PAYROLL & COMMISSIONS
- How can we track commission payments?
Payments of commissions owed is performed through the A/R system via direct invoice entry.
Sales Commissions Features:
- Commissions may be additionally controlled by sales groups.
- Commissions may be multi-leveled so that a manager will receive a commission from someone in their sales group or down-line.
- Commission charge backs and reinstatements are automatic according to the number of days set for each charge back/reinstatement.
- Commissions may be generated from booked sales or from paid invoices.
SALES REPORTS
- Which of the following reports will the Advantage 2000™ system provide?
1a) Salesman/vendor/margin
1b) Salesman/category/margin
1c) Salesman/vendor/category/margin
1d) Location/vendor/category/margin
1e) Location/category/margin
1f) Salesman/grade
As part of the base system, all of the above are supplied and printed automatically on a daily basis. They may also be printed on an as-needed basis. Vendor performance "d" above is provided as part of the purchasing system.
- How much do you charge for custom reports? Give three examples of potential reports (simple, moderate, and complex).
Custom reports are provided free of charge to customers on a current maintenance and support contract. For those customers not on a support contract, the programming fee for custom reports is 35.00 per hour. A simple report will take one hour. A moderate report will take 4 hours and a complex report could take a day or two. Simple reports are data from one or two files reported in a list-like format. Moderate reports draw information from a number of files, have special breaks and/or control points and may contain many calculations. Complex reports involve a complex format referencing many files, special sorting requirements, extreme data manipulation and the use of temporary files for calculation and data storage.
Additional Sales Reports and Inquiry Screens:
Inventory Sales Analysis Report Inventory Hot and Cold Reports Customer Sales Analysis Reports Customer by Item Sales Analysis Reports Customer by Item Type Sales Analysis Reports Month/Year to date Sales Analysis Reports Sales Analysis by Code Inquiry Sales Analysis by Yearly Comparisons Inquiry Daily Sales Analysis Inquiry
DATA BASE MANAGEMENT
- Does the Advantage 2000™ system provide for analysis of recency/frequency/purchase dollars?
Full analysis information is kept on a customer-by-customer and on an item-by-item basis. Retrieval of the information in a report form is accomplished via two methods: (1) standard sales analysis reports; or (2) custom reports made by yourself using the report writer feature within the system.
- Please describe your zip code analysis capability.
The zip codes for the entire USA are included in the system. Whenever entering an address, the option of entering the zip code first is available. If the zip code is entered, the city, state and phone prefix is automatically retrieved. This dramatically reduces the time it takes to capture walk-in customer address information. All sales are associated with the zip code of the customer. Sales analysis is available by zip code in any manner you desire.
- Can the point-of-sale allow for the input of a customer's demographics (e.g. age, race, sex, advertising source, etc.) without printing this data on the customer's invoice?
Only the information you desire to show on invoices will print. The invoice is designed by you and custom programmed by us as a part of the installation process. Our sales entry program does allow for capturing age, race, sex, radio station and advertising source as well as any other information you deem necessary.
- Can we auto-generate "Thank You" letters for purchase over specified dollar amount?
The system will generate "Thank You" letters for any information captured on the sales ticket or maintained in the customer or inventory files. This process is defined by you and programmed by us on a letter-by-letter basis. It is provided free of charge for customers subscribing to our maintenance and support contract.
- Can we print mailing labels or addresses onto postcards?
Mailing labels for both A/R customers and walk-in customers are provided. Postcards can be generated and printed by the system.
- Can we sort customers by sub-category purchased vs. sub-category not purchased? For example, a customer buys only one component from a group of items normally sold together as a package.
Criteria for selecting customers to be singled out for mailings can be established any way you desire.
Additional Data Base Management Features:
- Panasoft software is layered upon the Informix data base management system. This system gives the ability for immediate SQL (structured query language) inquiries into any facet of the data. It also allows for an easy-to-use report writer that will create, at any time, reports meeting your staff requirements. The Panasoft support staff is well versed in the use and training of all Informix facilities and will aid in your creation of any report you desire.
- A complete history of each and every invoice that passes through the system is kept on-line. This means that there is no limit to the information that you can report on and the method of that reporting. Even if our base system does not contain the report you are looking for, a report can be created within hours (sometimes minutes) showing any information you desire and in the format you require.
WINDOWS APPLICATIONS AND INTRA-COMPANY E-MAIL
- Does the Advantage 2000™ system integrate to Excel?
Some integration routines for commonly used spreadsheet applications are available for exportation to Excel. Others may have to be written according to need. This is covered by the maintenance and support contract.
- Can users move in and out of Microsoft Windows while using your system?
If a PC is used as a sales station, entering and exiting to/from Windows is available. Most installations, however, call for the sales stations to use character-based terminals with P.O.S. dedicated printers and often a cash drawer. This provides for a more economical approach. Most word processing and spread sheet applications are done by the back office personnel and PC's are commonly reserved for those work stations.
- How does the Advantage 2000™ system handle intra-company e-mail?
Our system incorporates the UNIX e-mail utility. UNIX e-mail is the basis of e-mail through out the world. Any e-mail feature you have seen or used is possible. The UNIX e-mail feature may be front ended by any number of packages available. As a part of our system, Panasoft includes a mail "front end" that enables users to go into the mail system from any menu and select enabled mail recipients. External mail link is available but is not included in the base package.
TRAINING
- Where is the Advantage 2000™ system training held?
Scheduled training is held at the Panasoft location in Encino, CA. On-site training is available for the cost of travel and lodging of the training personnel sent on-site. Training needs are assessed on an individual company-by-company basis. All the training needed to properly equip the company is completed prior to going "live" with the system. Often times, especially upon receiving new releases of the software, training is done through electronic means using a product "Double vision". This enables us and you to view and work on the same screen at the same time while we explain the programs.
- Is the initial training a set schedule or tailored to our needs?
Initial training and any subsequent training is completely tailored to the individual company and will be determined during the initial system setup procedure.
- Are all aspects of the Advantage 2000™ system covered during the start-up training or do we learn as we go while using system?
All training on the system is done prior to start up. However, as new facets of the system are explored by your company, new training sessions will be scheduled according to your needs. Training will occur prior to implementation of the new feature to be used.
- Does training utilize data we are familiar with or data from a generic company?
Initial training of the designated system administrator will be performed on generic data. Once your company's specific setup requirements are determined and initial data is entered, training will be on your specific data. This is true for the rest of your staff and is accomplished with the use of a test data base which has your specific data in it. This test data base will remain on the Advantage 2000™ system permanently to aid in the training of new personnel without using "live" data. It is also very useful for investigating the possibilities of our system code settings without compromising your "live" data.
- Are non-management personnel (e.g. sales, IC, payroll/GL, etc.) trained in their specific areas by you?
All training is done by us initially. However, we suggest that a "train the trainer" approach be used. This will enable your experienced personnel to train your newer personnel on the more common procedures that may be used by higher turnover rate positions. You will find that our system is easy to pickup and learn. It is very intuitive and all entry points have a prompt at the bottom of the screen indicating the options or requirements for that exact field.
- Does training include testing? If so, how is it done?
Yes, specific testing of the setup of the software to run your company will be tested. However, most of the testing will be completed prior to any full-scale training. For the most part, training will take place on a system that is fully set up and tested.
- Is on-line/telephone training available?
On-line training is very much available and encouraged. Any and all reasonable training classes are provided as part of your maintenance and support contract free of charge at our site in California.
- Is there on-going education and review?
On-going education sessions on the new releases or brush-ups on the any part of the system are always available. This is offered at no charge to current maintenance and support customers.
GENERAL
- How many years has Panasoft been in business?
Panasoft has been in business for a total of 19 years. Initially founded as Metrocomp and CompuAmerica, Panasoft is the UNIX-based off-shoot. Our package operates for hard goods retailers of all types. Panasoft has completed 70 installations of its current software package including a number of multi-store automotive car audio installations. We presently maintain approximately 20 customers on support contracts. We are tailoring our system specifically to automotive stereo applications as we have heard from our current customers that the alternative software packages in this arena are poor at best. We specialize in customer support and are very proud of our reputation as a company that caters to our customers needs quickly and accurately.
- How many people will be on our support staff?
Your support staff will be one person who becomes very familiar with your operations procedures, and personnel. This familiarity will provide for the optimum in support services.
- Please explain your support line procedure?
Our support lines are open 24 hours a day, all year long. Between the hours of 8 am and 6 PM PST, the lines are immediately answered and all problems are responded to. Beyond those hours, calls are recorded and an immediate call is placed to the support person in charge of the account. This person will attempt to call back as soon as possible if the problem warrants immediate action. The person assigned to your account is familiar with all facets of the Panasoft system, UNIX operating system, and Informix Data base management system. The support person is familiar with each screen in the system by name and no numbering is needed. Your computer is accessible by modem to our computers at Panasoft and most problems are immediately solvable through electronic means.
- How frequent are your upgrades and how much do they cost?
Software upgrades (releases of new software) occur about every four months and are free of charge to maintenance and support customers.
- Do you require clients to purchase each upgrade or can some upgrades be skipped?
Upgrades can be applied to the Advantage 2000™ system any time you desire. You can skip releases if you like. However, most are packed with the requests from our customers and include many useful new features.
- How is old data converted to a new system and what is the cost?
Data conversion is a very one-on-one situation and requires individual attention to determine the best method to initialize your new system with data. Sometimes, data conversion is easy and desirable. Other times, it is not. A simple conversion is included with the system. However, if the data is in an unsupported format or the administrator of your old system is lacking in ability or co-operation, a cost may be incurred. While it is impossible to state the exact cost, conversions have historically run between $1000 and $5000.
- Does the Advantage 2000™ system require us to employ an in-house system administrator?
Panasoft's system is designed to be administered by a person with only a small working knowledge of computers and has been trained by us on the specifics of our system.
- Does the Advantage 2000™ system price include all training?
Yes.