What is different from one company to the next is the operation of the companies’ core business.  If the core business has needs and requirements beyond what the accounting system provides, then, an operational system is needed to track and record the core activity for the business.  ​

Depending on the business, operational data (information) that needs to be tracked would be any of the following (but not limited to):

• Customer and Vendor information (CRM)
• Customer orders
• Vendor purchase orders (Manufacturing)
• Receipts of goods
• Inventory (Parts and finished goods)
• Shipments of Product
• Etc.

Some of this information is shared with Accounting.  So, it is important to design systems and processes that coordinate data entry that eliminates duplicative data and processes.

Finally, take note of the following facts:​

It is extremely counterproductive to attempt to use/adjust your accounting system to do operational tasks that it was not meant to handle.  ​

Similarly, it is extremely counterproductive and costly to create accounting type functionality in your core operational system.  ​

In other words, let the accounting system do what it was designed to do and nothing more.  Let your operational system do operational functions and nothing more.​