What is an Integrated Accounting System? How Software Integrates Financial Systems 2023

If you choose the best integrated accounting software, you'll be able to save time working on accounting and reduce mistakes in data entry that could be costly. This article will help you learn about how the accounting system integration works , and what you should consider when choosing the right software for your company.

What exactly is Integrated Accounting?

A financial accounting system that is integrated integrates all of your financial information into one platform. A reliable system can link your general ledger and tax calculations, payment systems as well as inventory management and much more. The result? less the time it takes to enter numbers, and less bookkeeping errors.

The Elements of Integrated Accounting Systems

If your business is big or small, based on remote teams or brick and mortar locations You require an integrated accounting system for financials that is suited to your business's specific needs.

A well-designed system will be able to handle the most common accounting integration functions, such as automation of the general ledger and automatic financial reports. The system should also move everything to the cloud , so it's available from any place from any device. These features alone can make life easier for you however, many companies want more.

Perhaps you'd like to have an automated system that will adjust inventory levels whenever you report an item sold. Maybe you're looking for a software QuickBooks US Version to manage your billing on your behalf. The most effective systems allow easy customization, so they can meet your requirements. Here are a few elements of the most integrated accounting software.

1. Automated General Ledger

If you input information in an accounting software system that integrates, the information is instantly stored in a central database in which all the elements of the system are able to access it. It doesn't matter which entry point the data enters through. All you have to do is enter it once. The program then inserts it into all necessary ledgers and accounts due to a strong automatized general ledger.

2. Invoicing and Billing is simple.

Integrating accounting and invoicing software automatic billing as well as invoicing features allow you to connect your sales data directly with your invoicing. If you make an order the system sends an invoice for the client. You can also create recurring billing plans for each client and gain access to a complete overview of the billing activities on any contract.

Some accounting peachtree software integrations provide integrated cross-functionality with payment processing software like Stripe. This facilitates fast, easy payment processing, thereby increasing convenience and security to your clients.

3. Automated Accounts Payable

Payment automation allows you to handle the transactions of credit cards, the accounts payable process, and purchase all from the same platform. If you use a traditional accounting system credit card transactions result in a bottleneck for data entry as you are able to manually input transactions into your accounting system.

4. Management of Inventory and Sales Management

Inventory management is closely tied with accounting procedures. An accounting software that is integrated and robust tool will handle your supply directly from the app, keeping track of the inventory levels replenishing stock and even tailoring your buying procedure all from one spot.

This allows you to keep track of and control inventory levels across several warehouses and locations, while reducing the need to count manually. A good software program helps you manage sales orders. They can be created then approve them and follow the process to make sure the process is flowing effortlessly.

This feature is useful to assign inventory to specific customer orders, make purchase orders using sales orders as well as record shipping and packing details without additional information entry.

For those who use Salesforce check out this useful guide on Salesforce best practices for Order Management..

5. Project Accounting

Small-scale start-ups can handle their finances using a basic general ledger. However, if you're managing a multitude of contracts, you'll require separate ledgers to keep track of costs, overheads and budgets for each. Then, you'll need to incorporate this information to your general ledger.

If there isn't an integrated accounting system, project accounting is often a headache. It's a lot more effort to divide particular revenue and expenses to various projects. If your system requires you to manually enter the information in your general ledger too it increases the likelihood that a member of your team will make a mistake and mess up the accounting.

If you have the correct accounting integration your general ledger as well as the project ledgers will become integrated into one seamless system, linked to the main database. It is not necessary to add anything additional to add financial information within both of the ledgers. This way, you are able to keep track of finances throughout the life of the project.

6. Sales Tax Management

Taxes on sales are a major source of revenue for municipalities, counties as well as other municipal government agencies. The task of keeping an eye on all the rates that you are required to pay could be a challenge. An integrated accounting tool can calculate rates as well as dollars quickly, showing the amount you owe, both as a whole and by vendor or creditor.

The most advanced software will also calculate the use tax for you. If you're operating a business abroad in a country that has a value-added tax (VAT) and the integrated system for accounting will calculate the tax as well.

7. Financial Dashboards Straight Out of the Box

Business-driven insights are derived from a high-level overview of financials. A reliable system will be able to present information easily and graphically using custom budgeting dashboards. This feature makes financial data available to your employees in real-time.

Effective dashboards are simple to modify so that they provide the most important information like the sales statistics, metrics or the history of performance. The use of clear visuals can help to understand the data without the assistance of the expertise of a data scientist. It is also possible to make clear presentations for upper management or other important stakeholders.

You can customize the ideal software to meet your requirements using the click of a button without the need to input complicated instructions. If you conduct business abroad and require a platform that can operate smoothly in different languages can be a benefit.

The advantages from Integrated Accounting Software

Small businesses can get by well with simple accounting software or older systems that aren't able to connect their different functions. However, just because an old system is functional doesn't mean it's perfect. Here are some advantages to an integrated accounting system for financials.

• Tracking and automating sales information. With an integrated accounting system, you'll be able to effortlessly track and view all the sales information all in one location. There's no extra data entry process to enter the information into your ledger once you've completed a sale.
• Real-time tracking of transactions. Since you don't have to manually transfer information from your order system to the accounting software, you will be able to assess the health and state of your company in a glance at any time.
• Affordable budget and cost comparisons. The integrated accounting software is connected directly to the order management software. The feature allows you to swiftly determine the cost of jobs and commissions on sales in real-time.
• More mistakes. With accounting system integration There's no data entry stage after making every sale. It's impossible to introduce mistakes during the data entry.
• Enhances efficiency. There's no need to enter sales data again when you've made a sale. This frees your team to do more important tasks.
• More efficient decision-making. With a real-time visual representation of your entire financials, which is completely customizable from every angle, you'll be able identify trends and respond quickly to capitalize on emerging opportunities.

How to set up an Integrated Accounting System

There are a few essential actions to follow when creating your personal accounting system. Take into consideration the power and capabilities you'll require, select the integration timeframe, set it up the system, troubleshoot, learn, and then transfer your information.

1. Choose the best method. You may be contemplating buying an accounting software because it's being rated as the most effective, the strongest, or the most advanced. However, powerful systems tend to be complex and many CFOs claim they're too difficult to to master and modify. So, take your time evaluating the complexity level you require.
2. Select an integration timeline. Decide on the speed you'll take as you integrate your accounting software. It's crucial to think about whether you'll begin immediately after installation or gradually integrate it.
3. Installation and Troubleshooting. Before you make the switch, make sure you examine your accounting software to ensure your hardware, network, and any other software tools be compatible with it.
4. Learn members of your staff. Give your team the time and resources needed to be up-to-date on the new system.
5. The process you are mapping into the program. Before you can make use of your new accounting software you'll have to connect its functions and features to the real-world processes. This is a requirement for your business area such as workflows, the structure of your IT, transactions and security.
6. Transfer to HTML0 your information. Move the necessary information from your old system to your new system. Set aside a troubleshooting time to ensure that the new setup is compatible with your company.