Can accounting software really do it all?
It’s not that long ago the internet was born, then emails replaced letters, PDF’s replaced faxes.
I remember my first job in the mid-nineties, they purchased one computer that people took turns to use for client’s year end accounts. This saved the typist many hours of typing up sets of accounts. They then bought another which was used to process payroll.
Now we all have computers in our pockets, these are the days of the app, the things we can do now on our phones range from ordering a taxi or a takeaway to checking our electric and gas usage or dealing with daily banking tasks.
Technology is moving at a pace that’s difficult to keep up with and there isn’t a part of our lives that isn’t touched by it.
Accounting and business bookkeeping are no exception, as HMRC start to embrace new technology so every business must do the same. Most accounting software programs offer the ability to streamline our business tasks in some way.
The ability to take a photo of an invoice and upload it to your bookkeeping software is a relatively new one.
Software offering to automate all areas of your record keeping sound like the answer to a stress-free life and they can be, but (and there’s always a but) understanding the legislation and the basics of accounting and knowing what information is required will always have a significant bearing on record keeping tasks.
We’ve all seen the TV adverts from software manufacturers saying with a press of a button we can file our VAT returns or submit our tax returns (remember tax doesn’t have to be taxing!) but if the information has been entered incorrectly then it doesn’t matter how many times you press the magic software button the information will be wrong, even the best AI software needs some human interaction.
Knowledge is a powerful thing and that’s why BSN continuously review the technologies that are available and keep knowledge up to date adapting and using technology that helps rather than hinders day to day to work.
Covid caught out many companies who were just not prepared for the lockdown and the IT issues that followed. It was at least five years before the pandemic that BSN chose to adopt cloud computing and when the pandemic and the lockdown hit we were able to continue to work from home with minimal disruption.
BSN continue to look at all new branches of technology while also maintaining and progressing the personal training of all members of staff so that knowledge and technology can work hand in hand.
Who knows where technology will go in the next ten to twenty years, but BSN will be there to support you along the way.
If you are interested in improving your processes and making the most of technology but with a human hand to guide you then please get in touch with one of the team.