Related Modules
Screenshots
Security
System security is currently a hot topic, and rightly so as computer fraud escalates. Integral security features let you enforce either simple or detailed strategies as appropriate, with the flexibility to change at any time. Password control options are also available. Your data and operations are protected from both intentional interference and accidental damage.
You can deny access to a module, options within a module and, in some cases, the commands within options, such as add, modify and remove. In addition, access to certain data may be denied, for example to restrict access to a specific company.
This security principle follows on into the accounting modules, such as Purchase Ledger and Sales Ledger, where access controls can restrict a user to specific nominal accounts, customers and suppliers.
Company set-up
Company-specific options are available throughout dataflow. VAT tables and related EC import/export tables are on hand, along with currency code and exchange rate tables. An exchange rate history is maintained.
Customizer
The Customizer tools allow you to adapt dataflow without altering the underlying source code. All modifications are automatically re-applied when a new release becomes available. You can change or add to the standard screens, create new user-defined screens, and provide external systems with an interface for posting accounting transactions or creating order-processing documents.
User Preferences
You can configure all the following to suit individual users and their responsibilities.
- desktop settings
- interface controls
- keyboard mapping
- language options
- speed toolbar for quick access to key functions
Multiple Periods
You can operate as many as 365 accounting periods a year, with the flexibility to set and change period end and year end dates at any time, subject to the period status determined by each ledger.
The frantic rush to finalise period and year end accounts, and to produce final reports in order that processing can move on to the next period, is now a thing of the past. Closing periods and years in dataflow simply prevents any further general postings being made to them and is an instant procedure.
Adjustments to finalise a closed period or year can subsequently be made through specific controlled posting routines. There are no reports that must be produced before the periods or years are closed, as all dataflow reports can be produced retrospectively.
Controlled options are also available to re-open closed periods where this might be required.
Multiple Currencies
dataflow is designed to handle international dimensions as the need arises. Options can be set at both local company and group level, consolidating results in many different national currencies into a currency of choice.
Currency based options can be easily extended from a multi-currency input/single base currency system to multiple base currency operations.
Sales and purchase accounts support postings in any currency, regardless of their default currency designation. Offset invoices in one currency with payments in a different currency, e.g. Euros as payment for US dollar invoices. Nominal Ledger offers account analysis in relevant currencies. Exchange differences are handled automatically.
Full Multiple Base Currency Operation
The multiple base currency approach is ideal for Euro operations enabling the production of statutory and local information in the currency of choice. The application of additional base currencies can be further extended where the members of a group of companies operate in different national currencies. Assignment of a company to a specific base currency means the user interface is suited to each national operation.
dataflow will maintain completely parallel records of transactions and balances across all base currencies and all reports can be produced on demand in any number of base currencies.
Powerful revaluation options support the maintenance of currency books of account and automatically generate postings for exchange differences.
Multi-Company
dataflow can support an unlimited number of companies. Each company can use its own separate system configuration, document layouts, etc. Users are able to move easily between companies, subject to their user access profiles, switching directly to avoid the normal log-on procedures.
Because dataflow can be set up to share the basic details of nominal accounts, customers, suppliers, stock records, in fact all standing data, it makes implementing consolidation in complex organisation structures fast and painless.
Accounts Internet Server
AIS provides all the components to perform any accounting task within the secure dataflow accounts server using standard XML messages, e.g. Customer and Supplier maintenance, Order/Delivery/Invoice Processing, Stock Enquires, Nominal Journals, Project Accounting, etc.
AIS is fully compatible with the standard dataflow accounts software and both systems can be updating the dataflow accounts database simultaneously. AIS need only be used in the areas of the workflow of the organisation that require a custom solution.
The product is a FULL accounting system, but without the interface. Organisations can add their own interface to the areas that require customisation, with the knowledge that the underlying data is safe, secure and all transaction processing is done accurately in a fully controlled manner.
Reporting and Analysis
Producing both standard and special reports has never been simpler. Intuitive and flexible, dataflow lets you produce management reports and analyse company and group performance with ease:
- Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet
- Management Reports Generator includes direct export to formatted Excel workbooks.
- Trial Balance, Budget Comparison and Transaction Details - all to five levels of Cost Centre analysis.
The batched reports feature produces repetitive reports quickly; the easy to use built-in report writer has the flexibility to design effective report layouts that can be processed according to varying criteria, such as period range.
Consolidated information is right there whenever required. Extensive reporting filters can be applied on standard reports, with full support for currency information.
Excel Web Reporting
Dataflow's new reporting tool is the answer to management reporting and information gathering which will transform the tedious and time consuming exercise, into a straightforward automated process, using the Dataflow Web Gateway Service to dynamically link Microsoft Excel to the rich financial management data held within dataflow.
Reporting and Analysis - Raw Data Access
This exciting new feature from Dataflow gives you the capability of extracting the raw data from any ledger report within dataflow. No longer will you be locked away from your valuable data.
With RDA you can:-
- Select your report criteria within dataflow.
- Instead of printing the report, choose to view all SQL tables selected in the production of the report.
- Cherry pick and highlight the columns you want.
- Use the Excel button to dynamically populate a spreadsheet. (The spreadsheet results will include the dataflow column titles that make the raw data instantly meaningful).
- Use the data to produce any relevant reports or graphis in Excel.
This new feature is so easy to use that it's simple to gain control of the data, and its presentation, for printing or mailing to colleagues and business partners.
Reporting and Analysis - Report Messenger
Report Messenger provides both accounts and non-accounts users with up-to-the-minute information distributed directly to their Windows desktop.
The information can be distributed by placing it in a central location, directly e-mailed to the user or placed on a website for access across the Internet or Intranet. The standard dataflow security and user defined Report Messenger constraints ensure that only the appropriate information is provided to each individual.
Report Messenger will eliminate the time currently spent collating and distributing information, and by delivering only the information required directly to the Windows desktop, dramatically improve the effectiveness of your staff.
Reporting and Analysis - Analyzer
The dataflow Analyzer module is a system of integrated components that act in harmony to transport relevant financial data directly from dataflow to the desktop, where you need it. It is an optional module within dataflow.
Through Analyzer, information can be disseminated anywhere throughout the company for review, budgeting input or decision support. Analyzer does all this while you work within the popular interface for business information analysis - Microsoft Excel.
Reporting and Analysis - WebGate
WebGate is a unique reporting solution, combining many features such as ease of use, high versatility, fast implementation, and fast performance in a cost-effective, fully browser-based delivery.
Delivering immediate information to your users, it empowers them to make quick decisions, without requiring them to know anything about the location or format of the data itself.
e-mail Communications
Dataflow's built-in-mail technology gives you instant communication and offers a flexible alternative to the traditional approach of printing and posting documents such as Invoices, Order Acknowledgements, Statements and Remittance Advice and provides:
- Considerable savings on postage, stationery and administration.
- Improved customer service efficiency.
- Safe, secure and reliable delivery of documents.
- Works across the entire suite of dataflow modules.
- e-mail attachments are sent as Adobe PDF documents.
- Optional hard-copy documents can be printed simultaneously
EDI / XML Data Interchange
dataflow provides comprehensive Data Interchange facilities. These can be used to both import and export transactional data. Orders and invoice data can be handled in either EDI (Electronic Data Interchange), XML (Extensible Markup Language), Delimited or Fixed Length formats.
Drill Down
With dataflow you have the ability to easily navigate around the system. You can quickly drill down from a nominal ledger account balance to the originating transactions, such as sales orders and purchase invoices. You can view the postings made from any transaction and quickly reproduce the relevant documents, such as invoices.
Data Import and Export
Companies that require transactions from legacy systems to be transferred to their new accounting system find the strong import features of dataflow a comprehensive solution. The range of options for the import of static data, simple and complex transaction, and nominal budgets to cost centre level is adaptable for complex organisational requirements.
The Transaction Interface provides a very easy method for programmatically posting accounting transactions and order processing documents into dataflow. External software systems, (or even user-defined processing added to customised dataflow screens), can perform these updates in a completely seamless and controlled manner without resorting to the usual clumsy method of flat-file export and import.
Production of Documents
All modules offer document maintenance facilities, allowing multiple formats of document to be held on the system for invoices, orders, statements etc.
dataflow has a comprehensive range of standard documents, which are designed to be printed to image-based devices such as laser or inkjet-based printers. dataflow supports a document design option, which allows the user to layout their own documents including graphics, multiple fonts etc.
Activity Recording
All dataflow transactions are stamped with the users' date and time of entry, so that you can go back and see who has performed the task.
Document Storage
dataflow includes the ability to attach any number of documents to many key data items within the system. These include Sales and Purchase accounts, all transaction documents created through the Sales and Purchase Order routines, transactions posted directly to the Sales and Purchase ledgers, and Stock and Product item records. Any number of documents in any format - Word, Excel, scanned images etc. - can be attached. These can then be viewed from the comprehensive dataflow enquiry screens, including those reached via drill-down and across.
Links to documents attached to orders, delivery notes and invoices are transferred through to the transactions posted to the Sales and Purchase ledgers, including those where an invoice may be the result of a number of orders or delivery notes. This allows you to view all the original documents that have resulted in an invoice from one simple transaction enquiry screen, instead of having to scour many different screens searching for the relevant transactions.
Data Access
dataflow uses industry standard SQL databases which provide direct access to all tables in the database subject to local security constraints. Dataflow can provide documentation of the database schema to assist clients who require access to the underlying data of dataflow systems.