Using Dashboards to Bundle Benchmarks - Topic for September 27, 2011

Cash position? Payables due? Revenue on target? Events meeting their goals?
Usually, we must dig through layers of data to get to this information. But now, a technology called Dashboard can assist with making these benchmarks available to us at the stroke of a key. So join us at our next meeting when Jeanette BaxKurtz of Mueller Prost PC will discuss the basics of Dashboard technology and how it can help you locate all your key metrics from one central place.

Managing Credit Cards - Some Make it Works

On Tuesday, June 28, 2011, a representative from Bank of America's purchasing card division spoke to our group about ways the Bank of America Works online software can assist us with managing credit cards. Through the Works program, administrators can establish overall credit limits by cardholder, purchase limitations by MCC code (merchant category code), purchase-by-purchase limits, and dollar limits by day, purchase level, or by month.

The Works program also allows online statement delivery and exporting of transactions into batches that can be imported to accounting software GL or AP programs.

Managing Credit Cards - Topic for June 28, 2011

If you long for a more convenient way to manage company credit cards, then make plans to join us at our final meeting before summer break, on Tuesday, June 28, 2011. At this meeting, Bank of America will present highlights of their credit card purchasing program, which includes online changes to credit limits, cardholders, and restrictions on use. They also will present best practices for entering credit card charges into accounting software systems so that the vendor from whom the purchase was made gets recorded.

Cloud Computing - Public or Private

On Tuesday, May 24, Patrick Murphy of ApexIT, presented the basics of cloud computing. Cloud computing reduces the need for dedicated servers because its architecture allows for flexible space sharing. While most cloud computing services are offered online (public cloud), the security concerns and bandwidth requirements of public cloud computing have resulted in many companies purchasing cloud-capable servers to use in-house (private cloud). The benefits of the private cloud, in addition to security control and less bandwidth needs, are less hardware to replace on a rotating basis.

Cloud Computing - Topic for May 24, 2011

Is your head in the clouds when it comes to understanding the latest trends in IT? If so, make plans to join us at our next meeting, May 24, 2011 when Patrick Murphy of Apex IT will lead a discussion on Cloud Computing and whether your nfp is ready to take that leap. 

Going Paperless in a Documented World - The Future Really Is Here!

On Tuesday, April 26, 2011, Scott Johnson of IKON Office Solutions went through the various stages of Electronic Content Management, which has taken the businesses that have reached its fourth stage into a paperless world. Scott used the Accounts Payable process as an example of how the ECM stages would work. Those stages involve:

• Back end capturing and index imaging (scan invoices once paid to store and file them electronically)
• Front end capturing and index imagine (scan invoices at moment of receipt, then forward them through the approval and payment process electronically)
• Front end data capture and auto extraction (scan invoices at moment of receipt, then use auto extraction software to identify and index critical criteria such as vendor, invoice number, date, amount, and even service or goods provided)
• Front end data capture and workflow (scan invoices at moment of receipt, use auto extraction for indexing and processing, and use workflow software to forward the invoice through the approval, payment and filing process).

Electronic content management can help all-sized businesses to manage their workflow and become more efficient.  Check with your copier vendor or IT support team to learn what capabilities currently exist and build from there.

Going Paperless in a Documented World - Topic for April 26, 2011

Ever wonder what became of the "paperless"office forecasted many decades ago, but only seen in science fiction movies? If you'd like to see less hard copies in your office, then make plans to join us at our next meeting because the future is here! We will discuss Share Point and how to use it and other document management software to make paperless offices a reality.