I crossed over to the dark side.........

Recently a great client asked me to be involved in setting up software for a new venture he was involved in.

Unfortunately for me it involved using a product I no longer support.

Now I have very strict rules about finding the right ‘fit’ in my business – I want the best products available and want to work with clients who are the best fit for both of us. This would involve breaking 1 of those rules.

I thought long and hard but decided that I owed the client the favour of helping them.

I can safely say that some standards are not made to be broken!

The software required numerous hours downloading to my computer – I left it over night and after it crashed my computer, it finally installed – With true cloud software like Xero – this is NOT A THING!

The software is accessible anywhere, any device, anytime – going back to downloading software locally is inefficient and time consuming. It also means that you need to update that software. So my nightmare is on going!

With Xero – you are constantly up to date – automagically – no downloading, uploading and messing around!!

I also needed to subscribe to the software – I thought I’d be clever and start a trial version, get the data in and balanced and then subscribe and upload to the cloud.

Bad idea.

The subscription process took 3 - I repeat 3 - 20 minute phone calls to get an account, a log in and then a password. To top that off I paid double what Xero costs to subscribe to this brand!!! That alone gave me the cold sweats even though I was using the clients credit card!

The sales department handballed me to the tech department who handballed me to the partner program who handballed me to the sales team who thought I needed the tech team – you get the picture. Need I go on ??

At this point I just wanted to close the laptop (yes - the client dropped off his laptop to me to access this nightmare) and go home!

People ask why I love to work with Xero – it’s really quite simple - the experience - from subscription, access online, to after sales support, is in 1 word BEAUTIFUL.

I don’t leave the office with my fist in my mouth biting down because I have wasted hours trying to access a file and dealing with huge sales departments. I feel comfortable, relaxed - in Zen.

People have remarked to me in the past that Xero seems a little like a cult, with its passionate advocates like myself extolling it’s virtues to whoever will listen.

Often I have indeed also questioned my Xero journey and wondered if ‘I just drank the cool aide’. After last nights experience with another brand - I can tell you …..

If you value your business – use Beautiful software, that is easy to access, seamless to operate and creates efficiency and value to your business .

Afterall your business should be your main priority. Not installing inefficient software.