Using Software to Avoid the Manual Entry Blues

Data entry is a fact of life for every business and accounting professional. Unavoidable though it may be, there are many tricks that you can employ to make your data entry faster, more efficient, and less prone to errors.

Don’t re-type: import!

Is the data that you’re entering already in a spreadsheet or a file? Stop wearing down your keypad and check to see if you have import functionality instead. If your software has import capabilities, you’ll save time and reduce errors when you draw the data right from the source.

Give your tab key a break

Every form has fields that you skip from time to time. But what if a form you fill out every day contains several fields you never use? Multiply that tab skip by dozens of instances an hour, and it could add up to serious time! See if your software offers customization options to skip over those fields (often called a ‘tab stop’), or if the form can be modified to have the field removed entirely.

Scan it

If you are keying in long strings of numbers because your company hasn’t been able to afford a barcoding system in the past, it’s time to reconsider. Barcoding and scanning systems have grown much less expensive recently, and many systems come with built-in ability to print and read barcodes. Sure, your ten-key skills could melt the numbers right off a keyboard, but nothing is faster or more accurate than scanning.

Talk to your software provider

Has it been a while since you talked to the people who developed your software? While you’ve been building your business, they’ve been developing ways to make data entry faster and more efficient. Check in to see what innovations have come down the pipe since you implemented your current software system. Time savings await!