{"id":6787,"date":"2020-01-29T17:03:30","date_gmt":"2020-01-29T22:03:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/?p=6787"},"modified":"2026-02-12T05:10:42","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T10:10:42","slug":"data-entry-challenge-automation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/data-entry-challenge-automation\/","title":{"rendered":"How accountants can use automation to overcome the data entry challenge"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--generic\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/category\/technology-innovation\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Technology &amp; Innovation<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tHow accountants can use automation to overcome the data entry challenge\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2020-01-29T17:03:30-05:00\">January 29, 2020<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"How accountants can use automation to overcome the data entry challenge\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/data-entry-challenge-automation\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/author\/keirthomasbryant\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Keir-350x350.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"Keir Thomas-Bryant\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Keir-350x350.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Keir.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 40px) 100vw, 40px\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Keir Thomas-Bryant<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Does your accounting practice spend more time focusing on data entry tasks than you\u2019d like? There\u2019s a way to get around it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/practice-of-now\/\">Practice of Now 2019<\/a> research by Sage showed that nearly two-thirds of accountants plan to automate tasks in the next three years, primarily to overcome the data entry challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Repetitive, time-consuming tasks such as data entry and number crunching are by far the most popular choices for automation, with just under half of accountants in the survey saying those tasks are the most likely to be automated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet contrary to what the survey respondents believe, there\u2019s no need to wait. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/ai-and-automation-for-accountants\/\">Automation is already here<\/a> and is in use in practices worldwide. The benefits for your practice could be huge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-accounting-automation\"><strong>What is accounting automation?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s take a moment to define accounting automation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While it\u2019s a story continuing to be told by evolving <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/artificial-intelligence-will-impact-accountants\/\">artificial intelligence<\/a>, in the here and now, it means two things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Automation of data entry by photographing or scanning invoices and other documents.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Automation of account reconciliation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Data entry is a well recognized area with potential for automation. The use of machine learning related approaches, such as optical character recognition (OCR), can greatly improve the speed and accuracy of data entry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore, the use of software \u2018bots\u2019 in the form of robotic process automation (RPA) can increase the ability to conduct process tasks all day and all week, without stopping or tiring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For smaller practices, it\u2019s particularly relevant to note the benefits from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/why-cloud-accounting-can-result-in-business-growth\/\">migration to cloud technology<\/a> that provides access to data that is consolidated in a secure environment and can support scaling up more easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-nbsp-why-automate-accounting\"><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>Why automate accounting?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether that\u2019s scribbling transactions in a paper ledger or keying in data to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/products\/sage-50cloud\/\">accounting software<\/a>, most accountants know how time consuming data entry can be. They also know how, despite their best efforts, it\u2019s hard to avoid errors, such as when numbers are transposed or wrongly coded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Errors are not just annoying. They have a cost in terms of identifying and fixing them later on, and could have an indirect cost in declining client satisfaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If there\u2019s one thing clients expect from an accountant, it\u2019s 100% accuracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keying in data is trivial and repetitive work that requires little if any expertise, yet it can consume even the most highly trained members of staff in a practice \u2013 especially in smaller firms that have limited resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAutomation lets accountants transition up the skills value curve,\u201d explains Narayanan Vaidyanathan, Head of Business Insights at the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.accaglobal.com\/gb\/en.html\">ACCA<\/a>. \u201cFor example, you\u2019ll have more time for understanding the business and opportunities for improvements in your clients, or to focus on interpretation of standards for particular or complex situations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Seen in this context, a lack of automation costs you money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Put simply, you are blocked from earning higher hourly fees for more complex work. Similarly, a lack of automation can hinder growth plans in the practice because you are blocked from taking on new, different kinds of work for clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A lack of automation can even drive away staff who hate repetitive drudgery. The millennial generation is tech-savvy enough to understand that automation technologies can be applied to repetitive tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNew entrants to the profession are much more likely to be interested in an organization that embraces digital, relative to one that feels like it\u2019s living in denial,\u201d adds Vaidyanathan.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<a\n\t\tclass=\"button button--primary gate-3eb55016-f276-4a58-ad70-f13a7bc386ad\"\n\t\trole=\"button\"\n\t\tdata-button-location=\"content_area\"\n\t\thref=\"#gate-3eb55016-f276-4a58-ad70-f13a7bc386ad\"\n\t>Download now<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-benefits-of-accounting-automation\"><strong>The benefits of accounting automation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/accountants\/products\/sage-accountants-network\/\">Accountants<\/a> typically list the following benefits after the introduction of automation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-efficiency\"><strong>Efficiency<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As with all technological changes, it\u2019s cost savings that typically drive the introduction of automation, measured as hours of staff time that are saved. Automation has been described as like recruiting a new member staff, yet one that doesn\u2019t require holidays or a desk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Days and even weeks of staff time savings are often quoted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-staff-satisfaction\"><strong>Staff satisfaction<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Nobody enjoys the repetitive and mind-numbing work of data entry and reconciliation. If staff are freed to use their expertise and experience in more diverse situations, they\u2019ll be happier in their roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This has real value in lower recruitment costs and decreased business disruption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-mobile-convenience-plus-open-all-hours\"><strong>Mobile convenience, plus \u2018open all hours\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Automation opens another door to the convenience of mobile working and working outside mandated office hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Buy a sandwich as an allowable expense, for example, and you can snap a copy of the receipt there and then. Its details will be understood and entered into the correct ledger automatically. Your clients can be encouraged to do this too, which avoids the box of receipts being dropped on your desk at year-end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-growth-for-you-and-your-practice\"><strong>Growth \u2013 for you and your practice<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Perhaps the ultimate benefit of automation can be found in the time it frees up for you. With a lot of the hard slog taken care of, you can expand your role and your practice towards becoming a trusted adviser.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can develop additional client offerings to help their businesses grow and to share your knowledge and experience inspired by insights into their accounting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-introducing-automation-to-your-practice\"><strong>Introducing automation to your practice<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s natural to lack in confidence about introducing new technologies and have concerns about changing working processes (and finding the time to do so).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the technology typically slipstreams alongside your existing solution, making adopting it extremely simple. You will probably find a data entry automation solution in your accounting software\u2019s app store, for example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some tips to get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Start small.<\/strong> A good tip is to trial the software on your own personal accounting, to get an idea of its capacities and anything that might catch you out. Don\u2019t forget to try out the mobile apps too, if there are any, to get an idea of how the software works together with your accounting solution. But ensure you push the software to its limits in your trial to really get an idea of its capabilities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Create a plan.<\/strong> As mentioned, stage one might be to utilize the automation software on your own personal accounts. Stage two might be to introduce it to your own business accounts and to trial it in a wider context. Stage three might be then to roll it out to clients, which is the biggest step because it will involve a significant education element, plus potentially upgrading your service offerings if you become a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/cp\/san-client-referral-program\/\">reseller of the software<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Structure your plan.<\/strong> Remember that successful roll-out plans have two components: an owner who acts as a single point of contact, and milestones by which progress can be measured and that act as triggers for other phases of the plan. How will you know when it\u2019s time to roll out the automation to clients, for example? Well, one suggestion might be to have a certain amount of time pass when the automation is deployed within your practice without any issues of confusion among staff.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Make use of support.<\/strong> The vendor behind the automation solution will have support staff ready to answer queries about not only how to integrate the software within your existing solution but also the best way to roll it out for your clients as time goes on. There\u2019s a whole body of experience out there, so ensure you make use of it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Set expectations and be prepared.<\/strong> \u201cThe technology generally only succeeds when properly integrated with people skills, organizational processes and alignment with the business model,\u201d says Vaidyanathan. \u201cThere\u2019s not much point automating data entry if you haven\u2019t thought about time and costs of training for your employees, managed risk of good people leaving because they fear job loss, or grumpy clients because your changes are having an impact on them, and they weren\u2019t properly advised and prepared for this.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-conclusion-on-automating-data-entry\"><strong>Conclusion on automating data entry<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Data entry within accounting is a 19th-century task that in a lot of practices is handled in a 20th-century way. Yet, we\u2019re now in the 21st century. Technology is leaping ahead and solutions previously thought of as science fiction are available here and now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Can a computer read and understand invoices and receipts, and ensure the details are filed into the correct ledger? Yes. And it can do this for both yourself and your clients, leading to potential revolutions in the way you work \u2013 or, at the very least, leading to amazing time and cost savings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The solutions can be introduced slowly to your practice and added in alongside your existing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/products\/sage-50cloud\/\">cloud-connected accounting<\/a> software. There\u2019s nothing to lose and everything to gain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Automate your practice<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Automating data entry is not just about the technology. It&#8217;s about the outcomes it delivers for you, your firm, and your clients.<\/p>\n<p>Download our guide to discover the ways you can automate your practice and spend more time focusing on your clients.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-3eb55016-f276-4a58-ad70-f13a7bc386ad\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Download now<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__downloads\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t566 readers have downloaded this guide\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1259\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/07\/Automate-your-guide.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/07\/Automate-your-guide.jpg 1259w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Subscribe to our Sage Advice Newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Get our latest business advice delivered directly to your inbox.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-ab515c6e-7e90-4c2f-a67e-113872516e8b\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Subscribe<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"Working from home with tea in hand\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Does your accounting practice spend more time focusing on data entry tasks than you\u2019d like? There\u2019s a way to get around it. The Practice of Now 2019 research by Sage showed that nearly two-thirds of accountants plan to automate tasks in the next three years, primarily to overcome the data entry challenge. Repetitive, time-consuming tasks [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":280,"featured_media":6777,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[158,48],"tags":[2,334,359,168,250],"business_type":[312],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[],"persona":[150],"imagine_tag":[222,209],"coauthors":[542],"class_list":["post-6787","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-accountants","category-technology-innovation","tag-accountants","tag-automation","tag-grow-your-accounting-practice","tag-sage-accounting","tag-workplace-of-the-future","business_type-accountants"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-us","author_name":"Keir Thomas-Bryant","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/01\/CFO-3.jpg","imagine_tags":{"222":"Accountants","209":"Accounting"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice US","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6787","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/280"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6787"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6787\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/6777"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6787"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6787"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6787"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=6787"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=6787"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=6787"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=6787"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=6787"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=6787"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=6787"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}