The accounting software does form an integral part of the Computerised Accounting Systems. The accounting software should be selected after considering the level of skill and proficiency of the accounting professionals. This is one of the important aspects that should be taken care of before introducing Computerised Accounting Systems, as the accounting professionals are responsible for accounting and the not computers.

The following are some of the important points that should be taken into consideration before introducing accounting software in an organisation. 

1. Flexibility: This is the most important factor that should be considered before sourcing accounting software. The accounting software should be flexible in form of data entry, retrieval of data and generating design of reports. The software should be able to run on different computers having different operating systems and having different configurations. It should provide some flexibility among its users.

2. Cost of Installation and Maintenance: The selection of accounting software largely depends upon its cost to the organisation. The cost of accounting software includes cost of installing the related components and hardware, maintenance and alteration costs, cost of training the staff and cost involved in recovering data in case of data failure. An organisation needs to evaluate the benefits of the software against its costs.

3. Size of Organisation: The size of an organisation also determines the selection of accounting software. The small-sized organisations, where the volume of business transactions is not so large, usually opt for simple and single user oriented software. On the other hand, large scale organisations, where the volume of business transactions is very large choose the latest and sophisticated software for meeting the multi-user requirements.

4. Training Needs: Another factor that affects the choice of software is the training needs.There is some accounting software that requires comparatively lesser training and is more user-friendly. While, there are some other complicated software that requires continuous and thorough training.

5. Level of Secrecy: The level of expected security is one of the important factors that an organisation bears in mind before sourcing accounting software. Software should be able to prevent the unauthorised access and manipulation of data. It should have in built features of security. 

6. Utilities/MIS Reports: Another factor which helps in determining the software selection isthe MIS reports and the extent to which they are used in the organisation.

7. Vendor Reputation and Capability: The selection of software is also affected by the capability and competence of the vendor. It depends upon the reputation of the vendor in the market, the user-reviews of the similar software, the extent of post-sales support services from the vendors, etc.

‘Computerised Accounting Systems are best form of accounting system’. Do you agree? Comment. Yes, we agree with this statement that ‘Computerised Accounting Systems are best form of accounting system’. It becomes very easier to work with Computerised

Accounting Systems leading to reduction in the accounting errors. Moreover, the computerised accounting reports are highly reliable, thereby enhances the overall efficiency.

Due to the following positive aspects, the Computerised Accounting Systems certainly enjoy an edge over the Manual Accounting Systems. 

a. Speed: The speed of a computer is very high and takes very less time in performing various difficult operations. The accounting data is processed Comparatively faster through the Computerised Accounting Systems than it can be done through the manual efforts.

b. Accuracy: In Computerised Accounting Systems, the possibility of errors is minimised or reduced as the primary accounting data is entered only once for preparing various accounting reports and for subsequent usage and processes.

c. Reliability: As the Computerised Accounting Systems is well-equipped in performing repetitive operations, so it is comparatively more reliable to perform the operations than the manual system. Also, the Computerised Accounting Systems overcome the limitation of Manual Accounting Systems such as tiredness, boredom or fatigue, etc., thereby enhances the degree of reliability.

d. Up-to-Date Information: In the Computerised Accounting Systems, whenever the new accounting data is entered and stored, the existing accounting records automatically gets updated.

 e. Real-Time User Interface: Most of the automated accounting systems are interlinked through a network of computers. The availability of information to various users at the same time on the real-time basis is facilitated under computerised system of accounting.

f. Automated Document Production: Under Computerised Accounting Systems, the accounting reports such as, Cash Book, Trial balance, Statement of Accounts, etc. is very easy to obtain. This is because most of the computerised systems have standardised and user-defined format of accounting reports that are generated automatically.

g. Scalability: The computerised systems of accounting are highly scalable as the requirement of additional manpower is mainly confined to data entry for recording and storing the additional vouchers in the computers. Thus, the additional cost of processing additional transactions is meagre as compared to the cost associated with hiring new accountants to handle additional transactions.

h. Legibility: In Computerised Accounting Systems, the accounting records are typed and presented in standard fonts. The various characters especially numbers, alphabets, graphics, etc. are more clear and can be read without any difficulty and ambiguity.