The Best Tool for Accountants: Outsourcing vs. Automation
The best tool for accountants. In a world where efficiency is everything, accounting firms are increasingly looking for the best tool for accountants to stay competitive and future-ready. Some are turning to outsourcing. Others are embracing the transformative power of AI and automation. Both have the same goal: to create a practice that runs smoothly, with minimal friction, fewer errors, and better outcomes for both the firm and its clients.
But let’s be honest—only one truly delivers on every front.
This blog compares the two most popular strategies—outsourcing vs. automation—to uncover which is the best tool for accountants. Spoiler: it’s not even close.
AI & Automation: A Game-Changer for Accountants
Automation and AI are fast becoming the gold standard in progressive accounting firms. Why? Because these technologies don’t just remove work—they transform it.
Here’s how:
Time Savings: AI and automation can complete tasks in seconds that take humans hours. Think about the time sucked up by manual bank reconciliations, recurring reporting cycles, or sending payment reminders. Now imagine that time back in your hands.
Cost Efficiency: Unlike outsourcing, automation doesn’t charge by the hour. Once implemented, solutions like Bots For That cost a fraction of an outsourced resource—while delivering consistently high-quality results.
Talent Retention: Accountants didn’t get into the profession to spend their days ticking boxes or chasing invoices. By automating the mundane, firms free up staff to work on high-value, fulfilling projects. That means greater job satisfaction, better career development, and less turnover.
Accuracy & Compliance: Automation reduces human error. Whether it’s reconciling a bank feed or generating reports, bots follow rules precisely—keeping your numbers clean and your clients happy.
Always On: Whether it’s sick leave, holidays, or maternity cover, AI doesn’t take time off. Tools like the Push & Notify Beanie, the Bank Rec Beanie, and the Reporting Beanie are always on call to keep things moving.
Scalability: From solo practitioners to larger firms, automation grows with you. There’s no need to add more bodies as your workload increases.
Now, enter Agentic AI—the next evolution. This isn’t just automation; it’s intelligent delegation. Houbeanie, Bots For That’s agentic AI, is like having a digital sidekick who can take instructions, act independently, and handle repetitive admin like responding to emails, managing to-dos, and answering client queries. It’s fast, accurate, and cost-effective. And it helps your team spend less time doing, and more time thinking.
Is there a downside? Like any powerful tool, AI takes time to implement properly. It requires a short investment in training and integration. But once it’s in place, it runs seamlessly—providing value well beyond the initial setup.
Outsourcing: Helpful, But Limited
Outsourcing has long been a go-to for firms trying to ease the load. When used carefully, it can serve a purpose:
Task Relief: It removes some of the mundane, lower-level work from in-house teams, giving them breathing space.
Scalability: Need to expand quickly? Outsourcing provides access to more hands, faster.
But the cracks quickly begin to show.
Communication Barriers: Different time zones and working styles can delay progress, misalign expectations, and cause errors.
Inconsistency: Quality can vary depending on who’s assigned to your firm. What one person picks up quickly, another might fumble.
Hidden Costs: While it might seem cost-effective initially, outsourcing typically requires ongoing hourly or retainer-based payments—costing more over time than implementing automation.
Dependency Risk: If your outsourcer goes silent, so does your workflow. You’re not in control of the output; someone else is.
Compared to automation and AI, outsourcing can feel like a temporary patch, not a long-term solution.
So, What’s the Best Tool for Accountants?
The answer is clear: AI and automation win. Hands down.
They’re faster, more consistent, always on, and significantly more cost-effective. With tools like Bots For That, accountants are no longer stuck at their desks doing data entry or double-checking spreadsheets. They’re analysing, advising, and adding value—exactly what clients want.
Outsourcing may have been the answer 10 years ago. But today? The best tool for accountants is automation powered by AI.
Want to see what your firm could look like with the right tools in place?
Get in touch today for a discovery call—and let’s build the efficient, modern practice your team (and your clients) deserve.
