The decline of desktop: why these small businesses switched to the cloud

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While the connectivity offered through cloud accounting has become the modern standard for many small businesses, it can seem hard to make the first step. But those who have done so have never looked back. We caught up with three small businesses to learn how and why they switched from desktop to the cloud.

Shyamala Benakovic, Yoga Australia

Shyamala Benakovic heads up Yoga Australia which is a non-profit on a mission to make yoga safer for everyone involved. Since she joined the organisation, Shyamala has elected to switch accounting platforms to get the business streamlined.

“We were using a desktop platform previously. But we needed more transparent reporting so anyone could log on and access information that was relevant to them”, says Shyamala. “Choosing and using Xero has worked out well for us. It’s really easy to reconcile our accounts.”

Wherever possible, they have automated back-end systems to save time and costs. For example, Shyamala has integrated member invoicing directly into Xero. It’s a best practice example that other member-driven organisations can follow.

“We have an integration into our member database so that a Xero invoice is raised automatically for all new members. It saves so much time.”

Scott Leggo, Scott Leggo Gallery

Award-winning Australian landscape photographer Scott Leggo and his wife Phillipa are a picture perfect example of what’s possible when you embrace cloud-based services in business.

Together they operate the business behind scottleggo.com to provide Australian landscape photography as wall art for homes and workplaces. They moved to a 100% cloud-based business after implementing Xero in 2014.

“Bank feeds and the simplicity of Xero have saved us time, which is invaluable to any business,” says Phillipa. “And having a real-time financial picture of our business creates a sense of trust that things are going well and a degree of performance assessment not otherwise possible.”

Xero is now just one of the many cloud-based products used by the business. “We’re always looking for ways to simplify and automate processes to generate leverage,” Scott says. “Xero integrates with our CRM system, ecommerce store and other apps, allowing seamless integration across all of our cloud-based systems.

“Because everything works so well together without the requirement for any physical infrastructure, it’s great for doing business in remote locations. We now need nothing more than our laptops to service clients anywhere in the country and maintain visibility of all information and performance data on our business.”

Emma and Bree, Twosix Wellness

Wellness experts Emma and Bree of TwoSix Wellness value the time that cloud-based software has given back to their business. “We’re not accountants; we’re two people with a passion for wellness. And that means it’s even more important we have an accounting system we can trust. As business owners, you need systems that give you back time to work on your business. That’s what Xero has given us,” says Emma.

“It’s helped us, as creative people, to create a process-driven business. You might think you can avoid the financial side but you can’t! Online accounting is a simple solution, but it allows you to be transparent, open and connected. I think they are all qualities that speak to our generation, and the type of businesses that we’re building for the future,” adds Bree.

Why it pays to make the switch

If you are a business in Australia and you have not yet made the move to cloud, now’s the perfect time. For a limited period, if you convert from certain desktop software to a Xero Standard or Premium subscription, we’ll give the subscriber $500 cashback once you’ve subscribed for 15 months*.

To find out more about this special offer and see if you’re eligible, visit our campaign page.

*Limited to first 1,000 subscriptions. You must be converting from one of the following desktop products: MYOB AccountRight Live, Standard, Plus or Premier; or Reckon Pro, Premier or Enterprise. Conversions arranged by Xero’s trusted conversion partner, Jet Convert. Terms and conditions apply.

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