7 Good Reasons to Step into the Cloud

7 Good Reasons to Step into the Cloud

Resources

by | Nov 30, 2017 | Resources

7 Good Reasons to Step into the Cloud

By Paul Johnson
CPA, CGMA, MBA

Today, we can get answers to just about anything we need with a few clicks. So, if your company wants to remain an industry leader, moving to the cloud really is a necessary step. We know change is hard, so here are seven reasons to make your decision easier.

cloud computing

1. Time Is Money

Naturally, many companies resist moving beyond on-premises software because it’s familiar. But however familiar current setups may feel, cranking out piles of manual entry, re-keying that same data into other systems, and then explaining endless customizations to IT takes time, and time costs money. When businesses move to the cloud, reports come together instantly through automation, data travels effortlessly between integrated systems, and user-customizable business metrics show what’s happening in real-time. All that efficiency conserves resources.

2. The Answers Are Quick for the Taking

Financial data sitting in on-premises systems is data in isolation. Because cloud users get 24/7 access to update and modify company information, their data comes alive. Stakeholders, decision-makers, and sales teams can build strategies that drive the company forward.

3. Bottlenecking is Expensive

Few things in your finance department consume your team’s time more than spreadsheets and workarounds. When companies move to the cloud, they begin working smarter, faster, and more cost effectively. Streamlining builds space into team schedules, giving them time to tackle more projects without adding more man hours.

cloud computing

4. Automation Energizes Your Business

Established businesses often struggle with automation because they’re deeply rooted in spreadsheet and paper trail systems. When companies see how even one day with automation can transform their business, they quickly see the value. Automation streamlines workdays, ramps up productivity, ensures accuracy and trims down expenses.

5. Accounting Teams Aren’t Mind Readers

Sometimes only you know what you need when you need it. Easy customization and report configuration is a unique rescue feature designed by best-in-class cloud solutions. When decision-makers work in the cloud, they always have their unique business metrics at their fingertips for critical analysis, be it 5 AM or 11 at night.

6. Time Moves More Quickly, and So Does Business

Back in the day, we needed IT to get anything customized. Now, it’s all in the software. When you link up with a configuration-based setup like Sage Intacct, not only can you modify your own fields and data, customize your own dashboards, and drill down into metrics, but you can easily collaborate with teams anywhere in the world for answers beyond the data.

7. Strong Businesses Think and Plan Ahead

Your clients need fast answers, but your teams need them too – like real-time operational metrics to build tomorrow’s strategies, and unique invoice tagging options to weigh in on new product success. Cloud tools support your teams to deliver the best possible service today, and help your teams plan ahead for the company’s future.

In the cloud, teams are out there collaborating online and inside of transactions. They’re accessing data from around the world. Invoices are turning more quickly. Global consolidations are happening with one click. Data in the cloud is data that moves.

Are you ready to ditch spreadsheets, workarounds, bottlenecking, slow answers and yesterday’s solutions for quick customizations, integrations, real-time reports, strong automation, deep insights and powerful collaboration?

Need more clarity? Let’s break it down to help you find a solution to uplift your company for the long haul. Give us a quick call – we’re here to help you!

Companies in Motion: The Risks of Standing Still

Companies in Motion: The Risks of Standing Still

Accounting 101

by | Nov 24, 2017 | Accounting 101

Companies in Motion: The Risks of Standing Still

By Paul Johnson
CPA, CGMA, MBA

Standing still may be the right thing to do in many business situations, but when your company’s financial systems aren’t keeping up with growth, standing still may be doing more harm than good.

When forward-thinking companies grow rapidly by offering tech-savvy products and services, they soon realize their current financial systems aren’t performing as well as they once did. These companies know they need to move to more relevant software, but often stay with their current, ill-fitting systems for fear of making a wrong decision. These companies might not realize that by standing still, they put their company growth at risk.

business in motion

RISK #1: OUTDATED SYSTEMS CAN’T KEEP UP

As companies evolve to new products and services, their decision-makers find they need new data, answers, and processes. So they build all kinds of spreadsheets and workarounds. In short, their old systems don’t flex well to accommodate their new productivity demands.

RISK #2: CHANGING ROLES REQUIRE DIFFERENT SKILL SETS

Many CFOs see their roles changing, and are good with that, but don’t feel they are operating at peak performance because they aren’t confident their current tools and technologies handling tasks in their new roles. Their old systems are good at solving old problems, but not so good at solving new ones.

RISK #3: DIGITAL GROWTH CAN CAUSE FAST FAILURE

Finally, many businesses have the ideas and desire to grow with technology, but few find fast success because they don’t scale their internal systems to accommodate the new moving parts that come with diversifying their services. Their old systems are holding them back.

THE SOLUTION: GET MOVING

Companies in motion stay in motion and nothing screams yesterday’s technology quite like an Excel spreadsheet. If fast-moving companies are still using them to run their books, they may not be supporting their teams, or projecting an innovative image.

business in motion

They need systems with strong automation that can flex and stretch with more complex compliance standards, and book closings– not another kinda-current report concocted from stagnant data housed on a clunky on-premises system.

They need user-customizable options to handle new products and a greater volume of subscriptions. You know, something that supports frequent and detailed billing and real-time reporting to show deep metrics on varying types of revenue recognition.

They need a cloud accounting system with longevity. Configuration-driven software, like Sage Intacct, maximizes user value compared to other cloud setups that require IT costs and frequent upgrades to stay relevant.

Finally, tech-savvy companies need fast answers, zero downtime, someone else handling updates and security, and not having to hire on more IT staff to stay competitive.

Drop us a line, or give us a call – We can help your business leverage its strengths by guiding you to the right tools your company needs to stay moving!