4 June 2008
IRIS is expanding its range of online solutions with the
unveiling of a new web-based version of IRIS Accounts Office. The
addition of IRIS Accounts Office Online to its
portfolio underscores the investment IRIS is making in the next
generation of its applications, specifically in the online
world.
The portfolio now comprises IRIS Exchequer Online, used by 12 of
the UK’s largest accountancy practices as a financial management
outsourcing tool, and IRIS PROJECTminder, a high visibility web
specialist project management and practice management system used
by architects, engineers, management consultants and IT
consultants.
The SaaS delivery model, where the vendor
offers a web-based software application which it hosts and operates
for the client, is fast becoming the method of choice, especially
in industries where mobility is an important consideration. The
advantages of choosing to run an accounting system in this way
include the ease with which software upgrades can be managed. With
traditional delivery methods, the user will have to install the
upgrade but with a web-based system, the software is upgraded out
of office hours to avoid any loss of productive time.
IRIS Accounts Office was introduced in 2006
and has been developed by the team behind the award-winning
mid-range Exchequer system. It is designed specifically for
the small and growing business with a typical annual turnover of
between £250,000 and £2m, allowing far greater levels of analysis
than typically available in this market sector, through a
drill-down feature that includes dynamic LiveLinks with Microsoft
Excel.
The IRIS pricing model, based on a fixed
annual fee, is persuading high numbers of small and growing
businesses to move to its software in preference to the ‘bolt on’
approach operated by many of its competitors, which results in
mounting costs as all upgrades and maintenance releases are charged
in addition to the annual fee.
The web-based version of IRIS Accounts Office
has been trialled extensively and the feedback from customers is
extremely positive. Paul Sparkes, Product Director for IRIS
Accounts Office said of the launch: “There are a number of benefits
for the growing business with web based accounting systems. These
include lower costs for multiple locations, enhancements and
patches are applied on a regular basis with no disruption to the
user and backup worries are eliminated. Our company philosophy is
to offer our customers choice wherever possible and all new users
from now on, will have the choice to deploy IRIS Accounts Office
through the traditional method or via the web.”
More than 65,000 UK organisations now use IRIS
Software and the company has established itself as a sector
specialist with leading positions in a wide range of vertical
markets:
- The No 1 provider to UK accountancy
practices
- The No 1 provider to UK law firms, barristers
and coroners’ offices
- The No 1 provider of payroll and accounts to
GPs
- The No 1 provider to the UK Not for Profit
Sector
- The No 2 provider of Payroll and HR Software
Solutions
