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New for the 2023/24 tax year, software providers Bright have launched the cloud version of their popular, desktop-based payroll software, BrightPay. BrightPay is used to process payroll for over 350,000 businesses across the UK and Ireland. The launch is a pivotal moment in Bright’s 30-year journey providing payroll software to customers.
A fully-cloud version of BrightPay is something that customers had requested from Bright for some time. The progression of technology, as well as changes in the business world in recent years, has made more practices move their operations to the cloud. The COVID-19 pandemic was a major factor in the acceleration of cloud adoption as it allowed businesses to run as usual, even when the unexpected happened.
How cloud payroll software can help improve your payroll services
In 2022, 30% of the UK workforce worked remotely, working at least part of the time from somewhere other than their employer’s base. Cloud technology means employees can have access to all the files and programs they need, no matter where they are working from. With BrightPay’s cloud payroll solution, all you need is a device that’s connected to the internet to process payroll. This means that you can access all the files you need and process payroll from anywhere in the world.
With BrightPay’s cloud payroll software, multiple users can work on the same file simultaneously. Any updates to the payroll will be visible in real time. You can see who is working on the payroll and what part of the file they’re working on. This means that if one person is working from the office, and another from home, you don’t need to worry about miscommunication leading to errors in the payroll or duplication of work. This flexible way of working means payroll processors no longer need to rush back to the office to get that week’s payroll finalised. This leads to increased productivity, as well as allowing businesses to tap into a much wider talent pool than they ever could before.
2. Disaster recovery:
Cloud technology can be a lifesaver when it comes to data disasters. Things like cyber-attacks, fires, and theft can leave your clients’ data vulnerable. Thankfully, with BrightPay’s new cloud payroll solution, all your payroll data is automatically backed up to the cloud, as you work. This gives you peace of mind that even if you spill coffee on your laptop, or a virus infects your computer’s hard drive, simply open Chrome, Safari or whatever browser you use on another device, and you’ll be able to access BrightPay’s online payroll software. From here, you can continue with the payroll as normal, and it will be up to date, where you left off. It also means you don’t have to worry about remembering to back up your payroll data regularly to an external hard drive or third-party file hosting service.
3. Business agility:
Change can happen out of nowhere, when we least expect it. Cloud technology can allow your business to react quickly, without needing to invest in additional hardware or infrastructure. This means practices can take advantage of changing market opportunities faster, making it easier to expand your payroll services.
With BrightPay’s cloud payroll solution, you pay monthly, based on the total number of active employees, across all your clients. This makes it easy for practices to control costs in line with fluctuating demand. The cloud payroll software also has a number of features coming soon that can help you expand the payroll services you offer clients; these include:
- A client portal where clients can enter payroll information, run payroll reports, access payslips and manage employee annual leave requests.
- An employee app where employees can view payslips and HR documents,request annual leave and view their leave taken and leave remaining.
While not all the features of BrightPay for Windows or Mac or the features mentioned above are available on BrightPay’s cloud solution upon initial release, development teams at Bright are working incredibly hard behind the scenes to add all the time-saving features to their cloud payroll solution by the end of the calendar year. It is also important to note that with BrightPay’s cloud payroll solution, there is currently a limit of 100 employees per employer. This is only temporary, and the employee number will increase. Check out this free guide to learn all about features of the cloud payroll software.
4. Compliance and security:
Compliance and security are always at the front of business owners’ minds. Cloud technology can help keep your clients’ payroll data safe and secure. With BrightPay’s online software, your data will be stored on a server at a UK data centre, hosted by Microsoft Azure. Your files will also be encrypted, meaning that the data is scrambled; making it difficult for any unauthorised people to access it.
When the payroll is online, it means there is no more downloading or updating the latest versions of the software. BrightPay’s cloud-based solution will update for you automatically. Automatic updates in the software can give you peace of mind that your business is staying compliant with regulations like GDPR or employment legislation.
Here’s what Bright’s CEO had to say about the new cloud payroll software
Commenting on its launch, Kevin McCallum, Chief Executive Officer of Bright, said: “We know that BrightPay already does most of what our customers need, which is why we kept this new product close to its award-winning formula. We have, however, responded to the demand from our customers, and the wider drive towards cloud-based software from the accounting and payroll landscape, by providing our tried and tested software in a more accessible and collaborative format.”
“Taking BrightPay online has allowed us to provide new, exciting tools that create a more holistic payroll suite, where all employees have something to gain. And, while our development teams continue to perfect the software’s initial offering over the next few months, we’re eager to hear from our customers about how it’s helping their business – especially as we prepare to roll-out even more innovative features over the course of the next few months.”
“I believe that BrightPay will offer our customers more versatility, flexibility and transparency; benefits we know are crucial in today’s hybrid working environment.”
To learn more about BrightPay’s new online payroll software and to see the software in action, book a free demo today. Download our free guide to learn more about the features of BrightPay’s cloud payroll solution, and how it compares to BrightPay for Windows or Mac.
