am as you know a big fan of QB's and I think it would be great to be taught it, when I first started out I bought Pro 2008 and it cost me £250 and I still use it now as I don't use the payroll function. Its certainly more affordable.
Thanks for your posts, it does kind of agree with my thinking. I think sometimes training providers get their academic hat and do something becuase that is the way we learnt, and so it is the best, rather than thinking about more pragmatic, real world options.
I will do a bit more thinking!
Thanks for your help.
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Nick
Nick Craggs FMAAT ACA AAT Distance Learning Manager
Ditto, I was given Sage to do my training. I had already used Quickbooks a few years previously when working for a friend so knew that I liked it better. I now have one client who uses Sage and I am using it because he offers me a lot of work. But I hate it. I love working with Quickbooks. I don't know why anyone would choose to use Sage if they knew both packages before they bought one.
