Individuals who adopt what’s called a “productive lazy approach” doesn’t mean they are choosing to be stupid or lazy. Whether it’s running business operations, handling administration like invoicing and payroll, or tracking prospects/sales, there’s always a more efficient way to run the show. This is the same for any type of software, but especially so for cloud accounting. According to Peter Taylor, author of The Lazy Project Manager, project managers (and entrepreneurs alike) proactively choose a better, smarter, and faster way of doing things when using this approach. In a world of ‘Productive Laziness,’ adopters of this approach focus on what really matters and to remain in control. When you translate that to the cloud accounting world, it’s the same. A successful small business builds itself upon a foundation of systems and processes. They can be simple systems or complicated processes. But by investing in these little details early, small business owners are choosing a more focused approach to run their business sustainably. Choose cloud accounting software that doesn’t feel like a chore Small business cloud accounting shouldn’t be tedious. Traditionally, accounting software consumes much more effort and time than it would now. Not only does this take away value, but it sucks up the fun and enjoyable part of running a truly small business. That’s why choosing not just any cloud accounting software—but the right accounting software—for your truly small business is key to improving efficiency. Why use the cloud? When you hear “the cloud,” what it’s really referring to are servers that are accessed through the Internet. It’s where software and databases run their data through. In simple terms, the mysterious term “the cloud” is where your data is ultimately stored. Think internet banking, Gmail, Facebook, DropBox, or any other type of digital shared services. When truly small businesses adopt software applications that leverage the cloud—like cloud accounting—they are essentially choosing to run their business in a smarter, better, and more efficient way. Now that’s the productive lazy approach! The cons of traditional accounting software Traditionally, cons to previous accounting systems were useful during its times. But now, traditional cloud accounting systems do not provide the same efficiency that small business owners need to scale. Some cons include: Locations/Access Traditional accounting software requires a dedicated hard drive where your software is installed (and where your financial data is stored). Because of that, personal data is only accessible on one computer where the desktop application is stored. Likewise, this data can’t be accessed from any other device or network. Now imagine a USB stick that holds your data. Transferring this data from one computer to another means that you have to rely on having that computer hard drive or USB stick with you wherever you go to gain access. It’s inconvenient, especially if your business typically requires you to be on-the-go. Security Like the previous point, traditional accounting software often allows confidential or personal data to bounce back from one place to another. This increases security risk and compared to cloud accounting, serves as less reliable to users. Affordability Cost is another factor that accentuates the difference between traditional accounting softwares and cloud accounting. Backups must be done regularly and can complicate things further, if done at all. Customer Support Finally, customer support is often expensive and slow in traditional accounting softwares. Nowadays, cloud accounting softwares places a lot more emphasis on customer service, with growing customer success teams within companies to help drive that point home. While some accounting software focus their strategy on impressing customers with multiple features, other accounting softwares allocate their efforts on simplicity and a one-size-fits-all solution. Kashoo, for example, does just that. Recently awarded the “Best Support” accounting software according to The Blueprint, 2020, Kashoo has consistently proven its commitment to amazing customer support compared to 400 other software companies. Made by small business owners and for small business owners, Kashoo’s support team is dedicated to responding to all enquiries within a 24-hours or less and can be reached by email or telephone. Their support team is also available to chat via Intercom between 6am to 5pm PST. Plus, a Help Centre is also available for common Q&As in case you’re looking for a quick fix! As companies adopt technologies to build better engagements with customers, customers on the receiving end are receiving more personalized, messenger-based experiences with the company. Increasingly, chatbots and other conversational support platforms are a must when providing customers with seamless and positive user experience. Improve your small business today with cloud accounting If you have chosen to take a productive lazy approach to your business, then so should your cloud accounting. With the help of a wonderful thing called technology, not only does accounting not have to feel like a chore, but it completely outpaces traditional counterparts in many ways. Whether that’s affordability, customer support, access, or security, cloud accounting can truly help improve your business—just like how adopting a productive lazy approach can for other aspects of your business and your personal life. Leverage cloud accounting processes today to streamline your business and its books. Try TrulySmall Accounting’s 14-day free trial today to see how our simple, yet useful features can help you get organized in no time.
