How to Choose the Right Accounting Software for Your Business
April 22, 2008
With any good luck and a good amount of hard work, you’re having the same problem many business owners today are facing. Your business is growing rapidly and you’re having problems controlling your finances. Time and time again, that Microsoft Excel spreadsheet you’ve been using just isn’t getting the job done for you.
So, you’ve decided that you’re ready to take the next step, and buy a full-featured accounting software program. Many options are available to choose from, but I believe the best solutions to be Quicken Premier Home and Business by Intuit, QuickBooks Pro also by Intuit, and Peachtree Accounting by Sage. In order to decide on the right package for you, you need define the type of business that you operate.
With the rise of self-employment (businesses with one or more owners but no paid employees) a need has arisen to manage business and personal finances on one platform. Intuit has released Quicken 2005 Premier Home and Business to fill this need. This software is perfect for the small business owner who receives income from investments, real estate, and/or internet marketing. Also, Quicken 2005 Premier Home and Business is well priced at only $89.95.
How Do I Get Rid Of That Darn Spyware?
April 21, 2008
Ad-Aware and Spybot are probably the two most well known antispyware solutions. However, they frequently fail to catch the more crafty spyware. Here is a list of five solutions known to get rid of the problem when all others fail.
1. Webroot Spy Sweeper http://www.deprice.com/webrootspysweeper.htm
PC Magazine’s Best of the Year 2004 for antispyware, Spy Sweeper now scans for spyware 30% faster. Spy Sweeper detects and successfully removes vicious programs like CoolWebSearch. For advanced protection, Active Shields defend your browser and operating system from attempted spyware installations. Enhanced Internet Explorer shields block changes to your browser settings. Several operating system shields reinforce its ability to catch spyware when it attempts to download, install or run on a user’s PC.
2. Spyware Doctor http://www.deprice.com/spywaredoctor.htm
Spyware Doctor provides 3-way spyware protection through real-time threat blocking, scanning and immunization, anything less is like putting locks on the front door of your house but letting intruders in through the side or back door. This is one of the many reasons why the award-winning Spyware Doctor has been chosen by millions of users to protect their PCs against spyware, adware, trojans, keyloggers, spybots and tracking threats.
3.BitDefender http://www.deprice.com/bitdefenderstandard.htm
Google Brings the Earth to Your Desktop
April 20, 2008
Google Inc. has launched a new software package that allows you to see satellite images on your desktop.
Google Earth lets you search for locations anywhere on earth and display 3D aerial images of major cities and tourist attractions. Google Earth is in development, but a free beta version is available for home users. Locations can be searched by address, intersections, cities, zip codes or countries and the images can be zoomed in close enough to see streets and buildings.
The images generated are 3D ? you can rotate the view to see different sides of an object. You can navigate using a mouse or the keyboard, and view selectable layers to display information about local features such as roads, terrain, schools or golf courses.
Images of 38 US cities can be viewed from "the ground up" allowing you to see 3D representations of buildings and terrain. Measurement functions include distances between two locations, perimeters, radius and area.
Search results can be saved, printed and emailed. Driving directions can be automatically generated and you can trace the route using the "Play" button located underneath the directions tab.
A Case Study on Selecting Contract Management Software
April 19, 2008
Professional services firm cuts costs and improves productivity with integrated software system.
“I could satisfy the government, but I couldn’t give managers the information they needed to do their jobs,” says Shannon Winston, Controller for Apex Environmental.
Apex Environmental, like many professional services firms with a competitive edge, offers a widely diverse group of services to both government and commercial clients. Managing and accessing data is critical with every contract. Recently ? after years of using multiple software systems, supplemental spreadsheets, and manually transferring data from one incompatible system to another ? Apex Environmental purchased and deployed a single software system (developed by Wind2 Software ? www.wind2.com) that handles the entire operation and serves both public and private sector clients with an integrated package. The new system streamlines planning, management, and reporting requirements for the entire company. It also helps contract managers win more contracts, manage them more efficiently, and make them more profitable because it automates the entire process ? addressing everything from the initial technical proposal to the DCAA close-out audit with greater efficiency and reliability.
Business Complexities:
The Dreaded Paper Label - Should it be Used?
April 19, 2008
While paper labeling CDs and DVDs may appear to be a cost effective solution for printing on your media, there are solid reasons why you should consider other options.
1) Hand application of paper labels can be time consuming and frustrating. If not applied properly your product may not have a professional appearance.
2) The label must be in perfect alignment when placed on the disc. When the label is not positioned correctly or if it has a wrinkle in it, the disc can become unbalanced, making it unplayable on some readers. As the CD/DVD spins, the unaligned label causes the media to shake and the laser has trouble reading the data off the disc.
3) Heat is generated while CD/DVD players are in use and can also be a problem. The adhesive backing on the label can react to this heat and could start to peel off the media. The can cause an imbalance of the media as well as interference with the disc drive itself.
What are the other options for labeling disc?
1) Screen Printing ? The process of applying UV inks in a variety of patterns and colors to the lacquer surface of a CD/DVD. Volumes of 500 pieces or larger are typically best suited for screen printing.
Microsoft CRM Implementation & Customization: MS CRM Fax Gateway
April 18, 2008
With this small article we are continuing Microsoft Business Solutions CRM customization, development, modification, setup and implementation discussion.
Microsoft CRM at this moment doesn’t have advanced fax automation ? you can register the fact of fax receiving or sending, but it is not sufficient for your daily work with your clients. User should be able to send and receive faxes in her/his work environment ? it is in MS CRM
Fax software automation market is very mature and we don’t have to re-invite the bicycle here. All we have to do is ? integrate one of the reliable solutions into Microsoft CRM. Let’s look at the technical aspects of the integration:
? Modification should be based on the standard event Fax Activity logic alteration. Standard CRM version allows in- or out-going fax info saving into SQL database. Alternative form should have additional parameters for fax delivering
? Immediately after the moment of fax saving into CRM database, Albaspectrum MS CRM Universal Fax Connector takes over the logic, more precisely its fax sending portion of the logic, realized as MS CRM Post-Callout, registered for Fax Activity addition and update. At the moment of new fax activity creation, our module considers attached documents as subject to be transferred to the addressee.
Microsoft Great Plains Subcontracting ? Overview for Microsoft Business Solutions Partner
April 17, 2008
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains is very popular ERP/MRP applications in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Middle East, South Africa, Latin America. Considering high number of new Microsoft Great Plains partners and the desire to subcontract occasional customization, integration and reporting projects, we would like to advise you on Microsoft Great Plains subcontracting guidelines, based on our experience in dealing with Great Plains VARs Candidates for subcontracting:
? Great Plains Dexterity customizations ? Dexterity was and still is the IDE and programming language of Great Plains, especially workstation thick interface. However since Microsoft bought Great Plains Software and formed Microsoft Great Plains Business Solutions, later renamed into Microsoft Business Solutions ? Dexterity became the candidate to be replaced by C# or VB.Net. The plans are the plans, but the realities of Microsoft Great Plains customization signals that Dexterity will stay another 5-7 years as IDE. However I agree with the strategy that if you are new GP reseller you don’t want to hire Dexterity programmer
Collaboration Software: Index of Collaboration Software Technologies
April 16, 2008
Collaboration Software
Collaboration Software, also known as group collaboration software or groupware, is software which allows cooperation on a business document between multiple parties on multiple computers. Collaboration software also allows the integration and merging of document changes and versions on a business document.
There are two types of collaboration software: IT centered and low IT involvement. IT-centered collaboration software, like many document and content management platforms, requires new IT infrastructure, training, maintenance and support. Low IT involved collaboration software communicates collaborative information to all parties involved using the existing IT infrastructure and with little or no training and maintenance, making open collaborative software more diverse and less expensive. This type of collaboration software also manages the ad hoc processes of business collaboration, assisting businesses even when the workload and deadlines create a hectic and disorganized schedule.
This article presents an index of collaboration software technologies to assist businesses in finding collaboration software that works for them. Any given internet search on "groupware" or "collaboration software" will yield millions of results. Knowing what technologies to look for will help whittle down the results to a groupware that works the way businesses work.
Software Process Improvement -A Successful Journey
April 15, 2008
Background: For many organizations like ours, the interim target of achieving ISO 9001 or CMM levels is a daunting task. Discipline is no fun -Organizations readily acknowledge that striving to address projects according to ISO 9001 or CMM guidelines requires the creation of new procedures. It is vital to the success of improvement efforts to realize that process change entails cultural change and its human nature to resist change. Numerous social and technical barriers must be overcome to effect lasting improvement.
My organization aimed for ISO 9001 certification and then CMM level 2 and Level 3 assessment approximately one and half year back and knew that it would be grilled thoroughly by the ISO auditors and CMM assessors. For Software Process Improvement first we need to know your strengths and weaknesses so that the management can scope the improvement effort. Only with this knowledge can we customize an infrastructure for process improvement. We have had success with plans tailored according to the Software Engineering Institute’s CMM model. This includes formation of Software Process Engineering Group, who know their roles, responsibilities, charters, and action plans, which helps you develop a charter and vision and to establish a clear match to organizational goals and objectives. They will be much more effective if they receive the right formal and informal training. One pivotal decision was “not to reinvent the wheel”, but seriously consider Industry Best Practices.
Professional XP Style Icons in Software and Website Development
April 14, 2008
Using professional icons in your application or website can bring a modern and aesthetically pleasing appearance to your product or service. This will not only help you to attract potential customers but also give you that “edge” you need to stand out from your competitors. In an internet age, it’s important that your interface looks professional or your potential buyer might move on without really giving your product a chance to prove itself.
Besides a professional appearance, relevant XP style icons can greatly increase the usability of any software application or website. Icons are just one of the many communication tools you have to guide a user. With good free icons few and far between, professional icon collections are a cost effective investment and can be purchased for just around $100.00.
For an example check out http://www.VirtualLNK.com/icons.asp
Here are some of the groups that would benefit from using professional XP style icons:
Software Developers
Like I said before, your user interface is your user’s “first impression”. Your program must look professional if it’s going to sell, making the quality of your interface one of your most powerful and important marketing tools. A program with a bad interface will appear of poor quality no matter how good the functionality is.
