ALERE Acccounting v4.0 New Features

ALERE v4.0 New Features

ALERE Client Server - TIW introduces ALERE CS running on the Microsoft SQL Server 2000 platform! Now you can get the security of SQL tables and the product speed that is necessary to support companies with large numbers of users and very large data sets. One code base is used to support both the LAN and CS products for extra stability!

Key Changes - A key change utility has been added to the Manager Module. Changes may be made for company ID, company location ID, item number, payment terms, and product class. What is particularly unique about this new utility is that it allows you to merge information, in addition to simply changing records. For example, one company can be merged into another, or one company location combined with another. You can even merge one item number into another!

Sales Graph for Executive Advisor - A new tab called Sales Graph, has been added to the Executive Advisor screen. The graph displays key sales information for a range of dates in a variety of 2D or 3D formats. It may be set to day, week, or month resolution and optionally compared to the previous period or year. The data displayed is in real time!

Sales Graph for Inquiry - A new tab called Sales Graph, has been added to the Inquiry screen in the Sales Module. Like the graph in the Executive Advisor, it displays key sales data, but it adds extended options to find more detailed information. For example, information for individual items and for product classes can be charted. Even shipping volume can be displayed.

You can click on the data on the chart to display values and date ranges. By holding the Ctrl key down a mouse can be used to rotate the chart to show different views!

Both graphs have a utility to edit the chart attributes, like color and perspective.

Upgraded Single Payment Process - The payments process in the Payables Module has been improved by creating a separate AP/Cash Payments menu option that mirrors the functions of the AR/Cash Receipts process. This menu option specializes in handling payments made one-at-a-time by manual check or other methods. It also provides a convenient way of reviewing all payments including those made using the Mass Payment process.

Void AP Payments - AP payments can now be voided and the invoices reopened, as if they had never been paid, using the Void button on the AP/Cash Payments screen. Checks are marked as “Void” and placed in the bank reconciliation. The Void button is inactive when the check has already been cleared through the bank reconciliation process.

Mass Payments - Approving multiple payments and printing matching checks has been combined on one screen under one menu option called Mass Payments. The first tab on the Mass Payments screen is designed to speed the approval process while the second tab handles the mass check printing function. Each tab is separately password controlled to allow the approval process to be separated from the check printing process.

Log of Activity - Here is a brand new inventory function that allows you to trace the activity in inventory! On one screen, for any range of dates, you can view all the ins and outs of inventory by document type, locations, items, and companies! Set a filter to list only inventory issues or receipts! Look up specific documents and even lines on a document! Double click to drill down to the actual document, inventory item or location! This one feature will save hours of searching for critical information!

Activity Tabs - ALERE’s unique Activity Tabs have been enhanced by tying the information on the tabs directly to the activity being performed. For example, on a sales order the tab can show the quote that created it, the associated shipping information, payments that were made, and the invoices it generated! Best of all you can choose which data to view and in what combinations! In addition, each of the columns can be sorted to show date order, amounts, status, etc. A truly powerful way of tracking information!

Activity Tab Drill Down - Now you can drill down to the originating document on a newly revamped Activity tab by just double clicking on the line! Shipping or receiving activity on orders and invoices will bring up the inventory order log so that the receipt/shipment of the individual line items can be viewed! The activity can be filtered by type. For example, see a list of the payments made on a sales invoice! Or the shipments received on a purchase order! You can even sort the columns on the grids to arrange the data by date, description, status or source document.

Audit Trail Report - All the key tables in ALERE are date/time stamped with the user ID as records are added. This new report permits you to easily trace that activity!

History of Payments - Evaluate customer payment history easily with this new report! Quickly find the longest, shortest and average times it takes them to pay for invoices! A weighted average option, that calculates based on the value of invoices, will allow you to see trends. For example, customers that quickly pay small amounts but always are overdue on large amounts. The report can be run for any range of dates and may be limited to certain payment terms.

GL Posting Tab Drill Down - Go to any GL Posting tab and double click on a line to drill down to the actual general ledger posting! The columns on the grids can be sorted to arrange the transactions by account and debit and credit amounts.

Printer Selection for Checking Accounts - Print checks on any printer linked to your workstation! Assign different printers to individual checking accounts or use the default printer set up for ALERE!

Additional Comment Lines - The number of lines on the default sales order, purchase order and transfer order screens has been increased. Likewise, the number of comment lines on reports have also been enlarged.

Supplier Order Comments - The Supplier screen in the Purchases module has had the Order Comments field added. This field allows you to choose comments from a global library that are then added to any purchase order that is created.

Appearance Enhancements - New XP-style icons are now the standard for screen buttons. The “Classic” buttons may also be used with a simple change. The screen side bars clearly indicate whether you are using LAN or CS. Every other line on grids is now a light green to make it easier to read long lists.

Key Changes

Sales Graph

AP/Cash Payments

Order Log

Check Printing

Audit Trail Report