Struggling to reconcile Cin7 and Xero? This step-by-step guide walks you through syncing these two systems, clarifying transaction triggers, setting proper lock dates, and running a clean month-end close. Learn how to fix misalignments in sales, purchases, COGS, and inventory without relying on messy manual journals. Download checklists and tools to streamline your process and finally get your books in sync.
Fishbowl and Cin7 Core (formerly DEAR) are popular inventory and manufacturing platforms, but they cater to different business needs. Fishbowl is a legacy, on-premise solution primarily built as a QuickBooks add-on for U.S.-based manufacturers, offering strong internal inventory and production control with a one-time licensing option. Cin7 Core, conversely, is a modern, cloud-native "mini-ERP" designed for fast-scaling, multi-channel businesses, emphasizing seamless integration with e-commerce, advanced manufacturing capabilities, and a subscription-based model. The article concludes that Cin7 Core is generally more future-proof for businesses seeking agility, scalability, and broad integration in a modern, cloud environment, while Fishbowl remains a solid choice for those deeply committed to QuickBooks and on-premise control.
Learn how to optimize your Cin7 WMS setup to reduce stock errors, improve picking accuracy, and streamline fulfillment. Expert tips and configuration insights inside.
Are your margins lying to you? If you’re not fully tracking landed cost in Cin7, they might be. This guide breaks down why landed cost, often ignored, is the hidden margin killer in inventory-based businesses. Learn what it includes, how Cin7’s built-in tools are commonly underused, and how to implement it properly to avoid inflated margins, inaccurate COGS, and costly surprises. Discover the step-by-step playbook Fiskal uses to turn guesswork into clarity, and spreadsheets into confident decision-making.
Most product businesses breathe a sigh of relief when they hit “go-live” on their ERP. The software is live. The project is “done.” Everyone pats themselves on the back.
Except… six months later, finance still can’t get clean data. Sales is logging orders manually. Operations has three different reorder systems. And nobody, nobody, trusts the numbers.
Sound familiar?
That’s because ERP implementation ≠ ERP adoption.
In this article, I address the common issue of Cin7 implementations not fully delivering on their promise and guides product-based businesses on whether to tweak their existing setup or undertake a more significant rebuild. I argue that a poor initial setup often leads to significant operational and financial issues, suggesting a controlled rebuild (stopping syncs, running stocktakes, archiving noise, reviewing product lists, documenting processes, and reconnecting systems cleanly) is often the necessary path to achieve a functional and trustworthy Cin7 environment. I provide three key questions to help businesses determine if a tweak is sufficient or if a rebuild is required for clarity, control, and confidence.
Most product businesses treat ERP implementation—like Cin7 Core—as a finish line. It’s not. It’s the starting point. In conversation with Christo (Fiskal’s COO and former ERP implementer), Jaco unpacks why so many ERP rollouts stall post-go-live.
The core issue? Lack of operational integration. ERP systems are often implemented without real input from the teams who’ll actually use them. The result is bad data, broken reporting, and a disconnect between operations and finance. Without a feedback loop that ties daily activity to system configuration, ERP becomes a record-keeping tool—not a decision-making engine.
Christo’s view is blunt: clean data is the system. If your stock isn’t right, your margins won’t be. If your POs aren’t closed, your financials are fiction. For ERP to deliver value, it must reflect how your team works—and your team must be trained to work with it.
At Fiskal, the goal isn’t to “go live.” It’s to stay live, week after week, with accurate data driving real insight. That’s why ERP must be treated as a living system—continuously refined, with ops and finance pulling in the same direction.
In this final part of my Odoo vs. Xero series, I wrap up by comparing compliance, support, and cost. Based on my analysis, I find that Xero stands out for its user-friendly interface, making it a great fit for smaller businesses needing straightforward accounting, though it often relies on third-party apps for more advanced collaboration, multi-step approvals, or integrated project management. On the other hand, I see Odoo offering a more comprehensive, integrated suite with highly detailed user permissions, strong built-in tools like Chatter for real-time collaboration, and robust, customizable workflow and task management through its native modules. While Odoo's ERP structure provides superior scalability for high transaction volumes and extensive customization possibilities, I conclude that this flexibility generally requires a steeper learning curve and potentially more development resources compared to Xero's simpler, off-the-shelf approach.
In this article, I outline a strategic approach to building a finance function for scaling product businesses, emphasizing the importance of understanding core operations first, then integrating finance processes with a focus on automation, and finally leveraging deep-dive Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) with validated data for effective decision-making, drawing inspiration from Mark Cuban's philosophy of system independence.
In this article, I argue that current tariffs are not just a cost issue but a stress test revealing the operational weaknesses of product businesses relying on disconnected systems and poor data visibility. I emphasize the need for connected financial and operational data, channel-aware reporting, and robust financial planning (FP&A) to build resilience against market volatility, offering a path for businesses to gain control over their data and decision-making.
In 2025, the ecommerce landscape is booming, with online sales reaching new heights. However, this growth brings unique financial challenges that can overwhelm business owners. Hiring an ecommerce accountant is not just a smart move—it’s essential for navigating these complexities and ensuring long-term success. This overview explores why ecommerce businesses need specialized financial help, the roles of different professionals, when to seek assistance, and the benefits of partnering with an expert.