For many small and growing businesses, ABSS (formerly MYOB) has been a trusted and reliable accounting solution.
It offers a solid foundation for managing finances, compliance, and day-to-day bookkeeping.
However, as your business evolves, so do your operational demands, and this is where the limitations of an entry-level accounting system can begin to surface.
When Growth Outpaces Basic Accounting
As your operations become more complex, you may find yourself needing capabilities that go beyond traditional accounting. Common challenges include:
- Managing inventory with greater precision, including:
- Serial and batch tracking
- Expiry dates
- Product variants (size, colour, grade, etc.)
- Calculating and allocating landed costs
- Running Materials Requirements Planning (MRP)
- Planning and controlling production schedules
- Monitoring shop floor execution
- Ensuring quality control, traceability, and compliance
- Supporting job-based costing and service workflows
These requirements typically fall under broader operational domains such as:
- Inventory Management
- Manufacturing
- Distribution
- Jobbing (Make-to-Order/Project-based work)
- Service Management
At this stage, many businesses assume that the only path forward is a full ERP implementation, which often entails significant investment, system disruption, and staff retraining.
A Smarter Alternative: Extend ABSS with Ostendo
What if you didn’t have to replace ABSS at all?
Enter Ostendo, an operations-focused solution that seamlessly extends your existing ABSS system.
Ostendo provides advanced operational capabilities while allowing you to continue using ABSS for your accounting.
Developed by Development-X Limited in Auckland, New Zealand, Ostendo is purpose-built for businesses that have outgrown basic systems but are not ready, or do not want, to transition to a full-scale ERP.
What Ostendo Brings to the Table
By integrating Ostendo with ABSS, you gain access to a comprehensive set of operational tools, including:
Advanced Inventory Management
- Multi-dimensional tracking (serial numbers, batches, expiry dates)
- Support for product variations (size, colour, grade)
- Full traceability across supply chains
Manufacturing & Production Control
- Materials Requirements Planning (MRP)
- Production scheduling and planning
- Shop floor execution and monitoring
- Bill of Materials (BOM) management
Costing & Procurement
- Landed cost tracking (freight, duties, taxes)
- Supplier management and purchasing workflows
Quality & Traceability
- Track products from raw materials through to finished goods
- Support compliance and audit requirements
Job & Service Management
- Job costing and tracking
- Resource allocation
- Service workflows and project visibility
Why This Matters
Instead of undergoing a disruptive and costly ERP migration, you can:
- Leverage your existing ABSS investment
- Minimize operational disruption
- Reduce retraining requirements
- Scale your business at your own pace
- Gain enterprise-grade capabilities at a fraction of the cost
Who Should Consider Ostendo?
Ostendo is ideal for ABSS users who:
- Are experiencing growth in operations complexity
- Need deeper visibility into inventory and production
- Have begun managing manufacturing, distribution, or projects
- Want to avoid the risks and costs of a full ERP migration
Future-Proofing Your Business
Growth is a good problem to have, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of system inefficiencies or operational blind spots.
With Ostendo, you can continue building on the trusted foundation of ABSS while equipping your business with the tools needed to scale confidently.
What Ostendo Does Not Do
While Ostendo delivers powerful operational capabilities, it is important to understand that it is not an accounting system.
Ostendo does not replace your financial software, instead, it is designed to work alongside it.
No Native Accounting Functions
Ostendo does not handle core accounting activities such as:
- General ledger
- Accounts receivable & payable
- Financial reporting and compliance
- Tax calculations and submissions
Designed to Complement Your Accounting System
To get the full benefit of Ostendo, you will need to have an accounting solution in place.
Ostendo integrates with these platforms, allowing you to connect financial data with real-time operational insights across inventory, manufacturing, and service processes.
Let’s Help You Take the Next Step
If you’re an existing ABSS user and starting to feel the limitations of entry-level accounting software, Ostendo could be the perfect next step.
Contact us today to learn how Ostendo can extend your ABSS system and support your business growth, without the complexity and cost of a full ERP upgrade.