When it comes to Accounting software, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. But asking the right questions up front can go a long way in helping you get exactly what you need. There’s a lot that goes into the decision to pull the trigger on a specific system. Asking the right questions — before you ever talk to a potential vendor — can get you all the info you need to pick the right system for your need.

Best of all, the answers you come up with amount to a checklist of what you need, and what you don’t, which helps you get the most value for your dollar.

Getting internal support & insight

First up: Talking to the people who will actually use the system.

Before you call a single vendor about upgrading or changing your accounting system, you’ll want to talk to the following groups of people — most of whom are just down the hall from your own desk.

• System users & internal customers — these are the folks who will use the software every day and/or receive reports and other data. You’ll need them to tell you which tasks/functions are most important to them. Also good to know: how well (or poorly) the current system meets their needs and what they would change.
• Upper management– this is the person or committee that will sign off on the new software. Talking to them serves two key goals: You first want to show them how the money spent to upgrade will eventually pay for itself in better efficiency, fewer errors, etc. You also want to get a sense of what your final budget will be. You may have more money to spend than you anticipated if you can show a big ROI for the project.
• IT – this department’s input is key if you want to ensure that your accounting system can “talk” reliably with the rest of the company’s programs.

Note: This is the first of a three-part series on choosing the best accounting system for your company. Check back each Thursday for the latest installment.