Did you log in recently to QuickBooks Online to find you have a new dashboard entitled Quick Tasks?
What are Quick Tasks?
Quick Tasks are part of an Intuit initiative to create an easier, more user-friendly QuickBooks.
So, what do you get by using Quick Tasks?
Quick Tasks means fewer clicks to your most used features. Instead of using either the Navigation Bar in combination with Centers or the +New Button, users can choose the Quick Tasks dashboard option with the top used features at their fingertips. This means that instead of several click-throughs to needed features, users can quickly begin tasks.
The Dashboard is grouped by categories. These categories are familiar QuickBooks Centers: Customers, Vendors, and Workers. Each of these options was chosen due to their common end-user usage.
Source: Intuit QuickBooks Online Accountant
Liz_QuickTasks_01
Why use Quick Tasks?
Performance Speed is always a factor. Not only does using the Quick Tasks mean fewer clicks, but it also means faster performance speeds. The new dashboard is promised to load faster.
Source: Intuit QuickBooks Beta Quick Tasks Online Documentation
Liz_QuickTasks_02
But Watch Out!
Projects: "Don't just click-it! There is no way to turn off Projects if you turn them on."
By clicking on Projects from the Quick Tasks dashboard, they will be automatically turned on, even if not previously. This means you will not get the typical option to turn on Projects, instead by clicking on Projects, you have indicated you want to use them. Therefore, Projects have turned on automatically. The biggest downside is if this was merely a curiosity of trying out this new dashboard, too bad, Projects cannot be turned off, and you now have them turned on forever.
Source: QuickBooks Online Accountant Beta Quick tasks Dashboard feature
Liz_QuickTasks_03
To find the Project setting go to the Gear Icon, Account and Settings, Advanced then Projects. You can see once turned on Projects does not have a pencil icon to edit and turn off Projects.
Source: QuickBooks Accountant, the standard (Account and Settings > Advanced > Projects tracking settings)
Liz_QuickTasks_04
Quick Tasks Beta Test
Quick Tasks is a BETA test, and Intuit would like your feedback. If you are interested in sharing your opinions, click on Learn more and the feedback poll will pop up.
Source: Intuit QuickBooks Beta Quick task feedback survey option
Liz_QuickTasks_05
My Thoughts
As a trainer and during monthly client meetings, I will encourage small business owners to use the new Quick Tasks if it fits their workflow. As an accountant user, I will opt for the traditional Business Overview dashboard, which allows the status of the business to be seen easily.
Let’s face it; we have become accustomed to now, which means if we can get the same product in less load time and fewer clicks then that is a selling point for some users.