QuickBooks Asia

QuickBooks vs. QuickBooks

Software: QuickBooks accounting software

In the past, the QuickBooks available here in Singapore is the QuickBooks Asian edition from Reckon Ltd (QuickBooks Australia) distributed by QCOM Group Pte Ltd (Singapore) with few copies of USA edition, Canadian edition and UK edition imported by parallel importers. Solarsys is one of the Master Reseller of Quickbooks in Singapore, supporting all Quickbooks users in the Asia region.

The various versions (since year 1999) of QuickBooks Asian edition that we sold in the past are:

• QuickBooks v6 (1999-2000)
• QuickBooks v8 (2000-2001)
• QuickBooks 2002
• QuickBooks 2003
• QuickBooks 2004
• QuickBooks 2005/06
• QuickBooks 2006/07
• QuickBooks 2007/08
• QuickBooks 2009/10 (final Asian version sold)

In 2010, Intuit Ltd (USA) – the owner and developer of QuickBooks, made some major changes in the market for the QuickBooks products sold here in Singapore as follows:

• QuickBooks Asian edition is terminated.
• QuickBooks Online (cloud computing) is introduced.
• QuickBooks Canadian edition is introduced for all new users of Quickbooks.  The current version being sold is QuickBooks Pro & Premier 2012. Click here to buy.
• QuickBooks Australian edition is introduced for existing users ofQuickBooks Asian edition to upgrade (eg. their old versions cannot run on Win7, need more user license, etc.), as their data files are compatible with one another. If you’re an existing users of QuickBooks Asian edition (any of the versions listed above), you’re entitled to buy Quickbooks Direct Upgrade2011/12 at Upgrade Price. Click here to buy. If you need help to migrate your old data file to the latest version, we also provide Data Migration Service.

Important NOTE:

QuickBooks data files of different country built are not inter-operable.

That is to say, USA edition cannot open/use/import Canadian edition or UK edition or Australian edition database, and vice versa.  Neither can any of these desktop QuickBooks editions’ data file be opened by or imported into the QuickBooks Online edition and vice versa. (Read Pros & Cons of Cloud-based accounting solutions.)

If you are not sure as to how you should continue with your QuickBooks or embark on new QuickBooks; whether to upgrade to Australian edition, move over to Canadian edition or Online edition, please feel free to consult us and we will be more than happy to assist you.

 

 

QuickBooks Online

Software: QuickBooks Online (QBO)

Here are few questions asked by the user who attended the QuickBooks Online  (QBO) Seminar:

• Where to get a Trial for QuickBooks Online?
• Must I migrate from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online version?
• What so good about QuickBooks Online comparing to QuickBooks Desktop version?
• How to migrate from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online version?

 

Where to get a Trial for QuickBooks Online?

Unlike QuickBooks Desktop version, which you can download and install onto your computer, QuickBooks Online needs you to create an account first before trying out the software (as it is a Cloud solution, no software will be installed onto your computer). You can create a trial account from http://quickbooks.intuit.sg/

 

Must I migrate from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online?

No. It is not a must for QuickBooks (Asia) user to migrate over to QuickBooks Online.  QuickBooks Asia user can still upgrade to the latest QuickBooks 2011/12 (Australia) version. User can contactSolarsys (www.qb.sg) for an upgrade detail.

 

What so good about QuickBooks Online comparing to QuickBooks Desktop version?

QuickBooks Online is a Cloud solution, which uses a browser to access your software. Cloud solution is great as you can access your software and data anywhere, anytime as long as you have an Internet connection.  You don’t need to install your software onto your computer nor require spending money on a server to manage your data file for multi-user access. This solution looks ideal for SOHO, as initial investment is low.

However, being on the web, QuickBooks Online (Singapore version) at this moment does not have features, which was on the Desktop version, such as Payroll, Product, Jobs and Advance Template Design (Online version only have basic design feature).  I believe, QuickBooks Online will improve, they are here to stay, but it will not be instant as what some of the user may think. If you like the concept of being in the Cloud, then, be patient … wait.

The biggest obstacle a user had, which I believe, is hosting your data on the web. Most of the users still prefer to host the accounting data in-house. Although, Singtel and Intuit reassure the security concern, this still not addressing the user needs. Besides, being told that your data will be deleted if you stop paying makes the user uncomfortable. You have to continue paying in order to access (even read only), if you decided to stop using QuickBooks Online and move on to a higher end accounting software have make the user think twice. Maybe, Intuit should consider charging user just a minimum amount (maybe just fraction of the normal price) to keep your data “dormant”.

 

How to migrate from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online version?

No, you cannot migrate your QuickBooks Desktop data into QuickBooks Online.  Unless the market is big enough, or else, I don’t think Intuit or third party developers will consider developing a tool for migration.