The future of Bright’s product suite
It’s been an exciting past few years here at Bright, and we want to take you on a fly-by of our journey so far. As software providers, our goal is to provide you with a unified and streamlined experience, so you can run your firm stress-free.
·4 min read
It’s been an exciting past few years here at Bright, and we want to take you on a fly-by of our journey so far. As software providers, our goal is to provide you with a unified and streamlined experience, so you can run your firm stress-free. If you’ve been with us for a while (or if you’re new, hi there ?) you know that our roadmap is always evolving, with the aim to provide you with best-in-class solutions for the challenges you may face.
Here are some of our recent highlights, and a brief glimpse into our roadmap.
Where it all began…
In September 2021, Thesaurus Software and Relate Software merged together. Both Irish companies, Thesaurus Software were providers of payroll software BrightPay, while Relate Software’s product suite included solutions like Surf Accounts Production and Surf Accounts. This was the catalyst that led to the formation of Bright as you now know it today. By January 2022, BrightPay and Surf Accounts were connected through API integration, allowing users to seamlessly transfer their payroll journals from BrightPay to their general ledger in Surf Accounts in seconds, without having to leave the payroll software.
AccountancyManager joins the fold
Then came another merger in March 2022, with AccountancyManager. A multi-award-winning practice management software. By adding it to our offering, accountants could cut down on admin and take back control of the day-to-day running of their firm.
Bright new branding
In August 2022, we gave ourselves a bit of a glow up with some new branding. We unified our visual identity under the one umbrella, to have an easy-to-navigate and modern look that reflected our innovative software. This is when the software group, simply known as Bright was born, and our aim was to become a one-stop-shop for accounting solutions for accountants and businesses across the UK and Ireland. Our rebranding included a brand-new website, new product logos, new colours and an overall new feel.
BTCSoftware becomes part of Bright
Soon after, in October 2022, Bright acquired BTCSoftware, a tax compliance solution that makes managing tax compliance effortless.
By November 2022, we celebrated reaching a milestone of 300 employees across three countries, and by January 2023, we celebrated 65,000+ users across our products.
BrightPay takes to the clouds
Then came March 2023, the launch of the cloud version of BrightPay. This made payroll processing possible from any device, at any time. Along with multi-user capabilities and real-time changes, BrightPay in the cloud took our customers (and their clients) to new heights by giving them the payroll flexibility they needed.
Introducing BrightTax
In May 2023, BrightTax launched, marking another significant milestone in our roadmap. Developed from BTCSoftware’s core system, BrightTax helps to make your life easier by handling your clients’ finance and tax obligations. The benefits? A dual-access database, the ability to access client info in-browser, real-time changes, and tag returns with critical iXBRL data.
What’s still to come for Bright
We have multiple exciting projects in the works here at Bright. Here are the three main projects we are currently working on behind the scenes and will be launching in the coming months:
Integration between AccountancyManager and Surf Accounts Production. Rather than keeping client details up-to-date in both software (and entering the same figures twice, yawn), when you enter or update details in AccountancyManager, they’ll automatically update in Surf Accounts Production. This helps you stay compliant and updated across all platforms.
BrightPropose is a proposal and pricing software that will initially be part of AccountancyManager. Rather than sending prospective clients an underwhelming email, you can give them a fully branded document, enhancing the quality of your onboarding, and providing clients with that consistent branding experience. It will also come with a pricing calculator to set more accurate fees and will be an affordable option within the existing market.
Later in the year, we’ll be launching BrightCoSec, a cloud-based Company Secretarial software that gives you everything you need for easy company formations and Limited Company compliance. BrightCoSec will include integration with Companies House (CH), and will provide easy and straightforward CH filing.
We’re continuously working on improving our products and services and providing our clients with the best-in-class solutions for their accounting needs. Here at Bright, we’re on a mission to make a happy and efficient working life a reality for accountants through reliable software and amazing support. We are dedicated to making your work-life easier, so you can focus on what really matters – your clients. If you haven’t already tried our software, give it a go and experience the difference for yourself.
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This content may have been developed with the assistance of AI tools. Content is reviewed by a member of the Bright team before publication. Guidance on legislation can be obtained from your industry body.
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