It may seem like a distant memory now or could possibly be a very recent reality for you, but no matter when your nonprofit began, the start-up process likely had similar feelings and realities. There was great emotion and excitement of the possibilities and potential impact your organization could make, yet fear and trepidation of the unknowns. Money was tight, and needs (personnel, supplies, etc.) were great. “Extra” was only in your vocabulary to represent all of the needs for more time, resources, space, etc. As your nonprofit grows, some of these extremes have likely been reduced a bit, but it is also so easy to be involved in the day-to-day operations that you forget about the need to keep up and get ahead. If this is your reality, are you potentially overlooking important technology that could propel your nonprofit forward through modern Cloud computing options?
As nonprofits, your organization likely grew organically and only added on technology as it was desperately needed and when it could be afforded. This approach allowed your organization to adequately address immediate needs but nothing more. You may see your nonprofit still lagging behind the time, or may be noticing that the systems you do have are simply unfit and underqualified for the demands of keeping accounting and financial reporting systems updated in our modern world. It’s hard to keep up with the technology industry that changes so quickly and costs so much, but poorly integrated systems may end up being more costly due to lost productivity, poor data accuracy, and unnecessary delays or errors in accounting processes and reporting. Realistically, these factors translate into lost opportunity for your nonprofit. Although many bells and whistles exist that aren’t necessary, there are some that are necessary. If there is one solution you’ll need to keep up, it is Cloud computing. The growing trend of transferring financial reporting to Cloud computing venues eliminates many issues but also provides for many opportunities.
Do you want to create an advantage by adopting Cloud-based technology and achieve more work efficiency at the same time? Over the past few years, Cloud computing has emerged as a powerful tool to do just that. It offers sophisticated automation, freedom from hardware-based solutions, a substantial decrease in the need for lots of costly Information Technology assistance and support, and secure and instant access to information anywhere at any time. Beck and Company Certified Public Accountants and Business Advisors believe these factors can take your organization to a whole new level of success because they allow you to have your reporting needs met with only the level of robustness you need based on the size of your organization. Ultimately, this technology will help you have your finances in order and more readily accessible. At Beck and Company CPAs, we can help you use this more accurate and real-time data to make nonprofit financial audits easy. Learn more about our auditing services. We also offer technology consulting services to help you get what you need in a Cloud form. Find out more here. Now, let’s take a closer look at what Cloud-based technology is all about.
What is Cloud-based technology?
Cloud-based technology is often referred to as Software as a Service (SaaS). With a SaaS solution, staff can begin working immediately with the new software from any device with an Internet connection. Cloud-based solutions bundle all that you need– hardware, network, storage, services and software—into one system that is accessed anywhere, anytime via a web browser. Cloud computing applications support many of the things you already use online for your nonprofit including:
• Banking
• Applications
• Social media sites including Facebook or LinkedIn
Contact Beck and Company CPAs to find out more about why your nonprofit would benefit from the Cloud and how you can get a Cloud accounting solution to keep your financial records in order and make the nonprofit financial audits we would be pleased to conduct for you less complicated.