RE: old to new ap and gl system plan

["Fisher, Don" <Dfisher@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jerome, the answer to your quandary really depends on what your customers
(users) want, what they're willing to endure, and how much time they're
willing to give you.

I have known people to strenuously object to having their information in two
different places, especially historical data.  I have known others that
believe this to be no big deal and still others that lie somewhere between.

I would be surprised if converting the general ledger information is very
difficult, but the accounts payable information would probably require a lot
of work, depending on the importation capabilities of the new software and
the database design of the old.

I would present the alternatives to your customers with rough estimates on
what each one will take, the pain they will have to endure, and the benefits
of each.  Then let them decide.  It is, after all, their system.

Donald R. Fisher, III
Project Manager
The Roomstore Furniture Company
(804) 784-7600 extension 2124
DFisher@roomstoreeast.com

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What do you think is the best plan?

Alt 1:  Start new AP/GL system on new system; enter open ap detail, open ap
detail, and gl balances at the end of month (or, ideally, end of fiscal
year) and run old system on inquiry basis until data is stale and then
unplug old system?

Alt 2:  Try to convert data from old system to new system.  Endure requisite
pain.
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