Where can I find a list of accounting software that uses an SQL backend?
June 28, 2013 3:22 PM Subscribe
Doing research for an Exec about software that can integrate with SQL-based accounting software. She's going to want a list of her options.
I am trying to get a CFO on-board with a cloud-based database program and she's wanting to know which of our accounting processes we could integrate. I'm told by the software peeps "anything with an SQL backend". Cool. But I can't find a list of what those titles are. Can you help?
Thanks!
I am trying to get a CFO on-board with a cloud-based database program and she's wanting to know which of our accounting processes we could integrate. I'm told by the software peeps "anything with an SQL backend". Cool. But I can't find a list of what those titles are. Can you help?
Thanks!
Best answer: SQL is a language, not a "backend." And basically every single database you are likely to encounter uses it.
Did your software guys maybe mean MS SQL Server, which is a specific database product made by Microsoft?
Usually, though, the whole point of cloud-based stuff, assuming "the cloud" means outside your organization, is that you don't really care about their back end.
posted by Tomorrowful at 3:25 PM on June 28, 2013 [2 favorites]
Did your software guys maybe mean MS SQL Server, which is a specific database product made by Microsoft?
Usually, though, the whole point of cloud-based stuff, assuming "the cloud" means outside your organization, is that you don't really care about their back end.
posted by Tomorrowful at 3:25 PM on June 28, 2013 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Usually, though, the whole point of cloud-based stuff, assuming "the cloud" means outside your organization, is that you don't really care about their back end.
Further along this point, the software people might be thinking that they can just connect in the the remote server and run SQL queries against it. By virtue of it being the cloud*, you instead will probably need to write some sort of software that connects to their API. Some cloud service providers will already have software in place if there a common thing for their server to connect to.
Anyway, to answer "Where can I find a list of accounting software that uses an SQL backend?": around here we use Microsoft Dynamics GP. It comes with something called eConnect that allows other software to interface with it, but I also have some custom code (mostly reporting stuff) that hits the SQL Server database directly.
*in your head, replace the word "cloud" with "computer we're renting from someone else". That's not inherently a bad thing, but it's good to approach it with that perspective. Some people are confused and replace the word "cloud" with "magic".
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 3:33 PM on June 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
Further along this point, the software people might be thinking that they can just connect in the the remote server and run SQL queries against it. By virtue of it being the cloud*, you instead will probably need to write some sort of software that connects to their API. Some cloud service providers will already have software in place if there a common thing for their server to connect to.
Anyway, to answer "Where can I find a list of accounting software that uses an SQL backend?": around here we use Microsoft Dynamics GP. It comes with something called eConnect that allows other software to interface with it, but I also have some custom code (mostly reporting stuff) that hits the SQL Server database directly.
*in your head, replace the word "cloud" with "computer we're renting from someone else". That's not inherently a bad thing, but it's good to approach it with that perspective. Some people are confused and replace the word "cloud" with "magic".
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 3:33 PM on June 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Seems like it would be easier to ask your accounting people what accounting software you're running and check to see whether it's running SQL...
posted by randomkeystrike at 3:34 PM on June 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by randomkeystrike at 3:34 PM on June 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Sorry, that was a bit short - I'll blame forgetting to eat lunch.
What I meant to say, really, is that pretty much any accounting software that's targeted at business use is going to use a database back end, and that database is going to use SQL to do things.
Now, what you may be looking for is something that can, for example, import from a specific existing piece of software you're using, in which case you'd need to research what options that software has for exporting or providing access to other software, and what potential replacements can ingest it. A shockingly large number of business-targeted software products are built to basically lock you out from your own data.
So here are some follow-up questions that might help us help you find what you need:
* Are you planning/wanting to host this yourself but have it be available to users in many locations, or are you looking for someone else to host it for you? Generally, the latter is what we mean by "The cloud."
* Why does the back end matter? Is there existing accounting data you need to pump into the new system, or are you planning on hosting it yourselves and making sure it works with the systems your IT crew is already familiar with/has available?
posted by Tomorrowful at 3:38 PM on June 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
What I meant to say, really, is that pretty much any accounting software that's targeted at business use is going to use a database back end, and that database is going to use SQL to do things.
Now, what you may be looking for is something that can, for example, import from a specific existing piece of software you're using, in which case you'd need to research what options that software has for exporting or providing access to other software, and what potential replacements can ingest it. A shockingly large number of business-targeted software products are built to basically lock you out from your own data.
So here are some follow-up questions that might help us help you find what you need:
* Are you planning/wanting to host this yourself but have it be available to users in many locations, or are you looking for someone else to host it for you? Generally, the latter is what we mean by "The cloud."
* Why does the back end matter? Is there existing accounting data you need to pump into the new system, or are you planning on hosting it yourselves and making sure it works with the systems your IT crew is already familiar with/has available?
posted by Tomorrowful at 3:38 PM on June 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I am trying to get a CFO on-board with a cloud-based database program and she's wanting to know which of our accounting processes we could integrate. I'm told by the software peeps "anything with an SQL backend".
If I'm parsing this right and making the correct assumptions based on my background as a SQL-based accounting software consultant, you already have accounting software. IT says it's got a SQL backend, which probably means Microsoft MS-SQL, and that means you (and by "you" I mean "they") can easily integrate with anything else that also uses SQL. Probably.
Your exec wants to know if your existing sql-based accounting software can integrate with this cloud-based product you're advocating. You do not say what kind of database product it uses, or if you will have any direct exposure to the database, and the answer regarding integration will depend on those answers.
Alternately, you're asking what kind of accounting software to get, and IT is saying SQL, and you actually do want a list of all sql-based accounting packages. My sales department says if that list exists, they've never found it (and did I have a lead I wanted to pass on to them?).
But yes, all the Microsoft Dynamics products, to name four, are MS-SQL-based. AX and NAV are very expensive and geared toward manufacturing and/or heavy warehousing/distribution. GP and SL are mid-market, SL a little lower-end. If you wanted to know more about one of those, MeMail or email me.
posted by Lyn Never at 3:41 PM on June 28, 2013
If I'm parsing this right and making the correct assumptions based on my background as a SQL-based accounting software consultant, you already have accounting software. IT says it's got a SQL backend, which probably means Microsoft MS-SQL, and that means you (and by "you" I mean "they") can easily integrate with anything else that also uses SQL. Probably.
Your exec wants to know if your existing sql-based accounting software can integrate with this cloud-based product you're advocating. You do not say what kind of database product it uses, or if you will have any direct exposure to the database, and the answer regarding integration will depend on those answers.
Alternately, you're asking what kind of accounting software to get, and IT is saying SQL, and you actually do want a list of all sql-based accounting packages. My sales department says if that list exists, they've never found it (and did I have a lead I wanted to pass on to them?).
But yes, all the Microsoft Dynamics products, to name four, are MS-SQL-based. AX and NAV are very expensive and geared toward manufacturing and/or heavy warehousing/distribution. GP and SL are mid-market, SL a little lower-end. If you wanted to know more about one of those, MeMail or email me.
posted by Lyn Never at 3:41 PM on June 28, 2013
Best answer: I work for a company that sells a time and labor management software that integrates with both accounting and payroll software using API calls.
I think to understand the question, I'd need to know what kind of database software you are looking at and a little more clarity whether or not you are looking for accounting software that will integrate or to see if your existing accounting solution will integrate.
Among my clients, GP is pretty popular and seems to integrate well with a lot of things. However, it seems to me that the bigger issue is whether or not (and how) you can get data out of the database solution and then whether your accounting software can take the data in.
posted by hrj at 7:12 PM on June 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
I think to understand the question, I'd need to know what kind of database software you are looking at and a little more clarity whether or not you are looking for accounting software that will integrate or to see if your existing accounting solution will integrate.
Among my clients, GP is pretty popular and seems to integrate well with a lot of things. However, it seems to me that the bigger issue is whether or not (and how) you can get data out of the database solution and then whether your accounting software can take the data in.
posted by hrj at 7:12 PM on June 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: OH, OH! I'm a database administrator at a large (>35,000 people) Fortune 100 company. I'm working on a project similar to this, except it has to do with upgrading > 16k MSSQL databases rather than any single system (but I have to work with the individual application owners as needed to guide them through the information they need to obtain so that they can upgrade to SQL2K12 and later move to our private cloud).
In my experience, when IT people refer to "a SQL back end," they mean a Microsoft SQL Server database. It's very common for people to use SQL as shortcut to mean the Microsoft SQL Server database management system when they're talking about databases, but SQL really means Structured Query Language, which is a programming language for querying databases. You have to rely on the context to understand if the speaker is using SQL to refer to Microsoft SQL Server or if they mean the programming language and it can be hard for a non IT person to tell without asking. In any event, your comrades probably meant "any accounting application that could have a Microsoft SQL Server database."
So, assuming they're referring to Microsoft SQL Server, then the question is what can run under Microsoft SQL Azure, which is the cloud-based version of Microsoft SQL Server. Azure has some database size and configuration limitations that may or may not make it a feasible solution for your company. If your company is building a private cloud, which I'm guessing they're not if they're mid-sized, then you will have different questions based on the details of what's being built.
Having said all that and based on my experience in the industry, I suspect that you're asking the wrong questions -- probably because the exec you're working for is asking you questions at too high a level.
You will need to engage someone knowledgeable about your existing accounting processes and software and you may need to map out the various systems involved in accounting at your company. You need to find out what "accounting" means. Is it accounts receivable? Accounts payable? Time tracking? Payroll? All of the above? Other?
You might find that a portion of the accounting is done in one system, another portion is done in another system (which may not have the same back end) and so forth. You may find that some parts of the accounting work flow are easily moved to the cloud (like maybe part of the accounting workflow happens in Microsoft Access *shudder*) and others aren't, but you need to do the research before you can assess that. If your company has an accounting product that encompasses the entirely of their account process, it may not be feasible to split some into the cloud and leave others behind. You will have to determine those answers through research.
I can't imagine your company doesn't already have an accounting system of some type in place. I would guess that you have an accounting system purchased from a vendor and you need to keep the existing data. If that's so, what you really need to know is (1) what is the existing accounting software you have; and (2) what is the DBMS used by your existing accounting system. If whatever accounting system is in use today uses a MS SQL database, you're in decent initial shape, but not necessarily out of the woods yet. Your concerns then will be about whether your database needs will be met by Azure's limitations and whether your application software will have to be upgraded such that the database will be supported on Azure. Application upgrades can be a really big deal, so that's not something to just brush off on initial notice.
If you find out that your existing accounting software uses a non MS SQL Server DBMS and Azure is what you want to move to, then there are eleventy questions surrounding how to make that transition. You will need to talk to the accounting system application owner(s), who will probably have to engage the vendor of the existing accounting software. Some accounting software allows for different back end DBMSes, but some vendors don't. Some vendors will provide database conversion routines/scripts/services to move your data to a different DBMS, but some won't. You will need this information to assess the realistic migration possibilities and the impact of any proposed solution.
How's that for the world's shittiest Ask non-answer? I wish I could give you a definitive answer and I wish you the best with your project. Feel free to MeMail me and I'll be happy to talk to you in more detail about how to navigate this question from your boss.
posted by Maisie at 8:39 PM on June 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
In my experience, when IT people refer to "a SQL back end," they mean a Microsoft SQL Server database. It's very common for people to use SQL as shortcut to mean the Microsoft SQL Server database management system when they're talking about databases, but SQL really means Structured Query Language, which is a programming language for querying databases. You have to rely on the context to understand if the speaker is using SQL to refer to Microsoft SQL Server or if they mean the programming language and it can be hard for a non IT person to tell without asking. In any event, your comrades probably meant "any accounting application that could have a Microsoft SQL Server database."
So, assuming they're referring to Microsoft SQL Server, then the question is what can run under Microsoft SQL Azure, which is the cloud-based version of Microsoft SQL Server. Azure has some database size and configuration limitations that may or may not make it a feasible solution for your company. If your company is building a private cloud, which I'm guessing they're not if they're mid-sized, then you will have different questions based on the details of what's being built.
Having said all that and based on my experience in the industry, I suspect that you're asking the wrong questions -- probably because the exec you're working for is asking you questions at too high a level.
You will need to engage someone knowledgeable about your existing accounting processes and software and you may need to map out the various systems involved in accounting at your company. You need to find out what "accounting" means. Is it accounts receivable? Accounts payable? Time tracking? Payroll? All of the above? Other?
You might find that a portion of the accounting is done in one system, another portion is done in another system (which may not have the same back end) and so forth. You may find that some parts of the accounting work flow are easily moved to the cloud (like maybe part of the accounting workflow happens in Microsoft Access *shudder*) and others aren't, but you need to do the research before you can assess that. If your company has an accounting product that encompasses the entirely of their account process, it may not be feasible to split some into the cloud and leave others behind. You will have to determine those answers through research.
I can't imagine your company doesn't already have an accounting system of some type in place. I would guess that you have an accounting system purchased from a vendor and you need to keep the existing data. If that's so, what you really need to know is (1) what is the existing accounting software you have; and (2) what is the DBMS used by your existing accounting system. If whatever accounting system is in use today uses a MS SQL database, you're in decent initial shape, but not necessarily out of the woods yet. Your concerns then will be about whether your database needs will be met by Azure's limitations and whether your application software will have to be upgraded such that the database will be supported on Azure. Application upgrades can be a really big deal, so that's not something to just brush off on initial notice.
If you find out that your existing accounting software uses a non MS SQL Server DBMS and Azure is what you want to move to, then there are eleventy questions surrounding how to make that transition. You will need to talk to the accounting system application owner(s), who will probably have to engage the vendor of the existing accounting software. Some accounting software allows for different back end DBMSes, but some vendors don't. Some vendors will provide database conversion routines/scripts/services to move your data to a different DBMS, but some won't. You will need this information to assess the realistic migration possibilities and the impact of any proposed solution.
How's that for the world's shittiest Ask non-answer? I wish I could give you a definitive answer and I wish you the best with your project. Feel free to MeMail me and I'll be happy to talk to you in more detail about how to navigate this question from your boss.
posted by Maisie at 8:39 PM on June 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Your question doesn't make much sense, and it's hampered by a lack of information.
I can't work out if you're looking for cloud based accounts packages, or you already have an accounts system that needs some unknown thing integrating into.
I'm going to assume that you have an accounts package and your accounting processes use an MSSQL backend, and your IT team is used to pushing things into and out of that MSSQL database.
I guess that this backend isn't itself in the cloud, or accessible from the outside world because this is challenging from a security point of view.
You have an unnamed piece of "database" software that runs in the cloud and that you want to integrate into your accounts package. Maybe a time tracking package, or something like that?
For the most part "Cloud Based" packages aren't going to give you access to their databases and / or source code unless you're hosting the software yourself.
Your CFO wants to know what is possible in terms of integration, and your IT department have given you a non-answer. They either don't know that the database program you're talking about is in the cloud, or they're just giving you a standard answer without knowing the details.
You need to :
- Give us a bit more information so we can actually answer your question.
- Show the IT department the "cloud based" database package, tell them what you want to do, and ask them how they'd do it.,
I can't really help more than this. We need more information.
posted by zoo at 4:57 AM on June 29, 2013
I can't work out if you're looking for cloud based accounts packages, or you already have an accounts system that needs some unknown thing integrating into.
I'm going to assume that you have an accounts package and your accounting processes use an MSSQL backend, and your IT team is used to pushing things into and out of that MSSQL database.
I guess that this backend isn't itself in the cloud, or accessible from the outside world because this is challenging from a security point of view.
You have an unnamed piece of "database" software that runs in the cloud and that you want to integrate into your accounts package. Maybe a time tracking package, or something like that?
For the most part "Cloud Based" packages aren't going to give you access to their databases and / or source code unless you're hosting the software yourself.
Your CFO wants to know what is possible in terms of integration, and your IT department have given you a non-answer. They either don't know that the database program you're talking about is in the cloud, or they're just giving you a standard answer without knowing the details.
You need to :
- Give us a bit more information so we can actually answer your question.
- Show the IT department the "cloud based" database package, tell them what you want to do, and ask them how they'd do it.,
I can't really help more than this. We need more information.
posted by zoo at 4:57 AM on June 29, 2013
Response by poster: I'm sorry for not giving more information.
I researching how our organization might use Intuit Quickbase to integrate much of our internal processes, including expense reporting, client invoicing and so forth.
Currently our accountant uses Quickbooks, which I know can integrate with Quickbase though 3rd party "syncing providers" which would host the sync and to whom we'd pay a monthly fee. To me that doesn't sound attractive, considering the monthly cost would be about 50% of what our company would pay to use Quickbase.
As another approach, I found a script called QuNect that we could use to set up a sync with an SQL server--obviously we'd have to hire a consultant to set it up or have the IT company we use do it for us.
However, our CFO says she does not like Quickbooks and might like to find something else. I'm still trying to sell Quickbase to her and she said, "find out what accounting software can integrate with Quickbase".
I understand the answer might very well be "almost all of them, it depends on (jargon)" but I thought I'd try to be more helpful and find her a list to pick from.
I have no idea what other accounting software she might be considering -- I guess I could ask, but I don't think she's thought about it much. She's just telling me to go research because I'm trying to get people interested in Quickbase.
Thanks so much for your help so for. I'm interested in any more ideas you have. Thanks!
posted by alice_curiouse at 4:53 PM on July 1, 2013
I researching how our organization might use Intuit Quickbase to integrate much of our internal processes, including expense reporting, client invoicing and so forth.
Currently our accountant uses Quickbooks, which I know can integrate with Quickbase though 3rd party "syncing providers" which would host the sync and to whom we'd pay a monthly fee. To me that doesn't sound attractive, considering the monthly cost would be about 50% of what our company would pay to use Quickbase.
As another approach, I found a script called QuNect that we could use to set up a sync with an SQL server--obviously we'd have to hire a consultant to set it up or have the IT company we use do it for us.
However, our CFO says she does not like Quickbooks and might like to find something else. I'm still trying to sell Quickbase to her and she said, "find out what accounting software can integrate with Quickbase".
I understand the answer might very well be "almost all of them, it depends on (jargon)" but I thought I'd try to be more helpful and find her a list to pick from.
I have no idea what other accounting software she might be considering -- I guess I could ask, but I don't think she's thought about it much. She's just telling me to go research because I'm trying to get people interested in Quickbase.
Thanks so much for your help so for. I'm interested in any more ideas you have. Thanks!
posted by alice_curiouse at 4:53 PM on July 1, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
Thanks again!
posted by alice_curiouse at 3:25 PM on June 28, 2013