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Digita and Star link tax and practice programs

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25th Dec 2005
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Exmouth-based tax software specialist Digita is taking on the practice software giants with the imminent launch of an "independent" accounts preparation program.

Called Accounts Pro, the new application will aim to undercut the offerings from Iris, Sage and CCH Software, the giants of the practice software marketplace. To strengthen its challenge, Digita has integrated both Accounts Pro and its Taxability Pro programs with practice management and payroll software from Star Computers to offer a best of breed alternative to the "one-stop" suppliers.

Digita chief executive Jerry Rihll said the move would "fly the flag for independent software".

He explained: "We are very pleased to be working with Star, a like-minded independent company that takes pride in client service. Putting clients first by providing choice is our highest priority. It's not surprising that the increasing industry trend is for accountants to select best-of-breed suppliers. Recent consolidations have not delivered good value or good service, just higher prices and less choice."

Star Computers director John Camp endorsed Rihll's comments and emphasised the technological superiority of the two company's products in a press release available in AccountingWEB's PressZone. While the Star and Digita applications are based on Microsoft's SQL Server database, rival suppliers using proprietary databases would have a lot of catching up to do, Star claimed.

Accounts Pro will be one of the first applications in the UK market to exploit the capabilities of Microsoft's .NET development architecture, which uses XML to exchange data between applications via the Internet. Because of this new approach, Rihll said the application was as much about extending the features of Taxability Pro as it was a challenge to the existing suppliers.

Frequent requests from Digita's tax software users for an accounts prep application convinced Rihll "there is a lot of pent up demand in this market". While offering superior technology for both data entry and reporting, Digita was going to offer Accounts Pro at roughly half the cost of competitors' programs.

According to Rihll, some of his rival suppliers were asking "extortionate amounts" for their accounts production software.

"It's not like tax, which is very expensive to maintain. Once you've created an accounts production program, maintaining it is simple. Every accountant has a need for accounts preparation tools, but not necessarily for tax. This market is going to be great for us."

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By pauldruckman
29th Jan 2003 18:10

Is it really that easy?
Interesting development in the vertical market which can only be potentially good for the end users.

I am fascinated by the quote that "...Once you've created an accounts production program, maintaining it is simple..."

Assuming the package will cater for Statutory Accounts what happens with disclosure requirements? is there something I am missing here.

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By AnonymousUser
31st Jan 2003 15:57

Accounts Pro
Naturally, Digita Accounts Pro will need updating for matters such as disclosure changes; however we believe that these changes will be fewer and simpler than tax software. The lower cost of ownership of Accounts Pro reflects this lower cost to Digita.

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