It's always interesting to see when software trends are failing. Four years ago, software vendors couldn't get over their love affair with the big "enterprise" customers, ditching their small business and mid-market customers in favor of wealthier global concerns. The accounting software industry was no exception.Now the trend is reversing itself, due in part to the fact that there are only a relative handful of enterprise customers to be had - and most of them do not want to go through the pain and cost of switching accounting systems unless it is absolutely necessary. Today, the mantra is to move into the mid-market, where companies are forced by growth to upgrade their systems. Little software vendors are moving up to the mid-market; big vendors are moving down.

JOURNYX LAUNCHES P5 PROTOCOLJournyx, a publisher of Web-based time-tracking software, has rolled out Journyx P5 Protocol, a process enabling users to track per-person, per-project profitability. P5 Protocol assists companies in identifying profit opportunities, as well as gathering and analyzing time and project management data that can be used to increase productivity, and aid hiring and retention. For more, visit www.journyx.com.

Sage Software recently launched Sage Accpac HRMS, a new human resources management system for Sage Accpac ERP and Sage Pro ERP users.

Payroll, human resources and timekeeping solutions provider TimePlus Payroll has launched a proprietary feature, that allows employers and employees to access payroll information online.

Microsoft Office is accounting; accounting is Microsoft Office. This is all ye know and all ye need to know. Maybe that line won’t rank with some other literary gems. But it describes something of what is happening with accounting applications, indeed all applications. As a press release from Epicor noted in October, the phenomenon is a convergence of separate applications. Epicor made that analysis in the announcement of its Epicor Information Worker, which is a bit of a new category of software, perhaps we should call it Office ride-along application, as vendors increasingly try to make their applications look and work like the Microsoft y packages.. This trend has been quite apparent in the Microsoft financial line as its four accounting applications have taken on more of the look of Microsoft Outlook and implemented portal functionality. Microsoft has talked of the emergence of composite applications, and Epicor seems to be taking a step in that direction, although the company did not use the term. As described by Epicor, IW is delivered as an Office application. Epicor users can synchronize with Outlook, and drag and drop Epicor ERP data from the Epicor Task Pane to Word 2007 or Excel 2007. In other words, the applications no longer work in isolation from each other. To quote the press release: “The continued blurring of the lines between enterprise applications like Epicor and desktop productivity tools like Microsoft Office enables users to seamlessly interact with relevant and timely information wherever they need it and ensures continuity of information sharing and collaboration across the enterprise.” Of course, two can play at that game, especially when one of the companies owns the game. It’s hard to see how any vendor can out-Microsoft Microsoft. Some resellers have commented that Microsoft’s approach to selling the Dynamics line appears to be moving to “Oh, it’s just like Outlook. You know how to use that.” Ease of learning tends to be a very powerful selling tool. And maybe that’s all you need to know.

MICROSOFT OFFERS OFFICE ACCOUNTING EXPRESS FOR FREE: In its latest attempt to become a player in the accounting software space, Microsoft had released a free, stripped-down version of its software, targeting small businesses that are late adopters and rely on pencil and paper or Excel for their bookkeeping needs.Microsoft Office Accounting Express 2007 integrates with other Microsoft Office software and will be included in the Small Business, Professional and Office Ultimate versions of Microsoft Office 2007. While using the free version of Express, users are periodically offered an upgrade to other products in Microsoft's recently retooled accounting suite, including Office Accounting Professional 2007, which is set for release early next year with a price tag of $149.

The auditor can no longer assume that no fraud exists unless it smacks them between the eyes.Statement on Auditing Standards 99, issued in 2002, requires auditors to exercise professional skepticism about the possibility of a material misstatement in the financial representations of management due to fraud. Now that SAS 99 is four years old, it is time to investigate this standard that shifted auditors from no fraud detection responsibility to the higher degree of professional care.

The processes, technologies and people that helped you get to the level you're at may not be able to ensure that your firm is competitive and able to retain and attract quality people in the future.

With previous editions of Accounting Today's annual Top 100 Products feature, our editorial staff traditionally thought long and hard in an effort to pull together a theme that would, in essence, provide a cohesive blanket for the myriad products and product categories.But with this, our 14th edition of the Top 100 Products, we felt that the cover image was sufficient - an austere spotlight highlighting the true product "stars" of technology in the accounting profession.

In addition to those products that made it onto Accounting Today's Top 100 Products list, our editors have chosen a strong crop of contenders that bear consideration.Here are some of the products to watch in 2007.

HIGH-END/MID-MARKET ACCOUNTINGACCOUNTMATE 7 FOR SQL

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 is now four years old, and companies, accountants and agencies are still arguing about who should have to comply and how those who are subject to the act can meet the compliance regulations.Smaller public companies are howling at what they see as onerous costs in implementing SOX measures and software. The good news is that there is finally lots of software available to help companies of all sizes in complying with SOX.

Like office co-workers whose friendship ultimately evolves into something more permanent, document management and workflow have become inextricably linked because, like a couple, one influences the other.Ergo, we have hastily jumped on the DM-workflow evolution bandwagon and paired them together in a single category. Below is a list of this year's top entrants at their synergistic best.

It's been a sweet year for accounting software (pun intended) in terms of both new and established Internet solutions. But for users, it's akin to deciding which end of a buffet to begin at. Is it best to implement an Internet suite from one vendor, or mix and match for a custom bundle? Like grazing on a food bar, it's a question of whether you favor the proteins or salads.But either way, grab a plate and dig in. There's plenty of choices for everyone, as this year's roster of top Internet suites clearly demonstrates.

Contact information for the vendors of the Accounting Today 2006 Top 100 Products and Ones to Watch.AccountantsWorld

Micros Systems Inc., a provider of information technology solutions for the hospitality and retail industries, has acquired TangentPOS, a company specializing in event point-of-sale and accounting systems for food service and retail operations at major sports and entertainment facilities.TangentPOS has over 200 installations in venues in North America and offers various products designed to maximize food and beverage profitability at concessions, premium seats, bars, restaurants and vending.

And the big get, well you know, it is as it has always been.

Accountants and journalists have a lot in common—a lot of people don't like us. There was a period during the accounting scandals when accountants and reporters were right next to each other down, far down the list of most admired professions, and we hadn't moved up. Another thing we have in common is that our businesses have been built looking backwards. Accountants record historical transactions. Journalists record things that have happened. Accountants have been told they must become more forwarded looking. Journalists must do the same. In fact, accountants have an easier time. They have audits and taxation, a regulatory environment that provides the potential for a steady stream of business. No one is required to read a print publication or visit a publishing house's Internet site. I am not predicting the end of print. Every time I visit Borders or Barnes & Noble, I witness crowds devouring books and magazines. Print isn't going away. But journalists must change because the Internet removes the need to have so many of us providing historical information. That is particularly true in technology journalism. Most people aren't concerned about what happened in the past. Who wants to read year-old software reviews? We all want to know what we are going to be able to buy within the next year. What's the latest gadget? And that's the long-term view. The real solution for journalism is difficult because it requires an investment in people, not easy to do when margins are under pressure. But unless we are all going into business selling rejiggered data that is gathered by a bunch of electronic grunts, the main thing we have to sell is the knowledge we have that can be used to help our readers make decisions to keep their businesses alive and breathing. There is no gain in body counting. I've never believed too much in the concept of disintermediation. That's the process by which the Internet supposedly removes the need to have intermediaries who interpret things. On the contrary, we need more intermediaries. If you have ever walked into a store with a large audio-video section, you have probably found yourself bewildered by choices. It's the sales person's job to limit choices—what's your price range, how serious are you about music and what types? Without a salesperson's help, there is a good chance you won't make a buying decision. The vast amount of data available is like that confusing sales room. Without someone to limit the choices, it's hard to make a decision. This is the market in which journalists should have an opportunity to prosper. Like accountants, we must know what our market is. There's not much to be gained from covering accounting scandals and Sarbanes-Oxley, except stroking your own ego, if your best chance of serving readers is talking about write-up software and how they can do a better job hiring. We must interpret, not record. As I like to say, "Disintermediate, never. Intermediate now!" Or risk disintegrating as a profession.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY GROUP ACQUIRES XCELERATE: Los Angeles-based Information Technology Group Inc. has acquired Xcelerate LLC, a reseller of Sage Accpac ERP and Sage CRM software based in Chicago.Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The combined firm will operate as Arxis Technology Inc. and serve over 450 clients in four major markets - including Southern California (Los Angeles and Orange County), Chicago and Phoenix.

Bloomer, Geri & Co., a CPA and business advisory firm headquartered here, found a way to fight potentially crippling e-mail bombs last tax season.Information technology manager Joy Lasseter said that the first clue of the attack came in the form of a call from the company that hosts the firm's Web-based e-mail that "a tsunami" of spam suddenly came flooding in, with thousands of messages per hour addressed to Bloomer Geri's internal mailboxes.