BUDGETING & CASHFLOW FORECASTING SOFTWARE THE NUMBERS TO RUN YOUR BUSINESS
BUDGETING AND FORECASTING MADE EASY Forecast 5 is a market leading budgeting and cashflow forecasting software tool. Designed by accountants and with in-built business logic, Forecast 5 has been constructed so that anyone can create accurate budgets and forecasts. It offers a powerful, user-friendly solution to the time consuming and error-prone nature of working in Microsoft Excel to produce corporate performance management reports. At a glance, Forecast 5 provides businesses with: A safe, flexible and structured environment in which to generate budgets and forecasts. Fast, comprehensive reporting, including automated cashflow calculation so that you know and can predict where your money is. The ability to perform simple or complex sensitivity analyses. A range of other features, freeing up time and resources for more effective reallocation. Read on for more information as to how Forecast 5 can save your business time, money and frustration. THE NUMBERS TO RUN YOUR BUSINESS Page 2
BACKGROUND Businesses continue to use complex spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel as their primary budgeting tool, largely due to the lack of affordable, effective software alternatives. Since its release in June 2013 by Navigator Business Software, Forecast 5 has enjoyed an incredible reception in the New Zealand, Australian and other international markets. Unlike previous popular products like Sage WinForecast and other current products, Forecast 5 has: A Microsoft SQL Server backend, meaning it has an open database for easy data extraction and connections with business s accounting packages. Modern technology that enables rapid, error-free forecast generation and amendment. A familiar interface with a logical user experience. A structured development plan and a dedicated support team. Focused, flexible training options. Forecast 5 ensures that you always know where your money is. THE NUMBERS TO RUN YOUR BUSINESS Page 3
5 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET YOU IN CONTROL THE NUMBERS TO RUN YOUR BUSINESS Page 4
PRODUCT FEATURES Time Accuracy Analysis & Reporting Rapidly generate comprehensive business reports such as P&L, Cashflow and Balance Sheets to free up your time. Full double entry rigour ensures the integrity and accuracy of your data by updating all associated accounts. Reliably forecast your sales revenue, wages costs, direct costs, overheads and all balance sheet accounts. Easily import or hotlink data from your accounting software directly into Forecast 5. Create rolling forecasts and revise your projections as actuals are entered each month. Create templates for future forecasts Budget using multiple bank accounts and in different currencies if necessary. Fully customisable, automated calculation of GST, Income Tax, PAYE, depreciation and other complex concepts. Perform What-If? sensitivity analyses to help you plan for and manage different potential business scenarios. Produce variance reports to examine the difference between your budget and actuals. and to ensure consistency across your business. Consolidate forecasts from different Create employee groups to easily forecast your wages modelling for your different worker categories. Export data easily for graphing or through Alchemex for multi-dimensional and interactive reports. companies and perform intercompany eliminations. Assign GL and other codes to your records to assist with easy referencing Customise to suit your business or audience. and linking back to your GL. THE NUMBERS TO RUN YOUR BUSINESS Page 5
THE FORECAST 5 BUDGETING PROCESS THE NUMBERS TO RUN YOUR BUSINESS Page 6
FORECAST 5 FOR ACCOUNTANTS Use Forecast 5 to replace lost revenue streams caused by mobility and convergence in the business environment. ADDING VALUE Most accountants are adding services to their client offering to: Replace the services that are diminishing (e.g. tax returns). Tie their clients intrinsically to them as the trusted advisor. The assistance with business consulting that Forecast 5 offers, including budgets, cash flow and other analysis, forms an integral part of these services. Forecast 5 features give flexibility to the Advisor/Consultant. In addition to the array of features available, use the power of Forecast 5 as a review process for clients to analyse progress and plan for the future. Annual assessments are not enough to effect business change and success. CLIENT LICENSE When utilising Forecast 5 with clients, the opportunity exists for these clients to run and for accounting practices to on-sell the Forecast 5 software. This potential client runtime exists because there is a high possibility that accounting practices clients may wish to retain full or partial control of their business management reporting through the purchase of a separate Forecast 5 license. This on-selling process generates value for the practice through: Increased interaction and closer collaboration with clients. The creation of sticky customers. A percentage profit on the license sold. THE NUMBERS TO RUN YOUR BUSINESS Page 7
DEVELOPMENT & SUPPORT Forecast 5 has a structured development plan, with a dedicated development and support team working to continually improve the user experience and to introduce new features. Navigator Software understands that taking on new software can sometimes result in things not going according to plan, which is why we offer immediate and on-going support for our Forecast 5 clients. The next version of Forecast 5 is set to be released June 2015 and will see the software become faster and even more powerful. This personal client support is boosted by the provision of a handy in-house Help manual and through access to the Forecast 5 knowledge base, which contains: FAQs Commonly encountered problems walkthroughs Installation guide and SQL Server advice User manual Additional support options To contact Forecast 5 support, please: Call us on +61 2 9890 2339 or Email us at support@alchemex.com.au Submit your development suggestions at dev@forecast5.com THE NUMBERS TO RUN YOUR BUSINESS Page 8
TRAINING SUPPORT Training in Forecast 5 is available on an individual basis or for your entire company, with great discounts available with more people trained. Web-based or in-person, the training course consists of: A comprehensive run through of the program and of the benefits for your company. A detailed training manual. Training exercises designed to build your working knowledge of the product and to keep existing users up to date. Training courses are customisable according to the existing users proficiency in budgeting and forecasting software, but some require completion of prerequisite courses. LITE LICENSE One user able to create/customise one forecast on one PC. SINGLE USER LICENSE One user able to create/customise multiple forecasts on one PC. NETWORK LICENSE Install Forecast 5 onto a server and then onto as many PCs in the office as you like. CONSOLIDATION LICENSE Combine forecasts from a number of companies with a wide range of inter-company eliminations available. ANNUAL LICENSE FEE (mandatory) 20% of initial purchase price annually. Add-Ons ADMINSTRATOR PACK Allows you to control users, their access and update details from one easy screen. SAP B1 INTEGRATION Pull your actual figures directly from your SAP Business One ERP system For all licenses except the Lite option, additional users can be purchased to accommodate your individual goals or team structure! THE NUMBERS TO RUN YOUR BUSINESS Page 9
TAKE CONTROL. HOW DO I GET IT? Forecast 5 is changing the way businesses predict and plan for their future. Error-ridden, time-consuming budgeting and forecasting has become a thing of the past. Hundreds of companies across New Zealand and Australia are enjoying their newfound flexibility, accuracy and power when generating their business management reports. To organise the purchase of Forecast 5 software or training, or to arrange a discussion or demonstration of the software, please contact Navigator Software on one of the following options: Phone: +61 2 9890 2339 Email: sales@alchemex.com.au To download a 10-day FREE TRIAL of Forecast 5, please head to the Free Trial link on the Forecast website available at : www.forecast5.com.au/trial/ For other Forecast 5 information, resources and videos please head to: www.forecast5.com.au Other Important Contacts Alchemex Australia Phone: +61 2 9890 2339 Support: support@alchemex.com.au Navigator Business Software (New Zealand) Phone: +64 9 820 9960 Email: support@navigatorsoftware.co.nz 20gb Distribution Phone: 07740 291609 Email: david@20gbtraining.co.uk THE NUMBERS TO RUN YOUR BUSINESS Page 10
BUDGETING & CASHFLOW FORECASTING SOFTWARE THE NUMBERS TO RUN YOUR BUSINESS.