3 minutes read

By Sue Hirst, Director of CFO On-Call

The ‘Cloud’ is a term for describing online software delivery and data housing. Until recent years, most business owners have used software and kept data on their computer hard disk.

Software updates had to be downloaded and data had to be backed up and a copy kept off-site for security purposes. Data had to be transferred between bookkeepers, businesses and accountants.

There is now a better way – via the Cloud.

Cloud Commerce provides the ability to work on live data anywhere, anytime. Staff can work from home at midnight if it suits them; advisors can fix up issues that SMEs raise, without having to travel to get the ‘true’ data and reduce the risks associated with loss of access to files and apps.

Most of us have been banking in the Cloud for many years now and Cloud Commerce is now the ‘norm’.

The pros of Cloud Commerce far outweigh the cons. Some people worry about the security of their data and about the Internet going down.

Having data on computer hard disks is less secure than having it in the Cloud!

Most cloud commerce organisations use extremely reputable and use secure servers for housing systems and data.

In most cases, the internet is reliable and rarely malfunctions, when it does, it’s generally for hours rather than days. We are on a path to greater Internet speed every day.

What should you be looking for in an online accounting system?

Here are some questions to ask:

  • Is it provided by a reputable and solid organisation? Who is involved?
  • Where is the system and data housed and is it safe?
  • If it’s free, how much will it cost to retrieve data if you chose to move to another system?
  • How is support delivered?
  • Is there a local presence or is it a ‘faceless’ Internet page?
  • Does it create greater efficiencies than desktop software, such as automatic bank feeds to reduce bookkeeping data entry time?
  • What functions does it include?
  • Does it handle local taxes and compliance?
  • Is it scalable with ‘Add-Ons’ such as Inventory, Job Management, CRM, Payroll, E-commerce, etc.?
  • How much training is available for users and how do I access it?
  • Are there a good number of advisors who work with the system?
  • Will it create efficiencies working with your Accountant and will it reduce their fees?

The smart model for cloud commerce is to build a robust general accounting engine and allow for seamless integration of add-ons. This follows the ‘best of breed’ theme and means each provider can focus on and provide the very best solution using their know-how.

Add-ons such as Inventory management, Job management, E-commerce, CRM, Mobile workforce management would be very difficult for one provider to develop effectively.

Here’s a typical business using desktop software scenario:

The bookkeeper enters all transactions and has to perform bank reconciliations, check each bank transaction from a bank statement against the accounting system and tick them off.

Pretty much all of the Cloud Accounting systems have bank feeds, which means they are linked to the bank account and entries are automatically fed into the system.

The system recognises the amount of the bank transaction and matches up with its own transactions. All the bookkeeper has to do is click the OK button.

Some systems also have system-to-system transactions, i.e. if a supplier and customer are working on the same system, purchase orders and invoices can be automatically received into each system without the need for a bookkeeper to enter them.

The time and cost saving of this repetition can far outweigh the monthly subscription fee of an online accounting system.

Probably the biggest benefit of online software is the ability for business owners and CFO advisors to have real time access to vital financial information.