BTC vs Digita

BTC vs Digita

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We currently use IRIS to prepare SA Return, CT Returns and Accounts. Currently looking to change to either BTC or Digita and wonder what other AccWeb users think of either product?

Replies (36)

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By happy
26th Apr 2016 11:30

What about Taxfiler?

Have you looked at or considered Taxfiler?

I'm really impressed with it.

It's amazing value for money and works really well.

I've been a dedicated VT user for years but this is so much better.

 

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By petersaxton
26th Apr 2016 11:43

Digita for me

For every program.

It's integrated software and reasonably priced.

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By mwngiol
26th Apr 2016 11:45

Really Peter?

You like Digita? You should have mentioned it before :-p

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Replying to carnmores:
By petersaxton
26th Apr 2016 11:59

Good idea

mwngiol wrote:

You like Digita? You should have mentioned it before :-p

I better keep mentioning so people like you don't miss it.

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By cheekychappy
26th Apr 2016 12:02

The problem is when you keep banging the same drum, people switch off.

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Replying to mikeyban:
By petersaxton
26th Apr 2016 14:03

Silly me

cheekychappy wrote:
The problem is when you keep banging the same drum, people switch off.

So I should recommend something else?

I don't think that's sensible. If you think some software is good why not say it when people ask?

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By Barkster
26th Apr 2016 12:12

I am interested in Digita too

I use a combination of Caseware for Accounts Prep and BTC, but the lack of integration is driving me nuts now and Caseware are a disaster at the moment.

I have just spoken to Digita to get a price (as Iris were on another planet) and wondered what other's thought of it.

Thanks in advance.

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By Sheepy306
26th Apr 2016 13:28

More info please

@ robcot - What did you like/not like about Iris? What's the reason for changing from Iris? Is price an issue? Is there anything in particular that you were hoping to get in the new package? What size practice are you? How many users? Are there any packages that you've already tried but have dismissed for any reason? Did you know that Peter likes Digita? And that Chatman doesn't?

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By robcot
27th Apr 2016 12:49

The driver behind the change is the cost for Iris. We are only a small practice of two users with approximately 150 SA Clients and around 70 accounts and Corporate Returns, along with a handful of trusts. These are the only two that we have looked at. 

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Glenn Martin
By Glenn Martin
26th Apr 2016 14:56

Go to Accountex

Digita is a good alternative to Iris as it has most of the functionality without the big price tag.

There are a lot of other options, depending on what your driver to switch. I would research the ones that appeal to you then go an see them all Accountex and go with the one will best support you, as all the players are there under one roof.

IRIS were next to door last year, so easy to avoid.

I think Capium looks a good option as its a fully cloud based system and priced quite well although I think they have just put price up a tad.

A lot of the supplier have discounts for those who commit to a contract at the show so you could get a deal.

Plus there is also an AWEB members drinking session/get together at the end of the first day which should not be missed.

 

 

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By petersaxton
26th Apr 2016 16:55

Relevant

I'll keep on telling people what they need to know.

You keep on talking rubbish if you want.

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By qadri23
26th Apr 2016 17:50

Issues with Digita

I am a small practice with 200 clients and now trading into 3rd year- I came from IRIS background, Digita is good however I wish I hadn't switch from ‘TaxCalc’ (which I used for one year at my practice) - only problem with Tax Calc has is that they don’t have ‘Time and fee’, other than this Tax Calc ticked all boxes,  5 start product. 

I have been using Digita since August, and I can confidently say even though they say its integrated but it’s not, for example SA, AP, CT, CS and PM are all separate products, installed separately and  when running a deadline task reports you will need to go into individual product to get monthly task report, however this is not very annoying; what really annoying is that you will need IT support to operate this software, Digita is for bigger firms I guess, where there is in house IT department. 

Second biggest issue is that every now and then you will get CD in post to upgrade each and every computer manually, no automatic updates via automatic downloads.

Lastly, In my opinion only PM and CS are built on new technology , it feels like you are using any other Micro soft product, however all other SA, AP and CT gives old look and feel, build over the years, lack logical layout and each one works  differently!

Sadly I am tied up for 3 years- if not I would have changed long time ago.  

But when its working yes it works fine, When I first started to use Tax Calc, I think I only called them once or twice for support as its so simple and logical to use, however with Digita;  in the first 3 to 6 months there was not a day gone by when someone from our firm didn't had to call Digita, its complex but again after 6 hard months I am used to and when its working its fine. I would give Digita 3 stars out of 5.

Having said all of the above, support team does work very hard, it’s not them it’s the development team behind who is letting Digita down badly.

I wished I had tried Digita for few weeks before signing up, big mistake!!

Good luck

 

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Replying to Jason Croke:
By cheekychappy
27th Apr 2016 12:42

But

qadri23 wrote:

I am a small practice with 200 clients and now trading into 3rd year- I came from IRIS background, Digita is good however I wish I hadn't switch from ‘TaxCalc’ (which I used for one year at my practice) - only problem with Tax Calc has is that they don’t have ‘Time and fee’, other than this Tax Calc ticked all boxes,  5 start product. 

I have been using Digita since August, and I can confidently say even though they say its integrated but it’s not, for example SA, AP, CT, CS and PM are all separate products, installed separately and  when running a deadline task reports you will need to go into individual product to get monthly task report, however this is not very annoying; what really annoying is that you will need IT support to operate this software, Digita is for bigger firms I guess, where there is in house IT department. 

Second biggest issue is that every now and then you will get CD in post to upgrade each and every computer manually, no automatic updates via automatic downloads.

Lastly, In my opinion only PM and CS are built on new technology , it feels like you are using any other Micro soft product, however all other SA, AP and CT gives old look and feel, build over the years, lack logical layout and each one works  differently!

Sadly I am tied up for 3 years- if not I would have changed long time ago.  

But when its working yes it works fine, When I first started to use Tax Calc, I think I only called them once or twice for support as its so simple and logical to use, however with Digita;  in the first 3 to 6 months there was not a day gone by when someone from our firm didn't had to call Digita, its complex but again after 6 hard months I am used to and when its working its fine. I would give Digita 3 stars out of 5.

Having said all of the above, support team does work very hard, it’s not them it’s the development team behind who is letting Digita down badly.

I wished I had tried Digita for few weeks before signing up, big mistake!!

Good luck

 

 

Peter says that it is amazing and everyone should be using it.

Surely Peter can't be wrong. He's never wrong.

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Replying to nick farrow:
By petersaxton
28th Apr 2016 16:10

Weirdo

cheekychappy wrote:

qadri23 wrote:

I am a small practice with 200 clients and now trading into 3rd year- I came from IRIS background, Digita is good however I wish I hadn't switch from ‘TaxCalc’ (which I used for one year at my practice) - only problem with Tax Calc has is that they don’t have ‘Time and fee’, other than this Tax Calc ticked all boxes,  5 start product. 

I have been using Digita since August, and I can confidently say even though they say its integrated but it’s not, for example SA, AP, CT, CS and PM are all separate products, installed separately and  when running a deadline task reports you will need to go into individual product to get monthly task report, however this is not very annoying; what really annoying is that you will need IT support to operate this software, Digita is for bigger firms I guess, where there is in house IT department. 

Second biggest issue is that every now and then you will get CD in post to upgrade each and every computer manually, no automatic updates via automatic downloads.

Lastly, In my opinion only PM and CS are built on new technology , it feels like you are using any other Micro soft product, however all other SA, AP and CT gives old look and feel, build over the years, lack logical layout and each one works  differently!

Sadly I am tied up for 3 years- if not I would have changed long time ago.  

But when its working yes it works fine, When I first started to use Tax Calc, I think I only called them once or twice for support as its so simple and logical to use, however with Digita;  in the first 3 to 6 months there was not a day gone by when someone from our firm didn't had to call Digita, its complex but again after 6 hard months I am used to and when its working its fine. I would give Digita 3 stars out of 5.

Having said all of the above, support team does work very hard, it’s not them it’s the development team behind who is letting Digita down badly.

I wished I had tried Digita for few weeks before signing up, big mistake!!

Good luck

Peter says that it is amazing and everyone should be using it.

Surely Peter can't be wrong. He's never wrong.

You are just showing yourself up as an obsessive weirdo.

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Replying to mallikagupte:
By cheekychappy
28th Apr 2016 16:55

Don't be like that

petersaxton wrote:

cheekychappy wrote:

qadri23 wrote:

I am a small practice with 200 clients and now trading into 3rd year- I came from IRIS background, Digita is good however I wish I hadn't switch from ‘TaxCalc’ (which I used for one year at my practice) - only problem with Tax Calc has is that they don’t have ‘Time and fee’, other than this Tax Calc ticked all boxes,  5 start product. 

I have been using Digita since August, and I can confidently say even though they say its integrated but it’s not, for example SA, AP, CT, CS and PM are all separate products, installed separately and  when running a deadline task reports you will need to go into individual product to get monthly task report, however this is not very annoying; what really annoying is that you will need IT support to operate this software, Digita is for bigger firms I guess, where there is in house IT department. 

Second biggest issue is that every now and then you will get CD in post to upgrade each and every computer manually, no automatic updates via automatic downloads.

Lastly, In my opinion only PM and CS are built on new technology , it feels like you are using any other Micro soft product, however all other SA, AP and CT gives old look and feel, build over the years, lack logical layout and each one works  differently!

Sadly I am tied up for 3 years- if not I would have changed long time ago.  

But when its working yes it works fine, When I first started to use Tax Calc, I think I only called them once or twice for support as its so simple and logical to use, however with Digita;  in the first 3 to 6 months there was not a day gone by when someone from our firm didn't had to call Digita, its complex but again after 6 hard months I am used to and when its working its fine. I would give Digita 3 stars out of 5.

Having said all of the above, support team does work very hard, it’s not them it’s the development team behind who is letting Digita down badly.

I wished I had tried Digita for few weeks before signing up, big mistake!!

Good luck

Peter says that it is amazing and everyone should be using it.

Surely Peter can't be wrong. He's never wrong.

You are just showing yourself up as an obsessive weirdo.

I love you sweet pea
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

P.s look out of your bedroom window and give me a kiss. I've been waiting ages for a glimpse now.

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By ScribbleD
27th Apr 2016 13:02

Play nice!

Oh dear there are a lot of grumpy people on here. I agree with @Glennzy, go to Accountex if you can. Its a great way to see what is available out there. I use BTC for what its worth.

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Replying to More unearned luck:
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By qadri23
27th Apr 2016 14:02

100% agreeing with you, I wish Accountex exhibition was in August.....when I made the switch. 

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Red Leader
By Red Leader
27th Apr 2016 13:23

Accountex

The main thing making me go to Accountex - apart from the evening drinks - is looking for alternatives to IRIS who are treating me as a cash cow.

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By leicsred
27th Apr 2016 13:36

Digita

We have just had a demonstraion by them, it looked ok, but I was a bit concerned re the Accounts Production and Business Tax elements that looked like they may be a bit more long winded than Iris.

They do offer a trial of the software - e.g. a day or so on their server on a test area just to give it a go.

 

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Replying to Tax Dragon:
By petersaxton
28th Apr 2016 16:21

Long winded?

leicsred wrote:

We have just had a demonstraion by them, it looked ok, but I was a bit concerned re the Accounts Production and Business Tax elements that looked like they may be a bit more long winded than Iris.

They do offer a trial of the software - e.g. a day or so on their server on a test area just to give it a go.

In what way did you think Accounts Production was long winded?

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Glenn Martin
By Glenn Martin
27th Apr 2016 14:27

@Robcot

If you driver is price, everyone is cheaper than IRIS so that opens up the market to you.

I have used Digita since i started with maybe 10 clients and grown with it.

I imagine it would be difficult to install then put in client numbers like you have and then get going with it.

I have revisited a few times since to get more out of the practice management side of things. I think the link between AP and Corp Tax is quite good and allows you to do returns quite quickly.

There is a lot to come from Digita (so we are told) I link up with Xero the new Onvio esigning and document management system they have been working etc. There conference is next week which I am hoping to get a lot from, you get some 1 to 1 time with their developers who can learn you some good tricks in a short space of time.

For me although there is a lot of choice now you cannot just jump ship every year or 2 as once you have 100+ clients there is quite a lot of hassle in changing.

Overall I am and have been happy with Digita and my only issue is that they are not looking to a cloud version for 3 to 4 years which is disappointing as I am currently on their hosted version which I do not like as much as the desktop version as a tad more clunky.

When people ask for opinions that is what you get, and everyone thinks their software is best.

There is no right answer to the question, I have tried VT and didnt like it when many others think it is all you need.

The best product I have seen lately is Capium as I feel it has a lot of potential.

With regards Accountex you need to try and get in the SAGE VIP area I had that much champagne last year that Sageone actually looked decent lol.

 

 

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By stratty
27th Apr 2016 16:33

Digita

We use Digita for personal tax and it is a brilliant piece of software.  

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David J Cox FCPA
By sussexbulldog
28th Apr 2016 10:56

Taxfiler for me.  Accounts,

Taxfiler for me.  Accounts, CT, SAT, Partnerships £18 per month inc VAT.

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By medicalman
28th Apr 2016 10:58

Iris V Digita

I have recently moved practices from an iris based to a Digita software based.

I find digita as easy to use as Iris but like the use of tracker and time cost integration to Practice Management as it helps the staff to ensure they are not exceeding the budgets. I also like the integration from PM to  Accounts where it always prompts you with updates.

As an Iris user for as long as I can remember Digita is better 

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By calculus
28th Apr 2016 11:38

I have recently moved from Iris to Digita, the decision being cost driven, I only have a very small number of clients (less than 25) and having used Iris for the last 14 years I felt it was time to look at alternatives.

I've had lots of teething problems, but that is to be expected with any new software. The largest difference I have found is that you have to do all your own formatting. You are provided with master templates (which take up a license) and you the adapt your master template to fit your practice. The master templates that were provide were quite frankly shocking and a lot of adjustments were needed to get the template to a presentable format. For example silly things like including the heading for accounting notes that were empty and including dividend disclosure in the abbreviated accounts and not showing the year at the top of the P&L comparative figures, all small things but not something you experience with Iris. My biggest recommendation if you move to Digita is to book onsite training, I didn't as my client base is so small but don't underestimate how different the software is to use to Iris!

Now that I am getting to grips with Digita the problems have eased, and the support team at Digita is exceptional compared to Iris.

I do however have one issue at the moment with Digita and they have said they are aware of the issue and will look at resolving it, but can't tell me when this will be resolved. When filing online with Companies House the format of the accounts is not being sent correctly. The accounts look fine in Digita before they go, but if you download them from Companies House the software has added spaces all over the place which looks awful. I'm sure most o my clients wouldn't even notice, but I have a couple of clients who's accounts are of public interest and will be downloaded and for these I am going to have to file manually.

My conclusion, if you are moving to Digita for cost savings then once the software has bedded in you will probably be happy, but don't expect it to perform like Iris as it is very different.

 

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By qadri23
28th Apr 2016 12:08

Calculus - you are spot on

 I wish Digita products are as good as their support team, just phenomenal, they do handle each and every call professionally. 

Once you get used to with Digita, yes it performs well but only if you are brave enough to survive first 6 months or so !!

Out all Digita module, PM is the only product which outperforms IRIS or any other software I have ever used. 

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Replying to qadri23:
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By Barkster
20th May 2016 09:00

I have now signed up for Digita, and have been waiting to hear back from them about importing my data from BTC. I have signed endless pieces of paper, they wanted me to sign yet something else for this free service, I then had to wait for the signed copy to come back, I then waited over a week to hear back about them doing the import - they have just suggested a date of the 22nd July. Regretting it already. I was on a webinar with another one of their "customers" and she had had the software for 6 weeks and hadn't yet got as far as being able to file a tax return ! Very very worrying.

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Replying to Barkster:
By petersaxton
23rd May 2016 09:13

I know you shouldn't have to but did you chase them? I've had a problem when I updated to Windows 10 and then found my printers wouldn't work and I had to revert to Windows 8.1. This messed up my Digita programs and they had to get one of their development team to sort everything out by editing my registry. I was pleased with thei response times.

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By Clear123
28th Apr 2016 18:04

I used Iris for many years in my old practice and for 2 years in my own practice.  I really liked the product but it was costly.  2 years ago I changed to Digita, I never liked it, the support was hit or miss who you spoke to and like someone else said the updates were hard work.  I have recently changed to TaxCalc.  The cost for my practice is a 1/3 of what Digita were charging me.  It is very early days, I have prepared a handful of tax returns and one set of limited accounts using the software.  Any queries I have had have been dealt with well on the email support.  The update took place in the background.  TaxCalc is easy to use and guides you through the information to input as well as importing TBs and accounts.  So far so good.

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By JimH
28th Apr 2016 21:05

So no BTC ...
So seems no BTC users out there? I wanted integrated and practice management but stopped looking at BTC when I saw a) no sign of cloud and b) that TaxFiler didn't dictate how many each of trust returns, partnership returns, CT600s etc I could prepare for the subscription. Currently on a trial with Glide for PM side of things.

And yet again, a brief mention of Capium's potential. Yet has anyone seen a real life review from a practice using Capium; is it still too early to endorse?

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By Barkster
01st Jun 2016 17:38

I am starting to delve into Digita in earnest now and - oh my God - could they make it any more convoluted and hard to find things ! You have to set up users and passwords everywhere, common settings are buried so deep in bizarre menus you have no hope of ever stumbling across them yourself. They are the experts in taking an extremely simple and quick task (such as knocking out a basic tax return) and adding about a thousand mouse clicks and an unnecessary hour of my time, ticking schedules off as being completed etc. Seriously thinking of staying with BTC PM Solution as I can do a tax return in seconds.
Digita's Accounts Prep and CT does seem good, but as someone else said, these are all different modules - I even had to sign up for and get a new program just to file accounts with Companies House !
This is really not the software for a sole practitioner.
To reiterate what others have said though, the tech support people are really helpful and almost always you get through to someone right away. But it seems I am onto them every 5 minutes just to perform the simplest of tasks.
Here is an example. My partnership tax return was failing validation as there was no Nominated Partner signatory name inserted. So another call to Tech Support, this is what I had to do:
Go into the Practice Management module
Select the client
Go Edit > Client Details > Edit
Click on "Relationships"
Right click on the partner you want to sign
Click Edit
Click Show Details
Tick a box entitled something bizarre which you would never guess was anything to do with what I was looking for ! (and I was just looking at the software to find the name of this box when it crashed on me with an "Unhandled Exception" - and this is a brand new PC !!)
I wish I had stayed with BTC, certainly for personal tax. I still might do so actually. Digita is properly painful.

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By maggied8867
09th Jun 2016 13:02

I used Digita for 6 years, I looked at BTC at the time but I wanted a fully integrated package. I am a small company and had a 1 user license. It was a nightmare initially as the access kept stopping so I had to purchase a hosted environment to make it stable. Although it says it is integrated the modules are all separate and seem to be written by different people so do not work in the same way, the help screens are no help so I had to constantly call them. Last year we took on more staff so I got a quote for 2 people & also needed to up my subscription to the next band. The price increase was extortionate and it is so difficult to understand the prices from them. I do not think they have set prices.
Once you start with integrated software its grows & I did not want to contemplate a move but they were forcing me. I went back to BTC & found that they have now integrated software. The yearly fee for their software was a fraction of what I currently was paying Digita and it included 10 users and unlimited clients.
I much prefer BTC, It is all contained in one program and is so easy to use. I have not needed to continually call them as I did with Digita. The help screens do help. The only complaint i have with BTC is that I have never been able to speak to support when I call, they will return the call.

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By maggied8867
09th Jun 2016 13:02

I used Digita for 6 years, I looked at BTC at the time but I wanted a fully integrated package. I am a small company and had a 1 user license. It was a nightmare initially as the access kept stopping so I had to purchase a hosted environment to make it stable. Although it says it is integrated the modules are all separate and seem to be written by different people so do not work in the same way, the help screens are no help so I had to constantly call them. Last year we took on more staff so I got a quote for 2 people & also needed to up my subscription to the next band. The price increase was extortionate and it is so difficult to understand the prices from them. I do not think they have set prices.
Once you start with integrated software its grows & I did not want to contemplate a move but they were forcing me. I went back to BTC & found that they have now integrated software. The yearly fee for their software was a fraction of what I currently was paying Digita and it included 10 users and unlimited clients.
I much prefer BTC, It is all contained in one program and is so easy to use. I have not needed to continually call them as I did with Digita. The help screens do help. The only complaint i have with BTC is that I have never been able to speak to support when I call, they will return the call.

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By PedroCole
09th Jun 2016 14:35

Similar feelings to qadri23, we use Digita and have about 150 Limited company clients, we only use Corporation Tax & Accounts Production (TaxCalc for self assessments).

I came into practice from industry so had no prior experience of Accounts Production software (and we're probably not using it for half of what it is capable of), but we're finding recently that every update brings with it new problems and you really need an IT department.

We're currently considering our options and we do like TaxCalc, if only there was a way to migrate all the corporation tax data think our decision would have been already.

We haven't even had time to look at the Accounts Production Advanced guidance yet and there's no North East based workshop to help ease us into that particular development.

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Replying to PedroCole:
By petersaxton
09th Jun 2016 15:02

Did you see the email about the 'pre-configured database' for Digita Accounts Production Advanced?

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