Best Releases Peachtree 2005

Peachtree is part of Best's small-business portfolio, which also includes Timeslips billing management software. Last week at its Insight 2004 users conference, the Norcross, Ga.-based company unveiled a new application framework that uses Best's broad range of accounting packages as the foundation on which partners build business management applications.

The Best Software Integration Framework, combined with the new Best Software Common Desktop user interface, ties applications into cohesive suites aimed at different industries. The move pits Best against the likes of SAP, NetSuite and PeopleSoft as they ramp up for what is shaping up into a best-of-suite war around the SMB space.

Available now, Peachtree 2005 includes an online tool for tracking UPS shipments, mail-merge capabilities with Microsoft Word, automatically generated purchase orders and the ability to track inventory items that have been assigned serial numbers.

Using the UPS OnLine Tool, Peachtree customers now can access UPS's Web site, print shipping labels, estimate shipping costs and monitor tracking numbers. Tighter integration with Word makes it easier for users to create correspondence from information contained in Peachtree's database.

One feature that could resonate especially with customers is Peachtree's ability to automatically generate purchase orders based on user-defined rules regarding inventory levels and sales orders. In addition, customers of the higher-end Peachtree Premium Accounting packages can now assign serial numbers to specific, big-ticket items then use that information for tracking and warranty services.

Suggested retail price for Peachtree Premium Accounting 2005 is about $500. Peachtree Complete Accounting 2005 is $300, Peachtree Accounting 2005 costs $200 and Peachtree First Accounting 2005 is $100. Multiuser packs start at $700.

Best said rebates are available for current Peachtree and "select competitive customers."