Cloud vs Server Based Veterinary PMS: Which one should you pick?

As technology evolves and awareness continues to grow, veterinary facilities and service providers worldwide are now continually on the lookout for tools and software that can help them do their jobs better and improve the quality of service and experiences they deliver to their clients. This search typically is blocked by choice between a cloud-based and standalone veterinary practice management software. You see, practice management software is a vital part of such operations, allowing them to go about their daily tasks seamlessly. Understandably, one would want a best-primed solution to deliver on veterinary professionals’ requirements and needs. So, without further ado, let’s quickly walk you through some of the critical differences between standalone and cloud-based practice management software for veterinary professionals and facilities.

1. Accessibility: One of the most significant benefits of any cloud-based solution is that it can be accessed from anywhere, at any time. As long as you have an internet connection, you will be able to communicate with your team, access files, documents on the go. You don’t get that convenience with standalone solutions since they are hosted locally and can be accessed only from the computers connected to that network.
2. Security: Security is a big concern in veterinary practice, and cloud-based solutions ace this aspect exceptionally well. This means all the stored data, including clients’ payment information and other such sensitive data, is fairly secure since most cloud-based solutions often have high-security levels. Whereas with the standalone software, the data is only safe as the measures you implement.
3. Cost: For standalone practice management solutions, you need to invest in hardware, servers and more, which translates into a considerable upfront cost. That’s not a problem with a cloud-based solution since you only need to pay for the software, often in the form of monthly or yearly subscription charges.

Now that we have established that cloud-based solutions have a distinct advantage over standalone solutions, we can walk you through some of the former’s benefits.

1. Reduced hardware-related expense: As noted above, one has to subscribe to a cloud-based solution, meaning you don’t have to pay for hardware, installation & maintenance, or any other infrastructure-related cost you’d incur with an on-premises solution.
2. Scalability: A critical advantage of such solutions is the ability to scale quickly along with your business. So, if you need additional resources or services, you pay for it and voilà! A standalone solution can’t offer such agility.
3. Device and location-independent: The thing about cloud-technology is that it can be accessed from anywhere, from any device, provided you have the authorization to do so. So, say, you could be halfway around the world and will still be able to access the solution from any device of your choosing.

There you have it, folks — all the many ways a cloud-based veterinary management software can assist you in your endeavors. So, what are you waiting for?