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Breathe to HollyHR

Export first. Reconcile before you cancel.

Breathe has no single bulk export. Save a dated copy of each record type, then stage people and leave in HollyHR and plan the remaining records separately.

Get the working files See the cutover plan
Excel people export
Most profile data in one report
Separate files
Documents download one at a time
60 days suspended
Inaccessible after renewal ends
The short answer

Can you move from Breathe to HollyHR?

Yes, but it is a planned cutover rather than a direct account transfer. Breathe's People Data Export is an Excel report containing the majority of employee profile information. HollyHR can stage useful columns from that workbook, but an existing person is updated only with the exact HollyHR Person ID.

Breathe says there is no single bulk export. Reports come from their relevant areas and company or employee documents are downloaded individually. Export and reconcile those records while the subscription is active. After the next renewal date, Breathe holds the account for 60 days in a suspended state that cannot be accessed without renewing, then permanently deletes it.

What Breathe gives you

Build the exit pack while the account is active.

The People Data Export is one useful source, not the whole account. Reports live in their relevant areas and documents download individually.
Working files

Download the files for your migration.

Start with the exit checklist. It turns a scattered account into named workstreams with owners and sign-off.
CSV

Breathe exit checklist

A working CSV for the reports, files, owners, spot checks and cancellation date that make up the exit pack.

Download the exit checklist CSV

People data dictionary

A field-by-field CSV for the 15 people and current-employment facts HollyHR can stage.

Download the data dictionary XLSX

Leave cutover planning workbook

Structure opening balances and approved or pending future bookings before the final organisation-specific import.

Planning copy. The import-ready workbook is generated inside HollyHR with exact Person IDs.Download the leave workbook

Once you add employee data, keep the working copy in a restricted location and remove abandoned copies.

What moves

Decide what moves and what needs a separate plan.

Use the HollyHR paths where they fit. Preserve or rebuild the records that do not transfer.

People profile data

Released import

Use Breathe's Excel People Data Export as a source for the supported HollyHR people and current-employment fields.

Manager relationships

Separate setup

Preserve each person's current manager in the signed-off exit pack, then rebuild and check reporting relationships separately after the people records are reconciled.

Opening leave and future bookings

Released import

Stage these through HollyHR's separate leave cutover. Leave history and source policy evidence still need retention decisions.

Company and employee documents

Preserve or review

Breathe says documents have no bulk download. Retrieve them individually and keep acknowledgement or signature evidence where required.

Pay and payroll reports

Preserve or review

Export the remuneration or payroll evidence you rely on. HollyHR does not calculate payroll or recreate Breathe's report history.

Performance, recruitment and add-ons

Separate setup

Retain or replace records from Breathe modules that do not have a HollyHR import route.

Permissions and workflows

Separate setup

Rebuild access and operating decisions in HollyHR rather than treating old configuration as portable data.

People data

Fifteen fields with a clear destination.

These are current facts, not a complete employment history. Updates use the exact HollyHR Person ID generated inside your workspace.

Identity and contact

The details that identify and contact the person, without creating login access.

  • First name
  • Last name
  • Preferred name
  • Work email
  • Personal email
  • Work phone
  • Personal mobile
  • Staff ID
  • Date of birth

Current employment

The current job facts HollyHR can stage and reconcile at the cutover date.

  • Department
  • Job title
  • Start date
  • Work type
  • Weekly hours
  • Employment status
Manager relationships need their own cutover step.

Preserve each person's current manager in the signed-off source, then rebuild and check those relationships separately after the people records are reconciled. Manager relationships are not one of the 15 staged fields.

Email can flag a collision. It cannot authorise an update.

The update template is generated inside HollyHR with the exact tenant-scoped Person ID. Names and email addresses never become silent merge keys.

The cutover plan

Export, stage, reconcile, then cancel.

Keep Breathe accessible until the source files and HollyHR receipts agree. The suspended period is not a read-only migration window.

  1. List everything you need to keep

    List active and former people, leave, sickness, documents, pay, reports, add-ons and any workflow your team still uses.

    A complete records list

  2. Build the exit pack

    Download the People Data Export, relevant reports, invoices and each company or employee document before access ends.

    Dated source evidence

  3. Stage people in HollyHR

    Upload the Excel source, map supported columns and reconcile every create, exact-ID update, hold or skip.

    A pinned people plan

  4. Cut over leave separately

    Set opening balances and approved or pending future bookings against the same cutover point and Person IDs.

    One leave position

  5. Spot-check, then cancel

    Compare receipts and retained evidence, freeze Breathe changes and cancel only after the new records are signed off.

    A controlled exit
Cancellation timing

Use the active account for the exit, not the suspended period.

Breathe says full access continues until the next renewal date. The following 60 days are suspended and inaccessible without renewing. Export, reconcile and sign off before that active access ends.

Ready to make it live

Checks before you finish.

A cutover is ready when another person can check the source, the decision and the result.
  • The Breathe renewal and cancellation dates are recorded
  • Active and former people are included in the intended export
  • Reports, documents and paid add-ons each have an owner
  • Every HollyHR update uses an exact Person ID
  • Current manager relationships are preserved for a separate rebuild
  • Opening balances and future bookings reconcile at one cutover point
  • Breathe is cancelled only after receipts and spot checks are signed off
Questions

Questions about moving your data.

The practical details that usually change the plan.
Does HollyHR connect directly to Breathe?

No. There is no direct Breathe API transfer. Export the source records you need, upload a suitable Excel or CSV people file, and reconcile leave and the remaining workstreams separately.

What is in Breathe's People Data Export?

Breathe describes it as an Excel download containing the majority of employee profile information. It can include all employees, including ex-employees, or exclude ex-employees. Check the actual headings and rows in your account before mapping them.

What Breathe data can HollyHR stage?

The people cutover supports 15 people and current-employment fields. Manager relationships are not one of the staged fields, so preserve them in the signed-off exit pack and rebuild and check them separately after the people records are reconciled. A separate leave cutover supports opening balances and approved or pending future bookings. Documents, historical leave, specialist modules and configuration do not move automatically.

How should we export Breathe documents?

Breathe's current guidance says company and employee documents must be downloaded individually because there is no bulk document download. Preserve the file plus any acknowledgement or signature evidence you still need.

When does Breathe access end after cancellation?

Breathe says full access continues until the next renewal date. It then holds the data for another 60 days in a suspended state that is inaccessible without renewing. After that period, the data is permanently deleted.

Should we cancel Breathe before starting the import?

No. Take the reports and files, complete the HollyHR dry runs and reconcile the results while Breathe remains accessible. Treat the 60-day suspended period as recovery time that requires renewal, not as a read-only migration window.

Will the HollyHR import invite everyone?

No. The people cutover does not create login identities or send invitation events. Invite the team only after people, leave and retained evidence have been checked.

Sources

Read the source material.

Continue

Plan the next step.

Start with the first 10 people free.

Create the workspace, stage the source and keep every change reviewable before the team is invited.
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No card. No trial clock. Your source stays yours.