Limitations Moving into QuickBooks Online When you are in the process of moving to QuickBooks Online (QBO) from existing accounting software, you may not get 100% results. While some data may convert partially, some may not convert. Likewise, QuickBooks online contains certain comparable features for a few QuickBooks desktop features, while it does not contain any such features for others. Hence, there’s a possibility of facing certain limitations while moving to QuickBooks Online. Although QuickBooks is an immensely successful format and preferred by users, certain limitations with the inventory management created issues. Yes, some retailers choose QBO for inventory management. However, QBO was not designed for inventory management. As a result, the limitations. It would be apt to use it in tandem with software dedicated to inventory management. Limitations to Watch Out For Perhaps one of the greatest limitations of using QBO is that it is not designed for retail customers. Let’s understand that each industry is unique, having multiple indicators of success and performance. While the desktop version works well for retailers, QBO does not. In the coming years, some of these limitations are likely to affect the trend: #1: Lack of Location Tracker Tracking products location wise is very important for storing and collecting them. With products having multiple SKUs at variable rates, it could be an issue. Warehouse staff also depends on the software to locate products and pick them up accordingly. However, when information does not match, the process suffers. #2: Lack of Multichannel Integration The only method of tracking inventory across different channels using QBO is with the help of inventory management software. There isn’t another feature in QBO for such a multichannel integration process. But this becomes a problem as retailers cannot just sell on one channel only. Hence, multichannel selling is more important. But as QBO cannot handle the process,
there’s a significant chance of lagging behind in making regular updates to the inventory from channels. #3: Lack of Order Fulfilment Visibility After an order is placed, QuickBooks Online does not allow order tracking. Online orders have to pass through the fulfilment process and it is necessary to track deliveries, replacements and returns accurately. In this way, the inventory is updated, and you can easily point out the faulty products and delivery times. However, QBO does not support this feature right now. #4: Lack of Detailed Inventory Reports Reporting is an important feature for warehouse and inventory management. Based on the current inventory, you can make key retail decisions. Reporting is also necessary to forecast future demand, identify stock movement patterns, find dips and spikes in sales, have clarity of reorder levels and identify any stock loss. However, QBO is not that software to support this kind of tracking. #5: Lack of Warehouse Management and Barcode Printing QBO does not have a module to track warehouse inventory. Rather, it tracks only stocks using an assigned serial number by matching it to the invoice. While this might not be an issue for smaller businesses, bigger warehouses cannot function in this manner. QBO simply fails to recognize multiple locations of warehouses. Similarly, QBO does not allow users to print barcode labels or create new ones. While this may not be a determinant factor, it is definitely a good way of managing a large catalog. Moving to QuickBooks Online is definitely a progressive approach, but with certain restrictions.