Cloud Accounting – Is it time to embrace the cloud?

Posted by Ben Storey on Nov 9, 2012 in cloud accounting | 0 comments

When I first started out in the world of accountancy most clients kept their records manually. They used large cash books and ledgers which were written up diligently by their book-keepers. Some had computerised systems, this enabled more analytical reporting to help grow their business, statements could be generated at the push of a button to send out to customers and when necessary a backup could be taken and passed to their accountant. Now most of our clients have computerised systems, they are very good and they can save the client time and improve productivity. But time waits for no one and things have moved forward again. We can bank on-line, pay our bills on-line and do the supermarket shop on-line, so why not prepare your accounts on-line? It’s important to be able to access the relevant financial information for your business in real-time or as close to it as you can get. We have smart phones, laptops, tablets, work computers and more than one person wanting to access this information at any given time. This is where the cloud comes in… The information is accessible independent of your location. You can view, edit and even send invoices from your desk, your phone or your home. The data is held remotely, therefore no longer at risk from theft or fire in your office. The data is backed up automatically on multiple servers by the service provider. You don’t need to do anything. Efficiency is improved. Multiple users can access the data from multiple locations on multiple devices. The software is always up to date, saving further time and costs. Your accountant can access the data without you having to e-mail a backup and wait for it to be returned. We’re pretty excited by the new developments in technology; the new systems can talk to your CRM or project management software giving you the ability to grow your business with minimal fuss. We’re now partnered with Xero, one of the leading service providers of cloud accounting services, so if you have any queries or want to see a demo, please get in...