Exact is introducing Exact Online Accountant, in the same way that Intuit has QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Online Accountant. In both cases, the online application enables accountants to see into their clients' files and collaborate with them in the primary web-based accounting title.

Accountants will also be able to earn certification in Exact Online, says David Lechleitner, a product marketing principal for the software company and the product will help them work together. "If I have a clients that is doing his own accounting, instead of sending email," says Lechleitner, "If I am connected I can say within my application."

Although Exact has long had programs for accounting communities in its home nation, it has not had them here. Lechleitner notes the relationship between accountants and clients are much different in that country.

"The first thing coming is customer relation management and document management and then we will build out time and billing," he said.

When Exact introduced the cloud package two years ago, it said its primary means of distribution would be to piggyback on the QuickBooks market, going for users that were outgrowing the Intuit package.

However, a year ago, Exact CEO Erik van der Meijden said the company had concluded QuickBooks customers did not want to purchase an industry application—Exact Online has been designed for manufacturers and wholesalers, although it is likely to be developed for other verticals.

So the company said it would use the marketing programs of its three American manufacturing packages—JobBoss, Macola and Max—to promote Exact Online and the company also decided to enlist its Macola resellers.