Contents of CPA Practice Advisor - MAR 2012

Today's Technology for Tomorrow's Firm.

Page 22 of 38

Management Information Control Systems – Builder Information System (BIS) 2012 OVERALL RATING
BEST FIT Builder Information Systems is well-suited for small to mid-sized or larger construction related businesses that desire a scalable product that off ers room for growth.
STRENGTHS • Scalable with 4 Editions available • Excellent job costing capability • Excellent subcontract management • Solid document management and imaging capability
• Real-time with an excellent audit trail
POTENTIAL LIMITATIONS • No dispatch module available Builder Information Systems (BIS) from
Management Information Control Systems has been a steady provider of fi nancial and job cost soſt ware since 1983. BIS continues to offers construction companies a solid fi nancial product with excellent job manage- ment tools which is available in four editions (Essential, Standard, Professional, and Enterprise).
BASIC SYSTEM FUNCTIONS BIS offers users a fully customizable user interface that is driven by the 'My Desktop' function. Users can choose to display complete 'my desktop' options which include system links, my favorites, my dashboard, and work- spaces. Clicking or selecting links will display all of the features and functions found within the module, or users can access specifi c tasks using the drop down menu bar at the top of the screen. Users can access a recap of all system jobs from the 'My Jobs' screen, including detailed information on Billing & Cost, Cash Flow, Labor and Subcontract detail. Data entry screens are free of clut er and easily navigated and contain tabs where varying levels of detailed information can be entered. All data entry screens also contain the necessary look-up options, and a good number of user defi ned fi elds making it easy to enter and track the information needed. BIS is easily accessed remotely by anyone with access to an Internet connection. BIS is designed to work on a Windows platform, including Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7.
CORE ACCOUNTING CAPABILITIES T e GL module is included in all versions of BIS. T e Essential and Standard versions of BIS
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include other core modules along with a few optional modules. In the Professional and Enterprise levels, all modules except the GL are optional, so companies can choose only the features required. T e GL allows users to utilize up to a 10
digit account number and a 40 character account description. New companies can be confi gured with a default chart of accounts, enter a custom list of accounts, or modify the accounts used in another company. BIS easily handles multiple companies and the Profes- sional and Enterprise editions can also handle up to 10,000 departments. T e AP module tracks workers compensation insurance as well as both liability and auto insurance information. Partial payments are easily handled and recurring invoices can be set up as needed. Users may also choose to pay invoices using a credit card. T e AR module contains a recurring billing option, handles contract invoices and both debit and credit memos. Users can also assign up to nine discount levels for all customers. T e Payroll module is geared toward construction companies and easily handles multi-state payroll, union and certifi ed payrolls, and contains the ability to distribute payroll hours to multiple jobs. Additional modules off ered by BIS include Job Billing, Inventory, Pur- chase Order, and Bank Reconciliation. Built-in audit trail functionality tracks all
system transactions with a report available for reviewing when desired. BIS offers multi-level security for all users, including module and menu level security options. Each edition of BIS off ers increased security levels, with the Enterprise edition of BIS offering the most sophisticated system security options.
CONSTRUCTION/CONTRACTOR- SPECIFIC FEATURES T e BIS job cost module imports estimates from a variety of third-party applications, as well as from an Excel spreadsheet. T e Job Cost function allows users to track expenses for every job in the system and compare actual totals to budgeted projections. Users can easily create job budgets which track material and labor, as well as equipment and subcontract costs. T e optional Job Scheduling module, available for the Professional or Enterprise edition is an excellent tool for project managers, providing them with the ability to schedule any job-related
activity, track job progress and completion and costs incurred to date. Change orders are pro- cessed through the AR module and can be easily added and tracked. Change order totals can also be viewed, offering detail on budgets and adjustments as well as any adjustments made. T e new Time & Materials Billing functionality allows users to enter actual job related costs – such as labor, materials, and equipment and add a percentage markup. T e optional Sub- contract module tracks insurance expiration dates, invoices, payments, retention, and back charges. Both the AP and the AR modules off er detailed information on vendors and customers, including transaction and billing history, with the ability to customize each account as needed. T e Payroll module tracks employee history, including salary, job history, tax information, Paid Time off accruals and adjustments. An optional Inventory module allows users to assign inventory items to a department, a group, or a sub-group, establishes re-order levels, and even adds a product image to the inventory fi le. T e Purchase Order module provides managers with the option to create vouchers for bet er spending control. An excellent Equipment module tracks every piece of equipment including serial numbers, fuel usage, mileage, and all related maintenance costs.
REPORTING & MANAGEMENT TOOLS BIS contains excellent reporting capability, with each installed module containing a solid selection of reporting options. Job cost reporting options are particularly strong, with reports such as the Job Cost Status Report, which provides users with the detailed expenses of each job in the system. T e Labor Distribution Report allows managers to quickly view labor costs for each project. T e Job Cost Ledger is an excellent audit tool; providing users with a detailed listing of all system transactions posted for each job. Drill down capability can be found in all BIS reports and the optional Report Writer module allows users to create custom reports with ease. AIA Billing is available in the BIS Job Billing module, and comes with all of the neces- sary forms needed for change order processing, project billing, and certificate of payment processing. Both the Document Manager and the Document Link and Imaging modules off ers excellent document management capability, fi rst by tracking all of the necessary documents for each job, and then by linking all related
documents into a central fi le. Users can create custom templates in the Document & Link Imaging module as well, and can easily access BIS from any remote location.
INTEGRATION/IMPORT/EXPORT Users can easily import budget and estimate data directly into BIS. BIS also off ers custom programming for special applications which integrate BIS data with other management tools. All reports can be exported using a variety of fi le formats including PDF, RTF, Excel, and HTML. BIS is a completely integrated system, with all modules seamlessly integrated. Both Professional and Enterprise edition users can also mix and match modules as needed, buying only the ones necessary, and adding others at a later time.
HELP/SUPPORT BIS off ers users an excellent help system, with users able to search and locate answers easily. T e new Video Learning Center off ers users a series of training videos that create a hands-on type of experience by demonstrating how a particular function is performed. System updates can be downloaded directly from the BIS website by anyone with a current support plan in place. T e BIS website also contains informa- tion on each system module and provides screen shots for viewing. T ere are a variety of support plans available from BIS, or users can choose to receive support on a per-incident basis. All BIS support is available during regular business hours.
SUMMARY & PRICING BIS from Management Information Control Systems (MICS) is a scalable product that off ers construction and contractor businesses with the customization and fl exibility they need to run their business profi tably. BIS soſt ware pricing starts at $1,895, with pricing dependent on the edition and modules purchased. (BIS also off ers a new mobile application designed for Droid devices which allows users to access their BIS® data in a read-only functionality at this time but that actual data entry and compatibility with Apple products is on the horizon.
www.bissoftware.com March 2012 • www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com 23