Data is one of the least understood parts of system change. Many clients assume it’s a simple export and import process. The pain comes when they realise extraction can be expensive, time-sensitive, and sometimes non-refundable. By that point, money has already been spent and options have narrowed.
One of the biggest problems with system change is expectation. Clients often believe that once a new system goes live, everything improves straight away.
Most clients come to The Software Coach through a trusted advisor. So the natural question is… what happens next?
Many clients assume system change has to happen all at once. Everything changes, all at once, and the business just adapts.
The pain shows up quickly. Teams feel overwhelmed, resistance builds, and adoption suffers because too much has changed at the same time. Even good systems struggle in that environment.
Most accountants have seen this play out. A client decides to implement a new system themselves, usually to save money or because the demo looked simple.
The problem is that what looks like a cost saving on day one often turns into disruption, stress, and a mess that shows up later in the Xero file or in the team.
The first week after going live is often where problems quietly begin. Teams feel slower, unsure, and tempted to fall back on old habits.
This video shares the one question that makes a real difference in that first critical week.
During system change, clients interact with many people. Software vendors, implementers, internal teams. But one constant usually remains.
Their accountant.
A common problem we hear from accountants is, “I’d like to do more app advisory, but I don’t know every app.”
The pain is real. There are thousands of tools out there, and it can feel risky to even start the conversation when you don’t want to give the wrong advice.
A situation accountants see a lot is clients asking, “Will Xero actually handle this for us?” And it’s a fair question.
They’re usually coming from something heavily customised, or something they’ve used for a long time, and the fear is losing functionality.
Timing matters far more than clients realise. We still hear people say, “We should wait until the end of the financial year.” That’s rarely necessary, and often not ideal.