Bookkeeping Integrations between e-commerce Sales Channels and Accounting Software

[numbersrule]

Hi to all you good people!

It would be greatly appreciated if any forum contributors could give their opinions on the best way for an e-commerce supplier to integrate their sales channels ( Amazon, Shopify & eBay ) with their QuickBooks Bookkeeping Software.

For example, do the Integrations provided directly from channels such as Amazon Business work well and are they likely to be preferable to Multi-Channel Integrators such as Link My Books?

Or do they all work well anyway?

I heard a complaint that some integrations are difficult regarding getting the VAT treatment to integrate correctly for sales in mutiple non-Uk jurisdictions?

 

[LPB 123]

Quickbooks have good (free) connectors for all of these. They bought OneSaas a few years ago which was a paid service connector and then they offered it for free when they bought it.

The only issue with the free connector is if you sell bundles and want to import individual sales, it can't do it. You could instead import as bulk payouts like a linkmybooks, but again it's free and works the same.

If you do have bundles and want to import each individual sale then Parex Bridge is very good.

Neither has issues with tax being incorrect as they use the tax rate sent from the marketplace / cart. Also with Parex Bridge you can overwrite and set a tax rate per country instead.

We used Sync with Connex before Parex that which worked well but the pricing got silly so we had to look for an alternative.

Plenty of others on the market that have issues such as wrong totals and taxes pulled through when we tried them out.

 

[antropy]

the best way for an e-commerce supplier to integrate their sales channels ( Amazon, Shopify & eBay ) with their QuickBooks Bookkeeping Software.

What about things like Linnworks / ChannelGrabber / ChannelAdvisor?

Paul.

 

[LPB 123]

What about things like Linnworks / ChannelGrabber / ChannelAdvisor?

Paul.

Those are order management systems, so different to what the OP is asking about.

Linnworks for example you have to use an alternative paid connector to sync orders from Linnworks to QB. They do not offer their own free integration.

 

[antropy]

Those are order management systems, so different to what the OP is asking about.

Linnworks for example you have to use an alternative paid connector to sync orders from Linnworks to QB. They do not offer their own free integration.

Ah yes but surely it's best to get the orders into one place first and then sync to the accounts from there?

Paul.

 

[LPB 123]

It depends. It reduces your options definitely as I think there is only 1 connector service to sync from Linnworks to Quickbooks whereas there is dozens of connectors from marketplace / cart to accounting software.

You'd also be adding in an extra layer of a tax / total amount mistake going into the accounting software. Linnworks would have to import correctly from marketplace / cart, then the connector import correct to the accounting software.

Rather than just marketplace / cart to accounting software.

 

[numbersrule]

Thanks LPB 123 and antropy.
You have highlighted that I need to consider the ordering and inventory aspects as well as the core sales income data.
But sounds like the management software examples may introduce an unnecessary step.
So does software like Parex Bridge integrate with QuickBooks Inventory OK?
I have read other threads that have been critical of QuickBooks Inventory.
Is Inventory not handled 'within' the Sales Channels eg Amazon?

 

[LPB 123]

So does software like Parex Bridge integrate with QuickBooks Inventory OK?

Yes and does well with bundles. Quickbooks own connectors work well if you do not have bundles.

I have read other threads that have been critical of QuickBooks Inventory.

It works well for plus and higher subscriptions. You can also just manage inventory in an order management system and import sales in bulk rather than individual sales.

Is Inventory not handled 'within' the Sales Channels eg Amazon?

Not really. Usually it's handled in order management software but can be done in accounting software and then this feeds back to marketplace and carts with the live stock levels. Sell something on Amazon, it reduces the stock level on eBay and Shopify.

 

[numbersrule]

.........Sell something on Amazon, it reduces the stock level on eBay and Shopify.

Amazing! That sounds great

 

[numbersrule]

It works well for plus and higher subscriptions.

Thanks, I remember other posters making this observation, so definitely something to check out.

 

[AmazonGeek]

There is dedicated software for this. check out Linkmybooks and A2X. They sit in between the channel and your accounts package (usually Xero or QuickBooks). For example when Amazon releases its 2-weekly settlement, they intercept it and break it down into the various codes for importing into Xero.

I have used A2X for years for Amazon in multiple marketplaces and eBay. It takes a bit of setting up and the codes sometimes need updating but other than that it is easy and saves tonnes of time.

I have a code somewhere for A2X if you want it - I think it saves you 10%

 

[numbersrule]

There is dedicated software for this. check out Linkmybooks and A2X. They sit in between the channel and your accounts package (usually Xero or QuickBooks). For example when Amazon releases its 2-weekly settlement, they intercept it and break it down into the various codes for importing into Xero.

I have used A2X for years for Amazon in multiple marketplaces and eBay. It takes a bit of setting up and the codes sometimes need updating but other than that it is easy and saves tonnes of time.

I have a code somewhere for A2X if you want it - I think it saves you 10%

Thanks Amazon Geek!

It's a few days now since this thread started and it has transpired that there would be an advantage if after sales in one sales channel, revised stock levels feed back into multiple sales channels. Do LinkMyBooks or A2X do that?

 

[AmazonGeek]

They are two different things. WMS systems like Volo, Channel Grabber, etc handle the inventory so that when something sells on one channel, the stock is updated on the others. They also allow you to create listings on one, if you have info in another.

The accounting side is something else. A2X and LMB deal with the bookkeeping so that you can hand everything over to your accountant. But they don't deal with the WMS side.

They are two different problems, dealt with by two different specialist bits of software

 

[numbersrule]

Thanks Amazon Geek!

Your input is most appreciated and gratefully received.

You have mentioned WMS, which I am reading as Warehouse Management System and this highlights just how many three letter Acronyms there are in this space.
Whilst researching this subject I have found the following and I suspect there may be more......
WMS - Warehouse Management System
OMS - Order Management System ( which I am taking as narrower than WMS )
IMS - Inventory Management System ( again, narrower and more specific than WMS )
CRM - Client Relationship Management ( specific to orders, invoices and Client details )
ROS - Retail Operating System ( is this equivalent to WMS ? )

So which three letter Acronym should be applied to the bookkeeping and accounting integrations like A2X & LMB which bridge between the Sales Channels and the Bookkeeping Software?

Is there any summary guidance with say a Venn Diagram that provides an overview of all this?

 

[AmazonGeek]

None of them actually. I don't really know of an acronym for what A2X and LMB do. They were invented for Amazon because reverse-engineering the 2-weekly pay-out is a nightmare. They are just a clever bookkeeping system that breaks down the settlement reports and drops them into Xero/QB.

So...

WMS - helps you keep track of orders, how much stock you have, where it is located, etc. When something sells, the inventory number drops and is normally pushed to whatever platforms you are selling on, making it less likely that you sell something on one platform when it has already sold out on another. Often integrates with barcode scanners.

IMS - similar to WMS but stripped down.

OMS - narrower again, just dealing with orders

CRM - for keeping track of your customers/relationships. Can also be integrated with other systems

ROS - a much broader general system that integrates everything in a retail operation.

 

[numbersrule]

I've been in communication with Parex Bridge because LPB 123 mentioned them as a possible option and Parex Bridge have said that they classify themselves as Accounting Automation. So it's only two letters for this type of integration AA.
So it seems that A2X and LMB could be AAs.

 

[AmazonGeek]

Just bear in mind that Amazon is horrifically complicated when it comes to this, especially in the UK/EU where tax is complicated. Hundreds and hundreds of different account codes and if you get this wrong, your books will be wrong. A2X and LMB are Amazon specialists and have UK/EU support. Parex Bridge is US-based so be very careful.