How a small to medium size business can achieve major cost saving and operation effectiveness with IT and PC? 

The first illustration happened in Compucon New Zealand over the last 14 years of our 16 years history.  We employed a Certified Accountant some 14 years ago.  She did a good job until the business volume grew to a level that she asked for an assistant.  She resigned when the request for an assistant was not agreed with.  In her position was a lady who had exposure to computer based accounting system.  She did all work through PC and she asked management for a bigger scope of duties to fill up her unused time!  The event gave the company more real time accounting information for $30,000 less of wages per annum. 

Next, we started paying our suppliers electronically and progressed from Modem based 11 years ago to Internet based this year.    Payment instructions to the bank were done in batches and connected with our accounting system.  The time saved would be equivalent to $10,000 of wages per annum. 

Our accounting system is basic but it does not stop us exporting customer names to a list for sending email newsletters.  We have since been able to increase the newsletter frequency from 4 to 11 per year for business customers and from nil to 11 for school customers.  This is additional to a saving of $30,000 per annum for hard copy printing, postage and handling time.