BusinessWorks Can Do The Job

BusinessWorks is specifically designed for organizations with fewer than 50 users and those that need concurrent access for five to 10 users. BusinessWorks is ideal for companies that use an in-house bookkeeper. However, the software is simple to learn and use whether or not users have CPA-level experience.

Light manufacturing companies or any small company that uses point-of-sale products are prime candidates for BusinessWorks. The software can be bundled with specialized packages for vertical markets such as dental offices or automotive repair shops.

To reduce the learning curve, BusinessWorks allows users to perform the initial installation using a checklist feature. Users define parameters for each task, and once tasks are completed, BusinessWorks approves or denies the entries using checkmarks.

Using this method, new users or users familiar with other software such as Quickbooks can easily get up to speed without having to learn BusinessWorks in-depth. Each task includes helpful information describing every field.

A sales order entry pane allows users to customize data forms when running power searches. This feature lets users create their own data lookup criteria. By filtering fields, rearranging, resizing and removing columns and adjusting column sorting, users can concentrate on active records. This feature set can also be applied across a network installation. For instance, a sales representative can view all customers assigned to him or her, while another user can arrange a search to view only active customers as they come into the system. Filtering customers in this way does not eliminate them from the system and only hides them from view. Customized searches and views are available in all areas of the software that allow users to look up data.

BusinessWorks does lack sales validation features, so sales representatives may have a hard time keeping track of nonpaying customers. Currently, there are no direct methods to alert users of a customer's missed payments, but the company is considering this feature for a future release. Sales representatives using the software can add notes to customer data to alert them of missed payments or other information.

New to BusinessWorks version 5 is support for up to 25 price levels. Users can also have as many as five quantity breaks, choose price levels based on seasons and activate or deactivate a price level. After Christmas, for instance, the software can automatically apply deep discounts and can automatically deactivate discounts after a specified date using a sales promotion period feature. Users can maintain sales promotions for any specific amount of time. Once deactivated, the discounted prices are withheld from view in the system to prevent confusion.

BusinessWorks supports VPN and Terminal Services, but functionality cannot be directly extended to the Web. However, the software allows sales order importation into inventory control and integration with third-party shopping cart applications. Because BusinessWorks is compatible with most third-party shopping cart applications, there are numerous opportunities for developer partners to provide integration services for customers that want to sell products on the Web. In addition to standard drop-down menus, BusinessWorks uses hyperlinks and a quick links list to help users navigate tasks, allowing the main menu to behave like a browser. BusinessWorks provides a customizable HTML menu structure that lets users add links to a startup page or group links together in a Shortcuts menu task.

At the bottom of every task pane, drop-down menu choices let users add shortcuts to either the Shortcuts or Startups menu. This can save users from searching for commonly used tasks. Because these buttons are situated at the bottom of a pane, most users may not know they exist, which can be a problem. Both Shortcuts and Startups menus are user-specific, so each user can customize his or her own setup configuration. Unfortunately, BusinessWorks' look and feel is not consistent throughout the application and reverts to parent Windows dialog boxes once users reach the task panes.

Another problem CRN Test Center engineers found is that the data import process is not very transparent, and there is no direct method for importing data from software such as Quickbooks. Though this can make migration to BusinessWorks somewhat difficult, it does open up integration opportunities for solution providers.

With a 55 percent average reseller margin, Best Software offers a great opportunity for consultants and partners to customize or integrate applications with BusinessWorks. Consultants who wish to provide these services must purchase a BusinessWorks Access tool to automate data import and export and maintain a developer agreement with the company. Best Software also offers Boot Camp programs focused on helping partners overcome small businesses' staffing and marketing challenges. Extended technical support packages start at $395 and unlimited technical support is available for $795. BusinessWorks Gold Standard Edition starts at $995.

CHANNEL PROGRAM SNAPSHOTS
>BusinessWorks Gold version 5.0

COMPANY: Best Software
Irvine, Calif.
(800) 854-3415
www.bestsoftware.com
AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS: None
PRIMARY DISTRIBUTORS/INTEGRATORS: Business Tech Solutions Group (a Division of SWK Tech. Inc), Micro Financial Computer Systems
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Note: Recommended status is earned with a score of eight stars out of 10