Integrated v standalone software?

Pros & cons

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Hi,

I'd be interested to hear to pros and cons of using integrated software. We provide a standalone Secretarial system - FirstOrder and many potential clients I speak with prefer the intergration provided by suppliers such as IRIS. So how does it actually integrate? For instance if I was to change a shareholder against a company within the Secretarial element, how would this reflect throughout?

This isn't a sales pitch, I'm just trying to understand our competitors and the integration it provides, because for the price they charge (FirstOrder is only charged per each company administered, so as an example 200 companies would be around £6 per company) I'd hope it does a hell of a lot!

Any insights would be much appreciated.

Adrian

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By andybailey
24th Jul 2017 21:05

There is significant value in integration; not only the time saving re-keying data, but reducing the risk of human error. I strongly recommend to all of my clients that their systems are as integrated as possible.

Integration, however, does not necessarily using the same supplier for all of your software. Linking Practice Ignition, QuickBooks and TaxFiler, for example, offers an integrated workflow from Practice Management to Bookkeeping and Payroll, to Accounts and Tax Compliance with three separate suppliers.

IRIS, Digita, CCH et al charge a significant premium on their suites as they know how difficult and time consuming it can be to evaluate business software. They charge for the simplicity of not having to look elsewhere.

I'd love to know more about FirstOrder by the way. Please, would you DM or contact me via my website www.octopusblueuk.com.

Andy Bailey
CEO Octopus Blue
The Business Software Experts

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