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Digita 2009 conference: Rihll rides again

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5th Apr 2009
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Digita points the way forwardDigita met with users last week for its annual conference - the first one under new ownership. Nigel Harris was there to assess how things have changed.

The Stereophonics track “Long Way Down” introduced software company Digita’s recent 7th annual conference. This year the company is under new ownership, having been acquired by US software and information giant Thomson Reuters, introduced to delegates as “a global leader in tax and accounting software.” The Thomson Reuters branding was evident everywhere at this year’s conference.

After 23 years at the helm, managing director Jerry Rihll’s enthusiasm for the company and his vision to drive it forward were undiminished as he opened the conference. Last year was a good one for Digita, he told the audience:

  • turnover up by 27%.
  • 1,200 new customers.
  • an impressive 98% renewal rate.
  • a customer base of 3,000 firms and 15,000 users.
  • 93 employees across its three sites, 60% of whom work on software development.

Rihll singled out the company’s customer service team for particular praise. In 2008 they fielded 39,000 service requests – an impressive total, but not specially alarming given the number of new and existing customers.

Seventy per cent of the support team have worked in practice and since joining Digita they have together accumulated 40 years of service with the company. Continuity is important to Digita and it was noticeable that virtually the same key staff have lead their respective product teams at every one of the seven conferences to date. However, delegates were not upset to learn that one long serving servant of the support team will be retiring in 2009 – later this year the answering machine will be terminated and all support calls will go through to an adviser immediately.

Rihll reminded delegates of the six principles or “virtues” behind Digita software:

  • Flexible – despite developing a complete suite of practice applications, Digita remains equally committed to best of breed users; users range from three of the top 10 firms down to a large number of sole practitioners.
  • Future proofed – Microsoft certification is obtained for every new version of Windows and office.
  • Proven –over 23 years.
  • Extensive functionality straight out of the box.
  • Intuitive, especially thanks to the company’s close working relationship with Microsoft.
  • Reliable – Digita was top with 0% critical failures at initial service and ongoing support in the last ICAEW survey.

On the product front, the main news for 2009 was the ongoing development of Practice Management, the first part of which was delivered in 2008. This year should see the release of time and fees, complete with reports and user dashboards. This release will include 60-70 ready-to-run reports plus a fully user configurable report editor.

Far from being swallowed up by its new parent company – the Thomson Reuters (TR) group, which has a presence in 22 countries, 50,000 employees and turned over £10bn last year. President and CEO of the tax and accounting division, Roy M Martin Jr, was on hand to reassure Digita customers that TR was committed not to meddle with Digita and would be allowing Rihll and his team to continue to lead the company.

Roy Martin, president and CEO of the Thomson Reuters Tax & Accounting Division spoke about the continued commitment to Digita: “What we can and will bring to Digita is an ongoing investment commitment and access to a global technology resource that they can utilise as they think fit.”

The first fruit of this patronage will be a document management application to be launched as part of Digita Practice Management in the last quarter of 2009, a fully localised UK build of the highly successful File Cabinet which TR has sold into over 15,000 firms in the USA. Martin promised further investment in Digita and in the UK in future, but gave no further details either in his formal address or when interviewed later.

The opening address closed with a reprise of “Long Way Down” – not, as it turns out, a comment on how far the company has to fall in the current economic climate, but a reminder for Rihll of his recent 2,000 mile motorcycle trip across Thailand!

Further conference coverage

AccountingWEB contributor Simon Hurst has become a star turn at the annual Digita event. Highlights from his top efficiency tips for Microsoft Office are available via IT Zone.

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Replies (5)

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By egbell
09th Apr 2009 12:42

Modesty!!!
Well,they are certainly not modest about themselves,but amongst their wonderful principles I do not see anything about cost-effective or competitively priced.Maybe that is why I do not use them,apart from the usual amount of bragging I see from so many "wonderful" providers.

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By User deleted
09th Apr 2009 11:56

P11D software
Just had our Digita/PKF P11D software installed. The helpline was poor - the assistant was unable to help our IT support team despite several phone calls and finally admitted she was not familiar with the product. Our IT guy felt she was merely working through a script. In the end it was trial and error to install.

For the second year running, we cannot print out final P11D(b)'s due to 'issues with HMRC approval' - funny how other software houses don't seem to have this problem.
Oh, and the update disc (supposedly sent out before the end of the tax year) has still to arrived, so we can't progress our P11D's further yet although some are ready to finalise. We've even resorted to doing one or two by hand using the Revenue forms (which, for once, have arrived).

Super conference maybe but, I'm wating to be convinced about the super software!

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By mileswaterman
09th Apr 2009 17:01

true not cheap but...
Try a demo, you will then see why Digita is not cheap.

Like I have said previously, I am a sole Practitioner of a small practice. I make it priority to have the best possible software and Digita is the one I will recommend.

You will get excellent service when you want help.

On the contrary I needed help from SAGE for accounts production. I emailed my problem recieved acknowledgement within 24 hrs and didnt get a reply 7 days later. By then I had sorted the problem out.

Nothing comes anywhere near Digita technical support. Mostly ex accountants who understand all our demads.

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By egbell
09th Apr 2009 17:18

Who said cheap?
Mehmet mehmet uses the word cheap in his headline.Where did I or the other critic use this word?I said cost-effective .Perhaps I had better explain that cheap is not the same as cost-effective.Have I made it clear??

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By mileswaterman
08th Apr 2009 14:00

Great Praise For DIGITA
I attended Digita conference for the 4th Year running. Last year I said that they are the best company we have ever dealt with. Now I say they are even better.

Great team of people who have time for every customer even a sole practitioner like me!

I even had a 15 minute conversation with Jerry Rihill expressing some ideas for the future. He was extremly pleasant and very approachable.

CONGRATULATIONS DIGITA, you deserve the number one spot.

Anyone considering tax software should not even consider anyone else. DIGITA has good user friendly and compliant software. BUT the most important thing is Customer service. SIMPLY THE BEST.

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