BACS software -alternatives / recommendations

BACS software -alternatives / recommendations

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We have been informed by our current BACS software supplier that it will not cope with upcoming TLS changes and so presumable will not work.  They are trying to sell me a newer version.  We have had no trouble with the existing software and it works well.  All we use it for is paying suppliers and payroll - no more than 90 files per year. However, I'm loathed to spend money replacing software which I would have hoped they would update for free.  I am therefore looking at alternatives, according to the BACS website there are 16 approved suppliers, I would appreciate your thoughts / recommendations. 

Replies (10)

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By Tim Vane
26th Jan 2016 17:55

They are using TLS as an excuse to move you on or get more money from you. Upgrading software for TLS is trivial.

With service like that, move to another supplier.

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By tom123
26th Jan 2016 20:29

Try your bank

a couple of jobs ago (about 10 years), we used to have dedicated BACS software to run our payroll. We paid suppliers by laser printed cheques.

These days I use HSBCNet (which is their quite decent 'larger company' offering.).

I expect the other main banks have something similar.

Or - have I missed the point, and you need special software because you somehow have to raise instructions drawing funds out of client banks etc - which is not something I have ever needed?

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By James_Whitelegg
28th Jan 2016 11:41

Upgraded this week

We too pay suppliers and payroll - about 65 files a year.

We have changed from Bottomline Technology's E-pay to their PT-X solution due to this issue - it went live this week.

PT-X is cloud based, and can be accessed on tablets as well as PC's / laptops - useful if the authoriser is out of the office. Also the updates should now be simpler.

Installation was straightforward, the software though is not quite as slick as E-pay, but still adequate.

We got a good detail on the upgrade as we signed up before Christmas, and the subscription fees going forward are slightly less than we had been paying.

 

 

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By J T
28th Jan 2016 12:03

Bank Processing Software

Not answering your original query straight up but do you actually need BACS software?

We have configured our ERP software so it spits out an Excel template (csv file) which can be uploaded straight up to our online banking. Its a bit of a faff to set up but it was much easier and cheaper than getting our decrepit system to talk to the BACS software (and change internal processes accordingly).

For payroll we have not done the same as we use a bureau. However if it the same people then you can set up bulk lists on most banks online offering and protect them from unauthorised changes.

From previous experience the bigger players will have something that is worth trying, e.g Bankline (RBS/Natwest) is available to almost if not all businesses. With smaller banks you may be out of luck, I know that certainly a few years ago the Co-ops offering was laughable.

I would be less critical than Tim about "getting you to move on" so move away. A lot of companies are finding that supporting decrepit packages is increasingly not worth the hassle and leads to poor customer satisfaction. So when users eventually upgrade, like you, they move.

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By unified-software
28th Jan 2016 13:26

BACS Software Reply

Hello,

Just thought I would drop an answer off in here, as we are one of the 16 Bacs Approved Suppliers, so you might want to hear what we have to say.

The upcoming updates that will affect how your Bacs system will run are TLS 1.2, which is the one that you have mentioned, and SHA-2 which will come out in June 2016. Both of these have to do with security and encryption of the files that you are sending to the Bacs service.

Unified Software does not charge for updates or upgrades, maintenance or support, you simply pay for the SmartCard you are using.

Obviously I am a bit biased with regards to answering these comments with regards to the company I work for, but without contacting each supplier in person, you won't know whether they will charge for upgrades or updates.

If you would like to check out our software, I can set you up with a free demo. I'll leave the link below to our website, so that you can see what you think for yourselves.

http://www.unifiedsoftware.co.uk/products/bacssoftware/bacssoftware.html 

As for JT, yes you do need Bacs software to use the Bacs system. It is an extremely secure system, so without approved products, you cannot access it.

I hope this helps!

Kind Regards,

Unified Software

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By unified-software
28th Jan 2016 14:04

Reply for JT

Hello JT,

I do see what you mean. If you were just paying out, you could just use online banking.

But you cannot collect through this method, or process multiple files to send at the same time.

There is also no guarantee with online banking with regards to money being directed to the wrong account of ever getting it back.

There are these guarantees with Direct Debit and with Bacs, but yes, if you are just paying out, and you definitely know the bank accounts you are paying to are correct, then you could use online banking.

Kind Regards,

Unified Software

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By ghewitt
28th Jan 2016 17:54

We use

Barclays.net; not only does the payments and collections but other useful stuff too. Online banking, as mentioned is a good alternative too enabling bulk payments as well.

I can't actually see why everyone does not use them.

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By richking04
28th Jan 2016 22:22

Check your Windows version too

A key point about the BACS upgrade that doesn't seem to have been mentioned is that the enhanced security that BACS will be using from June is not supported on Windows XP and older versions of Internet Explorer. I know a lot of people run BACS software on an old stand-alone PC.  If you are still using Windows XP, you will need to upgrade by June whatever your BACS software provider is doing.

I do work for one of the 16 providers.  V1 is not charging for a new version - other than the normal annual support fee - but users still running older versions and/or still using Windows XP will need to upgrade before June.

On the subject of on-line banking versus being a 'direct submitter' to BACS: while just about all banks have their own offerings for payments (and many for collections too), medium to large companies and those with reasonable volumes of transactions will typically save money by using BACS through lower transaction costs. BACS also offers a single solution for all UK clearing banks.  So you can use the same software for multiple accounts with different banks and changing bank is less hassle too.

 

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By psimonparsons
29th Jan 2016 03:59

BACS Bureaux
An alternate consideration is to use the services of an approved BACS bureau such as Ceridian payments accounting service. Then the interface to BACStel-IP is not your problem. All you need do then is interface with the service the payments (direct credit or debit) and ensure your native browser software is set for the change to enable access to the appropriate BACS reports.

(Please note that I am connected with Ceridian who is one of the largest submitters of BACS payments outside of the UK bank network).

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By garybsz
01st Feb 2016 11:19

BACs Software

Thanks for all of your helpful comments.

To protect the innocent I won't say who we are currently with, but they are mentioned in the comments above!  

Our payments are simple (just a list names, number and values), we are probably still using BACS software as it was installed before the advent of electronic banking.

We have access to our banks system,I have a quote from them and it really isn't that much cheaper, so when you factor in the set-up time it is not an obvious saving (plus if we move bank we have to do it again).

We also have fully access to electronic banking, however the thought of uploading 100 supplier payments each week to it, is not a good use of our time (via re-key data), I need to investigate a direct upload.  I will also review the offerings from those companies mentioned above.

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