10/2011 — Field Manager Plus
With the advent of the IPad and other notepad and notebook type computers, we have created a simplified interface with just the functions and features your field project managers will need. We call this new user interface “Field Manager Plus“. Sometimes less is better and with a simplified menu system with just the selections pertinent to your field personel, it provides access to scheduling updates, service request review and updating, buyer option review and approval, and many pertinent field reports.
Field Manager Plus is designed to fit on the smaller 10″ screens that these typical notebook type computers have and provide a much better user interface than smart phones. With cost of these devices now as low as $300.00, it is practical solution whose time has come. With Pharaoh’s IBSWIN Online, we can provide a completely “hosted” solution for all your office and field personnel or you can host it on your own inhouse server. With a reduced cost per field user, it is an affordable alternative for today’s mobile and connected world. Contact us at info@ibswin.com or call us at 866-813-0398 ext. 1 for sales…
Check out the latest Pharaoh Phacts for further current updates and information at the following link — Pharaoh Phacts Newsletter 4th Quarter 2011
08/2011 — New Add-on Tools
One of Pharaoh’s philosophies has been to stay focused on what we do well and find partnership “Tools” that help our clients be more productive. One of the areas that we have been exploring this past year has been helping our clients be more efficient by reducing the paper flow by processing and filing documents electronically. Rather than try and re-invent the wheel, we have found two products featured in this blog that are definitely worth taking a look at.
The first product is Paperless Environments software that is sold and supported by EWA Software Solutions. Paperless is much more than just a document processing system. Especially if you are a Sage Software client, it can revolutionize the way that invoices and other documents are handled and routed through your company. Not only can you eliminate the piles of documents stored somewhere in your file cabinets, you can let your superintendents simply review and approve invoices online anywhere. Simplify the process while at the same time improve the controls. Check it out further at www.ewasoftware.com.
The other product that we are featuring is the ESignature Pads from Topaz Systems. Many of our clients have asked for a paperless signature solution that can be used out in your sales offices for your Sales Agreements. Since we use Microsoft Word to create these documents, this solution from Topaz will work out of the box. Please check out the following video link to get more information on this — http://www.actonsoftware.com/acton/fs/blocks/showLandingPage/a/277/p/p-0056/t/page/fm/0/r/%7B%7BEnv.RecId%7D%7D/s/%7B%7BEnv.SrcId%7D%7D
Don’t hesitate to contact us directly on any of these add-on tools if you have further questions — Email us at info@ibswin.com or call us at 949-340-7600…
04/2011 – Positive Housing News… Sure
It has been a long time since any major magazine or newspaper has had anything positive to say about the housing market. Unfortunately over past 4 years, continual bad housing news has continued to create more and more bad news. It is an endless cycle of negative news. I think it is time to end that cycle.
There was a great article in Fortune magazine this month (April 2011). Author Shawn Tully says,” Forget stocks. Don’t bet on gold. After four years of plunging home prices, the most attractive asset class in America is housing. It’s time to buy again. All I can say is it is about time….
Even though the article is realistic about the still lingering problems, it points out that in many markets it is now cheaper to own versus rent. With the historic drop in new construction and the steep decline in housing prices it is time for the pent up demand to take over. Let’s get the word out and start the cycle of positive housing news to continue. America needs a fully robust housing market to really completely recover from this recession…
12/2010 Happy 2011 From The Pharaoh
As we enter 2011, we hope that the worst of the housing crisis is behind us. For all our active clients, thanks for your support through these past several very tough years. For those past clients that are no longer active in our software support program, Email us at support@ibswin.com to get re-connected to the support program — we have some very special offers in 2011. For any new potential clients, let us show you around the software via a Web Demo, answer all your software questions, and provide a custom tailored pricing proposal for your company. Make 2011 a great year to get started with The Pharaoh.
Please feel free to review our latest Pharaoh Phact’s newsletter attached Pharaoh Phacts Newsletter1stQuarter 2010…. Thanks
09/2010 — 12.06 Release Now Available
We are please to announce the release of the 12.06 version of IBSWIN. Please click on the link to the Pharaoh Phacts Newsletter below to review the features and benefits of this new release. If you are an active IBSWIN Software Support client, please call us a our main 866- 813-0398 toll free line and select Support to get the new password Pharaoh Phacts Newsletter 4th Quarter 2010
07/2010 – Interactive Floor Plans…
As part of our new Website Development program, we have created a new add-on program called “Interactive Floor Plans“. It provides a tool for your prospective home buyer to review your floor plans in more detail, including alternative room options and even adding furniture so they can see how things would lay out. We can help you take your next project Website to the next level with this new tool.
We can work with your existing Web design company and show them how to incorporate this tool or help create a new project Website and link it to your existing Website. We can even re-design your Website from the ground up and incorporate these new features.
Let us provide brief review of the Interactive Floor Plan system and show you how you can easily incorporate your floor plans using this system. Make your Website into a better selling tool with Interactive Floor Plans…
03/2010 — IBSWINOnline
Pharaoh is pleased to announce the the introduction of IBSWINOnline. This provides a fully Web enabled version of IBSWIN, which means your IBSWIN database can be accessed anywhere you can get an Internet connection. Rather than have to invest in your own expensive server and system software, for as little as $49.95 per user you can be online immediately.
IBSWINOnline also includes all the latest versions of MS Office including Word, Excel, Power Point, and more. If you are anticipating upgrading this year, you should seriously consider this alternative. All the system maintenance and backups are handled for you and system updates are fully automated as well. Contact us at sales@ibswin.com for a brief demo or call us at 866-813-0398 to get further information.
02/2010 — Pharaoh’s Hybrid system approach…
The Benefits of a Hybrid System
We are all familiar with how Hybrid cars have been popular lately and how they take advantage of 2 different technologies; 1) traditional gasoline power for maximum speed and power and, 2) electric power to reduce gasoline consumption and help the environment. These cars blend the 2 technologies automatically so that the car owner gets the best of both worlds.
In a similar manner, Pharaoh’s Integrated Builder Series (IBSWIN) software provides a Hybrid of two popular software technologies; 1) traditional client / server platform for maximum performance, security, and control and, 2) Web based “Hosted” applications that provide Internet access to users anywhere. There is a lot of “buzz” today about “Cloud Computing” which is really the same as Web based “Hosted” systems. Although there are some positive advantages that this platform provides, there are some significant disadvantages with this platform as well.
Pharaoh’s IBSWIN system along with WebView provides the best of both worlds that current computer technology provides. The advantages /disadvantages of each technology platform are reviewed below.
Client / Server (IBSWIN):
Advantages
1) Provides faster and more consistent performance by eliminating Internet bottlenecks.
2) Typically more mature and feature rich applications that have been around longer.
3) Database ownership – since your database is located on your own server, transition to a different system is easier.
4) Lower cost of development and customization due to more mature development tools.
5) Typically lower cost of ownership of the long term.
Disadvantages
1) Remote access requires more hardware and system software investment.
2) Requires some IT responsibility for system maintenance, backups, etc.
Web based “Hosted” System (Webview):
Advantages
1) Access to application anywhere the Internet is available.
2) Eliminates the need for IT staffing by providing system maintenance and backups.
3) Easier more direct access to the application with less security “hoops” to go through.
Disadvantages
1) More potential downtime and performance issues due to the Internet connectivity problems.
2) All company critical database information is stored on a remote server, which can potentially make it more difficult and costly to transition to another system.
3) Potentially more database security issues due to the fact that application is accessible by anyone who can access the Internet.
Although as with Hybrid cars, the advantages of this approach may not last forever if battery technology can greatly be improved. For the foreseeable future, Pharaoh’s Hybrid IBSWIN / WebView solution does provide the best and most cost effective use of the software technologies now available.
Contact us at sales@ibswin.com for further information….
11/2009 — MasterView for Custom Builders
Check out the new MasterView for Custom Builders page in the Website under the main Software section. MasterView has continued to evolve to meet the specific requirements for custom homebuilders. It provides a very cost effective solution for small to medium sized custom builders. It provides an excellent client / server foundation with a Web based interface for homebuyers, subcontractors, and project managers.
Version 12.05 Features
Initial Release – Key Features:
1. Subcontractor / Trade assignment – We now allow one sub to be assigned up to 10 trades. It eliminates the need to copy multiple occurrences of the same subcontractor if they are involved in multiple trades. This will greatly simplify the setup and maintenance of subcontractors in IBSWIN. All the purchasing oriented modules are affected.
2. Revised LOGO attachment – With this update, the process of capturing a Company Logo and/or Signature graphics has changed. The IBSWIN application has been at the mercy of external programs, residing on your PC, for the capture and display of these items. IBSWIN needed a more encapsulated way of dealing with this. As a result, you will need to recapture your logo and any signatures you may have been using. You will be given the opportunity to do this during the update or you can wait and do it later in IBSWIN Setup/Company Config. (yes, it will work this time – we promise).
3. Buyer Name Expansion all modules – We are now allowing you to break the Buyer names into a first and last name. The full name will automatically be created for you. Also, you can add a second buyer (first and last name) in this screen. You have the ability to search by the second buyer’s last name as well as the first buyer’s last name. The Sales Manager Plus, Options Plus, Designer Plus and Customer Service modules all now include the following buyer name fields:
Buyer 1 – First (new field)
Buyer1 – Last (existing last name)
Buyer1 – Full (existing full name)
Buyer2 – First (new field)
Buyer2 – Last (new field)
Buyer2 – Full (new field)
New token fields for the new fields have been added for WORD merge processing.
2nd Quarter 2008****
1. Managment Dashboard – It gives the management team a quick snapshot of key sales, options, and customer service information. In addition, in provides a “drill down” feature to see the actual sales, options and customer service detail for each selected project.
3rd Quarter 2008****
1. Scheduler Plus — new “Schedule Calendar” report.
2. Options Plus — Estimating Detail level for material and labor costs for both base house and options.
4th Quarter 2008****
1) Option Price Adjustment Utility — For all of our clients using the Options Plus system, we have added a utility that will allow you to increase or decrease your options pricing by a percentage “markup”. This would be used in lieu of the current option “margin” price calculation.
2) MasterBuilder Interface Improvements — We have greatly improved and expanded the MB export functionality to now include Budgets (Offsite and Onsite), Contracts (Offsite and Onsite), all Purchase Orders, Job Setup and Vendor setup.
3) Budget Export Date Clear Function —provides a simple way to clear the date from all budget records for a phase to re-export the entire budget to your accounting system (Timberline or MasterBuilder).
4) Alternate Option Ordering System —We now have an alternate option ordering system that allows you to track and print order revisions. Additionally, we have added the ability to change all option form titles.
5) Structural Option / Scheduling Variances — This provides a way of having the system automatically adjust the construction schedule for a specific home based on any structural options ordered. Schedule variances can be entered in the options setup screen for each trade. When the option is selected, the variance days will automatically adjust the schedule for that home.
6) Onsite Goal Bid / Budget Detail Report —This is a new expanded report that provides detail of all the active bids compared to the budget for every cost code on one detailed report.
7) Update Option Costs “Print” — We have created a new report that can be used as an options bid report to give to your subcontractors. It has an Excel output option.
1st Quarter 2009***
1) Broker Table — added new fields to add rating codes and Notes for each Broker. Managing and communicating with the Brokers in your Area is even more critical in this down market.
2) Signature Blocks — added the ability to create “custom” signature blocks on all the Purchase Order, Contract Addendum, and Start Order documents.
3) Lot Move Utility — provided new function in “Company Config” — “Security” tab that allows you to move lots from one phase to another. There are some restrictions, but it can be a real time saver.
4) Actsoft Interface — created scheduling interface to new software product called “Actsoft” that provides alternative field updating of the construction schedule via Blackberry device.
5) House Flow Report — Created two new report sort filters that allow you to sort the homebuyers by their “sale date” or “close date” as well as the existing sorts.
6) Windows Markup by product type — modified system to allow the markup % to update all of a specific product type if markup is changed.
7) Option Copy Functions — improved the option system copy functions to allow the selection of multiple specified phases in one copy pass.
8) Option Purchase Order Print Improvements — we have provided you with the ability to change the subcontractor more easily before printing the option POs. The sub must first be assigned to that phase. If you have multiple subs available for a specific trade, it will pick the first one as the default but allow you to select an alternative.
2nd Quarter 2009****
1) Options Plus — Programmed function to “turn off” sq ft on the printing of the Option Book report.
2) Options Plus —Programmed function to suppress printing $$$ amounts on the Lender Recap report.
3) Customer Service Plus — Added the plan type to the Subcontractor Work Order Summary report.
4) General Setup — Created new flag that allows you to turn off the “auto-fill” of the sequence sheet information setup.
5) Designer Plus (Flooring) — Report enhancement to the Flooring Supplier Pricing report to provide descending sort by price by product type.
3rd Quarter 2009****
1) Designer Plus (Flooring) — Programmed a function to allow discount or premium by phase that is calculated at order time.
2) Designer Plus (Flooring) — Programmed function to provide special markup % on materials only in the Supplier Pricing setup screen.
3) Sales Reports — improvements to the “Concessions History” report.
4) Sales Reports — Added average weekly traffic calculation to the “Weekly Traffic Detail” report.
5) Customer Service Plus —new “Warranty Quarterly Status” report.
6) Purchasing Power — created new “Onsite Building Cost Comparison by Phase” report for multi-family projects.
7) Options Plus —added new option “Copy” function that allows you to copy options from one plan to another designated plan (all costs and prices).
8) Sales Manager Plus — modified the Buyer Listing (Email version) to include the Close of Escrow date in the Excel download output.