Tech news: Deloitte acquires cloud ERP/HCM platform

Big Four firm Deloitte announced that it has acquired substantially all the assets from cloud ERP/HCM automation platform SimplrOps (see story for more details). Deloitte noted it has a history of collaboration with SimplrOps, having previously worked with the company — which has provided operations and implementations for Workday, SAP and Oracle — on systems integration. The acquisition brings SimplrOps' functionality to Deloitte's services. The software platform allows for research and data insights. A security configuration matrix aids with staying ahead of internal audits. The system includes version and side-by-side report comparison capabilities; plus configuration change management capabilities for version control, auditing and debugging. Other features include auto-generated workbooks based on system configurations; the ability to review current configurations to track requirements, open items and follow-ups; visualizations of completed and scheduled technical events, along with statuses; impacted business process event tracking, including upcoming expirations; and release cadences from the large cloud ERP platforms, so users can analyze their configuration against new features and automatically identify impacts.

Intuit is testing a new user interface for QuickBooks Online, which combines it with Mailchimp in a single integrated platform (see story for more details). Customers can choose to opt in or out of the test. If participating businesses decide to opt out of the test, QuickBooks will automatically revert to its standard user interface. With the QuickBooks Online interface Intuit is currently testing, businesses will see a carousel that shows key applications they use every day to complete the jobs that need to be done. Businesses that choose to take part in the test can add an accountant during the test period. As a result, accountants will also see the new experience when they access their clients' books through QuickBooks Online Accountant. Accountants can choose to opt their client out of the test on their behalf. To do so, they can just click on the settings gear icon on the navigation bar on the top of the screen. A pop-up window will appear with a "Leave early access program" prompt at the bottom. Once they click on the prompt and submit the request, QuickBooks will revert to the standard format. 

Practice management software provider Ignition announced that Ignition's global president, Greg Strickland, is the new CEO, while the current CEO, co-founder Guy Pearson, transitions into an executive chairman role to focus more on strategy (see story for more details). Strickland has been president since March of last year. Prior to that, he led product management software provider ProductBoard and was also a leader in content management platform Box. Ignition also welcomed Amy Foo as its new chief financial officer. As CFO, Foo will be responsible for managing the company's financial health and operations. She will drive financial planning, manage capital to maximize ROI, and provide operational efficiency to support Ignition's ambitious growth. She most recently served as senior vice president of finance and revenue operations for employee engagement and performance platform Culture Amp. Prior to that she spent eight years as senior vice president of global finance operations and managing director for Australia/New Zealand for customer experience platform Zendesk.