Features
This is our flagship program, the top-of-the-line of the
AnyOrder family. It is based on years of research and
includes an extraordinary collection of features for an amazing
price. You have all of the features and benefits of
Levels I, II, III and IV. Those features
include the ability to generate invoices and billing
statements, keep track of inventory, handle returns, produce
sales reports, record customer payments, track consignment
items, create customer mailing lists, calculate shipping
weights, prepare bank deposit reports, and process back
orders.
It includes credit card processing, batch
printing, ability to attach invoices and statements to email
messages, telephony features including two separate phone
dialers (a basic and advanced version), invoice to HTML
conversion, extensive import and export functions,
currency conversation, extra emailing functions, on-line
shipment processing, a comprehensive purchase order system, and
one of the industry's finest's royalty accounting
systems.
The Level V program adds a plethora of barcode features. Can a
small business take advantage of barcode capability? The
answer is a resounding yes. And all it requires is a
barcode reader. Barcode readers can be purchased for less
than $100 and they easily plug into your computer's
keyboard. That's all there is to it, and you're ready to
scan in products and barcode documents.
For example, you can scan a product barcode, and AnyOrder will
automatically enter the name of the product, its catalog number
and price in the screen—just like at the grocery
store. It's quick. It's efficient and it's
convenient. Here are some other things you can do with
barcodes:
The Level V program raises the business software bar even
higher with new inventory functions. It has Real Time
inventory processing. This new inventory feature
provides you with instantly updated inventory figures. It
has an advanced warning system built in which will notify you
if a product's inventory has reached a critically low level,
and it will notify you when the product's inventory has reached
zero. It also has an inventory
reconciliation feature which allows you to easily update
inventory counts.
Another new feature is multi-package support which
provides you with the capability to print packing slips for
multi-package orders. It will also keep track of weights,
shipping charges and tracking numbers for each package.
When you are ready to ship packages, the final shipping
& packaging feature helps automates shipping &
packaging chores, and it will even run a final re-check of the
package contents.
New enhancements have been made to back order
processing. It has twice the number of printing
options as Level IV, including integrated PDF
printing. A new automatic HTML file naming function
speeds up creating email attachments. A change
case function is available for consistent formatting of
addresses.
New features have been added so that you can import shopping cart data from
your website. You can load in a day's worth of orders (or
as many orders as desired), and, in within a second or two,
AnyOrder will automatically create invoices with products,
quantities and prices ready to go.
Item discounts can be configured with seven decimal points
of precision, providing perfect accuracy when a product's
discount must be manipulated to derive a given price.
This is helpful if you need to match the prices from website
price tables or the totals on a distributor report.
Purchase order enhancements include integrated PDF
printing and automatic HTML file naming, and a new method of
creating purchase orders from invoices.
The new features in royalty
accounting include built-in export routines to allow you to
move royalty data directly into Excel or other
spreadsheet programs. You can create royalty reports and
statements as an HTML file and attach it to email for delivery
to royalty holders.
There's more. AnyOrder Level V includes full-featured
proforma invoicing system. You can use proforma
invoices for accounts which require pre-payment. You can
use them for pre-season sales, or for customers that may be
purchasing larger than normal quantities. Proforma
invoices are also commonly used to quote prices and establish
terms for international sales. The Proforma program is
similar to the AnyPO system in that it is a complete program in
itself with a great array of features.
Finally, the networked version of AnyOrder Level V includes
The Rover Module. The Rover Module has many of
the same functions as the main AnyOrder program, but it
allows you great flexibility in how you run your
business. It provides you with a safe way of taking
AnyOrder on the road or home without carrying all of your
valuable business data with you. You can take Rover to
shows, special events or when you make sales calls. Rover
can be used by your sales personnel to record sales or
pre-season orders. Any sales they have generated can be
sent to you via email in one compact zip file. You can
also use Rover to divide your business into separate divisions
or maintain separate accounts. It can be configured to
work solely in another currency for international
transactions. Rover comes only with the networked version
of the Level V program, but there is no limit to the number of
Rover Modules that you can use.
Registration for Professional Level IV is $489.00. Registration for a network enabled program (no workstation limit) is $539.00. The network enabled program also includes the Rover Module.
Credit Card Processing in the Level III, IV and V Programs
Among other features, AnyOrder Levels III, IV & V include a credit card processing feature.
The credit card processing portion of the program can be used if you have a small volume of cards--two to five cards a day--and you have signed up for voice or touch tone processing with your bank. Note that if you don't use voice or touch tone processing or if you have a higher card volume, you'll want to use third party credit card processing software. To do so, AnyOrder has a credit card export feature which allows you to export card information to third party software such as PCAuthorize and others.
AnyOrder doesn't communicate with the processing center's computer. It only inputs the information as requested during a voice or touch-tone processing call.
Voice and touch-tone processing are two of several methods in which you can process credit cards. (You sign up for the type of card processing you want and a merchant's credit card account through a bank. You'll need to have a merchant's account set up with your bank in order to use AnyOrder's card processing feature.)
Voice or touch-tone processing is the type of processing that you would choose if you have a low volume of cards and you want to keep things simple. When you use either system, you call the processing center, and then the processing center's computer will ask you to key-in your merchant number, the customer's card number, the expiration date and amount.
It isn't easy keying in all those numbers. AnyOrder, however, gathers all appropriate information from the invoice. When you're ready, you click on a button and AnyOrder calls the processing center for you. When the processing center comes on the line and asks for the merchant number, you click on the merchant number button and AnyOrder keys in the number for you. When the processing center asks for the credit card number, you do the same thing, and AnyOrder keys it in for you. And so on.
Then when everything is keyed in, the processing center's computer will come back with the authorization number which you write down or type into a dialog box provided by AnyOrder.
Basically what AnyOrder does is to take the place of a person trying to punch all the buttons on the phone. You simply get everything set up in advance, and when prompted by the processing center, you click with your mouse to enter the numbers. It takes away all the hassles of authorizing cards using voice or touch tone processing.
It's the system that we use with our small publishing company. We only process a couple of cards a day, and we couldn't justify investing in expensive card readers or complex software. We just wanted something simple and inexpensive, and since I'm a programmer, I developed the card processor to fill our needs and those of other folks who find themselves in the same situation.
This way of processing cards, of course, isn't for every
business. Businesses with other systems in place will
want to keep using those. Some businesses may find
AnyOrder's processing features handy as a supplemental system
when there's only a card or two to verify. Other
businesses with a low card
volume may find that it's just what the doctor ordered.
Level III, IV and V: Importing and Exporting
The Level III, IV and V programs includes two highly sophisticated import and export functions. At the same time, we've tried to maintain AnyOrder's easy-to-understand user interface. Both functions provide a high degree of flexibility, allowing data exchange with databases, spreadsheets, accounting, email, and word processing programs.
Importing. For importing, you can select which fields from the import file you want to use and where the data should be placed on AnyOrder's main Invoice Screen. The placement information is saved in a "profile." The profile automates the process and when you're ready to import again, you can call up the profile which does the work for you.
As an example, let's say you have contracted a third party to sell some of your books over the Internet. They will provide you with reports of their sales activity. If the reports are in a spreadsheet or database format, you can move the numbers and names of the books to AnyOrder's Main Invoice Screen. That allows you to track your inventory and sales. Moreover, you'll have the necessary information for end of year reports. There are a number of helpful features built into this part of the program. For instance, if the third party uses different catalog numbers, you can utilize import tables to convert the catalog numbers so they match those in AnyOrder.
Importing features also include the ability to import two related files. In other words, the program can import one file containing invoice data and another containing product information, and combine the two. It has an overlap import feature which allows you to import information to existing invoices.
Exporting. The same extensive system is available for exporting from AnyOrder. You can decide which fields should be exported and in what order. You can add currency symbols to the numbers or leave them off. You can send your catalog numbers as is, or you use tables to convert them. You can even make up new fields and send constant data, like the name and address of your business. The Export feature is particularly useful if you use a fulfillment service. You can tailor the export file to their requirements and quickly and efficiently get information to them about which books you want shipped and to whom.
Like importing, the export routine uses "profiles." A profile allows you to save the steps you follow during an export procedure. Next time you're ready to do a similar export, you can use a profile to have it done automatically for you.
Clipboard. Sometimes it's convenient to export or import through the clipboard. For instance, you can export data from selected invoices to the clipboard and then paste them directly into a spreadsheet program. Or you may receive data on sales through email. If the data is in a comma or tab delimited format (very common ways of transfering database information via email), you can copy it directly from the email message and paste it into AnyOrder using the clipboard option.
EDI (Electronic Data Interchange). The import/export function has a flat file utility which help read and export flat files for EDI (Electronic Data Interchange). EDI is a method of transmitting text files electronically, usually through a value added network (VAN). If you end up doing business with any of the major retailers these days, EDI capability is very important.
Level V: Importing Shopping Cart Data
The Level V (and, to some degree, the Level IV ) program has the ability to import shopping cart data. Most shopping cart software programs have the capability to create an export file of orders. The export file then can be dropped into AnyOrder, and AnyOrder will automatically create a series of invoices matching the order information. Each invoice created has everything in place and ready to go: customer's name, address, products ordered and their quantities and prices. There is no re-typing. It fast and easy.
We have kept close tabs on developments in web-based software, and in Level V you'll find a full array of import features to handle files created by shopping cart software. AnyOrder can work with a two file system and with variations of the one file system.
Even if your shopping cart takes care of the invoicing and shipping chores, it's worthwhile to to move the data to AnyOrder. What AnyOrder does is to provide you with one central location for all of your business data. When it comes time to generate sales reports, do billings, and create royalty reports, you have everything in one secure location on your own computer -- and you have access to the full complement of features that come with AnyOrder.
The Level V program has a wide range of barcode
features. Barcodes are not just for big businesses.
Any small business can benefit from the use of barcodes.
They help improve productivity and they make it possible to
compete on a level playing field with your competitors.
Moreover, the tools that you need are simple. To take
advantage of the barcode features in AnyOrder, all you need is
a barcode reader. That's correct. That's all you
need. Barcode readers are inexpensive. Some can be
purchased for significantly less than $100. They easily
connect to any computer. No special boards or equipment
are required. They just plug into your keyboard.
The time they save you will easily pay back your investment in
month's use.
Purchasing a Barcode Reader for AnyOrder
AnyOrder can be used with nearly all barcode readers.
(The term "barcode scanner" means the same thing as "barcode
reader.") The type that you'll want to use with AnyOrder
is called a "Keyboard Wedge." What that means is the
barcode reader acts just like a keyboard. Such barcode
readers come with a cord that plugs into the same socket on the
computer that your keyboard plugs into. The barcode plug
has two wires leading from it. One wire leads to the
scanner and the other cord has a socket for your keyboard.
AnyOrder will also work fine with barcode scanners that plug
directly into the USB port. The principle is the
same. The scanner acts like a keyboard. When it
reads a barcode, it sends the string of numbers from the
barcode to the computer just as if you had typed it.
The other feature that we suggest you look for in a scanner is
the ability to be programmed. In particular, you should
be able to program a function key prefix into the
scanner. A prefix means that the barcode reader will
always start by sending one or more keys each time it scans a
barcode. AnyOrder looks for the F2 key. If a F2 key
is detected, then AnyOrder automatically knows that a barcode
is coming its way.
Just to reiterate, look for a scanner that can be programmed
with a prefix. And make sure that the prefix can be
programmed with the function keys. (More about
programming scanners is found below) Note that it's not
absolutely necessary to be able to program the scanner.
AnyOrder will work fine without the F2 prefix, but, over the
long run, you find that a programmable scanner will be far more
efficient.
There are various types of barcode readers. One type is
called a "wand" or "pen" barcode reader. These are the
kind of readers that you see in libraries or video rental
stores. The other kind is CCD scanner which looks roughly
like a gun. There are also wireless scanners and laser
readers for detecting barcodes at long distances. Any of
these will work fine in AnyOrder.
Pen scanners work well when you are working on a desk since
they are small and unobtrusive. The gun-shaped CCD
scanner can be placed in a stand which is very handy for
shipping applications since it allows your hands to be free
while you are packing. Moreover, the CCD scanner can
pick up a barcode a bit quicker when trying to scan at odd
angles. If you plan to use a barcode reader to do
inventory, the wireless scanner is a good choice.