How it works

How Tally on Cloud actually works

Tally on Cloud means your copy of Tally ERP or TallyPrime is installed on a server in a data centre instead of a computer in your office, and you open it over a Remote Desktop connection. The software and the company data both stay on the server; what travels over your internet connection is the screen image in one direction and your keystrokes and mouse movements in the other. Nothing is downloaded to the device you are sitting at, which is why the same accounts open identically from a Windows desktop, a MacBook or a phone.

Where your data actually lives

The single biggest change from a local installation is that there is no longer a Tally data folder on anybody's desktop machine. One copy of each company sits on the cloud server, and every user opens that copy. That is what removes the end-of-day routine of exporting from one machine and importing into another, and it is also why two people entering vouchers at the same time do not produce two versions of the truth.

The practical consequence is worth being explicit about: a laptop that is lost, stolen or simply dies takes no accounting data with it, because there was never any accounting data on it.

The connection, step by step

  1. 1

    We set up your server

    Airmax provisions a cloud server, installs your Tally ERP or TallyPrime, and restores your existing company data onto it. Setup and migration are included in the plan — you send a backup of your current data and we put it in place.

  2. 2

    You open a Remote Desktop client

    Windows has one built in. macOS, Linux, Android and iOS all have a free Remote Desktop client available. You enter the server address we give you once, and save it as a shortcut.

  3. 3

    You sign in, and confirm with a one-time password

    The username and password are the first factor. A one-time password is then required to complete the login, so a password that leaks is not enough on its own to open a session.

  4. 4

    Tally opens, exactly as it does locally

    The interface, the keyboard shortcuts and your TDL customisations are the ones you already know. The only visible difference is that Tally is running in a window served from the data centre.

  5. 5

    You close the session and the data stays put

    Ending a session does not move anything. The company data remains on the server, ready for the next person who signs in — from the same desk or a different city.

What you need at your end

  • A device running Windows, macOS, Linux, Android or iOS.
  • A Remote Desktop client — built into Windows, a free download everywhere else.
  • A stable internet connection. Steadiness matters more than raw speed: only screen updates and keystrokes cross the wire, not the data file, so a reliable 2 Mbps link outperforms a faster one that keeps dropping.
  • Your own Tally licence. Airmax Tally Cloud provides the server and the access layer; the Tally licence remains yours.

What happens when something goes wrong

Common situations and what they mean for your data
SituationWhat happens
Your internet drops mid-entryThe session closes. Tally and your data are on the server, untouched. Reconnect and carry on.
Your laptop fails or is stolenNo accounting data was stored on it, so none is lost. Sign in from any other device.
A power cut at your officeThe server is in a data centre on separate power, so it keeps running. Only your local access is interrupted.
You need an older version of a companyAutomated daily backups are kept on the server, and any copy you scheduled to your own cloud storage is available too.

Backups, and who controls them

Two layers run in parallel. Airmax takes automated backups of the server daily. Separately, a control panel lets you schedule your own copy of the Tally data to Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox or Amazon S3, and you can download a backup to your own PC at any time.

That second layer matters more than it first appears: it means you are never dependent on a single provider holding the only copy of your accounts. The backup arrangement is described in more detail on the Tally Cloud security and backup page.

Moving an existing Tally installation across

  1. 1

    Take a backup of your current company data

    Tally's own backup function produces the file we need. Nothing is deleted from your existing machine at any point.

  2. 2

    We restore it onto your cloud server

    Your Tally installation, your data and any TDL customisations are put in place on the server. This is included at no extra cost.

  3. 3

    You verify the balances before switching

    Open the cloud copy and check that your figures match what you see locally. Only when you are satisfied does the cloud copy become the working one.

  4. 4

    Your team switches to the Remote Desktop shortcut

    From that point, everyone opens Tally through the shortcut instead of the local icon. Your old installation can stay where it is as a fallback for as long as you want it.

Want to see it before you commit?

Airmax runs a free live demo of a cloud Tally session on Windows and on Mac, in English or Hindi.

See Tally Cloud plans and pricing Talk to the Airmax team

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