Technology briefs.
– Software giant SAP has announced that three-quarters of its installations in the eurozone have successfully converted to euro accounting. By contrast, statistics from the European Commission indicate that only 7.9% of all companies in the eurozone currently maintain their accounts in euros.
More at: www.sap.com
– Access has launched a professional partner program for accountants – a service designed to help accountants in practice, business consultants and IT advisers grow their businesses and increase customer satisfaction. Tim Bennett, general manager of the Access professional partner division, said: ‘There is an increasing need for accountants to offer expert IT advice.’ The program costs #150 per year, and includes free software for members.
Access looks to accountants in practice: www.accountancyage.com/IT/1114672
– Vendors and resellers should look again at customer relationship management applications as a continuing source of revenue, according to industry analyst IDC. An IDC report published last week showed worldwide CRM applications turnover will grow from $6.2bn (#4.3bn) in 2000 to $14bn in 2005. Although North America is set to continue its market domination, it predicted that western European turnover would grow by 22% between 2000 and 2005.
More at www.idc.com
– Sales of QuickBooks 2001, Intuit’s small business accounts software, have out paced those of rival Sage Instant Accounting, according to independent industry retail monitor Chart-Track. Its figures show in July 2001 QuickBooks held retail sales amounting to 55% of the accounts software market. QuickBooks has now outsold Instant Accounting for the last four months. Dorian Bloch, director of Chart-Track, said: ‘These figures show QuickBooks is still the best-selling SME accounts package.’
Challenge to Sage dominance: www.accountancyage.com/IT/1123394.