There was a time when computers were islands and you could learn all there was to know about a piece of software in an afternoon. Installation was a cinch, and the only thing you had to worry about was if there was enough disk space to complete the load. Not anymore. If you're dealing with Peachtree or another of the ever-expanding software lineup now under the umbrella of The Sage Group (such as MAS 90 or MAS 200 accounting software, ACT!, Timeslips, etc.), you know that things are no longer simple. The software, while still based on the fundamental principles of accounting, project management, CRM and such, is almost infinitely more powerful, but it's also far more complex. Add to that that almost all computers are networked today, and your installation, integration, upgrade and training efforts aren't simple anymore at all.
In cases like this, it's time to call in the experts. It's not that in-house staff cannot do the job, it's just that it's often simply not cost-efficient to allocate the time and training to get it done by your own crew. Even if they are used to working with, say, Peachtree Quantum or other Sage accounting software, there are simply too many updates, upgrades and other variables to consider. Software installations are never static. Your server software may have changed, or some of the workstations have been upgraded but not all. It can all throw a monkey wrench into even seemingly simple upgrades or reconfigurations.
Same with training. Finance staff tends to get very used to doing things a certain way, and if their Peachtree accounting software all of a sudden looks different or requires them to do things differently, that could cause quite a bit of frustration or even bring things to a grinding halt. Again, in-house training is certainly a possibility, but we all know that somehow people take things a lot more seriously when there's structured outside software training. Most likely, for Peachtree, ACT! or MAS90/200 software training outside resources will also be more up-to-date on the latest revisions, the various systems and permutations, and they will almost certainly be better, more organized teachers than someone drafted for the job in-house. It simply makes sense.
Support, same thing. You may or may not have the in-house resources to handle it all. If not, having a reliable outside resource that really knows its stuff is invaluable. For The Sage Group, that means "Platinum"-level consultants and care, local training and service companies that know their stuff and are available when you need them. When you have some real issues with your MAS 90 or MAS 200, it's not the time to negotiate language barriers at some call center halfway around the world.
All of this is common sense. Our computers and systems get ever faster and sleeker, our software ever more powerful and versatile. But the underlying educational, training, configuration and support issues never change. Peachtree is as terrific today as it was when it first came out over 30 years ago, but somehow things never got simpler. Keeping needless overhead to a minimum and engage the proper resources, both in-house and from outside, remains key.
Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web.
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