How automation can transform your charity

What do you think of when you hear ‘automation’? You might imagine robots working an assembly line, automated phone menus, or something to do with processing on a large scale.

But automation is transformative for all kinds of organisations, from Fortune 500 behemoths to sole traders to small charities and everything in between.

Indeed, accounts automation streamlines work in tangible, real ways even if you’re working on accounts or admin by yourself.

Here are some of the immediate, transformative benefits of automation for a charity or non-profit organisation (NPO).

1. It’s much, much faster

This is the big one. With something like AutoEntry, you can fast-forward your admin and accounts, making entire processes swifter and more efficient.

Take data entry, for example. Instead of browsing through receipts, you can photograph them and send directly to your accounts software (or those of your accountant).

This applies to other aspects of data entry, too. You can say goodbye to manually entering invoices, receipts, or bank statements. All you need to do is snap, email, or upload your invoices, receipts, and statements. Then send that data to your accountants or software of choice.

In some cases, you can even have the software scan electronic PDFs, for even faster processing.

Time saved is money saved. That is particularly important at the moment, as charities need to focus on service delivery.

2. More time to work on other tasks

Automation doesn’t eliminate jobs – it eliminates tasks.

Time is a precious resource for any organisation, especially charities. Less time spent on data entry means more time spent on meaningful tasks, whether that’s fundraising, organising events, communications, or other tasks.

That is particularly true with very small tasks. Charities that wish to automate should consider the tasks that take up the most amount of time. Identify the most time-consuming task and consider how you might automate. 

3. It’s more accurate

It’s fair to say that accuracy is important when it comes to charity accounts. Like many digital tasks, automated data entry is typically more accurate than when a human does it all.

Computers and software don’t get bored, don’t get tired, and make much fewer mistakes. There are no diminishing returns with computers. They can work all the time, without breaks, accurately completing the tedious tasks that humans hope to avoid.

Enjoy improved accuracy and greater visibility on your finances, and the better peace of mind that brings.

4. It’s a step towards being paperless

Finally, automation is a huge step towards becoming a paperless organisation. The most obvious example is receipt capture, which will free your wallets, pockets, and workplace of receipts. Users can simply snap, send to AutoEntry, and dispose of the receipt.

It massively reduces the need to print other documents, too. In some cases (such as bank statements) you need never see a hard copy of the document at all. You can make the switch to paperless overnight, allowing your charity to become more streamlined, more efficient, and better at taking care of the environment.

On top of that, a paperless workplace also means less clutter, more space, and less money spent on premises and storage.

AutoEntry – half price for NPOs

AutoEntry helps businesses by automating data entry, making for a more accurate, speedy and cost-efficient way to run an organisation. Now, those benefits are available to charities for half price. This offer is available to all eligible charities in perpetuity.

To get AutoEntry for 50% off, visit the Sage Foundation website and fill in our validation form.