Accounting Apps Podcast

From Clutter to Clarity: Resolving Your Business’s Data Overwhelm

What are your options when your tech stack is bursting at the seams? You’re struggling to get visibility over what’s happening. You’re balancing multiple spreadsheets and you’re spending a lot of time consolidating data.    If you are trying to resolving your business's data overwhelm there are a number of options:   Spring cleans all the files, and all the data.  Merge duplicates and expunge old data, and trim down the data files.    Call in the professionals: Engage a professional cloud integrator to review your set up and advice of any efficiency opportunities.   Multi Entity Consolidation solution : I work with the Fathom team and they have a multi-entity financial reporting tool to help you compare and consolidate your organisations.   A new solution on the market that you may not have heard of is Translucent.io who I’ve recently started working with. It turns your existing single-entity accounting system into a multi-entity accounting solution. You connect your existing accounting software (Xero, QBO, etc.) and Translucent consolidates all your data to create a single financial system of record. Translucent Apps provide workflows for your muli-entity needs, such as searching for transactions at group level, creating consolidated reporting, managing intercompany transactions, live connecting your data to spreadsheets, and more apps being released every quarter.    While you may not have heard of Translucent before, it is likely that you heard of Dext, or Receipt Bank. The founder and good friend of mine, Michael Woods is the founder of Translucent.io and he’s built it as a tool he would have liked when running Receipt Bank.    A fourth option here is to migrate to an ERP solution. This is something you can potentially explore with a Cloud Integrator about or speak with a software consulting specialist. As you start to move into this area, you really want to engage an experienced specialist who can give you an unbiased assessment of your options to help you know what is possible, and suggest options to future proof your business.   Each option has a different price point, and it's important to understand the scoping, implementation, training, maintenance and ongoing costs involved. Likewise make an assessment of how many hours a solution will save you once implemented, and will it enable your business to scale.  You can get CPE for this and other episodes of the Cloud Stories podcast. Simply download the EarMarkCPE App, and answer a few questions correctly about this podcast, and they email you a certificate of CPE. Connect with Heather Smith https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathersmithau/  Accounting Apps newsletter https://heathersmithsmallbusiness.com/newsletter/

Scaling a Boho Bridal Gown Business with NetSuite | Sarah Rynja

Discover how Grace Loves Lace transformed their bridal gown business with a strategic NetSuite implementation. Learn insights on scaling operations and enhancing efficiency in the fashion industry. Today I’m speaking with Sarah Rynja, Global Systems Manager of Grace Loves Lace In this episode, we talk about . . . - The NetSuite implementation she has been involved with at Grace Loves Lace. The business was founded in Burleigh Heads, Australia to provide luxury boho-style wedding dresses without structure or boning - They have gained global recognition through their unique dress styles and having the #1 most pinned wedding dress on Pinterest - Grace Loves Lace manufactures all their custom-made dresses locally in Australia - They implemented NetSuite to help scale their growing operations across stores in multiple countries   - Key NetSuite features like WMS, dashboards, and OneWorld help with inventory, order tracking, financials, and multi-country operations - Sarahs Tips for optimally using NetSuite included leveraging dashboards operationally and getting involved in the NetSuite user community Subscribe to the Accounting Apps newsletter here http://HeatherSmithAU.COM  

Trends, Triggers, and Transformation: How NetSuite Helps Australian Businesses Grow| Scott Wiltshire

Explore how NetSuite empowers Australian businesses to thrive. Scott Wiltshire delves into the transformative impact of NetSuite solutions on local SMEs, offering insights and success stories for business growth in Australia. Today I’m speaking with Scott Wiltshire, Vice President & GM, Oracle NetSuite ANZ In this episode, we talk about . . . 1. NetSuite was born in the cloud 25 years ago and customers are always working on the same version.  2. NetSuite's architecture and vision have remained consistent under Founder and EVP Evan Goldberg. 3. NetSuite provides two major upgrades and 300 minor updates each year. 4. Triggers for considering NetSuite include  - Outgrowing existing accounting software  - Having more than one person on the finance team - Having a manual or time-consuming financial close or consolidation process  - Struggling to get real-time visibility into the business to provide actionable insights - Not being able to provide accurate reporting to management or the board - Having to correct reported numbers multiple times - Needing real-time visibility 5. The NetSuite solution can start small and scale with consumption-based pricing. 6. NetSuite is introducing more flexible user licensing.  7. Key trends impacting Australian businesses include cloud adoption, AI, and embracing leading practices over customisation. Subscribe to the Accounting Apps newsletter here http://HeatherSmithAU.COM  

From Pioneers to Partners: A 20 Years Journey with NetSuite | Don McLean

Explore the 20-year evolution of NetSuite partnerships through Don McLean's insights, highlighting key milestones and the future of cloud ERP solutions. Today I’m speaking with Don McLean, CEO of PKF Digital, who shares insights and experiences from his 20 year journey with NetSuite.  In this episode, we talk about . . . 1. Don McLean's background and history with NetSuite over 20 years 2. The benefits of NetSuite's multi-tenant architecture and how it cuts costs 3. How NetSuite enhances business productivity through integration and visibility 4. Triggers for when a small business should consider an ERP solution like NetSuite 5. The partnership between PKF and NetSuite and how they work with customers 6. A case study of how NetSuite improved Thermomix's profits and efficiencies 7. Topics discussed at Suiteworld 2022 like AI, benchmarking, and productivity tools   8. Don McLean's key learnings around NetSuite's investments and applications of AI This is part of a series of interviews from SuiteWorld 2023. Many thanks to Oracle who kindly hosted me to attend SuiteWorld 2023 in Las Vegas. Subscribe to the Accounting Apps newsletter here http://HeatherSmithAU.COM Connect with Don McLean here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donaldjmclean/ Connect with Heather Smith here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathersmithau/

Live from the Accounting & Finance Show Asia

Join Alex and I as we walk around the floor of the Accounting and Finance Show Asia. We speak with: Namrata Goyal - Regional Manager Grab for Business  Julian Sng - Head of Marketing & Communications - Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) David Hanna - Co-Founder & CEO Finmo Darius Fong - Automation Evangelist at Blue Sheets Kevin Fitzgerald - MD Asia Employment Hero Koren Wines - MD Asia Xero Zac Hayes CFO & Captain of the Long Bar at Raffles Hotel Vikash Bengani - Cofounder and CFO Carbon Balance Erik Ingvoldstad - Co-Founder and CEO Careera   AFShowAsia

Elevating the Impact of Advisory Services | Ash Brown

Today I’m speaking with Ash Brown, the Founder & CEO of Empiraa. Ash Brown, a former leader with 15 years of experience in SME management. Frustrated with the disconnect between business planning and execution, Ash created a solution to help businesses align their plans in a simple and effective way. With a strong belief that work should feel good, Ash is committed to making business simpler. Company Profile    Empiraa is a business planning and execution tool that takes business planning out of decks and spreadsheets and creates actions around them that your whole team can work on together. Unlike project management tools, which are good for single tasks and projects, Empiraa actually creates vision in your business as you can see what is and isn't working across the business. This is how Empiraa helps you feel good about business. In this episode, we talk about . . . Adapting to new situations and building resilience.  Career transitions and the development of a business plan execution platform  Using Empiraa to streamline business operations.  Leveraging AI in business growth and development.  Using an accounting platform to provide coaching and advisory services.  Fundraising and product development for a tech startup.  Productivity tech tools.  Empiraa Demo links Empiraa/Zapier https://empiraa.storylane.io/share/zzyfn0sdoiuv Empiraa/Partners Zapier https://empiraa.storylane.io/share/d86qplkgmkgt Empiraa Partner Portal https://empiraa.storylane.io/share/mtkbiuxoujcn Subscribe to the Accounting Apps newsletter here http:// HeatherSmithAU.COM Read more at https://heathersmithsmallbusiness.com/blog/ From here, I suggest you join the Xero Mastermind group on Facebook for advanced conversations around the ecosystem. I suggest you  subscribe to the informative Accounting Apps newsletter which gives you a great overview of the ecosystem space.  I encourage you to connect with me on LinkedIn and subscribe to the Cloud Stories podcast.

The Tanda Story: From University Bar to Brisbane Skyline | Alex Ghiculescu

Today I’m speaking with Alex Ghiculescu, co-founder of both Tanda and Workforce.com. Alex is known for blogging and has a Substack newsletter where he shares stories from his 10+ years of building Tanda. Additionally, through Keen Strategies, Alex invests in B2B SaaS companies offering early-stage investments alongside technical and operational experience. In 2012 he received a distinction Bachelor of Business and Information Technology, Software Engineering from QUT (Queensland University of Technology). Tanda is an Australian Payroll, Rostering, and HR software designed for businesses that employ hourly workers. The company is headquartered in Brisbane, Australia, and also operates internationally as Workforce.com. Tanda offers an all-in-one solution that includes time & attendance, workforce scheduling, payroll integration, and reporting tools. In case you’ve not realised, Tanda stands for Time and Attendance. You can read the shownotes at https://heathersmithsmallbusiness.com/blog/ From here, I suggest you join the Xero Mastermind group on Facebook for advanced conversations around the ecosystem. I suggest you  subscribe to the informative Accounting Apps newsletter which gives you a great overview of the ecosystem space.  I encourage you to connect with me on LinkedIn and subscribe to the Cloud Stories podcast.

The Magic Change Management Playbook | Weel

Today I’m sharing a panel discussion from the Weel CFO Summit ‘23. This discussion covered key considerations for finance technology procurement strategies, including expense management solutions, revenue collection processes, and spreadsheet vs reporting apps. The panellists provided advice on touching multiple solutions, negotiating pricing, and engaging stakeholders to understand pain points and maximise existing tools.   The topic was Finance Technology ROI 2023: Where to invest?   The panel participants were: Alex Miller Co-founder & CEO of Hudled  Jun Yan Director at Ravit Insights Laurel Grey National Manager, Digital Advisory at RSM Australia Tyler Caskey Partner The Bean Counters   In this episode, we talk about . . .   The typical procurement strategies The key elements to developing a procurement strategy. Challenges in the B2B market. Procurement process for larger purchases. Navigating step-up costs as part of a procurement strategy. The state of the fragmented expense management space. Dealing with painful is the expense reimbursement processes Challenges businesses face when implementing expense management solutions. The Magic Change Management Playbook. How to convince the board to make a change   Read more at https://heathersmithsmallbusiness.com/blog/ Read more about Weel here : https://letsweel.com From here, I suggest you join the Xero Mastermind group on Facebook for advanced conversations around the ecosystem. I suggest you  subscribe to the informative Accounting Apps newsletter which gives you a great overview of the ecosystem space.  I encourage you to connect with me on LinkedIn and subscribe to the Cloud Stories podcast.

Robot vs Human Content Creation

In this episode, I’m sharing a talk I gave on Content Creation for Building your Brand at the Tropical Innovation Festival in Cairns on May 23. I talk about: Robot vs human-led content. How to leverage ChatGPT and other tools in your content creation process. Questions are a gift, how to leverage them in your content. Recycle, Reuse and Repurpose content Being clear on the brand and image you want to present to the world. It’s also brimming with practical examples. Tools mentioned in the talk included - Canva for creating visual content - Otter AI for transcribing audio recordings - Google Docs and Microsoft Word for voice transcription features - Grammarly and Hemingway app for proofreading - ChatGPT for generating content ideas and outlines - Loom for recording videos and conversations - MailChimp for newsletters From here, I suggest you join the Xero Mastermind group on Facebook for advanced conversations around the ecosystem. I suggest you  subscribe to the informative Accounting Apps newsletter which gives you a great overview of the ecosystem space.  I encourage you to connect with me on LinkedIn and subscribe to the Cloud Stories podcast.

Prioritising User Voice to Drive Product Development at Dext | Sabby Gill

Today I’m speaking with Sabby Gill, CEO of Dext. In this episode, we talk about . . . Sabby discussed his first 10 months as CEO of Dext and the changes he has implemented Sabby has been getting out to see accountants, bookkeepers and attending trade shows and regional shows. He has been listening to user feedback to better understand partners' needs. He wants to really focus on what partners are asking for. He has prioritised requested features like “Multi-account management” which allows you to manage multiple businesses or practices under one email address, enabling you to easily navigate between your business accounts from within your Dext account. https://help.dext.com/en/s/article/multi-account-management  Developed an expenses module that users had requested Dext shall be setting up regional advisory boards to get input from influential accountants and bookkeepers and a temperature check from the community. Dext will be launching a Chrome extension called the “Dextension” at Sydney Xerocon ‘23 to better integrate Dext and Xero. It’s  currently in beta - read more here : https://help.dext.com/en/s/article/how-to-use-the-dextension-browser-extension  The Dext Extension will provide new features like quicker navigation between the apps and improved data visibility   Read more at https://heathersmithsmallbusiness.com/blog/ From here, I suggest you join the Xero Mastermind group on Facebook for advanced conversations around the ecosystem. I suggest you  subscribe to the informative Accounting Apps newsletter which gives you a great overview of the ecosystem space.  I encourage you to connect with me on LinkedIn and subscribe to the Cloud Stories podcast.