If you’ve hesitated until now to take your CPA firm into the cloud, it may be time to reconsider. Moving to the cloud can provide access to many of the standard programs you use every day, like Microsoft Office 365, QuickBooks, Great Plains, SAP, UltraTax or AdvanceFlow, but with all the benefits you can expect from cloud services like flexibility, ease of access, improved collaboration, mobile working, security, and terrific communication capabilities.

“We understand the amount of data that passes through a CPA’s hands on a daily basis,” says Matt Mehler, Vice President of Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, VirtuWorks. “And we take that into account with designing solutions for customers putting emphasis on dependability and security.”

With its powerful and user-friendly applications, Office 365 is the premier productivity tool available today. Word, PowerPoint, Excel, OneDrive for Business, Microsoft Teams, and a Corporate Social Network can all be installed across PCs, Macs, tablets, and most mobile devices. And when used in conjunction with Microsoft Azure and the programs you’re already using, your organization can seamlessly transform your business processes.

It Takes More Than Numbers

CPA and accounting firms have been hesitant to utilize cloud technology, mostly due to privacy and compliance requirements. Quality cloud technology now provides more stringent security than ever before. That makes giving cloud another look, well worth the time and effort.

Businesses should always look at the value realized for money invested, and wasted resources are unacceptable. Here are 5 ways moving to the cloud can help CPA firms save time and money while improving organizational workflow, communication, and security without negatively affecting operational efficiency.

  1. Secure cloud storage. Generous cloud file storage for client data and the ability to easily collaborate with customers and clients on important documents make it a win-win solution.
  2. Mobile apps across multiple platforms. CPAs, traditionally tied to their office desks, are now going as mobile. Cloud services like the Office 365 suite let you work on the go, which helps you easily and seamlessly extend your mobile footprint. If you have remote employees, cloud access can be securely enabled on multiple computers and mobile devices so users have what they need when and where they need it.
  3. Reduced maintenance and centralized administration. Monthly subscriptions help you avoid the cost and complications of running outdated software. When you partner with a managed service provider, you also reduce complexity with just one IT expense.
  4. Easy integration. Moving to the cloud with a knowledgeable service provider can actually ease the integration between traditional accounting apps, like QuickBooks, Sage One, FreshBooks, and Xero Accounting with Office 365 suite elements. Dynamics CRM can be bundled with Office 365 and provides an integrated add-on to Outlook, and Power BI is a robust, Excel-based reporting tool.
  5. Flexibility, reliability, and availability. Cloud services like Microsoft Azure offer secure and reliable computing resources and data storage, with multiple worldwide data centers that ensure 24/7 availability of your most critical information.

Counting Your Way to Cloud Success

No matter what size your CPA firm, the cloud, along with the Cloud offer a compelling solution for all your productivity and security needs. It saves time and facilitates greater output, two things which are never bad for business!