Software maker Intuit, maker of QuickBooks, wants its QuickBooks for Mac 2012 to be tailored to the Apple-owned small enterprise. That means the next version of the accounting software package available Sept. 26 is “not about check-boxes and feature parity,” a product manager says.
Noting that 60 percent of Mac enterprises are sole proprietors, the update streamlines the process, concentrating on just three tasks: invoicing, billing and expenses. In one case, the task of saving invoices was reduced to just one “save” button while developers decided to adopt a familiar paper-like layout to help users feel more at home.
In another hand-holding technique, Intuit provides a guide where users can find the most-used features, a blog where updates can be readily found and personalized setup and assistance.
The software also takes on a more Mac Finder-like look and feel. For instance, search is more like Apple’s Spotlight. Invoices appear in a Mail-like interface, with transactions on the left.
Online banking is also made more Mac-like with QuickBooks 2012 watching how you name your payees, then suggesting a similar ID for new entries.
“With Apple’s new Lion OS, we focused on a simple, elegant and easy to use native experience, while continuing to add new features that save small businesses time,” said Dan Wernikoff, senior vice president and general manager of Intuit’s Financial Management Solutions division.
