Changing from QuickBooks Online-Accountant to the new Intuit Accountant Suite (IAS) is more than a toggle, even though it may seemingly be that simple
Converting from QBO-A to IAS will require significant preparation, similar to migrating from QuickBooks Desktop to Intuit Enterprise Suite, or switching from QBO Plus to QBO Advanced.
You should read as much as possible before deciding to make the switch, because there are many changes, of which only a few are discussed in this article. Many features and functionalities have been relocated, and a significant number of terminology changes have been incorporated into IAS. Now, don't get me wrong, I am not saying you shouldn't make the change, as I definitely think migrating to the new IAS will be well worth it. I'm just saying it won't be as simple as you might think.
"I… definitely think migrating to the new Intuit Accountant Suite will be well worth it." (Murph)
The New Intuit Accountant Suite (IAS), with which Intuit intends to replace QuickBooks Online-Accountant, promises to be a "great" product. It's packed with features, such as 'All Clients on a single 'realm' of the platform'. I will have more information about 'Realm' in a future article that deals with migrating from QBO-Accountant to Intuit Accountant Suite.
It also includes a 'Customizable Dashboard built around permissions for team members,' all with a collapsible, modernized left-hand navigation and several 'nomenclature' changes.
With a variety of AI-powered tools expanding and simplifying the current 'tool box' in QBOA, you will find these features in 'Tools' under My Menu, of IAS.
It also incorporates enhanced "Practice Management" features like collaboration, scheduling, and capacity management. The Team management features are now under "Firm Operations."
I could probably discuss these in another 1,000 words (or more), and have already done so to some extent in my articles titled "The New Intuit Accountant Suite is like QBO-Accountant on Steroids” and “Intuit Intelligence affords user futuristic accounting functionality”. One thing not mentioned in those articles, which I've already introduced in this one, is the number of terminology changes. For example, the 'project management' feature in QBOA is now an app in IAS called 'service delivery'. It is "Work" where you will find your Projects and 'All Tasks' functionality.
Somewhat confusing is that Tasks are now accessed in the global header under the clipboard icon, which opens a "Task drawer." Previously, you accessed tasks within QBOA under the "Your Books" option of the left-hand navigation bar.
Another relocation is 'workflow automation' which has moved to the global header and is represented by a lightning bolt icon. Previously, within QBOA, it was under the 'Your Books' section of the left-hand navigation bar.
Yet another change is associated with what you've known as 'Apps,' which are now referred to as 'Integrations.' You will find 'the apps' you've integrated only within the global header of IAS. And while I am on the topic of 'one more', there is still another key change… no longer will you be using 'New' for tasks, it is now 'Create'.
With 'Intuit Intelligence' on the way, you will likely either be able to say, "Create Check" and move directly to the activity, or that prompt will open an 'activity-specific' AI-agent to accomplish the activity for you. That would be my 'crystal ball' forecast (as I write this on Halloween day).
I also believe that the new IAS is moving in a "great direction" with respect to the ProAdvisor community by incorporating training and certification management from the ProAdvisor Academy on both an individual and firm level. The ProAdvisor section of IAS can be found under 'Firm Operations.'
Firms will be able to view the certifications of their all 'Team' members, and ultimately be able to schedule members for their next continuing education training assignments from the entire ProAdvisor Academy course and certification offerings.
During my discussions with several Intuit officials at Intuit Connect, there is at least preliminary consideration of incorporating "the other side of the house" (Tax) into the training and certificate tracking by including the Intuit Academy, which provides tax training. This only makes sense with Intuit having plans to incorporate ProConnect Tax: Books to Tax integration into the IAS' suite of functionality.'
Soon to be added, following the current 'Beta' testing and any post-beta tweaks, will be the new 'Books Close' functionality designed to not only track the close process but provide anomaly detection across a client's data that might impact a successful close.
Another view of my 'crystal ball' shows me, somewhere in your future", the incorporation of a 'Close AI-agent' that performs a series of workflow steps to streamline the closure of not just a single client, but all the clients within IAS.
Another near-future functionality will be 'Client Insights,' which provides a broad view of your clients' status using key data, such as revenues, expenses, profitability, and other KPIs, along with trends for those measures. The intent is to provide you with "insights" into the financial health of all your clients and offer guidance on those clients (and their specific financial areas) that require closer attention and consultation.
Both the Books Close and Client Insights features will be part of the 'Accelerate' level of Intuit Accountant Suite. Accelerate will be a paid plan to which IAS users can subscribe, and from which they can opt out at any time.
I believe we can all be just as excited about Intuit Accountant Suite as many of us were those 14 or so years ago when Intuit launched QuickBooks Online-Accountant. This is a new tool for accountants based on the functionalities we like best from QBOA updated with new Agentic AI and designed for the new era of servicing users who have just gone through transition to the newly released version of QuickBooks Online. It's a formula for success that may take a little time to embrace, perhaps offer a few challenges to make the transition, and require a little adjusting to the modernized capabilities it offers, but with outcomes well worth the change.
I will have more about "making the change" in a future article within the next week or so, stay tuned.
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