Creative Manager Pro, Ad Agency Software and Project Management Groupware for Creative and Design firms, has released version 7.6 adding enhanced security, improvements to core features, and tighter integration with Mac OS X 10.3.8, and more.
March, 14 2005
Lakewood NJ-Creative Manager, Inc., provider of Creative Project Manager and Creative Manager Pro, has released version 7.6 of its flagship product, adding enhancements to core features to more easily manage Estimates, Change Orders, Approvals, and other key areas within the flagship Ad Agency Management system. Additional support for Mac OS X 10.3.8 are also available.
No installation or conversion will be necessary, and the update is free to all users of Creative Project Manager and Creative Manager Pro.
Using the new features, users are able to manage a Project Diary with Call Reports, create Multiple Quantity Estimates, which are key to print projects. Users can also more easily issue Change Orders for current projects. To enhance security, more advanced password encryption are now built into the product, and user id's may be disabled after three failed attempts at logging in.
In summary, here are the enhancements in the new 7.6 version:
Estimating Changes
* Change Orders are now integrated into estimating. Now your change orders can follow the same format as your estimates.
* Added an additional sales tax percentage calculation so that estimates now follow the same format as invoices
* You can now specify if you want labor to be considered taxable for the entire project or on a task by task basis
* You can specify a contingency percentage of labor that will print on your estimates.
* Multiple Quantities on estimates. You can now specify up to 6 different options for your expenses on an estimate. Then when entering your expenses, you can quickly enter the different quantities and costs for each option. When you print the estimate, the client can view all the options on one page.
* Internal and external approvals. Estimates now go through a two step process of approvals. You can specify and internal approver and an external approver. Then you can have your clients log into the system and review and approve estimates on line. They can even select which option they want on multiple quantity estimates.
Project Diary / Call Reports
* You can now store comments and threaded conversations in the project diary. You can even make these notes visible to your clients (or you can hide them from clients).
* You can attach files to your notes in the diary (you and your clients) and they will be accessible by everyone on the project.
* You can enter project notes from activities in contact management. This allows your account exec's to document their conversations about each project and print them on one report that can be given to the client to make sure everyone is clear with what was agreed to. These notes then show up on the project diary and are visible to everyone on the project.
Enhanced Password Protection
You now have several options for increasing the security of the system related to passwords.
* You can select to make numbers and letters required as part of a person's password.
* You can specify that a person has to change their password every X number of days.
* You can specify how many passwords for the system to remember so that people do not reuse the same passwords over and over again.
* You can specify how many times a person can attempt to log in before they are locked out of the system. Once locked out, only people with access to their employee records can unlock them.
Other Enhancements
* Tasks can now be made optional on expenses (all the different types of expenses - Quotes, PO's, Vendor Invoices, Misc Costs and Expense Reports ) Now you do not have to add additional tasks to your schedule just so that you can track your expenses on a job.
* You can make Classes required on all accounting transactions
* We have added additional drill downs on the By Service view of a project budget
* When selecting vendor invoices to pay, you can now select only invoices either billed to a client or paid by a client. You can also see your available cash balance before creating payments.
* The class and sales accounts have been moved from the billing item down to service and item. Now you do not have to create duplicate billing items if you want your services and items to go into a different sales account for each item.
* Several new sorting and grouping options have been added to the invoice template for greater flexibility.
* You can now upload a separate logo for each client so that when they log into the system, they will see their logo in the top left corner of the system. If you do not upload a logo for the client, they will still see your logo.
* You can now print the list of assignments on the My Assignments screen
* You can now designate individuals as optional on a calendar event.
* The system now will warn you of an overlapping event when you go to accept a meeting request. It will also show you your schedule for that day so that you can more easily decide if you can attend.
Ron Ause, Director of Marketing for Creative Manager, Inc., said "The new security features were implemented because of our involvement with high profile, Fortune 100 clients, who need additional security for their corporate data. Working closely with their technical security teams, we've developed more advanced security techniques than most large firms will ever need."
Creative Manager Pro continues to invest heavily to add the new features which work with Apple's OS X Unix-based Operating System and Microsoft Windows. This month's update continues that tradition, following closely on the heels of Apple's new Mac OS X 10.3.8 update.
When asked about the new upgrade, Ause said "Nobody listens to their clients like we do. Implementing core features because our clients need them is our mission. We continue to build on our long string of successful monthly releases, in response to increasing demand for specific new features. We're Always Listening!"
Creative Manager Pro goes beyond costing to offer full Project Management, CRM, Digital Asset Management, billing and accounting, and Extranet capabilities.
Creative Manager Pro (at http://www.CreativeManagerPro.com), is the only Ad Agency software and Project Management Software for the Creative Design industry, created exclusively for design firms, ad agencies, in-house creative/MarCom departments, and creative service firms. It is a web-based integrated project management software and job tracking solution which streamlines the entire firm, from developing new business, to staffing, managing, and executing projects through to accounting and financial reporting.
Creative Manager Pro is a full-featured, intuitive system which makes project and ad agency management a breeze. Creative Manager Pro supports Customer Relationship Management, Document Management, Shared Calendaring, Accounting and much more. Because it is web-based, there is nothing to install and it can be set up in a single day. It works with both PC and Macintosh from any location over any connection. It may also be installed locally on the client's own servers. All options include training and support to ensure that clients are up and running quickly.
Among the many features of Creative Manager Pro:
- Graphically view your firm's metrics - manage your firm by the numbers.
- Manage Contacts and Leads
- Create Project Schedules, Calendars and Manage Tasks
- Take your contacts and calendar on the road with iCal, AddressBook & Outlook
- Approve Timesheets, Purchasing, Billing and Budgets
- Review and Approve Artwork Online
- Store and Manage Digital Assets
- Manage and Balance the Books
- Free client and vendor access to streamline workflow.
- Quick startup/import from Clients & Profits, Adman and other systems
- Full-featured CRM (Client Relationship Management)
- Extranet capabilities
- Manage media with an interface to the Strata Media Buying systems
- Charting of important industry metrics and firm statistics
The team members at Creative Manager, Inc. have been leaders in ad agency software and project management software for the creative industry and on the Mac OS for over 26 years. They provide their creative clients with two major offerings: Creative Project Manager and Creative Manager Pro. Both programs work seamlessly with the Mac OS and Windows.
Creative Manager Pro - Ad Agency Software and Project Management Software
