Kashflow

[MaxB]

I used to be happy with Kashflow but they're making changes which seem illogical to me and which slow down operation. When I asked to speak to Duane Jackson to ask him about it (I was one of his early customers and pleased to help get his young operation on the road, not to mention the customers I've sent their way), I received the curt reply below.

Are Kashflow getting too big for their own good (boots)? Is it time to move on, and if so, what are good alternatives where they offer good service and communication please?

Thanks

Max

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Hi,

Duane or the Development team isn't available for the phones.

The most I can do is add this as New UI feedback, which I've done.

Sorry I couldn't assist you any further with this.

Kind regards,

George Gillespie.
Support Consultant.

 

[David Griffiths]

Kashflow has been sold to Iris, a large computer software company.

 

[MaxB]

Thanks. That explains the blank wall when trying to discuss things with them.

Are there any good alternatives?

 

[David Griffiths]

I'm not sure that any of them will have a situation where you can ring up and talk to the CEO about developments in the program!

There are other cloud solutions - I use Xero, but other people on here will support alternatives like Accounts Portal, Clearbooks, Freeagent and Quickfile.. I did look at Kashflow about four years ago but Xero was the preferred choice then, for some specific reasons, and I've not regretted the choice, even before Iris took them over.

Sage One and Quickbooks online come from mega-large software companies

 

[MaxB]

Believe me when they were looking for initial customers, they were delighted to speak with anyone! As a general rule then CEOs should remain disconnected from customers? Hm, that explains the great service (not!) for which UK is becoming increasingly famous

Many thanks, I'll check those out.

 

[David Griffiths]

I'm not saying that CEOs should remain disconnected from customers and Xero has good feedback and contact, with Rod Drury, the New Zealand CEO and Gary Turner, the UK MD both contributing and responding on forums. There is good communication with their accountant partners, for sure.

However, if an organisation grows, then it must be more difficult for them. Either way, Iris is never going to fit the mould of your cuddly local computer company!

 

[kevin.doran]

Although i'm a Clear Books fan myself, I do have one adhoc client using Kashflow and i've got no major gripes with how it works or the service received from Iris.

Have you tried calling? This is their 'new baby' so i'd be quite surprised if you didn't get a decent response.

 

[MaxB]

You're right of course - although I love companies where the CEO does make themselves available e.g. Bayden Boomerang. And I once even got an email reply from the guy at BT against all expectations! I suppose it's the way they went from small to large without managing original customer expectations that's the killer. Soon companies like that lose touch with their markets anyway and begin to decline.

None the less, I look forward to checking out the other products

 

[MaxB]

Hi Kevin,

Yes, I posted their response on my first email above - hence why I came here. Have to say the support guy George is great and has done his best. It's just he works for a company like Iris which ties his hands as David has noted. Thus he's limited as to how much he can help.

Max

 

[kevin.doran]

What is it you're actually having issues with?

 

[MaxB]

They've changed the user interface so that it's much slower e.g. removed the ability to remember settings from the previous transaction so you have to re-enter every time. The new reconciliation is for some reason now split into separate debits and credits; etc. It's just stuff that appears not to have been thought through but I could be wrong and hence why I'd like to speak to someone who understands why the changes were made before just leaving them (because I'm quiet loyal by nature). But if they won't speak to me, well, it makes it easier to leave in the face of an app whose performance has declined.

 

[Printing Deals]

I was actually looking for some place to raise exactly same issues as MaxB. It seems they haven't done any user experience research, I was very happy with previous layout, now I can't see total of my sale and expenses unless I run a report. What is most annoying for me is that they have moved the filters at bottom of the page, I use monitors which are 21" square and these filters are almost invisible from eye due to positioning in the footer.

The only thing good is price drop.

Sorry for adding another question but is there way I can move all my data to somewhere else with same price tag?

 

[David Griffiths]

Although i'm a Clear Books fan myself, I do have one adhoc client using Kashflow and i've got no major gripes with how it works or the service received from Iris.

Have you tried calling? This is their 'new baby' so i'd be quite surprised if you didn't get a decent response.

Have you ever dealt with Iris?

They've taken over three different companies that I've used. One of them was a payroll company called Freeway. Nobody who suffered from the problems the year end about six years ago will ever forget it, nor will they forget Iris's attitude to it. There's a lot more on Accounting web at about this date, but Iris's apology was laughable.

Suffice to say that I dumped Iris for all three. The latest to go terminates next week, and I sincerely hope that Iris don't buy anybody else that I use.

 

[MaxB]

I've posted this on a couple forums asking the same question and will let you know what replies I get. I'm sorry that Kashflow have lost touch with their market like this though as I was really fond of the system.

 

[mimomeemo]

Ah, I guess I'm pleased it's not just me. I signed up recently as I trialled Xero and Kashflow and liked the look of Kashflow. I hadn't used it to such an extent that I can compare the changes but was upset to find that I can't upload files from my computer to Kashflow (eg receipts) whereas it had been possible before. Now I would have to upload from my computer to a third party, Dropbox, then upload from Dropbox to Kashflow. I couldn't get any sense from them about why they had done this, making it take longer and introducing a third party that I don't want to use. Maybe Iris own Dropbox too? Most odd.

 

[MaxB]

One useful Kashflow feature was the ability to automatically submit VAT returns to HMRC. Can Xero, Clearbooks and any of the other solutions mentioned here also do this? For example, I couldn't see this on the Xero website.

Thanks

Max

 

[Bob]

... and the sad thing is that @DuaneJackson isn't mentioned any more. Does that mean he has taken the cash and run ? Wouldn't blame him if he has

 

[MaxB]

No, support assure me he is still there and undoubtedly reading this. He's probably equally as frustrated by what they've done to his product, pain eased slightly by the kash...

 

[DuaneJackson]

If support are assuring you I'm still there then it's slightly disingenuous. For now I'm technically employed by Iris but I have not been involved in either the recent product or pricing changes.

When I was CEO I was always available to customers, especially ones that weren't happy!

 

[MaxB]

My point entirely Duane - like a good CEO you were there for the early customers whom you woo'd and developed mutual loyalty. As with any successful exit, the new Masters don't feel the passion. By coincidence, I went to hear Jo Fairly who founded Green & Black speak about her sale to Cadbury on Thursday - she said it was awful saying goodbye to her baby. But in the event she's remained in an ambassadorial role (like your technical role). (I found exiting my own tech start-up very hard as a matter of interest).

Anyway, I can't fault George and Adam on support who are as professional as they can be under the circumstances with their hands somewhat tied. I reckon they're having a time of it with early customers like me (or will be) still wanting to speak directly to you. Thing is, Iris will do fine because new acquisitions coming on board will not have expectations like we do. In the end, Iris will lose maybe 10 of us oldies and won't care; expect perhaps for posts like this.

 

[JPMiddleton]

Duane, I've got to say I'm a little disappointed to with the recent changes as above, but more frustrating is that when I quoted you on this very forum, about an Amazon integration, they didn't even acknowledge you'd said it was coming. I'm just told to pay for channel grabber now- which is a cost too much at the moment for us. There wasn't really an acknowledgment that it's not going to happen now, just a non answer really.

I've got to say the new prices are pretty confusing too, I opened a new account last week as I'm moving to ltd company from sole trader only to find a new account costs half the price of my old one and I can't work out why (less features? Less support?)

Personally I'm considering clear books or other alternatives because there doesn't appear to be the same focus now. I could be wrong I guess, but we'll see.

 

[MaxB]

JPM, I agree, and in addition would be grateful for your personal conclusions once you've considered the alternatives you mention please.

 

[garyturner]

One useful Kashflow feature was the ability to automatically submit VAT returns to HMRC. Can Xero, Clearbooks and any of the other solutions mentioned here also do this? For example, I couldn't see this on the Xero website.

Thanks

Max

Hi Max, Happy to confirm that Xero does handle online filing of VAT Returns.

Gary Turner
Managing Director, Xero

 

[MaxB]

Afternoon Gary,

Many thanks. I'll give it a test run.

All the best

Max