Version R6.41.66 – Release Notes

 

Version R6.41.66 is the latest PCBx3 Manager Release available for download as of February 19, 2015.

The below release notes cover all new features, improved functions and bug fixes since the last official release of version R6.41.28

The release notes include the following topics:

New Features

Release 6.41.66 brings several new features that assist in automation, reporting and monitoring and some existing features were re-designed to provide a new, simpler and more integrated experience. To read more about each feature, simply click the heading.

Client Request - Advanced Scheduling Features

For businesses with only a small number of new client requests the second workflow process is designed to capture when a client request is allocated to a service person.

For businesses with many client requests it becomes vital to schedule and manage the requests in a timely manner and for this purpose the service person allocation date does not provide the required management functions.

For businesses with many client requests it is recommended to turn on the entity setting that uses the allocation date as the site visit scheduling date. This setting provides advanced features designed to assist in scheduling and managing site visits.

The advanced features include a new pivot table view of all scheduled site visits per day, viewing a service person’s bookings for the day, creating MS Outlook appointments and a report showing the scheduled site visits for each service person. Each feature is discussed below.

Required Entity Settings

To make use of the advanced client request features a configuration option in the Entity Setup & Settings needs activating. Tick the checkbox in the section “Client Request – Scheduling” and select the appropriate number of minutes between site visit appointments.

Request Details

When using the advanced feature, the second step of the request process is called “2. Schedule Site Visit” and it includes an option to post an appointment to MS Outlook and to view any existing bookings for the selected service person.

When selecting a service person, the system checks if the service person has already any bookings on that day and if so it looks up the last appointment, adds the default minutes per appointment and calculates and proposes the next appointment time.

When saving the record, the system automatically displays existing scheduled site visit bookings for the selected day and service person if such bookings exist.

Scheduled Site Visits

The new scheduled site visits pivot table provides a simple view of all scheduled site visits per day and service person. The form is automatically updated when changing date, time or service person on the client request details form.

For multiple entity installations, the new scheduled site visits form allows viewing schedules across all entities as well as only the logged in entity (default).

Advanced Features in Action

When both the client request register and the scheduled site visits are open then managing and scheduling requests becomes simple and straight forward.

Identify double-bookings or over-bookings, open the request details; make the required changes and the schedule is updated.

The client request register provides now the new option to view any of the three workflow processes without leaving the form.

 

Entity Setup & Settings

The Entity Setup form provides new configuration options that apply for the logged in entity. The new configurations concern defaults that can be set that assist in automation and reporting. The options are explained below.

Default Skill Level for Sales Invoice Labour Line-items

When creating a new sales invoice labour line-item the system will look at the selected transaction category and fetch the charge-out rate for that category and the default skill level.

To record charge-out rates and cost rates, refer to the System / Maintenance / Lookup Values section.

Default Skill Level for Quote Labour Line-items and Service Jobs

When creating a new quote labour line-item the system will look at the selected transaction category and fetch the cost rate for that category and the default skill level.

When creating a new service job the system will allocate the default category and the default skill level.

New Quote/Costing Profit Calculation Option

A second quote/costing profit calculation was introduced that calculates the profit by applying a margin to total material and a separate margin to total labour.

The default margins are allocated to new quotes and can be overwritten when creating the profit calculation record.

Client Payment Options

The client payment options section includes now a checkbox that determines if the reminder to Bank Deposits is shown when leaving the Accounts Receivable / GL Debtors Management module.

Operational KPIs

Release 6.41.66 introduces the Operational Key Performance Indicators reporting module that will be gradually rolled out in the coming months. The new KPIs concern the 12 workflow processes - from initial request to job invoicing. The settings allow for minutes, hours and days that are then compared to actual.

The initial focus will be on the reporting of existing data from the 12 workflow processes on an entity level and comparing that to the target KPI that can be set for each process.

 

Transaction Categories

The system transaction categories form provides now the new function to delete a category. The system prevents deleting a category that has been used in any of the transaction tables. In addition, when adding a new category the system now checks if the category exists already.

For each transaction category the system provides now the option to allocate cost rates in addition to the existing charge-out rates.

Category Cost Rates

Category cost rates apply to the actual cost of labour resources per hour for the selected category.

Cost rates are fetched by quote labour line-items for the selected category and default skill level.

Category charge-out rates are fetched by sales invoice line-items for the selected category and default skill level.

Category charge-out rates are also fetched when creating a new labour transaction. The charge-out rate for the selected category and the selected HR’s skill level is returned.

To allocate cost rates to categories, simply open the Rates form as usual and then select “View Cost Rates”.

 

Main Menu

The main menu incorporates now previously separate sub-menus, provides two new HRM functions and includes a re-designed Cash Sale Register that is now the new Sales Invoice Register.

HRM

The HRM section of the main menu provides now access to the new HR Licences Register and a further option to view licence expiry dates in the calendar.

To find out more about the new HR Licence Register, view separate HRM listing below.

Operation

The Operation section of the main menu includes the “Sub-menu” and “Internal Jobs” options. Both options are now integrated into the main menu as shown below.

Operation – Sub-Menu

The Operation Sub-menu provides access to key operational functions that were previously shown separately.

The integrated sub-menu slides out to the left of the main menu and forms part of the overall operation menu thus providing a more convenient work environment.

All key operational performance indicators are now easily in view and accessible.

The integrated sub-menu provides quick access to task manager, monitoring and management consoles and others.

To hide the sub-menu, simply click the menu heading or the little arrow in the top left-hand corner.

Moving from one main menu section to another will make the sub-menu disappear and re-appear when returning.

Operation – Internal Jobs

The operation – internal jobs provides access to all active internal projects or jobs that may include formal requests and quotes or costing.

The internal jobs menu is now integrated and slides out to the right of the main menu and forms part of the overall operation menu thus providing a more convenient work environment.

To hide the internal jobs, simply click the menu heading or the little arrow in the top right-hand corner.

Moving from one main menu section to another will make the internal jobs disappear and re-appear when returning.

Finance - Sub-Menu

Similar to the operation sub-menu, the finance sub-menu is now integrated into the main menu and slides out the left.

Sales Invoice Register

The previous cash sale register was changed into the Sales Invoice Register thus providing more functionalities and convenience.

The new Sales Invoice Register is shown below.

Sales Invoice Register

The new sales invoice register provides filter options that include predefined sales types and a drop-down menu with all clients and the number of invoices for each.

Find sales invoices based on a date range or written by a staff member or simply enter the invoice number.

Drill-down options include viewing the underlying sales invoice or opening the underlying job menu.

System – Lookup Values

The system – lookup values menu is now integrated into the main menu and it slides out to the right of the main menu.

The behaviour of the sub-menu is identical to all new integrated sub-menus as explained in the above operation sub-menu.

System – Admin Menu

The system – admin menu is now integrated into the main menu and it slides out to the right of the main menu.

System – Caller Survey

The system – caller survey is now integrated into the main menu and it slides out at the bottom of the main menu.

 

HR Licences

Some jobs require labour resources with specific licensed skills. To facilitate this selection, the upgrade to Release 6.41.66 includes moving all HR licence details previously recorded to a new HR Licence table that allows creating multiple licences for each HR.

HR Details

The HR details form includes now a HR Licences list that allows adding, modifying or deleting records.

During the upgrade, the system removes existing values and adds them to the new HR Licence Register.

Please review the licence description of data that was moved.

Future releases will integrate HR Licences into the Nominated HR Selection that is available for projects and service jobs.

HR Licence Register

The new HR Licence Register provides a central facility to store and record all relevant licensing details.

The new register provides filter options and drill-down to the licence details or HR details.

The licence expiry dates are integrated into the calendar.

HRM - Main Menu

The HRM section of the main menu provides now access to the new HR Licences Register and a further option to view licence expiry dates in the calendar.

 

 

Improved Functions

The The following improved system functions are now available in Release 6.41.66

General Ledger – Linked Accounts

The general ledger linked accounts allows now to reference the Asset Class Account: Inventory & Stock. The Inventory & Stock account will be used in coming releases to provide integration from the inventory module to the balance sheet.

Project Register

The project register was slightly re-designed with all menu options now grouped together and the main list includes now three new columns: Project Income, Expenses and Gross Profit.

Inventory & Stock Items

Importing stock items allows now for selecting a cost amount value field and a selling price value field. In addition, an option allows now using an external stock item list to update existing PCB stock items with cost and or selling price. Previous versions ignored existing stock items.

The inventory register provides now options to delete any of the group, category and sub-category classifications.

HR Payroll

For installation with multiple entities the system now inspects all unpaid employee labour transactions per HR across all entities for the given pay period in order to work out the overall PAYG tax that is then proportioned to each entity’s gross pay for the selected HR.

This scenario applies to human resources that are setup as employee with a tax classification and then perform work on a regular basis at each of the registered entities setup in PCBx3 Manager.

Quote Register

The quote register provides now the option to search for quotes based on library job classifications.

 

Bug Fixes

The following bugs were fixed in Release 6.41.66

PDF Printing

When selecting to print a report as PDF and then cancelling or aborting, all subsequent printing called the PDF printer. During the cancellation process the default printer was not reset and required to exit PCBx3 Manager and then log in again.

Entity Special Contact Number

The entity form’s key phone number text boxes display now 1 300 numbers in the correct format.

Job Sheet Report

Client or site contacts without main business phone number will display now the mobile phone number.

Quote Status

Previously, when printing a quote with the status “in preparation” the status was automatically changed to “quote completed”. This also applies now to the PDF and Email Quote options.

HR Superannuation

When processing HR superannuation the wizard’s payment page shows now the payment reference field.

 

Installation and Licensing Information

Important Installation Notes

Upgrading to Release 6.41.66 requires an existing Release 6.41.28 installation.

For a successful upgrade, follow the Installation Guide on the download page.

To view the Release 6.41.66 download details, click here.

Licensing Information

Upgrading to Release 6.41.66 may require a licence upgrade.

If not sure if your current licence is sufficient, simply contact Blake Developments.

Thank you...

Thank you for choosing PCBx3 Manager, we hope you enjoy the new features.