Microsoft has previewed its SMB SaaS accounting product, Project Madeira.  I have a software package of my own, Project Thunderbird. You look at your finances and then drink yourself into a stupor until the results look like something that will make you happy. ... Last week, I was working at my computer and a friend dropped by. Every time I hit a key, an insult would spew out. "You haven't got a clue what you're doing. I've known hard drives that are smarter than you."

Avalara has certified a connection to Rockton Connect, an accounting application built on Dynamics CRM. Built by Rockton Software, Connect is designed for the QuickBooks-level financial software user. The certification from sales-and-use tax vendor Avalara means those who use the Rockton product can utilize Avalara's cloud-based software engine to perform sales tax calculations.

Abila has added a Benefit Enrollment module to its MIP Fund Accounting and cloud-based MIP Advance software. The nonprofit software company said the new product is a companion to the Human Resources and Employee Web Services modules. The new module offers open enrollment via a Web-based portal. Abila, based in Austin, Texas-based, has also introduced an MIP Advance role-based budget dashboard and invoice entry for Accounts Payable.