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xAPL - the biggest advance in software for accountants since Windows

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19th Oct 2007
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Contrary to some reports that the ICAEW IT Faculty’s xAPL data exchange project is dead in the water, Star Computers has released of an xAPL-compliant version of its Practice Management Software application. Simon Hurst reports

xAPL is a standard for exchanging client data between programs used in accountancy practices. The standard was created by a group of software suppliers convened by the IT Faculty. Digita was responsible for most of the technical development of the XML-based standard and last summer Star and Digita proved xAPL's viability by transmitting client data from Star Practice Management into a Digita application.

Just over a year later, Star has now incorporated the technology into the released version of their software.

The potential benefit to accountancy firms is considerable. The 2007 IT Faculty survey of IT usage in practices found that 62% of firms using packages from more than one supplier wanted greater integration of packages from different suppliers. As more suppliers adopt xAPL, firms will be able to choose the packages they consider best for individual applications, without having to sacrifice the benefits of application integration.

Star chairman David Blechner commented: “Historically, firms with software for tax, accounts production and practice management from different suppliers have had to create and update information within each system.

"Rekeying data is not only a waste of time but also increases the likelihood of error. Through xAPL, this no longer need be the case. Firms using xAPL-compliant software can break out of the restrictions imposed by a single product range. They can implement the best products from individual suppliers and still benefit from integration. They can have the best of both worlds.”

He continued: “This is the most noteworthy advance in software for accountants since introduction of the Windows operating system. We will be interested to see how soon other suppliers who signed up to the integration standard release their own XAPL software - and I am sure their clients will be equally interested.”

Of course, two swallows don’t make an apple pie, so a lot will indeed depend on how soon other suppliers release versions of their software that support the xAPL standard. Sources close to the project expect further significant announcements in the coming months.

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