Case Studies     

 

Reckon Online Case Studies

QuickBooks Hosted is benefiting businesses across a wide range of industries throughout both Australia and New Zealand. The software is helping reduce costs and improve operating efficiencies while increasing profits. For more details on how it is doing just that, we invite you to read the following case studies.
The Company – Queenstown Park Hotel

Sipping local Pinot Noir while nibbling on Windsor Blue, arguably the South Island’s best cheese, in the comfort of Queenstown’s newest boutique hotel is tough to beat, no matter how picky your taste. Throw in easy access to Milford Sound, bungy jumping, fly fishing, skiing and a luxurious body therapy and it’s easy to see why the Queenstown Park Hotel is one of New Zealand’s most sought after retreats.

“We appeal to discerning travellers because of our personalised attention to each guest and their needs,” says accounts administrator Kathryn Brown, sounding more suited to the hotel’s PR department than its finance team.

The Queenstown Park Hotel is nestled between the picturesque Queenstown Hill Recreation Reserve and deep blue Lake Wakatipu, just two minutes on foot from both the water’s edge and the city’s vibrant downtown. The cosy 19-room escape opened in December 2007 and incites labels of “chic” and “hip” to describe everything from its architecture, rooms and atmosphere to the wide array of tailor-made excursions and holiday packages.

The hotel is equally progressive with its office operations having added QuickBooks Hosted accounting software.


The Challenge

One of six companies under the Christchurch based Westwood Group umbrella, the Queenstown Park Hotel required an efficient method to connect with, and deliver its company file to, the Christchurch office.

Ms Brown began with QuickBooks 2007/08 Pro. As the hotel’s needs expanded, she upgraded to QuickBooks Premier, which enabled multiple hotel staff to enter data and invoices directly into the software. Multi-user access has always been a requirement but that often means more data expanding the company file to the point where it’s too large to e-mail.

The file needed to be divided into multiple segments for electronic delivery. This cost time, effort and expense while taking staff away from more important administration tasks


The Solution

An avid QuickBooks endorser, Ms Brown jumped at the chance to incorporate QuickBooks Hosted in late 2009 to eliminate the e-mail difficulty. And since the software mirrors the desktop product, no additional training was required. She now enjoys much smoother accounting procedures as a result.

“Our Queenstown and Christchurch offices are both QuickBooks Hosted users, allowing both to work on the same file online at the same time,” she says. “We thoroughly recommend this product.”

The software contains all the features of the award-winning QuickBooks Enterprise QBi series with an identical look and feel to the desktop product. There’s no software to install or network to maintain. QuickBooks Hosted enables users to not only manage their accounts and finances from any PC with Internet access but also to share financial data with their accountant, bookkeeper, and business associates instantly.

Ms Brown also credits the software’s ease of use in improving the Queenstown Park Hotel’s accounting operations.

Several staff possessed no accounting background and they now find it elementary to perform even the most complex work tasks. Plus, since Ms Brown is more often in Christchurch than Queenstown, she’s able to jump online to guide staff through any difficulties they may experience.

One of many additional advantages in operating the business with QuickBooks Hosted is always having the latest software, she notes. The software includes all product updates, including legislative and tax changes and accordingly, there’s no need to purchase additional software or upgrades.

In addition to working on the company file, Ms Brown uses the software to generate a wide range of reports which enable her to analyse everything from yields, budget versus actual performance and expense trends to item sales figures and payroll entry. Another priority is recording costings on waste and energy consumption to help this eco-friendly hotel secure a Qualmark Environmental Gold award. Ultimately, they all contribute to a betterrun business for both hotel employees and visitors.

Of course, Queenstown Park Hotel guests aren’t going to care about those numbers or the company’s improved accounting operations but then again, why should they while savouring a Central Otago Pinot Noir at sunset?


Accounting firm says online makes helping clients easy

“By moving to QuickBooks Hosted and being able to access data files from wherever they need, our client’s have seen an improvement in their cash flow.” – Tasha Hungerford, Keating & Associates

The Company – Keating & Associates

Keating & Associates is an accounting firm that services small to medium sized businesses in and around the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. The firm has been operating since 1994 and takes a holistic approach with clients.

“We deal with business clients, not individual tax returns. No doubt compliance work features strongly in our dealings with clients, but we really aim to work on developing strategies for their business success and tax planning to help minimise their tax payments,” says Tasha Hungerford, Partner at Keating & Associates.

“One of the most important aspects of our work is to show client’s how to improve their cash flow and save time simply by doing things a little differently. And our clients live on the Sunshine Coast and want time to enjoy it. ”

Keating & Associates clients work in a range of industries including retail, medical and mining. Tasha says the way a business manages the books can have an enormous impact on the bottom line. “If a business needs a bookkeeper, they need a good bookkeeper. Fixing bad bookkeeping can cost a lot more.”

The challenge

To compliment their accounting advice and help business clients better manage their bookkeeping, Keating & Associates recently hired a bookkeeper. The new service quickly became a success and their bookkeeper was required to frequently leave the office to visit clients and assist with their financial management.

“Travelling between locations can take a lot of time, and transporting data between locations hasn’t always been smooth,” says Tasha.

Keating & Associates wanted an accounting solution that would allow the bookkeeper to remain in the office, whilst allowing her to assist clients when needed. They also wanted to minimise any loss of data.

The solution

Keating & Associates signed up for QuickBooks, hosted by Reckon Online, and now have 10 clients using the online accounting solution.

“It is so easy and quick to set up clients on QuickBooks Hosted. We still tell client’s to leave it for a day to ensure the system is working effectively but then they’re ready to go,” says Tasha.

“One of our client’s is a contractor who takes his laptop onsite and completes invoices as he goes. Unlike other online accounting software products on the market QuickBooks has the comprehensive functionality our clients need, and it’s easy to use.”

Tasha also said her clients have been very pleased with the annual subscription price. QuickBooks Hosted is a fully featured online accounting system with functionality ideal for small businesses through to large business needing to have a virtually unlimited number of users.

Users can benefit from reduced IT infrastructure; ability to work with their accountant simultaneously and from different locations; daily data back-up; regular upgrades and updates; and much more. Functionality including advanced inventory management and payroll management are all included in the yearly subscription price.

“By moving to QuickBooks Hosted and being able to access data files from wherever they need, our client’s have seen an improvement in their cash flow,” says Tasha.