Outgrowing QuickBooks? Consider a Cloud ERP for Accelerated Growth

John Ruddy, Director of Global ERP, SenecaGlobal

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When it comes to simple bookkeeping, small and mid-sized manufacturing businesses frequently turn to QuickBooks because it offers basic features to manage their resources. But what happens when a company is expanding and its accounting needs grow beyond invoicing and payroll? When businesses are ramping up and want to procure, distribute, sell new products/services, as well as manage financials, it’s time to assess if it makes sense to migrate to a cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, especially for the long term.

A cloud ERP smoothly automates data tracking and other essential accounting processes while streamlining all of a business’s systems (like accounting and financing) into one platform. Suppose your employees find that the basic features of QuickBooks are becoming a tedious pile of spreadsheets with limited functionality that eats up their time. In that case, you may find a cloud ERP invaluable. For example, 97% of surveyed NetSuite users reported a feeling of increased visibility and control over their finances and 66% reported an inability to deal with complex accounting needs before switching to NetSuite’s cloud ERP system.

However, switching to a new cloud-based software requires dedicated resources and time. Migrating a company’s financial data from QuickBooks to an ERP necessitates careful planning and the assistance of experienced resources. Consequently, important considerations must be made for this migration to be smooth and successful.

What to Consider

When migrating from QuickBooks to a cloud ERP platform, one of the first steps is to remove redundant data entries and tie up incomplete ones. It is essential to cleanse data, so that errors from QuickBooks aren’t carried over into the new ERP platform.

The next step is identifying and choosing the right ERP modules for your organization. Unlike QuickBooks, a cloud ERP offers an all-in-one business management solution with a wide variety of applications or modules such as accounting, order processing, inventory management, production, supply chain and warehouse operations. An expanding business will not need most of these modules immediately, so it is important to identify which applications are the priorities.

A final consideration is how and when to train users on the new platform. Your employees will need to learn how to record transactions and financials, so make training a priority to eliminate concerns about changing processes so that the new cloud ERP is well-received. In addition, implementing automation for workflows will greatly reduce the cost of these constant steps that occur during the financial process. The last thing you want is to roll out a new system that your employees hate and avoid using until they are absolutely forced to use it. Take the time to help employees understand how the new system will make their jobs easier and benefit them.

This effort might seem daunting for a growing business, but ultimately, given the efficiency and insights that a cloud ERP provides, it is still well worth the pain and effort. The good news is a company caught in this transition zone is not alone and can always seek out an outside partner to help select, implement, and manage its ERP.

Working with an Expert ERP Managed Services Partner for Cloud ERP

The process of onboarding a new ERP is involved and lengthy, but it can be made much easier by collaborating with the right managed service provider (MSP). An experienced partner can help with the overwhelming considerations discussed above and offer expert consulting during the onboarding process, such as how to avoid costly errors (like purchasing the wrong license).

A cloud ERP smoothly automates data tracking and other essential accounting processes while streamlining all of a business’s systems into one platform


For example, a specialized tool manufacturer made the leap to NetSuite’s cloud ERP after experiencing exhaustion with the mismanagement and crashes of QuickBooks. To manage the implementation, the company hired a NetSuite MSP. In just three months (ahead of expectations), the MSP not only customized and streamlined all services the company needed via NetSuite modules; but also trained all employees on the platform.

SenecaGlobal is recognized as one of the top MSPs for implementing and supporting cloud ERP systems. The company helps businesses select, implement, and manage NetSuite, which Gartner recently named the leader in cloud ERP platforms. SenecaGlobal helps companies innovate and tailor their NetSuite platform to their specific industry and business needs. The company eliminates the complexity of onboarding NetSuite and helps organizations make the arduous migration journey to a cloud ERP smooth and seamless.

Outside of being an implementation partner, SenecaGlobal is often kept aboard after a migration because of the support, optimization and value it offers. SenecaGlobal’s NetSuite Constant Care program maintains daily functionality, secures data integrity, and even generates custom reports so businesses can continue focusing on the service it provides. Many customers consider SenecaGlobal an integral part of the IT department, offering services they couldn’t afford otherwise.

Moving Forward with Confidence

Migrating from a point solution like QuickBooks to a cloud ERP is like moving from building products one at a time to producing them in mass quantities. While such moves are not easy, they are necessary for emerging companies to remain competitive and responsive to real time changes in the market. When the decision is made to switch to a cloud ERP, using a trusted managed service partner can make the transition much easier while helping accelerate their growth and drive value across the company.



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