Reckon helps Tauranga business grow and innovate

Success in business is all about being flexible – and that goes for big companies through to the hardworking SMEs that keep the New Zealand economy ticking over.

Having an equally nimble accounting system to keep track of checks and balances is also essential to be able to grow and change with the times.

Maggie Curtis, of Business Resource Group in Tauranga, says for SMEs one of the challenges they face is choosing the right accounting technology that can help future-proof their business.

"Any business owner wants to have peace of mind that the technology they are investing in will stand the test of time and be the foundation to grow their business," she says.

Curtis works with companies in Bay of Plenty and Waikato in a business advisory role using cloud accounting software systems Reckon One and Reckon Hosted by Reckon NZ.

Curtis has worked with Tauranga-based business, Textiles Alive, since 2008.

The company produces flags and other textile promotional materials for businesses, designers and agencies around Tauranga and New Zealand.

"They started as a small family business in the area, manufacturing from a small garage, and these days they distribute and work on a national level," she says.

Textiles Alive uses Reckon Hosted and Curtis works closely with them to do their accounts, train the management about how to maximise the software as well as how to apply the tools and services they need for their business.

"The accounting software has allowed Textiles Alive to spend more time on their core business as well as set goals and continue to push boundaries within their industry.

"As a result, they have grown the business and their client base, moved into a larger factory, and continue to hire more staff," says Curtis.

"Cloud accounting is an ideal platform for any business as it makes data and software accessible online, anywhere, and from any device at any time.

"What makes Reckon unique is the flexibility of their products meaning that businesses don't need to be overwhelmed with tools and services that they don't need, or ones that don't apply to their industry.

"Both of Reckon's systems are very robust, however, they can be customised to suit the needs of a business, and if it's set up properly it can be the underlying system that drives your entire business leaving the owner and their employees more time to do what they do best.

Curtis has access to her client's accounts and this visibility allows her to provide sound business guidance when a new opportunity or change in the business comes about.

She says another of the key differences between Reckon and other cloud accounting products is that they allow SMEs to manage everything from basic business practises, such as invoicing and GST processing, through to integrating industry applications that are specific to a certain business.