Technology is constantly improving and evolving to help make life that little bit easier- from the ever popular robot vacuum to help with the housework to the smart thermostat to heat your home or office as efficiently as possible, smart tech has slipped seamlessly into our everyday lives and we now rely on it to help keep up with our daily demands, keep our homes and businesses safe and secure and help us save money on our heating and energy bills.

If you find smart tech a bit overwhelming and you’re not sure what you actually need or how to install it into your home then read on for our top recommendations and what’s more if you need help we can even install them for you!

What is a smart device?
​In simple terms, a smart device is basically a product that you use in your home or office, such as a smart doorbell, that is connected to the internet in order to give it increased functionality. Smart devices can be linked to a central hub (such as a smart speaker or an app on a phone) and can be accessed and controlled remotely.

If you connect to your broadband using WiFi and you have a smartphone or smart speaker then you’re already on the right path to a smart home or office

Smart Lighting
Smart lighting solutions such as smart switches and smart bulbs are a great way to remotely control the lights on your home or office. You can set up timers and even programme them to come on at dusk.

Smart bulbs have added functionality such as coloured lighting options  and have the added bonus of being easy to set up and use with no fiddly wiring required.
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Smart bulbs are ideal for lamps and other easy to access lights.

Smart switches can be used to remotely control appliances other than lighting but may be more complicated to fit to your home if you're not confident dealing with electrics. Smart switches are great for hard to reach lighting such as outside lights.

Smart Thermostat
Connect your heating to the internet with a smart thermostat to control when the heating comes on, the temperature it’s set at and even instruct it to come on when you’re away so that it's the right temperature when you get back to the property.

‘Geofencing’ lets you set up a virtual boundary within a real location. The software or app can then detect when a mobile device is in or out of the area and control the heating to either come on or switch off accordingly.

Smart thermostats are relatively easy to install and set up

Smart Doorbell
A video doorbell is a great addition to your property, giving you peace of mind and allowing you to ‘answer’ the door without physically having to be there. Wired and non-wired options are available with battery operated doorbells making it simple to install a smart doorbell even if there was no doorbell previously.

Monitor and accept deliveries via the app when you are unable to answer the door.

Motion sensors let you know when someone is there even if they don’t ring the doorbell.

Smart Security Camera
Making sure your home or office is secure is easy to do with a smart security camera. Simple to install and set up, you’ll be able to make sure everything is as it should be even when you're away on holiday.

Record and save high quality video when motion is detected

Notify you when motion is detected so you can see what’s happening in real-time.

Smart Pet Camera
If you want to know what your pet gets up to while you’re out of the house then a smart pet camera is just the thing you need!

There are lots of choices out there depending on your needs and of course you could always use a normal indoor security camera if you only want basic video monitoring. Some pet specific cameras like the The Pet Cube Lite 2 have the capability to connect with a vet if you need advice and let you feed your pet treats remotely!

Give you peace of mind your pet is safe and secure while you’re away from your home

Keep your pet entertained with interactive toys and treat dispensing

To get the most out of smart devices requires a decent broadband connection and/or WiFi set up and up to date antivirus protection is a must.

Don’t hesitate to contact Ben for any help and advice with your broadband or WiFi or if you want assistance installing smart devices into your home or office.

This month we thought it would be good to delve a bit deeper into the delayed Making Tax Digital (MTD) mandate that was due to roll out in 2024 and we’ll have a look at what is available to help make completing your tax return a bit easier. As tax years typically run until the 5th April It won’t help with this year's return but it can help you get prepared for the following tax year.

Making Tax Digital (MTD)
HMRC recently announced that they were delaying the rollout of Making Tax Digital by 2 years.
If you are self-employed or a landlord you will need to follow the requirements for making Tax Digital:

• April 2026 if you have business or property income of more than £50,000 a year
• April 2027 if you have business or property income of more than £30,000 a year

You can find out more about the delay and how it might affect small businesses in this blog by Moore Thompson.

It makes sense to get ready now for Making Tax Digital so you are well prepared and have everything you need for a smooth transition and the following apps are a good place to start.

Banking Apps
If you haven’t already got a business bank account for your business then you might want to consider an online business account. Many of them offer handy services such as invoicing.

• Mettle has free and paid account  options and is available to sole traders and limited companies with up to two owners (only one owner can access the account). The app has invoicing functionality and has partnered with Free Agent to give Mettle account holders free access to their online accounting software- check out their blog on Mettle and Free Agent for more information.
• SumUp has recently added a free banking app (withdrawal fees apply) that lets you link up your Mastercard with Apple Pay and Google Pay and with a SumUp card reader you can even make a sale and access the money the next day.
• AirWallex  is a great solution for global businesses as it does away with the need for multiple service providers, offering global accounts and the ability to make payments internationally. Its multi currency account means you can receive payments from your customers in their preferred currency, allowing you to trade globally with ease.
• Dojo is a relatively new card payment system that allows you to take payments, link up to your EPOS system and print receipts.

Accounting Apps
There are a number of accounting apps out there that can help you keep on top of your bookkeeping and make completing your tax return a bit easier (hopefully). Many of them are HMRC recognised meaning you can use them when Making Tax Digital comes into force.

• Crunch is a great HMRC recognised accounting app that has a free account for basic accounting needs and pricing plans if you need more comprehensive features such as payroll or bookkeeping advice. They even have trained accountants on hand for a one off fee if you are on the free plan or included in the paid plans.
• Sage Business Cloud Accounting is HMRC recognised software (great for preparing for MTD) that lets you connect to your bank accounts, send and track invoices and submit VAT returns to HMRC. The software works across all platforms.
• Quickbooks is a great accounting tool that will make sure you stay on top of your business accounts. There are multiple plans to choose from, depending on your needs and budget and it can even assist you with payroll. Like Sage, Quickbooks is HMRC recognised and can help ensure your return is MTD compliant.
• Xero is a cloud based software that offers 3 paid options, starting at £14 a month. They are also HMRC recognised so you will be ready to go when Making Tax Digital comes into effect. The starter plan covers most of your accounting needs although it only allows you to send 20 invoices a month so may not be enough for some businesses.
• Freeagent Starting at £9.50 a month for sole traders and going up to £14 a month for limited companies, Freeagent is a popular accounting app. Even better, If you have a business account with Mettle, Natwest, Royal Bank of Scotland or Ulster NI you can get Freeagent completely free for as long as you hold the business account. Freeagent is a great all round tool that fulfils all your accounting needs including filing your tax return.

It’s vitally important to make sure your operating system and antivirus software is up to date (and switched on). Contact File Genie for help and advice.

Hire a Local Accountant
All the software and apps in the world can’t solve all your accounting woes (although it will help you get on top of your bookkeeping) and sometimes it just makes more sense to hire a professional accountant. The initial outlay can seem counterproductive but their knowledge and expertise can actually save you stress and money in the long run.