On the 18th of October, Matt joined Sholto Macpherson of Digital First fame to preview his talk at Accountech Live on the SMERP Dilemma.
As it stands in 2018, there is a challenge for larger SMEs to decide between SME Cloud Accounting platforms like Xero and QBo, plus ecosystem “add-ons”, or significantly more expensive and flexible, yet less user-friendly comprehensive Business Platforms like Salesforce, NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics 365 and MYOB Advanced.
It’s time the mid-market accounting technology space woke up and realised its 2018. In Australia, MYOB have handed them the “goose that lays the golden eggs” with their decision not to take Single Touch Payroll to MYOB Premier (see my previous article) and yet none of them are in a position to genuinely capitalise, because they aren’t even playing the same game as the likes of Xero and Intuit!
Where are the bank feeds? How about a solid ecosystem of best of breed add-ons? How about AI and machine learning? How about a modern, mobile optimised UI with decent UX design? Why are these the domain of “small business” systems like Xero and QBo at one end and “corporate solutions” like Workday at the other? What happened in the middle?
A recent experience with a client (which is representative of what is going on in the broader mid-market) has really “got my goat” and compelled me to speak out!
There’s been quite a stir around “the industry” over the last month about the churn of key people at Xero. First there was the “succession” of founder Rod Drury, cased in rumours and innuendo, that bears not repeating.
The concern for (not many) investors (judging by the share price since Rod’s departure) was the timing.
Here goes, my 3rd annual attempt at being an accountable, amateur “futurist” in the Cloud Accounting and general Biztech industry.
2017 proved (for me anyway), more predictable that 2016 (remember 2016 was the year of Trump, Brexit, Cronulla Sharks, Western Bulldogs, Leicester..). By my own marking, my 2017 Biztech predictions saw me score a respectable B upon reflection, after a horrid F for 2016.
So again I saddle up with my futurism skills moving in the right direction and a continued promise to be transparent about my predictions.
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For the second year in a row, I started last year with my crack at being a futurist, by publishing my predictions for the Biztech/AccountingTech industry for the year ahead. Unlike most other people who make bold predictions, again I am happy to hold myself to account on how I went.
I’m happy to proclaim my 2017 edition easily surpassed the accuracy of my predictions for 2016, and in a world of continuous improvement, my 18 for 2018 will be even better…
This article continues on from Part 1 from last week.
Whilst in Part 1 I reviewed the “big nuggets” from the Smarter QuickBooks messaging from QB Connect, this week I reflect on my own takeaways from the event and my “access all areas” pass.
An American, a Canadian, an Aussie, an Englishman and an Indian walk into a bar… No, its not a joke, its QB Connect 2017. The bar was the Fairmont San Jose and the topic of conversation was typically accounting and accounting technology.
Alex Chriss, Intuit’s SVP & Chief Product Officer, Small Business, commented that he felt the next 18 months would see more innovation than the previous 2 decades at intuit!
So, I am sorry #StephSocial (who made the point to tell me my conference reviews aren’t designed for her short-attention span #snap), but with this year’s review of Intuit’s annual conference, I have so much to write about, it is actually going to be longer than my previous articles!
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Perhaps it’s ironic that I write this assessment of Xero’s 1H18 results at 10,000m above the Pacific Ocean, on my way to Intuit’s #QBConnect 2017. But 15 hours without kids, work, social media or Stranger Things 2 distracting (well at least 3 out of the 4), is a great opportunity to sit and analyse last week’s results and announcements (whilst listening to the new Gang of Youths album), then get some sleep #winning.
OK, by now you’ve seen all the other posts, listened to all the podcasts – even if you weren’t at QB Connect Sydney, you have probably got a good feel for what transpired at the SCG on May 18.
Now it’s my turn. Time for the “Matt Paff altReview” treatment. You may have read my Xerocon 2016 review or my QBConnect US reviews (2015 and 2016). My approach is to avoid the excessive platitudes and focus on the constructive elements and call out the BS. So here goes:
May has been a BIG month for us Cloud Accounting nerds (and investors), with Sage, Xero and Intuit all reporting. Given the opportunity, I’ve had a high level look at the 3 results (+ MYOBs from Feb for comparison) and performed some analysis. #Interesting
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