How to move your data from Relate to BrightAccountsProduction? 

If you’re interested in making the move to BrightAccountsProduction, that’s great! We've made it as easy as possible to make the switch – all you have to do is download your client's file from Relate and upload it into BrightAccountsProduction by pressing ‘Import’ -> ‘Relate Accounts Production’ within the ‘Clients and Accounts’ module. 

This routine will import your current year transactions plus 5 comparative year balances from Relate Accounts Production into BrightAccountsProduction. To import simply choose the most recent RAP Backup file for the client by either selecting the file from your device or using the drag and drop functionality. 

What might be stopping you from making the move? 

Cloud security 

There is still a misconception among many people that storing data on the cloud is not secure, which may be putting you off making the switch. In reality, cloud storage provides more security than storing data locally as data is encrypted and stored by large storage providers, like Microsoft Azure. Cloud storage allows you to outsource the maintenance and responsibility of keeping your data safe to specialist providers. With cloud, there is no risk of physical servers being hacked, lost or stolen. 

Did you know BrightAccountsProduction operates on Microsoft Azure, the second largest cloud server in the world? 

Learning a new system 

Although most accounts production packages are designed to do the same thing – create accurate financial statements – you may be dreading learning a new system. After using Relate Accounts Production for so long, it’s likely that you know it like the back of your hand – you could probably find every button in your sleep. If this sounds familiar, then BrightAccountsProduction is the perfect option for you. The layouts may not be identical, but you will notice plenty of similarities. We’ve even made BrightAccountsProduction easier to navigate, with the Compliance Database broken down into sections and sub-sections and we’ve even added a search bar to make finding specific settings quick and easy. 

The legality of e-signatures 

You may be worried about using BrightAccountsProduction’s E-Signing feature, which will be new to you if you’ve been using Relate. This feature allows you to get your documents signed online instead of having to print your accounts, take time out to meet clients or transport the documents via a courier, and get a wet signature – it’s a big time-saver. We’ve heard many accountants question whether e-signatures are legally binding, so this query might be rattling around your head. Don’t worry, e-signatures are legally binding, so you’ll have no issues if you decide to use them. BrightAccountsProduction also allows you to easily print your accounts, if you enjoy meeting clients or have clients unable to sign digitally. 

Final thoughts 

If you’re looking for a seamless transition when Relate Accounts Production comes to an end, then your best option is BrightAccountsProduction. Relate’s days are numbered (pardon the pun), and the last thing you want to experience is a harsh transition to a new package or to be left without a solution for creating your all-important financial statements – so don’t kick the can down the road. We recommend switching your package early and using Relate Accounts Production alongside your new system, so you can make the transition as easy as can be.  

To learn more about BrightAccountsProduction, you can book a free demo below. Our team is on hand to help you make a seamless transition.