Sometimes, you don’t know what you don’t know.
Whether you use Asset every day, all day long or you are just exploring its power and all that it can do for your business, here are 10 unexpected or cool ways to use the program that you may not realize:
1. Asset Client Portal: The Asset Client Portal allows your clients access to their accounts – view and pay their invoices directly online (which then posts directly in Asset), see their work in progress, and request services (which also can then be turned into a Schedule Manager task with a few clicks).
2. iCREWtek: This is a must have for every Asset user. No more paper work orders. No more data entry for crew hours and material releases. Enough said.
3. Time Card Manager, All Records function: This function allows you to see all records in a batch or multiple batches. The grid has Extended Navigation so that it can be filtered, sorted, and grouped which allows the user to easily locate and handle payroll batch data.
4. CX is an arsenal of data: CX has a compilation of information from most program modules at your fingertips that lives in the detail for each contact. For clients, all account information is present – all invoices, paid and open, all payments made – a listing and details for jobs – active and closed, tasks in Schedule Manager – future, current, and past, and proposals with statuses. Similar data is available for Vendors and Employees, as well. All of this relevant information is available simply by clicking on a tab, without ever having to open a module.
5. Analytics – Production, Financial, GL P&L: These pivot tables allow the user to view financial and production data in a flexible and customizable format. These tools are invaluable to analyze job and financial performance and drill down on any exceptions.
6. 3rd Party Payroll Processing and Paychex integration: For those companies choosing to have their payroll processed by a 3rd party vendor, Asset has functionality to easily facilitate the export of a file for time card hours and the data entry of the net pay amounts and deductions which result in extremely accurate job costing. For those using Paychex as their service provider, Asset’s full integration is almost complete.
7. Request support or training directly from the CX Help menu: The most current version of Asset provides a function whereby the user can send Include Client Care a request for assistance. Completing and sending this form is the quickest and easiest way to ask for support or training.
8. Payroll Manager, Time History Explorer: I don’t call this my favorite explorer for nothing! The Time History Explorer contains the most detailed level of payroll information. It contains data by employee, by day, by job for hours and dollars.
9. Schedule Manager, All Tasks All Schedules: Users can see all of the tasks across all schedules, for both All Tasks and Dispatched, with this function. It is a tool that can come in very handy when attempting to locate a certain job or task.
10. Create Mailing Lists from Tasks: This new function allows the user to create targeted mailing lists based on criteria from Schedule Manager and Job Manager. You can base the list on services received or, NOT received, to send notices or solicit for new business from existing clients.
Asset is so vast and robust it is impossible to know every function and nuance in the program. However, the best way to keep current on changes and new functionality is to review the “What’s New In Asset” section of the Help file and scan the Tips and Techniques newsletter that is sent on a regular basis. And, of course, Client Care is always here to guide you to best practices and answer any questions.