PC‐based financial software: emerging options

When an organization acquires a computer system, accounting is ormally the first business application that is computerized. In the past most business had to develop their own accounting software, or continue to operate without one, because of the lack of suitable off‐the‐shelf accounting software packages. In recent years, software companies have been developing a wide spectrum of accounting software packages and currently there are well over 100 accounting software packages on the market ranging from simple cheque‐book programs to powerful modular systems. Selecting the right accounting package has become increasingly complex, and a business needs to evaluate various accounting packages to select one that will best satisfy the company′s current and future financial information needs.