Blog
2 MAY 2012
Will it be business as usual for you this summer?
Annual holidays, disruptions to travel and a certain major sporting event could make this year particularly challenging. What plans have you made to keep your business running smoothly?
Giving your staff the tools to work from home just as effectively as if they were in the office could prove popular and profitable.
For a demo of the system, please email sales.enquiries@accountingoffice.co.uk or call me on 01792 818177.
25 APRIL 2012
Integration, not interfaced
Software integration does not mean just applications that work together. It also means that they exchange real-time information, share a common database and user interface and, more importantly, they evolve together.
Many ERP systems are hiding functional gaps by offering a ‘modular design’ which often requires custom interfaces and complex maintenance. My.N offers you both rich and fully-integrated functionality in all areas of your business for accounting and financial management, purchasing, inventory, sales and manufacturing.
16 APRIL 2012
Have you got the competitive edge?
Improved cost management through better stock control, as well as greater business transparency via real-time detailed business reporting provides your organization with the competitive edge.
Does your business software support you by giving you this information?
If not, get in touch to see how we can help put you back in control of your business.
2 APRIL 2012
Tell your staff to stay at home
You could make more money if your employees didn’t turn up to work. Sounds unlikely, but more and more businesses are taking advantage of changes in technology which mean people can work as effectively and profitably from home or on the move as they can at their office desk.
A BT Business / YouGov study showed 50% of UK business directors believe flexible working increases productivity. Combine that with research showing a third of UK workers willing to forego pay rises in return for flexible working, and you have a pretty compelling case.
But what technology is needed to ensure that staff are working and working effectively at home?
By giving staff members access to the same system that they are used to working with when they are in the office means that the same work can be completed. Data, documents and layout are in the same form that they are used to, and with increasing broadband speeds across the UK, mobile workers can work just as quickly as if they were in the office.
My.N from Accounting Office can be provided as a traditional Windows package for the office, as well as available over the Web for mobile and home workers.
Call us on 01792 818177 if you would like to see how this could work for your business.
21 MARCH 2012
Highlights from Budget 2012
George Osborne said the Budget of 21st March 2012 "unashamedly backs business".
Here are the Budget highlights for business:
- Basic rate of corporation tax to be cut from 26% to 24% next month. It will then fall to 23% next year, and 22% in 2014.
- Top rate of income tax to go down from 50% to 45% from April 2013.
- Tax relief for the video games, animation and high-end television production sectors.
- Enterprise finance guarantee, in which the government guarantees bank loans to small business, to be expanded.
- Increased financial support for exporters.
- Enhanced capital allowances for businesses setting up in new Enterprise Parks in Dundee, Irvine, Nigg and Deesside.
10 JANUARY 2012
Want to grow your business in 2012
“To grow, you must be willing to let your present and future be totally unlike your past. Your history is not your destiny.”
Alan Cohen
8 DECEMBER 2011
Building better systems for you
With careful planning, together we can develop a well-integrated system which will deliver major benefits for your business -
- systems that grow with your business rather than needing to be replaced which is expensive, disruptive and timely
- better access to information leading to a more responsive service and better relationships with customers and suppliers
- better use of staff time and greater job satisfaction for employees
1 DECEMBER 2011
New face at Accounting Office
We are pleased to announce that we have a new software developer to strengthen the Development and Support Team at Accounting Office Software Ltd.
Rhodri Williams joined us over 4 months ago, and has been busy completing his training programme. Rhodri is working alongside Paul and Sion, and will be on hand to answer your support and general queries.
30 NOVEMBER 2011
Job Costing
Probably the most important reason to use Job Costing is for the reporting it provides.
You are able to compare actual costs for a project against the forecast amounts. The Job Costing module can quickly become an essential tool in managing your business more profitably.
Arrange a demo to see how this could work for you.
15 NOVEMBER 2011
React quickly with the right systems
Businesses must find new ways to react quickly with the ‘right’ strategic and operational decisions.
This requires access to better information about every dimension of business performance. Only an Enterprise Performance Management system like My.N from Accounting Office can fully address the need for visibility and measurable results across all areas of the company.
25 OCTOBER 2011
A tough lesson
'My toughest lesson in growing up was that the one thing that a business needs in order to grow is systems, process and controls.' Robert Craven
10 OCTOBER 2011
Great for growing SME's
Designed for small and growing businesses – My.N is more than just a powerful accounting software tool.
3 OCTOBER 2011
My.N is great alternative if you're looking for Sage Line 200
From a commercial point of view, My.N has a lower cost of entry whilst providing similar, and in many cases better functionality. The implementation cycle is also shorter which will save you money and get you up and running more quickly.
For further details please click here
30 AUGUST 2011
Dashboard for Mailers now available
A dashboard is now available allowing you to quickly view your progress when sending a large emailer.
This shows number of emails sent, bounce rate, number of emails opened, number of click throughs, along with a graph showing the times that people opened the emails as well as which links within the email they clicked on.
All very powerful tools for any marketing department.
For further details please have a chat with Claire on 01792 818177
22 AUGUST 2011
New VAT Return Report
New report available showing advanced breakdown of a provisional VAT return.
For further details please call 01792 818177
10 AUGUST 2011
Don't let the disruptions ruin your business
Despite the recent troubled times in many cities across the UK, businesses can continue as usual with the right techonology.
Working remotely means that you can continue to operate from any location with an internet connection. This safeguards your profitability, and protects your reputation, allowing you to carry on doing business whilst the rest of the country seems in chaos.
Have confidence in the correct systems, keep calm and carry on. Click here for more info
27 JULY 2011
Oddbins was 'killed' by its back-end
Simon Baile has admitted that it was the back-end of the Oddbins business that 'killed' the off licence chain.
"It was the back-end of the business that ultimately killed it. Working with such low margins, it's incredibly important you get that right. If you get that wrong it doesn't matter what you do at the front"
Read the article in full here
Don't let the same happen to you, give us a call today for a free evaluation.
18 JULY 2011
Dashboard just released
We're very excited about the release of My.N Dashboard which graphically shows you key information on your customers and suppliers.
This is hot off the press, check back soon for more details and screenshots
8 JULY 2011
New Release being Tested
The next release of My.N is now in its test phase.
Significant changes have been made using latest technologies to ensure the My.N remains at the top of its game.
General release should happen next week.
6 JULY 2011
We're now on Twitter
Please follow us for a further insight into our world - @Accounting_MyN
Our public profile is http://twitter.com/Accounting_MyN
5 JULY 2011
New Case Study
The Antique Wine Company experience unparalleled rates of growth and expansion since installing My.N.
Email marketing using real-time data is now a key driver in the future success the Company.
To read this in full, please click here.
23 JUNE 2011
WOW - brain on melt-down
Yesterday I attended a conference presented by Doug Richard's School for Start-ups. Truely inspiring and motivational speakers. The day was incredibly fast-paced with lots of information and suggestions on ways to increase business presence on the Internet via Social Marketing.
Andrew Davis - theworstkeptsecret.com gave some great advice on how to make your business more socially interactive on the internet.
Dan Sodegren - the fastest talking man in the world! His highly energetic presentation was brilliant, but at 240 words per minute it really kept us on our toes. I've come away with some great techniques to test and master. Greatmarketingworkshops.co.uk
James Dening - ecommerce guru and ex Head of Enterprise Sales at Amazon, provided great advice on ecommerce and fulfilment. finesight.co.uk
And as for the main man himself - Doug Richard - what a great speaker, straight-forward and no-nonsense, this is a man that is focused and gets things done.
I'm still exhausted but motivated to try lots of new things.
22 JUNE 2011
A day to be inspired
I'm off to a 'boot camp' at Swansea University this afternoon for a conference run by Doug Richard (from Dragon's Den). Hoping to learn lots about Social Marketing and Marketing over the Internet.
21 JUNE 2011
Think it was a success!
We're on the train back to sunny Wales following the User Group meeting. Many thanks to those customers that joined us, we really appreciate the time that you have taken out of your busy schedules.
Some interesting comments and discussions took place today, lots for us to mull over during this journey - and for the coming days ahead.
Always great to meet with customers face-to-face rather than over the telephone.
21 JUNE 2011
User Group Meeting TODAY
We've just arrived at The Royal Society of Medicine, 1 Wimpole Street, London for our Annual User Group Meeting.
Great venue, really looking forward to the day and to meeting some of our customers again.
16 JUNE 2011
3 days to go to the User Group Meeting
Just 3 days to go until our annual User Group meeting.
Registration is 09:00 on Tuesday 21st June at The Royal School of Medicine, 1 Wimpole Street, London
We look forward to seeing you all there!
13 JUNE 2011
My.N Organize proves itself again
The value of an integrated system has proven itself again. We currently have members of staff spread over several continents, My.N Organize ensures that all communications are saved centrally against each contact, and are visible to everyone back in the office.
Whether colleagues are in China, the Middle East or USA, the communication loop remains intact, and back at the 'engine room' we're able to offer support based on individual's up-to-the-minute requirements.
6 JUNE 2011
Finalising details for User Group Meeting
I'm in the process of finalising numbers and venue details for our annual User Group Meeting.
This year to be held in London on Tues 21st June 2011.
If you haven't already done so, please could you confirm your attendance to c.gosby@accountingoffice.co.uk
Many thanks!
31 MAY 2011
Congratulations to the Super Swans
Football Premiership fever has hit the office following the fantastic winning performance of Swansea City Football Club in the play-off finals yesterday.
A thrilling game against Reading FC with the final score 4 - 2
Congratulations to the Swans!!
We're looking forward to welcoming some of the biggest names in football to our city next season.
25 MAY 2011
Date for User Group Meeting 2011 confirmed
Tuesday 21st June 2011 is the date for the User Group meeting, this year to be held in London,
Full details of the venue to be announced shortly.
If you haven't already confirmed your place, please call Claire on 01792 818177.
Really looking forward to seeing our customers, and some new faces at this event.
21 APRIL 2011
Easter Opening Hours
I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that this glorious weather will last over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.
Our offices will be closed on Good Friday (22nd May) and Easter Monday (25th May). We are back in on Tues 26th May.
There is some excitement about a 'low-key' wedding on 29th May, we'll be taking the day off and toasting the happy couple. Normal services will resume on Tues 3rd May.
Wishing you all a Happy Easter
19 APRIL 2011
Trading
When I think of a Trade floor, I imagine a very noisy and exciting environment, filled with traders wearing brightly coloured stripey jackets, waving their arms and shouting into many telephones simultaneously.
The reality is that there are many companies buying and selling, and moving commodities all over the world. My.N Trading screen allows them to wave their arms around excitedly from the comfort of their desks, and manage the complete trade all from a single screen - stripey jackets optional.
Profitability of each trade can be modelled and tested prior to a commitment to purchase. Click here to see more.
BUY! BUY! BUY!
15 MARCH 2011
Job Costing Demos
We've just added a new series of viewlets showing how Job Costing works in detail within My.N. Our integrated Job and Project Costing software offers you the flexibility to manage anything from a straightforward product sale to a complex project, where a wide range of costs have to be collected.
Click here to be taken directly to the first page.
10 MARCH 2011
Spring Clean your Systems
The days are getting longer, the sun is shining, there is a definate feel of Spring in the air. This time of year sends many of us on a cleaning and clearing out frenzy.
We've been having a lot of interest in My.N this quarter, I get the feeling that people are extending their 'spring cleaning' to the office.
24 FEBRUARY 2011
Time Is Too Short To Waste
I'm feeling a little melancholic today. Recent events have made me realise that there is nothing more important to each of us than time. Whether that time is spent with friends, family, participating in sport or hobbies, travelling, reading etc; time is the one thing that once it is gone we can never get it back.
So my revised resolution for this year is to make more time for friends, family and doing productive things.
Of course it would be lovely if we woke up every morning with a full day of free time ahead of us, but most of us spend a large majority of our time in work. Many people, myself included, would add doing a good job at work, or building a business as an enjoyable way of spending their time. This got me thinking how important it is for us to ensure that our time spent in work is as productive as possible.
Last week I extracted a large amount of data from our My.N system, however the report wasn't displaying how I wanted it. To manually have changed this, would have meant exporting it to Excel and several hours clicking in individual cells. The beauty of working with My.N, which is such a flexible and customizable system, meant that with a click of a few buttons I was able to change the report parameters, headings and layout and 'voila' I had all the data presented exactly as I needed it. And if I can do this then anybody can!!!! I literally saved myself hours, time which was then freed up to do more productive things.
My message is that time is too short to spend it doing unproductive, unnecessary or repetitive work. Ensure that you have the right systems in place and you will be truely amazed how much extra time you have available to you to do more of the things you really want to do!
11 FEBRUARY 2011
My.N Goes Global
Over the last few weeks we've had members of staff scattered all over the northern hemisphere.
An international client had another of their sites 'go live' last week. My.N's multi-currency and reporting capabilities are being utilised well.
And this week, an intercontinental delegation of programmers are taking part in a developers course being held in Ireland.
My.N truely is spreading its wings.
1 FEBRUARY 2011
Amazing Mailer Results
The results of an actual email campaign that we ran recently are now available for all to see. Please click here to be taken to the CRM page.
One of the hardest things for any marketeer is the lack of feedback received from a campaign. Time, brain-power and money are spent sending out wonderful literature and offers, but it's always been very difficult to understand who has opened, read or acted on the offer.
Email marketing and link tracking has revolutionised this, My.N is now able to report on how many emails were opened, who opened them and when, what links within the email were clicked, and how many times.
From the results received this week, we achieved an amazing 'click through' ratio of over 32%. Importantly, we also know who clicked through to our website for more information. For example, one prospect clicked on a link 7 times over 4 days, this indicates to me that they are interested in what we have to offer. So, armed with this information, we were able to make contact with him and have a meaningful conversation about his business, understanding his needs and requirements.
By understanding which links were clicked most, it also allows me to tailor my future emails based on evidence of what works rather than just my own subjective views.
This reporting comes as standard within the Organize module, and can used as a quick, eaasy and cost-effective way to contact your prospect list on a regular basis.
If you have any questions on this, please give me a call on 01792 818177.
Claire
26 JANUARY 2011
Training Course Well Underway
Basics of SQL 2 day training has been completed today, all attendees performed well, learnt lots and passed the test.
Tomorrow OpenDoor, My.N's own report writer, will be tackled.
17 JANUARY 2011
Late Night in the Office
The midnight oil was certainly burning here last night. We changed the hours of the working day for some of our staff to accommodate a customer who was not able to arrive until late in the day for a training course. Instead of the usual 9am - 5pm, for some yesterday became 3pm - 11pm.
There are a few bleary eyes in the office today, but the course was well under-way again at 9am this morning.
The saying that 'the customer always come first' is certainly true for us. Being a smaller company means that we can work flexibly around any situation to ensure that our customers needs are always put first.
I think we'll be going through a lot of coffee today!
14 JANUARY 2011
January Training Course Fully Booked
The SQL training course being run at the end of January is now fully booked.
If you are interested in attending our next course, please click here to register your interest.
4 JANUARY 2011
Happy New Year!
Just in case anyone has missed the small fact that the Chancellor increased the rate of VAT to 20% last night, please remember that you will need to change this within your system.
Detailed below is a utility which gives the following functionality:
- Resetting of your standard rate of VAT, R1 to 20%
- Resetting of the VAT inclusive (gross) price on the stock record reflecting the increase in the rate of VAT
** Prior to using this utility, please take a backup of your data in accordance with your usual backup routine. **
The utility should be run after all transactions have been processed up to 3 January 2011, and before any transactions are processed on the 4 January 2011. Please note that if a transaction dated 3 January 2011 is processed on 4 January 2011, the system will apply the 20% VAT rate.
If you are running My.N, this is the link to the utility: http://www.downloads.mynwebshop.com/VatRateChange.exe
If you are running Accounting Office, the link is: http://www.downloads.mynwebshop.com/VatRateChangeAO.exe
To run this you need to unzip the file, save it into C:\Programe Files\My.N directory then run it.
Please note that this change should be managed internally by your company, any additional support queries that may arise from this change are not part of the standard maintenance agreement.
Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact the support team on 01792 818177.
23 DECEMBER 2010
Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!
From all of us at Accounting Office Software Ltd.
We are open 29 - 31 December.
Normal services resume from 4 January 2011.
20 DECEMBER 2010
All White Back in the Office
Well, we've all made it into the office today. It's still snowing, and it looks so pretty, but we're all here.
Lots of updates are being made to My.N, all ready for a new release in the next couple of days.
17 DECEMBER 2010
Weather Update
Overnight snow has caused severe disruptions locally in South Wales. Only a limited number of our support staff have been able to make it into the office.
Our telephone answering service will be taking messages and emailing the relevant members of staff who will accessing the system and working from home today.
Should you have any urgent support issues, please email Paul Wheeler direct - p.wheeler@accountingoffice.co.uk
Thank you for your patience.
15 DECEMBER 2010
Putting a Face to the Name
Its always a pleasure meeting our lovely customers face to face. This week we're running a bespoke training course for some of our newer customers.
It's great being able to put a face to a name - or to a voice at the end of the telephone.
9 DECEMBER 2010
Last Places on Training Course
Today, I am finalising the details for the training course in January 2011. Nearly all spaces are full, if you do want to attend, and haven't yet returned your booking form, please do so as soon as possible.
Thanks
7 DECEMBER 2010
Instant Messanger
Ian's latest brain-child is an instant messenger built-in to My.N.
This means that items on our task manager or diary cannot be forgotten. Now the item pops up at the relevant time. And just in case we miss the pop-up, an alert then sits in the top corner of the screen, colourfully flashing until it is actioned.
Personally, I'm sure Ian only wrote this so that he can request a cup of tea without having to leave his office!!
3 DECEMBER 2010
New look to our Blog
The new My.N Blog is going to be more about what is actually going on in the office.
I hope you enjoy reading, and gaining an insight into our world. If you have any comments I'd love to hear them, please get in touch - c.gosby@accountingoffice.co.uk
Many thanks, Claire
22 NOVEMBER 2010
Here Comes the Snow!
Snow has started to fall, and already parts of the country are experiencing severe disruptions.
Why can't our transport networks cope with a bit of the white stuff?
I suppose because in the UK we are not used to this sort of weather, councils are not going to invest in expensive machinery to keep us moving for the few days of the year that we are affected. But, if our winters are to continue getting colder, and this sort of weather becomes the norm, then investments will have to be made.
We're lucky here in the office as we have the technology in place which allows us all to work from home. I can be sitting on the sofa and working on my computer in the office, with exactly the same speed and functionality as if I were at my desk. It does cause a few double-takes in the office, there's no-one sitting at my desk yet things are happening on the screen!!
At least the snow won't stop us.
8 NOVEMBER 2010
One Little Decimal Place - So Many Implications
When selling internationally we all expect there to be language issues, currency changes, and different time-zones to take into account; but not many people realise what a huge impact the little issue of the number of decimal places makes.
We've recently been talking to a company in the Middle East where the currency runs to 3 decimal places. There are very few accounting packages (globally) that can deal with this.
So the mainframe-brains behind My.N (Ian), spent a few hours thinking about it, sat down at his PC for a while and 'voila' we were able to provide a complete solution offering exactly what the client wanted.
That's one of the great things about working here, there are no set rules of what can and cannot be done. Any requests that clients come up with can be accommodated for and written into the software there and then. This means that no two days are ever the same in the office.
22 OCTOBER 2010
Relevance is the Key to Marketing Effectively.
This is so true when it comes to email marketing - and I've been doing a lot of that recently!!
We all get bombarded with emails every day, how do you decide which ones to open and which ones to bin? Decisions are made within a split-second, and are usually based on the subject line and the sender's name.
Spare a thought for us genuine marketing types, who are only trying to broaden peoples knowledge. Our aim is to educate Mr Prospect, so that when he is looking for a solution to a problem, that a little light in the back of his mind will glimmer slightly, and remember an email or a letter that was received many months ago.
I am not condoning Spam - I hate it as much as the next person - which is why it is so important to be relevant with the offers that are sent to potential clients.
We all lead busy lives, and have no time to read useless rubbish about something that is not relevant to us directly.
So I am making the most of all the intelligence we have on our prospect list, and will only send information that is relevant to each individual business.
If I've sent something to you, please take a moment to read it, it may be useful information - maybe not today, and maybe not tomorrow, but one day - and then you'll be glad that you opened the email.
14 OCTOBER 2010
Training Course Dates just released
The next training course for users of My.N and Accounting Office have been released today. The series of 3 intensive days has been developed to help you get the most out of your system.
Days 1 and 2: Basics of SQL and Understanding your Data - 25 - 26 Jan 2011
Day 3: Structured Reporting - Jan 27th 2011
Places are booked on a first-come first-served basis, and are strictly limited. Please book early to avoid disappointment.
For further details and a booking form, please call Claire on 01792 818177
05 OCTOBER 2010
Will your marketing let you down this Christmas?
Christmas is a time for great opportunities. Is your marketing as effective as you would like it to be at your busiest time of the year?
Using our own marketing system - My.N Organize - I can quickly send highly targeted, relevant offers to those prospects that I know will be interested in our offer.
Unlike traditional CRM packages, I can now send offers based on our customer's individual tastes, likes and dislikes, stated preferences, recency and latency of ordering etc.
29 JULY 2010
We've moved!
Well the move wasn't as painful as we thought it might be. All furniture is now in place, PC's and broadband are working. Unfortunately BT haven't quite got out telephone lines functioning.
If you are trying to call us, please be aware that our phone lines are not connected - please send an email instead.
Apologies if you are having problems getting through.
20 JULY 2010
One room all packed up, more boxes please
Anything not in daily use, or anything that does not move, has now been boxed up and moved to our new offices.
19 JULY 2010
Getting ready for office move
Final arrangements are being made ready for our office move next week.
From Wednesday 28th July 2010 our new address details are:
Accounting Office Software Ltd
Newby Business Centre
Neath Abbey Business Park
Neath SA10 7DR
Telephone number remains the same - 01792 818177.
23 JUNE 2010
FIFA World Cup, Wimbledon, Ascot, International Cricket ... is there anyone left in the office?
As a nation we are well known for our passion for sport, and with the great British summer being full of key sporting events (not to mention employees taking annual leave), how can you ensure that your business and more importantly your customers do not suffer?
Successful businesses understand the value of exceptional customer service, however, it is during times when you are at your busiest or when staff are absent that standards may slip.
A simple way to overcome this is to ensure that all communications (emails, quotations, documents, spreadsheets) with all your clients are available to everyone in the business at all times. This means that whether a member of staff is sitting at Centre Court in Wimbledon, at the local pub watching England in the World Cup, or on a beach in Barbados, all the information you need to satisfy your customers is accessible to those left in the office.
No longer are emails and important documents locked in an individual’s email account, or saved in their personal folders on the server.
My.N Organize ensures that all important information is saved where it is of most use to you – saved against the company's record within your single, integrated management system. Alongside all of your other important information and available to everybody who needs access to it and safely backed up every night.
An integrated system, using just one database, has significant benefits across your business. Not only during times of great sporting activities and holidays, but also for the other 10 months of the year (this year and every year!).
18 JUNE 2010
Disaster averted in the office
A major disaster was narrowly averted in the office today when a cup of coffee was spilt over a colleague’s laptop.
After the initial shock (and profanities) had waned, attention was turned to the huge amount of information that was stored on the laptop... years of information, intelligence and contacts all ‘safely’ stored on the hard drive, what now of these?
Luckily we are using My.N Organize, which means that all communications into or out of the business are automatically saved (and backed up every night) within the main business management system. Emails, documents, spreadsheets etc are all saved against a contact’s record.
By the time a replacement cup of coffee had been made, my colleague was happily working again on another PC in the office. The documents he was working on were exactly where he saved them, all his emails (sent and received) were immediately visible to him, and normality was resumed.
It was not such good news for the laptop however, which even though it has now dried out, the hard drive in unrecoverable.
26 MAY 2010
We've just arrived at The Holiday Inn, Birmingham City for the User Group Meeting.
9am start, looking forward to meeting some of our lovely customers.
13 MAY 2010
Wine Industry User Group Meeting takes place today
We're in the underground vaults at St Martins-in-the Fields, Trafalgar Square, London. An amazing location just off Trafalgar Square.
