Standalone Invoicing Software Vs Online Solutions
Posted on September 21, 2010 | No Comments
Henrik Poulsen asked:
Invoicing is an essential part of any business and if not done in the right manner, the consequences can be disastrous. As such, it is important to ensure that you get the right tools to make sure that all your invoicing procedures are carried out with perfection and without any errors.
Ideally, there are two major software products to choose from, the standalone software you install on your computer and online the versions. Though there are people who prefer to use online solutions, it is important to note that several factors make standalone invoicing solutions ideal.
For starters, with an online version, you risk coming to a standstill in the event your ISP is down. Servers are known to be highly unreliable at times and for this reason, you might be working on a deadline and since you cannot access your software, you get stuck for long hours. On the other hand, with a standalone alone, you can get to the heart of the matter and have your business completed within a short time span.
Data security is another consideration. Most online invoicing services offer backup service, and secure data channels, but no server is truly secure from hackers, and you wouldn’t want your company invoices falling in the wrong hands. And what happens when the online invoicing provider goes bankrupt, will you be able to access your data, and is the data stored in a format that your computer is able to read.
Another factor that makes a standalone more appealing is the fact that once you have made the purchase you no longer have to spend money on the product. All online invoicing services charge a monthly recurring fee for their services; this has been seen at $100/month for some services. Whereas a fully featured invoicing solution will at most cost $150 as a one time expense.
The online services do have advantages though. You can access your invoices from all internet connected computers and they usually present themselves with nicer looks than the standalone software.
After weighing these options, you ought to be better placed to decide which of these two is ideal for your needs.
Caffeinated Content
Invoicing is an essential part of any business and if not done in the right manner, the consequences can be disastrous. As such, it is important to ensure that you get the right tools to make sure that all your invoicing procedures are carried out with perfection and without any errors.
Ideally, there are two major software products to choose from, the standalone software you install on your computer and online the versions. Though there are people who prefer to use online solutions, it is important to note that several factors make standalone invoicing solutions ideal.
For starters, with an online version, you risk coming to a standstill in the event your ISP is down. Servers are known to be highly unreliable at times and for this reason, you might be working on a deadline and since you cannot access your software, you get stuck for long hours. On the other hand, with a standalone alone, you can get to the heart of the matter and have your business completed within a short time span.
Data security is another consideration. Most online invoicing services offer backup service, and secure data channels, but no server is truly secure from hackers, and you wouldn’t want your company invoices falling in the wrong hands. And what happens when the online invoicing provider goes bankrupt, will you be able to access your data, and is the data stored in a format that your computer is able to read.
Another factor that makes a standalone more appealing is the fact that once you have made the purchase you no longer have to spend money on the product. All online invoicing services charge a monthly recurring fee for their services; this has been seen at $100/month for some services. Whereas a fully featured invoicing solution will at most cost $150 as a one time expense.
The online services do have advantages though. You can access your invoices from all internet connected computers and they usually present themselves with nicer looks than the standalone software.
After weighing these options, you ought to be better placed to decide which of these two is ideal for your needs.
Caffeinated Content