The focus of the accounting software industry is moving away from the traditional back-end "order entry and accounting systems" to vertical applications such as CRM, point-of-sale and on-line web store configuration.
"Contrary to popular belief, on-line transactions are booming. There is huge potential in this area and it is leading the industry beyond the boundaries of traditional accounting systems," says Bernard Ford, marketing Director at Lorge Consulting, a major reseller of ACCPAC accounting software, business solutions consultancy and a member of the JSE-listed Softline Limited Group.
"On-line transactions have been boosted by ACCPAC's decision to award the hosting of its on-line browser-based technology, eTransact, to Internet service provider M-Web. This has lifted the accessibility and availability of eTransact and has cut development time and cost to a fraction of what it was a year ago," says Ford.
Lorge Consulting is now educating the vast ACCPAC installed base, estimated at over 5 000 sites in South Africa, on the benefits of taking their businesses on-line to ride the "new economy wave".
According to Ford, the capability to bolt on an eTransact front end for business to business or business to consumer e-commerce within a matter of days is grabbing the attention of the customer base. "Once they realise the simplicity of the system and the speed with which it can be set up, their interest in doing business on-line simply soars.
"It is a booming market. The potential in going on-line for traditional bricks-and-mortar businesses is immense and in any event, the on-line moves by the larger corporations, financial institutions and government agencies will have a shake down effect, taking customers and suppliers on-line with them."
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