QuickBooks 2018 Desktop: What's New – Our Summary

by

It's time for the new release of QuickBooks 2018. Intuit has lifted its embargo, so now we can talk about what's new. Over the next few days, Insightful Accountant is posting a series of articles on these new, enhanced and improved features.

Traditionally, Intuit has had a focus within each new QuickBooks Desktop product release that either was intended to provide features for general users, features for accountant users, features for Enterprise users, or in some cases major technical changes. 

This year, it seems there are changes for everyone.

According to Intuit, the two most warmly received changes measured during trial testing are the new Multi-monitor Support feature and the security change associated, which allows users to "Remain Logged-in."

Without further ado, here's a list of what's new:

  • Multi-monitor Support
  • Remain Logged-in
  • Search Chart-of-Accounts
  • Cash/Accrual Toggle on reports
  • Past Due Stamp on Invoices
  • Enhanced Inventory Reports (customize columns)
  • Webmail Users: Secure Webmail
  • Payroll Users: Payroll Liability Reminder
  • Accountant Users: Merge Multiple Vendors
  • Enterprise Advanced Inventory Users: Sales Order Fulfillment Enhancements and Portable Scanner Option (and more) for Order Fulfillment
  • Enhanced Security and Behind-the-scenes Improvements

Multi-monitor support (for up to three monitors) makes it easy to move a QuickBooks window to a different monitor than the monitor where QuickBooks was resident. It also means that pop-up windows associated with the working window will appear on the correct monitor. That means no more having to track down pop-up messages hidden behind an un-associated window.

QuickBooks 2018 Desktop versions allow you to elect to Remain Logged-in to QuickBooks. That means you don't have to log-in every time you open or switch Company files. This is an optional preference, so in my feature article, I'll address "the good, bad and the ugly" safety and security aspects of this new preference. 

Ever have a hard time tracking down that account you know exists, but you just can find it in your COA? The reason is QuickBooks has never had a search feature within the Chart of Accounts list. But new for 2018 is the Chart-of-Accounts Search-box, which allows you to search by part or all of an Account Name or Number.

No more going through the motions of customizing your financial reports just to change the accounting basis. New for 2018 QuickBooks Desktop has added a Cash-Accrual Toggle right on the report to make changing your reports easier than ever.

QuickBooks 2018 Desktop displays a Past Due Stamp when viewing past due invoices. You can also elect to have the Past Due stamp print on invoices in either printed or PDF formats.

This new feature for 2018 is not only a quick way to identify your past due invoices, but also a way you can remind your customers they're beyond your payment terms.

All versions of QuickBooks 2018 Desktop, with the exception of QuickBooks Pro, now offer Enhanced Inventory Reports. With this feature, you can customize the columns within the Inventory Valuation Summary, Inventory Status by Item and Assembly Shortage by Item reports.

If you use Webmail to send email messages or forms from QuickBooks, the past technology has relied upon SMTP, which is no longer recommended by many Webmail providers. With the new Secure Webmail (enhanced security), you will use OAuth 2.0 – the industry standard to send emails.

By using this new feature, you won't need to enter your Webmail password in each session. You simply enter your credentials once as part of set up.

Users of QuickBooks Enhanced Payroll will find a new Payroll Liability Reminder within QuickBooks 2018 Desktop versions. This new badge (shown at the top of the next page) alerts you seven days prior to any payroll liability item deadlines.

Accountant versions of QuickBooks 2018 Desktop include an entirely new and different way of merging vendors. With this new Merge Vendors feature you can merge up to four vendors at one time. You can also retain relevant information from the vendors you're merging into the "master vendor" you're retaining.

QuickBooks Enterprise v18 is offering several new Sales Order related functionalities for Advanced Inventory users. These include enhanced Sales Orders as well as a Mobile Scanner option (or Android app) for order fulfillment.

Optional Enhanced Sales Order Fulfillment Worksheets are available. These can not only be used with the Mobile Scanner and Android app options, but also a new manual workflow. You will have real-time information on orders in fulfillment, as well as changes in available quantities not previously available within QuickBooks.

Sales Order Enhancements give you status updates and messaging concerning the order fulfillment process, even if you're only using the manual workflow's virtual update option rather than a hand scanner or Android app.

For 2018, QuickBooks Enterprise Advanced Inventory is offering a new Mobile Sales Order Fulfillment feature. There are actually three different versions of this feature: one option that relies upon a portable barcode scanner; one that uses an Android phone or table; and one that uses a manual workflow, but relies upon a virtual pick list.

Behind-the-scenes changes within QuickBooks 2018 include:

  • Upgrade of the database to Sybase 17 – provides enhanced performance, stability, security and data conformity
  • Upgrade to Microsoft Dot Net 4.6.2 – streamlines the application in conformity with coding revisions from Microsoft
  • Migration from SHA1 to SHA2 for User Credentials – eliminates "gaps" in user credential security and provides a more stable encryption of sensitive data
  • Encryption of PII data – enhanced encryption for sensitive financial information including bank feeds and payroll
  • Enhanced protection for SDK applications using unattended mode – intended on insuring enhanced and streamlines access security for SDK third-party applications

So, here's the "official" Intuit recap of features along with retail pricing information.

The prices reflected above are the standard retail price at the time of original publication of this article. Prices may vary based upon sales, promotions or vendor-volume discounting.

Editor's Note: The information and screen shots appearing in this article were taken from a pre-release version. There could be differences from what's included here and what exists within the initial or subsequent releases of the software.

Get the inside scoop on 2018 QuickBooks Desktop

Join us for our next "QB Talks" on Sept. 13, where our very own Murph will share what he knows about the new 2018 QuickBooks Desktop roll out. If you're using Desktop, this will be one of your first opportunities to get "the inside scoop."

To sign up for the 1 p.m. (EST) session, click HERE.

To sign up for the 6 p.m. (EST) session, click HERE.