While working with a client who is transitioning from a paper system to a computer system, we have come across some changes to the QuickBooks POS software that would be very useful for small business accountants. These changes actually are common in a lot of companies that we work with and sometimes, they can be a deal breaker.
While working with a client who is transitioning from a paper system to a computer system, our
small business accountants have come across some changes to the QuickBooks POS software that would be very useful. These changes actually are common in a lot of companies that we work with and sometimes, they can be a deal breaker.
CHANGING RECEIPT. Numbers POS does not allow you to change the receipt number. When switching from a paper system, a lot of places want to run side by side for a bit to ensure that everything is working. Without being able to change the document number in POS, it becomes very hard to keep your paper records in line with your electronic transactions. This is a feature in the QuickBooks Financial software, and really should be part of the POS system.
ADDITIONAL PAYMENT METHODS. POS (again unlike the Financial System) does not allow you to add new payment method types. It is very common for stores to have online sites, and Paypal is a big player in online transactions. Not being able to add this causes users to have to come up with less than ideal workarounds. My current clients use the Check payment method and enter Paypal as the check number. It works, but it's clunky and could easily be solved by allowing user defined payment methods.
PRINT TEMPLATES. There are many restrictions on what you can and can't print out from POS and there doesn't seem to be any correlation between what is on screen and what can be printed. One of the oddest is not allowing shipping method on a sales order or work order, but allowing it on a sales receipt. You can enter this information on a sales order and work order, but no way to print it out. Every field on a transaction should be allows to be printed on paper if the user so desires. This also leads to REPORTING - FILTERS. The reporting feature in POS is rather sub-standard, especially when compared to the Financial software. Filter behavior is odd, and having the software remember your filters when you run the stock report confuses a lot of my clients. We end up getting many calls because reports are showing right, and it turns out to be an old filter that was set. Let the customer memorize their customized reports, but make the stock reports always use the default settings.
REPORTING - CUSTOM TRANSACTION DETAIL REPORT. In POS there is no report that has all the columns available and all the filters available. You have to find a report that is similar to what you are looking for as a base. This works sometimes, but there are times when you want to be able to just specify exactly which columns and which filters you want and just get a transaction list. This should be similar to the Custom Detail Transaction Report in QuickBooks, which we use as a starting place for many of my financial reports. Most of these issues really stem from the fact that the POS system is developed separately from the QuickBooks financial software. This leads to different implementation and usability between two software products when there really shouldn't be.
With a few tweeks here, changes there, and some consistency between the Financial Software and POS software, Intuit could make a lot of businesses easier to manage, less frustrating, and faster adoption from workers.
My collegues and I at Presti&Naegele are at your disposal if you need further
QuickBooks assistance.