With so many medium to large business running on MYOB Greentree and new implementations moving to full cloud solutions like MYOB Advanced is there a reason to change software?
Let’s take a closer look at the mechanics of Software as a Service solutions (SaaS). MYOB Greentree is purchased up front and has an annual maintenance fee, SaaS solutions charge you for the software every month. When comparing purchase of MYOB Greentree to a SaaS, say MYOB Advanced, cost of software is often worked out over time with some looking at 5 years – some more, some less. So, if you have already purchased MYOB Greentree then you are only dealing with the ongoing maintenance costs.
We need to step back and decide if there is some shortfall in the existing software or some realisable gain for the business in new software as a key consideration for changing software. Surely an inferior new system will not have appeal in a rational decision-making process. Changing software has a significant business impact so the gains need to be able to match this at the very least. A $100,000 implementation fee will not cut it for a $10,000 annual gain for the business. This is without considering the hidden costs of possible business loss and staff productivity during the change-over process.
For most of our clients MYOB Greentree is a fundamental part of their business and moving off Greentree simply because of the platform, does not make sense in the short to medium term. The expectation that it will never need to be replaced is as unrealistic as the assumption that SaaS software is inherently better for the business.
Perhaps a cloud solution for Greentree is a consideration in the medium term while the software is still performing very well for the business. Renting a service for operating Greentree in the cloud is certainly one answer.