CUSTOMISED ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE

Meaning —A customized accounting software is one which is developed on the basis of

specific requirements of the organization.

A feasibility study is first made before the decision to develop a software is made. The life cycle

of a customized accounting software begins with the organization providing the user

requirements. Based on the user’s requirement the system analyst prepares a requirement

specification which is given for approval by the user management. Once the requirement

specification is approved, the designing process begins. Development, testing and

implementation are the other components of the system development life cycle.

ADVANTAGES OF A CUSTOMISED ACCOUNTING PACKAGE

1. The functional areas which are not covered in pre-packaged software getscomputerized.

2. The input screens can be tailor made to match the input documents for ease of data entry.

3. It provides many MIS reports as per the specification of the organization.

4. It facilitates the use of Bar-code scanners as input devices suitable for the specific needs of

an individual organization.

5. It can suitably match with the organizational structure of the company.

DISADVANTAGES OF A CUSTOMISED ACCOUNTING PACKAGE

1. Requirement specifications are incomplete or ambiguous resulting in a defective or

incomplete system.

2. Bugs may remain in the software because of inadequate testing.

3. Documentation may not complete.

4. Frequent changes made to the system with inadequate change management procedure may

result in in system compromise.

5. Vendor may not be unwilling to give support of the software due to other commitments.

6. Vendor may not be willing to part with the source code or enter into an escrow agreement. 7.

Control measures may be inadequate.

8. There may be delay in completion of the software due to problems with the vendor or

inadequate project management.

The choice of customized accounting packages is made on the basis of evaluation of vendor

proposals. The proposals are evaluated as to the suitability, completeness, cost and vendor

proposals. Generally preference is given to a vendor won has a very good track record of

deliverables.