What does it mean to be "in the cloud"? The easiest way to think about the cloud is to replace the phrase "in the cloud" with "over the internet". Whether you know it or not, you're probably already using cloud based services. Applications like Gmail and Google Documents are two examples of cloud based technologies, we just don't think of them that way. So what does cloud computing mean for your business? It mean not buying newer and faster servers each year to keep up with your growing business. It means less overhead because you are able to handle more work with less people. It means instant access to all of your information wherever you have access to the internet. AvaTax was built with the cloud in mind. Cloud-based sales tax automation calculates rates using only the most up-to-date, real-time data and rules. Reducing your risk of an audit, and saving your business the expense and hassle of researching the rates themselves.