Tag: Accounts software

Breaking down barriers to migration: Make the move to cloud-based farm management tools today

Posted on by Jenny George

The team was excited to exhibit at Cereals 2023 this year, the biggest occasion in the arable calendar. The event showcased the latest in arable farming as well as provided the opportunity to listen to talks by leading industry experts and served as a chance to have some very interesting conversations.

On the stand, we were able to talk to many farmers and agriculture businesses, big and small, about our farm management software and IT solutions and how they can transform the way farm businesses are run.

The hot topic that came up time and time again in our conversations with farmers was rural connectivity. Most of the concerns raised were around how farmers can be supported to move their businesses towards a digital future when rural connectivity is still poor in some areas.

Poor connectivity is not an obstacle to digital farm management

The team had many discussions around the use of our farm management tools such as Farmplan Business Cloud (FBC) and Gatekeeper Cloud (GKC) with many farmers asking if poor connectivity would be an obstacle to using them.

We are happy to reassure any farmers looking to adopt our digital tools that it isn’t. It may surprise you to learn that they only require an internet speed of 1MBps (1 Megabyte per second) to run, which means that even with relatively poor or slow connectivity, farmers can still manage their farm businesses and collaborate with stakeholders in real time.

While digital products like FBC and GKC do require an internet connection to run, they don’t need a lot of speed or bandwidth. For farmers who are worried about this issue, this is what we’d like you to know. If you are already doing your taxes online as per the MTD (Making Tax Digital) regulations, you already have the connectivity that’s necessary to run FBC and GKC.

Help with the transition to digital farm management

We’ve been developing farm data management solutions for almost 50 years and 65% of our team have more than a decade of agricultural experience. In fact, more than 8,500 farms, professionals, and agriculture businesses trust our digital farm management products.

We understand the issues that farmers face, and we know that rural connectivity is an important one. That’s why we work closely and patiently with customers to address any concerns while helping them transition smoothly to digital farm management.

The benefits of adopting cloud-based tools

Instead of getting by with cumbersome spreadsheets and paper records, our cloud-based tools like FBC and GKC allow farmers to input, access, and share data in real time, from any location, which makes for a much easier and flexible way of working.

Imagine having more time to focus on the farm tasks that matter, instead of spending it on onerous data entry. Being able to access and share data from any device, whether you’re in the office or the field. Seamlessly sharing data with your accountant or agronomist. Having the ability to analyse your business in detail so you know which areas of your business are performing well and where there’s room for improvement. It’s all possible with tools like GKC.

Our customers overwhelmingly tell us that once we’ve helped them with the transition to digital farm management, they’ve never looked back, and it’s allowed their businesses to thrive. Many of those same customers are located in areas with poor connectivity, but it hasn’t held them back.

Get connected to future proof your farm business

In uncertain and challenging times for farmers, improving productivity, profitability, and sustainability is essential for future success. With our range of farm management tools, farmers can future proof their farm businesses even without a super-fast internet connection.

For farmers who are considering migrating to digital farm management, our expert team are on hand to offer tailored farm-focused help and advice, call 01594 545000 or email farmplansales@proagrica.com

Make your year end transition easier with Farmplan Business Cloud

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As the year end approaches, Anne Cianchi, Product Manager at Farmplan, the UK’s leading agricultural software specialists, shares some timely advice on how farmers can manage their money in uncertain times.

Harness the right accounting software to get ahead 

The year-end process can be a daunting and time-consuming one, but Anne assures farmers that having the right tools and support can help. “With Farmplan Business Cloud there is no complicated year end process to be run. Furthermore, financial advisors can be given access to run their own reports and make the required year-end adjustments directly in the software, leaving you free to get on with running your business.”

“But it’s not just about the simplicity of the year end process,” Anne continues, “Farmplan Business Cloud also allows you to take stock of all the information available to you. From analysing price trends to comparing enterprise performance, there is a wealth of information easily available to help each farm make well informed decisions going forward”.

Make everyday business tasks easier with Business Cloud 

Forget the clunky spreadsheets and paper records, Business Cloud is a complete accounting solution designed specifically for farmers. Here are just some of the benefits.

  • Time saving 

Time consuming and complicated data entry tasks become effortless, so farmers have more time to do what they do best. Whether on the farm or in the office, they can access and share their data from any device, anywhere, and automate those time-stealing tasks. 

  • Seamless collaboration

Business Cloud allows farmers to stay in control of their data and choose who can access what, from family members to trusted advisors. Keeping data safe and secure ensures they’ll always be compliant with current regulations. 

  • Make informed decisions

Where is a farm performing well? What needs to happen so the business can grow? Business Cloud allows farmers to analyse their business in as much detail as they need, so they can answer these questions and more. 

Not only that, but the software is capable of handling data for all types of enterprise, from traditional farm enterprises to farm diversification projects, helping farm businesses grow with ease. With the added function of being able to automatically bring transactions in from the bank and post them direct to the ledgers, managing money in one place has never been easier. 

Stress-free digital financial management

As of April 2022, all VAT-registered businesses were required to adhere to HMRC’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) regulations. 

These regulations mean businesses need to keep digital records of all transactions that make up the figures they report in their VAT return.

For farm businesses who are in their first year of using software to manage their finances, Farmplan provides reassurance that it’s not as stressful or complicated as it may seem.

“ For some farms, the MTD requirement might have felt like a big leap,” says Anne. “However by making use of the resources and the support available from Farmplan the transition to MTD software will not only ensure compliance with the new rules but will also bring so many other benefits at every level of your business.”

“We have lots of experience in the farming sector and our systems are tailored to the needs of farming businesses,” Anne continues, “ We are always on hand to talk to farmers, through our on-line and telephone support network”

Farmplan is an agent of Plaid Financial Ltd., an authorised payment institution regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Payment Services Regulations 2017 (Firm Reference Number: 804718). Plaid provides you with regulated account information services through Farmplan as its agent.