Quickbooks 2010: The Rise of the IPP

With the release of Quickbooks 2010 a not so well kept secret is out. If you've already installed the program I'm sure you noticed the Intuit Marketplace. The Intuit Marketplace brings adynamic to Quickbooks that will result in a sea change for users. So what's the big deal?

Intuit has been quietly developing their Partner Platform and Federated App Engine for quite some time. I shouldn't say quietly, developers are well aware of what's been happening. Those who have not heard of it yet are the ones who are going to benefit the most. Here's why it's important, developers now have the ability to program in various languages and then launch through the Intuit Partner Platform.

Translated into CPA speak "it means that there's now a lot of people who can build things for exactly what you need". Soon you will design your own Quickbooks experience. The application marketplace is clearly aimed at building off the success of Salesforce's Force.com offering and with over 4 million users the market is ripe for the picking. Applications will be developed specifically for problems facing Quickbooks users everyday. Think of an issue and like the iPhone commercial Intuit will be able to say "hey, we've got an app for that". Unless of course you're looking for the "Making Clients Timely" app which has been under intense development but remains unfinished.

Right now the offerings on the Intuit Marketplace remain relatively meager but that's all going to change. In fact, I suspect that the entire Quickbooks UX (user experience) is about to change. It seems that Quickbooks 2010 is just a taste of what's to come. In another two years Quickbooks will probably be completely SaaS and literally customizable. Quickbooks will become an intensely personal experience i.e. you will download the apps and create your own Intuit experience. You have to admit that the potential here is pretty crazy. Developers are certainly excited but I have not seen much excitement from the Quickbooks community as of yet.

I think we need to give this one time as it's going to evolve as customer needs are met and realized.