Configure the bank link (AFAS Online)

This topic describes the configuration of the bank link between your bank and AFAS Online. This allows you to automatically receive and import electronic bank statements. In eliminates the need to retrieve and manually import bank statements yourself.

You can exchange the bank files automatically using a direct link between Internet Banking and AFAS Online. We use the term 'bank link' or 'bank integration’ for this.

The bank link automates the retrieval of the bank statements. The exchange of the bank statement files is done for you. The processing of the bank statements is something you have to start yourself. You still have to give your approval for the collection and payment files on the internet banking site. In other words, the bank link only takes over uploading and downloading the files.

Advantages:

  • Automatically upload and download electronic bank statements using a direct link.
  • It saves you time.
  • You reduce the chance of errors.
  • You always have insight into current outstanding items.

Note:

The bank link is only available for AFAS Online customers who do their internet banking with the ABN-Amro, Rabobank and/or ING banks.

Furthermore, the Rabobank offers you the option to send payment and collection files via this link. As yet, the ABN-Amro bank and the ING bank do not offer this option.

You can only automatically send collection or payment files in Euros via the bank link, not those in foreign currencies. Profit supports payments in foreign currencies that have the BTL91 payment format. However, you cannot automatically send a file in the BTL91 payment format to the ING, Rabo or ABN AMRO using the bank link. You have to process it manually. Bank integration is only possible for euro accounts.

For the required bank account number, you activate the bank link between the bank and AFAS Online via your bank. You also need to activate the bank integration once in the Profit environment. After you have activated the bank integration, you must authorise the communication service and set up the communication environment if you are going to exchange data from Profit for the first time via the Internet.

Content

Description

A number of actions has to be performed to facilitate the exchange of bank files between the bank and your financial administration in Profit.

Manually exchange bank statements (without the bank link)

In this situation, you download your bank statement file manually as a SWIFT or MCR file and then import it into your environment yourself.

Exchange bank statements automatically (using the bank link)

In this scenario, statements are exchanged automatically using a direct link between your bank and AFAS Online.

The bank sends your bank statement file once per day toAFAS Online. You receive the bank statement in a message via the Communication Service. Profit automatically imports this file. You then only need to start the processing of the bank statement yourself.

Fin_Bankintegratie internetbankieren inrichten (AFAS Online)

Fin_Bankintegratie internetbankieren inrichten (AFAS Online) (80)

Manually exchange payment and collection orders

To perform payment and collection orders, you create a payment order in Profit, which causes an electronic payment file (SEPA file) to be prepared. You then have to upload this file using the Internet Banking application to actually make the payment.

Automatically exchange payment and collection orders using the Rabobank bank link and AFAS Online.

The Rabobank also provides the option to send these digital payment and collection orders directly to the Rabobank when the order is processed in Profit. The payment order is not immediately processed by the Rabobank, but is ready in the Internet banking application of the bank. There, you have to sign (or reject) the payment order.

You can use the same bank link between the Rabobank and AFAS Online to automatically send payment and collection files to the Rabobank. You can configure this link at the same time that you configure the bank link.

Bank Integration Service (BIS) / Central Communication Service

For the bank link using AFAS Online, a central communication service is available - the Bank Integration Service ( BIS). This service facilitates the communication (digital message exchange) between the banks and the communication service of the customer environment on AFAS Online. This service checks and reviews the contents of the message and determines in which environment of AFAS Online the message should be processed.

This central communication functionality is also used for other forms of data exchange (for example, feedback for ‘BAPI’ and ‘Digi-ZSM’ messages). This central communication service is subject to very strict security requirements, including compliance with all requirements regarding the communication with external parties (such as the banks). In addition, the central communication service includes a reliable identification mechanism, which determines whether the communication is with the authorised requester/sender of the information in question.

For the bank link, you also require the communication service in your Profit environment. If you are already using AFAS Online to exchange electronic data from Profit over the internet, you are already using the Communication Service. If you do not yet use the communication service functionality, it is automatically activated after the bank link is activated.

Note: 

The messages with the bank statements are available for retrieval for 60 days only. After 60 days, the messages are deleted. If you then use the link again, bank statements may be missing. You can automate this by using the Profit Task Scheduler an a scheduled task Send and receive communication service. In that case your messages are retrieved automatically. For each task to be performed, you specify the days and the time when it must be carried out. The procedure automatically imports a message with a bank statement. You still need to perform the processing of the imported bank statement yourself.

Procedure

Also see