Blog Tube » Software Products

Controls for Your Restaurant Accounting Software

Tech Geek — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:13:12 +0000

Any good accountant knows that controls are an integral part of any accounting software system. A control in accounting terms is any process, action, or device that prevents or detects a mistake or intentional error in the accounting cycle.

Most restaurant owners are ambitious and have a good sense of intuition; however, they usually don’t appreciate the idea of internal controls. They see controls as a non-value added activity, an unnecessary evil that simply slows down progress. While it is true that controls can cost money and may be time consuming, it is also true that a good control system can save restaurant’s money, time, and headaches.

The most prominent area for employee theft or mistakes is with the cash. The following are some internal controls that will help keep your restaurant’s cash safe.

(1) Track who is doing what. This means that when an employee signs into the accounting software for the restaurant or into a cash register they have to enter a unique user ID and password. This will allow restaurant owners to see who made what changes. If one of your employees altered the restaurant accounting software so he could take off with some cash, you’ll be able to see it. Similarly if a cash register is missing a bunch of money, restaurant owners can see who was the last employee logged into the machine.

(2) Train employees to only run one transaction at a time. Many POS systems are known to be glitch if more than one transaction is entered in at the same time. In addition, humans are human, and doing two things at once isn’t our specialty.

(3) Make sure the register is always attended. This is a preventive control that prevents both your employees and customers from stealing. Make sure you always have at least one person at the register. In addition, it’s a good idea to have another employee nearby or a camera so that employees won’t be tempted to steal. You would be surprised what people will do when they are in need of money, have the opportunity to take some, and can rationalize away what they are doing.

While it is true that accounting software for restaurants comes with certain controls built in, you’ll want to ensure that you have your own controls in place. You can hire an accounting service or you can ask your accountants for ideas as to what they think might be some good controls. Accountants are trained in implanting controls both in school and in their professional lives. Although controls may seem like a waste of time, more and more small restaurant owners are seeing that they can save time and money with good controls in place.

CRM Software Evaluation

Tech Geek — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 20:41:10 +0000

To have a successful customer relationship management system in place, technology is just one part of it. Sometimes, companies make bad decisions in choosing a technology that would fit their customer management strategy because they forget that CRM should also align and fit to their objectives. It should also have a beneficial effect in their business. Having a beneficial CRM process in place requires a lot of change for the whole organization. Thus a careful review and evaluation of company strategies should be implanted before choosing a CRM software package.

Success in CRM lies in making technology decisions carefully and considering the business requirements ranging from its needs, problems, and functionality to meet all of these requirements. The lack of integration with CRM technology or projects will eventually lead to problems instead of solutions. A good CRM software evaluation can provide a proper understanding on what particular strategy should be used in order to retain customers or attract new prospects as well. It starts basically within the organization itself. The organization must identify proper information and use it to form a strategy.

The next thing to evaluate is the structured list of requirements that are needed for the company’s technology. This involves the aspect of what particular process is needed to support and deliver customer satisfaction with the aid of CRM software. After defining the requirements, rate and prioritize them according to what is important to achieve the overall business goals. In choosing the right CRM tool, decide whether a customized or conventional type of CRM software is to be used. Identify both the strengths and weaknesses of the CRM software against the most critical requirements that would possibly fit with it.

Then finally, it is the time for IT personnel to address the technical feasibility issues from the database compatibility and hardware and software standpoint. During the evaluation stage a copy of the software should be provided by the vendors in order for the buyer to test and use the software. This gives the company the time to verify the functionality of the software, ensure that it works with the technical specifications, and verify that its usability meets the customer needs and the system handles the data effectively.

Above all, software evaluation is a good way to determine if the cost of the software is worth the value that it can provide in the company as well as with the customers. Any CRM consulting company will tell you that a good evaluation involves testing the product and using the data requirements. It also involves a cost-benefit analysis approach. Performing a thorough evaluation will save time in the actual development and usage of the CRM software.

Tips on Buying Church Bookkeeping Software:

Tech Geek — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 20:21:11 +0000

There are numerous church bookkeeping software programs to choose from. There are freeware programs, that is, bookkeeping programs that are available on the internet that can be downloaded for free. In many cases, if you are not familiar with bookkeeping software or computer applications, you may want to consider downloading such a program and trying it out, to see if it works well for your church. Different programs are different; what works best for you would likely depend on a number of factors, such as how savvy you are with computers and computer software programs, the size of your church and how much money you have coming in and going out.

If you are not happy with any freeware church bookkeeping programs you find on the internet, then you can also find bookkeeping programs for churches for sale online that allow you a free trial period. The length of the trial period differs from brand to brand, but using a software program on a trial period is a good idea, unless you already know exactly what brand and program you want. The trial period will allow you to get used to using a certain kind of software, to see whether you like it or would rather try something else.

Besides church accounting programs, there are some secular business accounting programs that may also suit your needs just fine. Programs such as MYOB (Mind Your Own Business) are made to keep track of a small, medium sized, or large business, company or foundation, and can be quite easy to use once you get the hang of all the ins and outs.

When choosing a program, make sure you choose one that works with your operating system. There are Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems and what works on one operating system often does not work on another. It will always note on the website where you download the program, or on the box containing the accounting software, what operating program the software can run on. In the case of Windows, some programs will only run on certain versions of Windows.

If you are not savvy at computer programs and computer software in general, it can help immensely to get the help of someone who has more experience in this arena. A parishioner, friend, relative or colleague that is more computer savvy can give you invaluable advice as to what kind of software would be the best choice for you.

Modern Desktop Wallpaper Has Come A Long Way

Tech Geek — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 01:48:18 +0000

Today we have almost unlimited choices in what to place on our computer desktops as a background. Many of us will rotate the images to add variety to our personal computers. But here are some interesting facts about the images.

Computer wallpaper is also known as your desktop picture and desktop background. Mac operating systems refer to it as a desktop picture or previously desktop pattern.

Some of the earliest uses of a desktop patter was just that, a pattern of geometric shapes like dots to provide contrast between the screen background and the items displayed. The very first use goes back to an experimental office system developed in 1975 by Xerox. Prior to this, backgrounds were just white, or on the old phosphorescent monitors, green.

On our personal computers we can put up any kind of image today. Personal photos, images of automobiles, models and celebrities, art, and nature images such as scenery are popular. There are a number of sites that offer desktop backgrounds, and a site that rates their usability can be found by following that link.

Many businesses have policies about what can be displayed on employee computers. Many prefer corporate logos or simple geometric patterns. Or, very practically, and very dull, a background image or text might be displayed to identify the computer, which can be helpful if you switch between many different computers from a single desktop set of keyboards, mouse, and monitor.

In some of the newest operating systems you can rotate your background image, allowing several to shuffle at different times as you work. This could liven up your day a bit as you work, assuming you don’t work for one of those draconian corporate bosses with no sense of humor (just kidding, of course).

The world is full of interesting and strange facts. Hope you enjoyed these.

Technology Makes Investing Simple With Stock Investing Software

Tech Geek — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 18:20:11 +0000

The computer age has brought automation to stock market advice and makes it easy for the investor to get the information, both fundamental and technical, needed to make decisions. No longer does the investor need to spend hours researching the financial information from a company or hand drawing lines on a chart to find recognizable patterns. The stock investing software makes this easy.

The best news is that much of this is free. Many companies while waiting for their patent be approved offer a free version of their program for traders to use. This allows the company to perfect the program, work out any bugs in it and have a clientele when the patent is approved and the product brought to market. Most software companies have a more technical version of the free software program that they sell. The free software gives users the opportunity to use it with their particular technique to see how much time it saves them. The software is not a do-it-for-you program; it is to assist the user by providing up to the minute information quickly.

Nothing will take the emotion out of trading on the stock market. Some days the investor can do no wrong and every trade is profitable. Likewise, some days the investor cannot pick a winner. This is part of life, sometimes you lose and sometimes you win.

The main benefit in stock market investment software is the control that the investor has. It is faster to buy or sell a stock online with a few clicks of the mouse then it is to dial a telephone, place the order through the order desk and wait for the order to be processed. The market does not stop moving and prices changed drastically in 30 seconds.

Financial stocks software reviews the financial data on different companies and can even compare them. Programs can search for certain information, give buy or sell suggestions based on predetermined criteria and notify the investor of sudden price or volume moves. This is like having a personal helper who will do all the research for the investor, gathering whatever information is requested. Some packages track the investor’s portfolio and information.

Stock investing software gathers information on each stock and evaluates the data, such as closing prices, highs, lows and volume. Many technical analysis software track different patterns like candlesticks, heads and shoulders, trends and Elliott wave pattern. These programs can send buy and sell signals to traders when certain things happen.

After obtaining a stock market investment software the trader needs to practice with platform to learn what it is capable of doing and how to use it before relying upon it to assist in decisions with real stock trades. The more familiar the user is with platform and the quicker the user can get the required information, the better the results will be.

Stock investing software is a tool to be used along with the other tools in the traders arsenal. The trader still makes the decision on which stock to buy or sell and when. These programs save time and are priced right, maybe even free. If you are using free investment software, then there is no risk in toying with it right away as long as you don’t actually trade off of the software’s advice. However, before you select a stock software to buy, you may wish to follow a guide to stock investing software, as it will give you the information you need to make an informed decision.

Homeschool Tracking Software

Tech Geek — Sun, 02 May 2010 18:25:12 +0000

Homeschooling is meant to be flexible! Though sometimes it can feel like it is a drain and it can feel like you never have time for the fun stuff. With Homeschool tracking software you can take all of the guess work out of your school day and actually focus on the learning and the fun

Lesson planning, homeschool record keeping, grading etc are very time consuming but also very a very important part of getting your homeschool ready for the future. Homeschool software really does give you more time to do the things you want. Organization can be a nightmare and many new homeschool parents get lost in the details.

With a structured program you loose no time and there is very little learning curve. If you have any experience with teaching this will be even more of a cinch. Enjoy your tie with your kids, that is what homeschool is about.

There are a variety of different programs available for download. Homeschool Tracker Plus is one of them and it provides a number of different features to make your life easier and your teaching more effective. The software will allow to keep records on numerous children and keep it detailed or keep it simple.

Having access to the information that you need is one of the most important aspects of homeschool. Many families do not have the luxury of having an actual classroom so the organization, portability, and space savings of a computer are a blessing. Being able to store report cards, transcripts from previous years and lesson plans can be a life saver.

There will be a time when your children will need access to all of the important documents that you will be able to provide with the right homeschool software. Colleges are recognizing homeschoolers as a gifted bunch but they still need documentation and reports.

Public schools, universities, and most other educational institutions use some type of specialized software to keep track of all of their students, why would homeschool be any different? Start using homeschool software today to get the most out of your time with your children.

How To Select eBook Reader Software

Tech Geek — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 07:43:09 +0000

Lured by the convenience and accessibility of ebooks, many readers are now converting to these digital books to reap the benefits of them. However, with the dozens of ebooks reader software models available in the market, it can be exasperating trying to decide on the right one to buy. Try using this quick guide to navigate through the multitude of features promised by manufacturers and determine which type of ebook reader software is suitable for you.

What formats and platforms can the ebook reader support?

Most of these ebooks software will be able to support basic Windows PC versions and Mac. However, always be careful and check with the sales staff of the brand. Some old reader software might not be compatible with the newer Windows 7 platform or Mac platform.

What are the important features you look for in an ebook reader?

For some readers, they might be looking for a device that is solely for ebook reading purposes. Hence, what they require are powerful ebook reading functions like font adjustments, backlight for reading in dim areas, ability to change text orientation and quick page turning.

However, many users now prefer a handheld device that encompasses many functions that can be used for multi-tasking. Hence, many ebooks reader now comes packed with additional features like MP3 players, writing and drawing pads as well as calendar and notebooks for users to use it as a personal assistant.

The demand for this whole range of resources is also why many ebooks manufacturers are racing to produce tools that can support multi-tasking. Of course, a device with more functions also means that it warrants a higher price. Coming chock full of other applications and features might also mean that the processing speed would also not be as fast as a device that has only one function. So there would definitely be a trade-off between speed and functions.

Free Water Billing Software

Tech Geek — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:56:38 +0000

Water companies are turning towards a water billing software to make the task of billing a quick and easy process. As an important resource in our lives, we have taken water for granted, expecting it to be there when we turn on the tap. It has become so much of a luxury that in most cases we do not imagine it will never be available, but will always be at our disposable.

Even though this may be the case for half the population, for others it is not the case. And in order for the water to keeping coming, we have to pay our monthly water bills to the water companies or risk the water being cut off.

How Does Free Water Billing Software Work?

As mentioned, water is an important resource in our lives. And is a resource that needs to be paid for. But in order to provide to the consumers, there needs to be an effective process that is quick. This is why the water billing software is fast becoming the ideal solution. By storing the consumer’s data and meter number onto a computer, the water company can then process the information which will provide them with the consumer’s monthly water consumption. The information they find can then be printed and posted to the consumer’s household, or it can be sent through email for a quick response. Email, however, is only possible if the consumer has indeed opted for this route.

By providing this step to their consumers, the water billing software helps to cut down on your amount of paper generated bills and as a result will save the water company $0.75 per bill. As the number of consumers who opt for the email option rises, so does the amount of money that the water company can save.

The free water billing software handles any concerns or queries that are posed by the consumers more efficiently. As a result of this fewer shut-offs will occur and customer satisfaction will rise. Straightforward and easy to use, the water software enhances employee productivity as they are able to respond to consumer’s questions promptly and confidently.

Free water billing software provides convenience and satisfaction that consumers are after. It allows consumers to find out answers in a short amount of time, which means they can pay their bills on time without any worries and without the need to worry about any paper generated bills. It is also an ideal solution to helping improve the environment, by reducing the amount of paper that is wasted as a result of paper generated bills.

Review Of Survey Monkey For Online Surveys

Tech Geek — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:53:23 +0000

Although Survey Monkey is far and away the most popular online survey tool, it is now competing against a host of similar tools, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. This review will take a look at the web based survey tool as it compares to other solutions, both for personal and business use.

In some ways, Survey Monkey has improved significantly over the past few years,. However, many of the complaints that have been lodged against it remain relevant. For example, although some new reporting features have been added, the ability to statistically analyze your data within the Survey Monkey interface remains fairly weak. You will have to export the data to understand what is really going on with it.

The speed and ease of use of Survey Monkey has always been a unique selling point, and it is still a very quick and responsive web app. However, the interface has not been kept up to date with the newer innovations in web development. As a consequence, the online survey creation interface feels old and unintuitive.

Newer tools like the ActiveCampaign Survey Software package allow you to drag and drop your questions around the page to reorganize them, and this is the kind of interaction that we have come to expect from web tools. To go back to clicking a series of buttons in order to rearrange questions feel like a big, and uncomfortable step back.

There is also the issue that Survey Monkey doesn’t seem to really be well-suited to any particular use. Twenty bucks a month is fairly steep for personal use, but the software simply doesn’t deliver the robustness that business or academic researchers would require from an online survey app. The result is that Survey Monkey is ultimately unsatisfying even though it’s actually a pretty nice tool overall. At this time, we recommend using an alternate solution.

Registry Cleaner Pro

Tech Geek — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:21:28 +0000

Computers are very useful devices that are fast becoming a daily part of our lives. Proper maintenance is required however to avoid performance degradation. Computers can be adversely affected by damaged or bloated registries. In this article, I will explain what the registry is, why it is important to your computer, and how to properly maintain it to avoid performance degradation and potential system damage.

According to the Microsoft Computer Dictionary, Fifth Edition the registry is defined as follows: “A central hierarchical database used in Microsoft Windows 98, Windows CE, Windows NT, and Windows 2000 used to store information that is necessary to configure the system for one or more users, applications and hardware devices.” The registry provides a neater method of storing configuration settings for programs on a computer, replacing .ini files for each individual program.

Over time the registry inside your computer can become overloaded with unnecessary registry keys. This can cause performance degradation as it takes longer and longer for the computer to load the registry. The computer can also become damaged if there are too many incorrect or missing registry keys. As editing the registry by hand is very confusing and dangerous due to the high potential of making a potentially fatal mistake, it is best to use a program specifically designed to clean the registry.

One such program is called Registry Cleaner Pro, a registry cleaning program for windows. This program is designed to scan your computer for invalid or orphaned registry keys and delete the ones that are no longer necessary. This is much safer than hand editing as the program is designed to examine each registry key and only remove the ones that are no longer needed. A free 30-day trial program is available for free use, the registered professional version costs $39.95. Many people find this tool to be an excellent program to ensure proper computer performance but, as with any registry cleaner, be sure to back up your system before deleting any registry files.