The right tool for the job

Все говорят: Кремль, Кремль.

—В. Ерофеев [1]

To paraphrase the epigraph: Все говорят: 1С, 1С. Or for our non-Russian speaking readers: Everybody says: "1C, 1C". The 1C:Enterprise platform commands a sizable market share in ex-USSR countries. As well, as a relevant degree of mind-share among accounting/finance profession in the region. So much so, we would not be surprised to see it used for hammering the nails, so universal a tool it is perceived to be. Among those in the know, that is.

We have produced a number of automation projects which involved 1C in one way or another: from a simple bookkeeping ledger to a quite sophisticated (by our standards, anyway) contract/invoice management system for a sizable construction project. As with most automation projects, the after-implementation support can give another lease of life to projects one considered completed. But the focus of this blog will mostly be on a single finance/contract management automation project which we have mostly (see previous sentence) completed.

Indeed, retracing our steps back to the beginning and unwinding our thought process may prove the usefulness and universality of 1C in the process. But our aim is also to show where some other - perhaps simpler, nonetheless right for the job - tools shine much brighter in the process.

Our set goal of unwinding will tend to be a bit technical at times, but as a side benefit, it is our hope that it also gives a glimpse of a project's life to finance/accounting professionals and that they may find it beneficial for planning the scope and expectations from simialar project of their own.

So, here we are. Enjoy the ride with us. We do agree, though, this much: 1C is a marverlous tool. Just don't try to hammer the nails with it. And if you have, let's us know how it went!