PDS to Realm FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Realm is a Web application delivered through your browser, so you can log into it from practically any mobile device’s or computer’s browser (e.g. Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge). It’s the most accessible application we have ever developed and every screen automatically adjusts to the screen size you’re using.
No. To us, the term “ChMS” accurately represents the traditional church software model, and that’s not what we’re building. There are elements of a ChMS built into the foundation of Realm, but that’s only part of the big picture. Realm focuses on providing something for everyone in your church, not just the staff.
Yes! We recently released cash basis fund accounting inside Realm, just for your staff. (Accrual method coming soon!) It’s a reflection of what we’ve done for decades in the traditional software world, but we’ve added some new ideas to make it an intelligent, single-system solution for your church.
No. Realm would replace ACS, PDS, or your current third-party ChMS. We can certainly help you weigh the differences. If you decide to switch, our team can help you make the transition and import your current data into Realm.
No. We are developing Realm as an application backed by the cloud because this is where the software industry has been heading. It’s much easier to keep the application current for users, and they can access it on virtually any device they use. The days of installed software are numbered.
No. Realm does not have all of the same features and modules of ACS or PDS, but that’s intentional. We focus the feature set around taking advantage of the cloud and have built the Realm upon new capabilities available online. However, we’re not done building, and we’ll be adding more and more over time.
It’s up to you. While we firmly believe Realm may be the product of choice for you one day, there’s no pressure to make the change today. In some cases, churches may prefer to stay with ACS/PDS if they have embedded themselves into some of the more complex abilities.
No. Realm has a private area that is effectively walled off for your church staff to use. A person has to be assigned staff access in order to see specific staff features. Alternatively, there are several community-facing features that are available for your whole church body to utilize.
Don’t see your question?
Just ask. We have a team of skilled professionals who can share what they’ve learned from working with other churches. Please reach out and let us know how we can help. Simply call 1 (800) 892-5202.