Access QuickBooks, Fishbowl, and Other Files from Almost Anywhere with Dropbox
I have been using Dropbox for some time now and it has proven to be extremely useful for my business. Basically, it is a free service (for up to 2GB of storage to start, but can be increased with referrals) that allows you to back up your files online, which then are synced with all of your computers with Dropbox. Or you can access your files online from any computer or even from an iPhone or Android phone!
For example, you can work in a QuickBooks file remotely on a laptop and when you are finished, it will automatically sync your changes so that when you get back to your office, the QuickBooks file you worked on is available on your PC. You can also share folders on your computer to others so that they can drop files into it that they want to share with you. I used to use services like YouSendIt (free version), but Dropbox is better because there is no limit to the size of the file you want to share or how long it is accessible. It works just like a shared folder on a wired network. Therefore, the need to use a thumb drive or flash drive has become obsolete.
For more strict permissions, like view-only, on files, I complement this service with Google Docs. However, the amount of free storage space is only 1GB, so I only use it for these and other special circumstances. But Dropbox works best for backups, file sharing, file syncing between computers, and web and mobile device access.
Fishbowl Inventory Makes the Grade with QuickBooks Integration
Over the past few years, I have implemented and trained my clients on the inventory functionality in QuickBooks, focusing on the workarounds and tricks to make it work effectively. Unfortunately, it seems that I was requiring my clients to "jump through hoops" in order to maintain what is still very difficult to achieve in terms of accurate inventory control. And errors and frustration became inevitable. Therefore, I made the decision to test as many reputable inventory management solutions out there that integrate with QuickBooks that I could get my hands on. While there are many good software packages out there, in looking at the big picture of all the benefits, I chose Fishbowl Inventory.
I believe it is well-designed, easy to use, and is balanced in terms of not being overly-complicated or too basic, especially now with the option to add manufacturing and mobile warehouse capabilities. As a Fishbowl Value Added Reseller, I can provide the information and demos in conjunction with experience with QuickBooks integration as part of the decision-making process before even purchasing Fishbowl Inventory and/or upgrading QuickBooks. While able provide the software as a reseller, my focus is going beyond that by offering my services to install the software, create the Fishbowl database (which includes importing lists and setting up Bill of Materials), oversee the QuickBooks integration, training, and technical support.
Have a Complaint About QuickBooks?
As a QuickBooks Consultant out in the field of helping businesses, especially when it comes to fixing inventory issues, I see and hear the same complaints over and over again. In defense of any good product, I am more apt to extol the advantages and benefits of QuickBooks; however, when I see an important opportunity for the product to be improved,
I want Intuit to know how important this is and how much it is impacting many businesses using their product.
I want Intuit to act as quickly as possible to mobilize their team of developers to implement these changes.
Having worked in Technical Support of QuickBooks at Intuit, I have learned that the best way to provide a product suggestion or report a bug in QuickBooks is from within the QuickBooks program itself. Of course, if you call technical support, they will oftentimes document the case and submit a suggestion. However, when you go under the Help menu in QuickBooks to Send Feedback Online, your Product Suggestion or Bug Report is automatically documented and recorded and passed on to the developers. I am not privy to the whole process, but I believe these submissions are analyzed, bucketed by percentages, categorized by cost to implement, and then filtered down to a "to do" list for the next market release.
If that is the case, then the more users that submit the same request, then the more likely it will be implemented, assuming it is feasible and cost-effective.
An example of a pain point for me and others for many years that I see has been fixed in the 2009 version of QuickBooks:
After having to do this many times to fix multiple periods (sometimes years' worth of data), in the past doing a reconciliation of a bank or credit card account was such a pain, since trying to match what QuickBooks showed me as a list and what my paper statement showed me, it was so time-consuming (and hard on the eyes) trying to find the match. Now it is possible to Sort by Column in the reconciliation screen. This is so beneficial if you are trying to find an amount: instead of using the Find feature, I can now sort by Amount. Or if I am looking for a specific date, I can sort by Date.
Now that I know for sure that Intuit is listening to its customers, here are a couple of my current pet peeves that I encourage every QuickBooks user to submit a product suggestion:
As every business that uses the Inventory functionality in QuickBooks knows, managing Inventory Items can be difficult:
In the Adjust Quantity/Value On Hand Activity, I would love to have a check box for Show Inactive Items. Essentially, if I don't want to see inactive items in my lists, then why would I always want to see them here? I can understand zeroing out all items that I've made inactive, but after that, I would like to only see the active items in the same order that I see them on my Physical Inventory Worksheet. That way, doing an adjustment based on a physical count schedule would be so much easier.
Similarly, in the Price Level Type Per Item, I would also love to not see any of the inactive items listed here. I'm not sure if a check box would do well here also, but I can't see why I would ever have a price level for any inactive item if I am never going to use it. Of course, if I make the item active again, then I would expect to see it in a price level so that it can adjusted.
If you agree with me on this, I would urge you to also submit your suggestions to Intuit. Of course, it helps if you explain how this impacts your business and suggest how to improve it, as I did. And if you have any other major issues that you think definitely should and can be fixed in QuickBooks, feel free to comment them here so that I and others can get on board.