What does it mean to be a true cloud practice? For Alan Woods, managing director of Woods Squared in Wirral, the answer is easy: Flexibility and simplicity.

In other words, the ability to work from anywhere and to get access to all the relevant information and software that you need. Cloud accounting has no bias towards one set of
coordinates. Whether you are in the office, on the road or reclining on a sun lounger, it’s inconsequential.

All that’s needed is a stable internet connection, and voila, you’re working. It’s this simplicity
that draws accountants to the cloud. But as practitioners know, not all cloud systems were
created equal.

Becoming a true cloud practice hinges on using true cloud software, built for a purpose. A
software laden with features you don’t use but still pay for, and a hefty price tag to match, limits your ability to work with real freedom.
This is what prompted Woods to make the leap to Capium in 2017 after a prolonged search. “I’d say the main gain of using Capium is the ease of use,” says Woods. “The feedback from the whole team is around how much easier it is to use compared to our previous software.”
Capium is 100% hosted and accessed online, while many cloud offerings are hybrid solutions.

This means your data is stored locally and shared through a portal type arrangement. The
common issues of software installed on servers/desktops that need to be updated remain.
Hardly the simplicity promised by cloud software.

Capium offered a simpler, more affordable option while satisfying everything Woods Squared needs. It’s not filled to the brim with unnecessary features but focuses on what accountants need. Capium hasn’t changed his workflow “too much”, Woods says, but it has opened up a new revenue stream: payroll.

“Capium has simplified the processing of payroll within the business,” Woods says. “For
standard payrolls, we have been able to take advantage of the bulk processing feature which works great. We can process more payrolls, so a service that has historically not been a valuable service is now one of our most.” It also meets the needs of a growing practice, according to Woods. “We are actually looking at acquiring new fees or practices, and Capium definitely makes that easier as other users from other offices and areas of the UK can easily log in to our systems.”

So, does Woods have any regrets making a move to Capium? “No, it does everything that you could need it to do. It’s simple to use, great value and the support is excellent, too. I only wish it was around when we started our business 12 years ago!”