Moving from Sage to Xero: 5 reasons why

I have tried and tested a huge variety of accounting software in my 20+ years working in offices. The most popular application for our clients has to be Sage. But is this really the best option for your business?

I’ve found that Sage no longer has the monopoly of the market due to the introduction of online accounting software, such as Xero, that brings considerable benefits to your financial management.

Xero is a cloud accounting software that makes running your business accounts straightforward, faster and more efficient.

Here are the reasons why I think Xero is the better choice for your business:

 

---

 

1. See your business numbers in real time

Sage focuses on giving you a historical view of your business information. Records and data need to be entered in manually, and there is very little automation of your record-keeping processes. This means that the numbers you see on your screen could be days or even weeks out of date – so you’re looking at the history of your business, rather than the ‘now’.
Xero focuses on real-time information, giving you a view of your key numbers that are current, and based on your most recent transactions.

• Your key figures in one place
• A live view of your bank balance
• Send invoices online
• Automated book-keeping
• Real-time reporting

---

 

2. Get mobile access to your business information

Sage will keep your business data and numbers on a local drive on your office computer. Xero’s data is sat securely in the cloud, which means you can access it through your web browser or mobile app, not through a local application on your hard drive. The benefit if this is that you can work wherever you want.

• See your numbers wherever you are
• Have a mobile view of your business
• Use your time more effectively
• An easier way to collaborate

---

 

3. Simplify how you run your accounts

Sage is designed as a tool for accountants, not necessarily for business owners. To understand your accounts in Sage, you need a certain amount of knowledge of accounting. Xero is designed to simplify the process of doing your financial administration and to make then it as easy as possible to run reports and gather relevant information.

• Get a view of your numbers that makes sense
• Only see the numbers you need
• Understand your basic numbers
• Focus on a clear business dashboard

---

 

4. Have a system that automatically updates and stays compliant

When running a desktop system, you’re held back by the fact that your data is sat on a local hard drive, meaning you need to back up your data each day. Any updates to the software need to be purchased and uploaded if you want to ensure you’re always using the latest version of the software.

With Xero, your data is in the cloud on safely encrypted servers, and when you log into Xero online, you are always using the latest version of the software

• Remove the need for back-ups
• No need for updates and no disruptive downtime
• Stay compliant at all times
• No need to worry about version conflicts

---

 

5. Feel the benefits of running your business the new way

Xero WILL improve the efficiency of your business. It is not just an accounts package, and it will also allow you and your team to work together to push your business forward.

• You will all see the same information
• You can get set up and running quickly
• There’s a whole bundle of free training
• Gives a more in-depth insight into your business

---

 

 

If you have any questions regarding Sage or Xero, get in touch here, or give us a call on 01625 443110.