Microsoft Dropped Office Accounting: Why the Surprise?

Sometimes seemingly smart people just have bad ideas. As Germany opens second front against the Soviet Union in World War II. Making the movie Speed ​​Racer. Trading away Cliff Lee. I definitely putting Jay Leno Show in prime time every weeknight.

My friend Brian, who runs the company's employee benefits, it is certainly clever. He also had a bad idea. He is so angry that he does not want me to reveal his name or his company in that column. I can not blame him. For more than two years, Brian uses Microsoft Office Accounting software in its operations. Just last month, Microsoft (MSFT) announced the termination of the program. Now Brian is stuck.

did not seem like such a bad idea, when Brian bought the program. Introduced in 2006, Microsoft Office Accounting is a challenge for Sage Software Peachtree and Intuit's (INTU) QuickBooks, then the leaders in small business accounting software. My company sells Microsoft and Intuit software, and I must admit that even we were encouraged by the announcement. Accounting Office, is included as part of Office Small Business Edition, to integrate with Word, Excel and Outlook. It was cheap. It would be supported by a growing network of "small business experts," such as my firm. And most exciting of all, it's made by Microsoft. It sounded like a good idea, right?

is wrong.

This fall, we get a new talk show from Wanda Sykes, Jimmy Fallon, George Lopez, and many others, including Jay. Many lack experience with the format and, according to some commercials I've seen, extremely unfunny. In the case of Leno, there is also competition from scripted dramas to other kanalima.Softverskoj industry is no different. The market is flooded with new technology from an untested company. Wasting time watching Leno is not so great thing. However, choosing the wrong software for your business. So how do businesses know that technology or company that makes it-will still be around five years from now before you invest valuable time and money in it? Just do not do what Brian did.

Brian thought that investing in the product. But he should have realized that investing in a company-one with a track record of termination products that are not sold and the allocation of fewer resources to support the less profitable products. Microsoft also seems able to get the product works well until at least its third iteration. See Windows, SQL Server and Office. Rarely would a small business owner to become an early adopter of any technology from any company, especially Microsoft when it comes to something as critical as accounting. Brian should have waited a few versions before you leap.

Like Leno and his producers, Brian should take a harder look at the competitive landscape. There were already a bunch of strong products accounting software for small businesses when Microsoft released Office Accounting. What features make this product stand out? Integration with Outlook, Word and Excel? A lower price? Easier to use? Already did. Office Accounting is nothing new for ponuditi.Vlasnik company can pick up QuickBooks or Peachtree with many of the same features and prices about the same. And these products have been around much longer.

Another important factor is how much outside support software enjoys. Small businesses need support, not only the suppliers but also from their partners and other business owners who use the product. Brian's antenna should have been raised when he asked other business owners, colleagues, and what he thinks of accountants Accounting Office and was mostly met with blank stares. Nobody knew about it. Where were the beneficiary of the conference? Blogs? Buzz?

Accounting Office is the only addition to the

When Brian was a Research Accounting Office, revealed that Microsoft is a community of "small business experts" who will help him with this product. If you dig further to find that the community has only recently been formed, consisting mainly of Microsoft partners who were not certified public accountants is necessary or indeed any accounting background. If he asked more questions, he would have learned that will be a Small Business Specialist, one needed only to have a computer, to have attended primary school, and be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. I should know. That's pretty much how I became a firm small business experts. And we're not so good at walking and chewing gum. Many companies have the expertise of a CPA with the accounting systems. Unfortunately for Microsoft (and Brian), but not this.

While Office Accounting can be purchased on its own, Microsoft is pushing it more as a supplement to an existing Office. It is still red zastava.Proizvod was one of hundreds that Microsoft sells. At its next-to-nothing price, its potential to become an important profit maker is remote. In other words, Office Accounting is a little more than a marketing gimmick to promote sales offices. So when the trick does not work, Microsoft pulled the plug. If Leno evaluation does not improve, his show may suffer a similar fate.

Brian learned that if he would buy the important software technology company, the product should be the core application, not something peddled to promote other products.

This is not the end of the world. Competition accounting software vendors provide tools to migrate Brian Database Office Accounting to their products. No need to worry Jay. Long after his talk show was canceled, it will be successful in doing stand-up and appears as a guest on Letterman. But next time, Brian will have to learn their lesson. He will know what to consider before buying a key technology for their business. I am afraid that the same can not be true for TV. I heard Paula Abdul is considering launching a talk show. Some people never learn.