Latest Release Features

Latest release features for the Sicon WAP application (v6.2)
(Next release date scheduled for 1st August 2010)

There are a huge number of new features in this latest release, but the key items are listed below for review and explanation. I am sorry we could not add more into this version but we are already planning the next release content.

Updated user interface

We have refreshed the user inteface to make it more user freindly and to fall in line with the new Sicon Web Site Branding. We like it and hope you find it more user freindly.

Printing of Purchase Orders in PDF format

Purchase Orders are now created using Crystal Reports. Using this method the layout can be changed to almost any style required. Once previewed the order can be attached as a pdf to a new e-mail message and sent to the Sage 200 supplier e-mail contact (which can be changed).

In addition to sending purchase orders we have added layouts for 'Request for quotation' and 'Internal copy' for those situations where a printed copy of a request is useful.

Out of Office

This can now be set by each user on the Home/Dashboard page. An alternate user must be selected by the user and any waiting approvals will be re-routed to this new users. The alternate user will recieve an e-mail notification to ensure they are aware.

Approval history now includes a line to specify that the normal approval route has been re-routed to the alternate user for approval. The alternate user is logged in the approval history.

Self Approval

A new 'Self Approval Order Value' hsa been added to the user settings. This will enable the user to self approve an order up to this value regardless of the nominal code and the approval routing.

The Approval history will show that the order was self approved.

Existing request Status Tabs

The existing request screen now includes multiple status tabs. This helps user to find requests that have been saved but not submitted, to review submitted requests that have not been approved etc.

This feature will be added to expenses, invoices and timesheets in the next release.

Supplier contact details

The supplier contact name, telephone, fax & e-mail address are all captured on the request delivery page and can be amended. These details are avilable on the printed purchasing documents.

Editing requests after they have been posted to Sage

Because some clients require this facility and some do not we have added a user type setting.

Approval History

This has been updated to improve the level of detail, particulary where a user has approved items on behalf of a delgate user, or an alternate user is approving in an out of office situation.

Goods recieved

When entering quantities into the goods recieved section we have pre-filled the quantity fields with zero to assist sites with multiple lines and reciepts of a single line at a time.

(The next version will allow the amendment of the request and the Sage purchase order so that any over or under deliveries can be updated to match the final goods recieved quantity.)

Month, Year to date & Annual Budgets

Although there were settings on the user details these were not being used fully in the previous versions. Version 6.2 gives a detailed budget approval message based on these settings, controlling the raising of requests by monthly, year to date or annual budget calculations.

System Speed

We have reviewed the system performace and minimised the amount of data being loaded. This has resulted in a few new search functions in areas such as adding stock lines to requests.

We have begun to replace older technology with new Ajax controls and Java to further improve perfomrance.

Additional work will be carried out for the next release to further optimse the speed of the system to work on slower broadband connections and mobile devices. This may result in slightly different functionality in order to reduce the amount of data being loaded to the web pages.

E-mail Notifications

These have been changed to include all outstanding items on every e-mail. This was changed to enable the users receiving the e-mails to only need to look at one e-mail and ignore any previous e-mails.

Further work is schedule for the next release to improve the layout and structure of this e-mail.

User search

For larger organisation with many hundreds of users it was difficult to find specifc users. This new search facility makes it simple to find a users.

Sage Project Accounting Integration

Further improvements have been made to enable users assigned to projects to now have approval limits by project, with options to over-ride budgets and still submit requests to the approval route. Over Budget items are flagged in RED to stand out to the approver.

Decimal Places (purchase orders)

A new setting has been added to enable the number of decimal places to be set for the system. The default is 2 (0.00) but can be set up to 5 (0.0000)

Ease of Use

Combo boxes have been used where possible to enable user to type in text for nominals, stock items etc rather than have to scroll down a long list of items to find what you are looking for. The list is still available to select for those users that prefer it.

Timesheets and Time & Attendance

This new module has now been added to the WAP product. The main focus has been changed from Time & Attendance to

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