AccountEdge

Wonderful platform

Pros

It is an effective accounting software I have ever used.

Cons

There are no cons.

Our romance with AccountEdgePro is rocky

Pros

I purchased AccountEdge Pro for our farm with the intend to install it on multiple machines. The multiuser login feature worked brilliantly, although there were a couple of quirks. Since we have individual desktop setups (x5), we used a mesh network on the farm to connect the desktops and input inventory transfers as we grew or propagated plants. Unfortunately, we don't have internet coverage from our Starlink satellite for these outlying desktops, so a web-based subscription wasn't suitable. The one-time payment option was a significant factor for us as seasonal farmers, considering our fluctuating account balance throughout the year. The integration with Shopify was the major selling point as it allows our staff to update our inventory in real-time online through the sync link between the two software platforms on the main computer. This was essential for us as we have stock in both the USA and Australia, and it saved us a lot of administrative time after team meetings, which often faced time difference issues. The Inventory Variations feature was a gamechanger for us since we manufacture plants and being able to track the different stages of plant growth in our inventory provided valuable information to our sales teams. Previously, we would have to physically count plants and call the customer back, but now we could suggest alternate plants for earlier delivery, leading to potential extra sales. Job Codes were also brilliant for separating different projects on the farm or the research component of our business, allowing us to track project costs. This particular component disappeared when MYOB went web-based around six years ago. Having used Australian MYOB since 1996, I found that AccountEdge Pro was an immediate replica with additional features, making the transition incredibly smooth. I've been using AccountEdge Pro since 2019.

Cons

Until last year, we didn't have any cons with AccountEdge. However, when we purchased upgraded licenses for all five computers, we encountered a major issue. Despite having the multiuser function, it no longer allows simultaneous data input from multiple computers. We discovered that the other computers can only input data if they are logged out while the main computer remains logged on. This rendered the licenses useless, as our main computer is always logged on. We tried reinstalling the older version, but it wasn't possible once the account backup came from the upgraded version. Support then advised us to switch to the web-based version, but with three computers without internet access and the need for subscriptions for each active computer, it became financially and logistically unfeasible to sustain the fees for 12 months a year. The Shopify link disappeared, and despite promises of a new solution since May last year, nothing has been delivered. We didn't receive any prior notice, and our customers started complaining about undelivered orders, which alerted us to the problem. As a result, we now have to enter data separately from two locations, the USA and Australia. Moreover, we can no longer access our account through the MyAccount page, as we are geofenced to the Australia MYOB page. The same limitations apply to Community support and the Support Team, which we have paid for. Speaking of payments, AccountEdge Pro switched to web-based monthly subscriptions. We strongly prefer one-time payments when required, as they are much easier to manage. Unfortunately, after a great experience initially, we have decided to stop upgrading. We hired someone with Python knowledge to create sync capability with Shopify. Luckily, I have a database diploma and can work with reports as CSV imports from the desktop computers located around the farm, but this has consumed a significant amount of my time.

User for 30 years

Pros

AccountEdge gets the job done and allows me to do whatever I need to do.

Cons

AccountEdge discontinued native support for Mac when it transitioned to 32 bits. For about five years, they have been promising a native version, but the current DOS shell it operates in is terrible and makes me feel like I'm back in 1995. It's the slowest program on my computer. I contact support twice a year, and it's always the same response: "they are working on it." Recently, I was told that every time they complete a project, Apple makes changes to their OS, further slowing down the progress. However, keeping programs up to date with each new OS is a standard part of computer operations. AccountEdge does everything I need, but on a Mac, it's an incredibly frustrating experience.