Upgrading from QuickBooks to Sage: A CFO’s Insight on Enhancing Business Operations

We recently spoke with Susan Harrington, a seasoned CFO, about her company’s shift from QuickBooks to Sage. She offered insights into the limitations of QuickBooks for growing businesses and how Sage facilitated significant improvements.

1. Overcoming Manual Accounting Process Limitations

Susan shared, “As our business expanded, the manual processes in QuickBooks became a bottleneck. We desperately needed a solution that could automate and streamline our operations.”

Susan’s team previously spent extensive hours reconciling purchase orders with actual inventory received, a process fraught with manual errors. With Sage, this reconciliation became automated, accurately matching orders with received goods and updating financial records in real-time, saving both time and reducing human error.

2. Billing and Pricing System Inflexibility

“We faced challenges with QuickBooks’ limited capabilities in handling complex pricing structures. Switching to Sage allowed us to adopt a more flexible approach to billing and pricing, with multiple price lists and volume based discounts,” said Susan.

In her warehouse operation, Susan faced challenges with seasonal pricing adjustments. QuickBooks couldn’t handle these dynamic changes efficiently. Sage, however, allowed for flexible pricing models, accommodating seasonal variations and bulk discount structures with ease.

3. Solving Information Silo Issues in Financial Management

Susan discussed how QuickBooks’ limited integration across the business functions led to information silos, affecting productivity and financial transparency. “Sage provided the integration we needed for a complete business view,” she said.

Previously, Susan’s finance team had trouble accessing real-time inventory levels, leading to discrepancies in financial reporting. With Sage’s integrated system, they now have a unified view of inventory and finances, enhancing accuracy and decision-making.

4. Improving Management Data Access and Processing

“Management’s ability to access and process data was constrained with QuickBooks. Sage’s advanced features have enabled our management team to utilize real-time data and powerful analytical tools,” she added.

In her role, Susan found it difficult to access real-time financial data related to warehouse operations in QuickBooks. With Sage, she now easily tracks expenses, revenue, and profit margins per product line, enabling more informed strategic decisions.

5. Enhancing Business Forecasting Techniques

“QuickBooks fell short in forecasting capabilities. Sage’s tools have been essential for accurate and strategic planning,” Susan emphasized.

Susan once needed to forecast demand for a new product line. The limited capabilities of QuickBooks made this challenging. After switching to Sage, she could analyze historical sales data and market trends, leading to a more accurate forecast and better stock management.

6. Streamlining Billing and Quoting

“The manual billing and quoting in QuickBooks were inefficient. Sage automated these processes, increasing our efficiency and accuracy,” she noted.

Susan’s team uses Sage to seamlessly transition quotes to orders and accommodate post-shipment additions. This capability simplifies billing adjustments and enhances customer service by efficiently handling last-minute changes.