Narrow-Minded Versus Open-Reporting

For background read: “Can the Buckets!”, category Systems.

I can’t believe some of the narrow-minded providers of accounting software who don’t see the importance of a system that can be used as a REAL MANAGEMENT TOOL.  When you push them for more reporting power they are likely to come back with, “Did you know we’re an eight billion dollar a year company?” All that tells me is that there are a lot of pigeons out there that will buy a product based on the name only.  Talk to any CEO, manager, or supervisor on how their current General Ledger helps them manage, and they’ll give you the true story.  Let me explain . . .

Once we do away with the “buckets” concept and write systems using an active open database, the General Ledger becomes more than a reporting tool for the Auditors.  It becomes a Business Management Tool.  Modern database engines, along with proper database design can provide needed performance, processing hundreds of thousands of transactions in mere seconds.  You would then have a system that could support multiple time frames or calendars.  These calendars could be for a 4 month period of time or an 18 month period.  It doesn’t matter, it’s whatever your needs are, you are in control.  What a concept! 

You’ve got everything you need for project management; i.e., payables, receivables and payroll data.  Of course, this assumes that you have good interfaces coming from these systems.  Too bad some of the major software providers didn’t write all the packages that they’re selling, but buying is cheaper than developing.  A complete financial system should be a seamless integration of data and function, but I digress.

Another tool that goes along with open reporting capabilities is the use of statistical information.  Such things as payroll hours, number of items produced, quantities sold, all become an important part of producing a picture of real performance when measured against the dollar. 

Without open reporting and statistical data you don’t have a real Financial Manager.  The big guys will try to sell you on allocation journals and customer reports, etc.  Those aren’t features those are requirements.  Ask them about open reporting and statistics.  It’s fun to hear them stutter and listen to the yammering about, “Why would you ever need those things.” Get a grip!

Am I wrong?  I don’t think so.

If what you say about the ability to read that many transactions in that amount of time is true than this would work.  I just haven’t seen that kind of performance in the financail systems that I have looked at.