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CONSTRUCTION/CONTRACTOR ACCOUNTING Reviews For Your Clients
FOUNDATION Software - FOUNDATION for Windows 2012 OVERALL RATING BEST FIT
FOUNDATION for Windows contains a full menu of features designed specifi cally for con- struction related businesses. While small con- struction companies with under $1 million in revenues may not need Foundation, just about any mid-to large construction company or contracting fi rm will fi nd this product useful.
STRENGTHS
• Easy to navigate, unclut ered user interface • Excellent scheduling and service dispatch modules
• Terrifi c selection of add-on modules • Solid import/export/integration capabilities
POTENTIAL LIMITATIONS
• Greater initial investment may make it beyond the reach of companies with under $1 million in revenue.
• T e powerful features may require a greater learning curve than off -the-shelf soſt ware. FOUNDATION Software has been in business since 1985. Foundation's original product was DOS-based. In the early 2000s they rewrote the software in a Windows environment. Featuring a Microsoft SQL database, FOUNDATION continually enhances its product for its core customer base, which includes construction trade businesses of all sizes.
BASIC SYSTEM FUNCTIONS
FOUNDATION for Windows off ers users a graphical menu that contains four major sections; Base Modules, Additional Modules, Project Control, and Tools. Easy to navigate, FOUNDA- TION has a drop-down menu bar at the top of the screen for quick system access. Users can choose to use the default screen, or customize the interface to suit their needs, adding frequently used program functions, reports, and external links for quick access via QuickLinks. Founda- tion's data entry screens are well-designed and contain all the necessary look-up options. T e FOUNDATION Wizard allows users to create a series of steps at ached to each activity, with those same steps available each time that activity is completed. Numerous user-defi ned screens are found throughout the product, making it easy to track the detail needed. FOUNDATION also contains excellent dashboard reporting function- ality, with dashboards available in a variety of categories including GL, AR, AP, Job Cost, and Change Order modules. All dashboard reports contain drill-down capability. FOUNDATION is easily accessed from 800-246-0800
remote locations using FOUNDATION SaaS, an online or "cloud" deployment option of their accounting soſt ware. T ey also off er a web- based application for mobile devices (iPads, tablets, smartphones, netbooks, etc.) that is used with FOUNDATION called FOUNDA- TION mobile. FOUNDATION mobile makes it easy for fi eld employees to enter timecards and related information. FOUNDATION runs on Windows 7 Professional, Vista Business, and XP Professional and will run on either 32 –bit or 64-bit versions of the operating systems listed above.
CORE ACCOUNTING CAPABILITIES
FOUNDATION off ers users excellent accounting and fi nancial capability. T e GL allows users to post transactions into both prior and future periods it is a fully date-sensitive system. GL accounts are user-defi nable, and each account can be divided into 4 subdivisions for more in-depth tracking. FOUNDATION supports multiple companies and users which can be consolidated for more accurate reporting. T e AP module off ers users simplifi ed data entry options with data automati- cally populating data fi elds. Recurring invoices can be set up in FOUNDATION and vendor payment selection is fl exible, with users able to produce positive pay. T e AR module off ers users multiple invoicing options including Time & Materials Billing and Unit Price Billing. Recurring billings can be set up, and users can also create custom invoices and custom customer statements. AIA billings are also supported with the standard G702 and G703 built in. Foundation's Payroll module is designed for construction companies , easily handling Worker's Compensation detail, prevailing wage fringe calculations , and union specific functionality such as deductions, multi-pay rates and various other union requirements. The FOUNDATION payroll module also off ers certi- fi ed payroll reports. Foundation's core construction system includes GL, AP, AR, Payroll, Purchase Order, Job Costing, DataGenie Report Designer and CPA Audit/Review Console. An excellent audit trail is built into every module, with all transactions receiving a unique code when posted. System security is multi-level, with users assigned a specifi c company (or companies) with security assigned per module and per feature in each module.
CONSTRUCTION/CONTRACTOR- SPECIFIC FEATURES
Users can enter and track estimates for quantities, units, or dollar amounts, and can easily track
18 March 2012 • www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com
estimated versus actual dollars for each job in the system. Users can also update existing estimates as the job progresses. Users can easily keep track of historical data, making it easy to more accurately estimate future jobs. FOUNDATION also integrates with various third-party industry-specifi c estimating programs. Foundation's optional Project Manage- ment module has been completely revamped, now allowing owners and project managers to easily access all job related documents such as RFP's, transmit als, fi eld logs and change orders from a single location called the job center. Users can track all change orders, with the ability to easily assign a category to each change order. All customer, vendor, employee, and subcontractor data is easily managed in FOUNDATION, with subcontractor data tracked in the Purchase Order module, where users can also manage vital information such as certifi cates of insurance, insurance expiration dates, and workers compensation detail. T e Document Imaging and Routing module provides users with the ability to manage all documents and graphic fi les related to a job, like job pictures, and allow users to route invoices to the appropriate personnel for approval. T e Inventory module supports an unlimited number of items, multiple pricing levels, and varying options for unit measure. T e Purchase Order/Subcontract module can track spending levels for products purchased, and users can choose to enter an abbreviated version o f the P.O. or add detail as needed. FOUNDATION for Windows off ers an excellent Service Dispatch module which uses a user-defi ned color coded dispatch board, making call scheduling, progress, and completion tracking easy. Company dispatchers can easily send messages to fi eld technicians using text messaging, and the module also tracks associated items such as equipment warranties, equipment maintenance detail, and can manage all active service contracts.
REPORTING & MANAGEMENT TOOLS
FOUNDATION for Windows contains excellent reporting options, off ering hundreds of standard reports. Excellent Job Cost reporting options include the Job History detail, where users can view all data for the specifi c job(s) at the transaction level, and the Work in Progress report, which is vital for project managers who wish to keep on schedule and under budget. Bonding and Work in Progress reports off ers users detail such as Total Cost, Prior Profi t, Current Billings and Prior Billings. T e Over/Under Billing provides an in- depth look at budget details for each job,
allowing project managers to see what jobs are over billed, and what jobs are under billed. AIA invoicing is also available in Foundation, and can be completed on standard forms. T e optional executive dashboards off er users an excellent selection of reports in Job Cost, GL, AP, AR, and Change Order modules, T e Genie Series report writers provides users with custom form and reporting options and the ability to create templates for future use. Foundation's Document Imaging and Routing module allows users to route invoices to managers for approval and at ach all related documents to one central file. Their SaaS deployment option allows easy access, with all remote and fi eld employees able to access the system wherever they are.
INTEGRATION/IMPORT/EXPORT
Both import and export Genies are available to assist users in transferring data to and from third- party applications. Other data such as purchase order, employee time , and estimating information can be imported into FOUNDATION as well. FOUNDATION easily integrates with all Microsoſt Offi ce products such as Excel, Word, and Access. Outlook integration also allows users to save emails and at achments directly to each project or job. Add-on modules such as Project Management, Scheduling, Service Dispatch, Equipment, Time & Material , Inventory, Fixed Assets, Unit Price Billing, Executive Dashboard, Document Imaging & Routing, and Consolidated General Ledger easily integrate with the core construction accounting modules.
HELP/SUPPORT
A built-in Help wizard is available in Foundation, and users can download all system updates directly from the FOUNDATION Soſt ware website. FOUNDATION also off ers a variety of training options which include both onsite and online training. All system support is handled from Foundation's corporate offi ces in Ohio. The Maintenance program, included in the pricing, off ers new users six months of toll-free telephone and email support.
SUMMARY & PRICING
FOUNDATION for Windows is really the most state of the art construction accounting product available on the market today. FOUNDATION has found a way to combine an amazing array of modules and features into an easily navigated system. Suitable for all but the smallest construc- tion and contracting businesses, FOUNDATION currently starts at $7,000 for a single-user system. www.foundationsoft.com