# Why You Should Shift Your Business to Online Accounting Software By Capium, cloud accountancy software for UK accountancy practices. Published 16 June 2017, last updated 22 April 2024 by the Capium team. Source: https://www.capium.com/why-you-should-shift-your-business-to-online-accounting-software/ --- If you are like most people, chances are that you have already heard about accounting software and how beneficial it can be for all types of businesses. Most people, however, are of the belief that there is only one standard type of accounting software which can be used by all businesses and companies. Unfortunately, this is far from the truth. Accounting software comes in a variety of types, most of which are customized to deal with one aspect of the accountancy of a business or firm. ## Key takeaways - **Not all software is the same:** Online accounting software differs from desktop software, and its advantages outnumber the desktop's. - **Automatic backups:** Online software backs up data automatically, with plenty of storage. - **No installation:** There is nothing to install or maintain, and updates happen automatically. - **Everything in one place:** Processes and data are integrated and can be reached from anywhere. - **Easy to use:** Interfaces are designed for people without a technical background. --- Unsurprisingly, online accounting software is a category of accounting software which has become very popular over the last few years. Even though the vast majority of people in the UK still believe that online accounting software is the same as desktop accounting software, the advantages of online accounting software greatly outnumber those of conventional desktop accounting software. If you, too, own a small or large business, read on to find out how online accounting software can be beneficial. ## Automated backups Financial information and processes of accountancy are some of the most important parts of any business or company. Generally, businesses and companies cannot afford to lose information as vital as financial data or the information related to the transactions which the revenue and expenses of the business are based on. This is where online accounting software comes into the picture. Nearly all online accounting software come with automated backups which is why people often do not have to worry about constantly making efforts to store their important data. What’s more, the storage space which is provided by these online accounting software is practically unlimited. This means that in addition to never worrying about backing up all of your important information, you can also be certain that you will never run out of space for all of the financial information which is crucial for your company or business. ## No installation or delays With conventional offline accounting software, people do not only have to worry about painstakingly long installations, but they also have to be certain that their systems can seamlessly run the software in question. There is a lot which needs to be taken into consideration from the requirements of the software, to the scalability which the desktop or offline accounting software offers. Additionally, the offline accounting software itself is very likely to take up a lot of the storage space which is essential for you. Unlike traditional accounting software, online accounting software does not require any installation or involve any other additional delays. With online accounting software you can, therefore, start performing calculations online almost as soon as you sign up for the service. The best part about online accounting software is that they are also automatically updated to ensure that the software always has all of the latest features. ## Integration One of the best parts about using online accounting software for your business is that all of your processes and data can easily be integrated with each other. With online accounting software like Capium, you will not only have all of your data and information in one place, but it is also easy to access all of this important data from anywhere in the world! In order to deal with another common concern that people have regarding the usability of online accounting software, these software often feature extremely efficient and user-friendly interfaces which means that they can be easily used even by people who do not come from a technical background. To learn more about the benefits of online accounting software, or to shift your own business to a reliable online accounting platform, head over to [Capium](https://www.capium.com/) today! ## Frequently asked questions **Q: What is the difference between online and desktop accounting software?** Online software runs in the browser with automatic backups and updates and nothing to install; desktop software has to be installed and maintained on your own computers. **Q: Is online accounting software hard to use?** No. It is designed to be usable by people without a technical background. ## Further reading - [Cloud security guidance](https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/cloud) (GOV.UK): How to choose, configure and use cloud services securely. - [Cloud accounting software: lessons from failure of Bench](https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2025/apr-2025/cloud-accounting-software-lessons-from-failure-of-bench) (ICAEW): A look at the risks and safeguards to consider when relying on cloud accounting providers. - [Technology](https://www.icaew.com/technical/technology) (ICAEW): Keep up-to-date with tech issues and developments, including artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, big data, and cyber security.