What was the best part about using NumberCruncher?
The best thing is we have secured an invaluable team member for our company.
Invaluable Team member – I don’t say this lightly. NC is an integral part of our company. The people and the program are the backbone to our software infrastructure. They have worked with us from our trial of the program (which they happily extended for a couple of months), through our transition, to the current day and projecting needs in the future. We have learned the basics and continue to explore and implement what the program simply can do, without additional programming. When my team comes to me with a need of the program, I automatically forward it to NC. Most times, there is a preference or process available that I am not aware of. I am blown away by the capabilities of this program simply as is. There are brains behind this software company and continued timely improvements. We have been on board with NC since 2015.
My background is as a CPA - this program is sound. I have taken the time to write an extensive review because I know how hard it is to find a software and then implement it. I honestly hope you find the right software for your company and I sincerely am available for a phone call with questions about my experience. Just ask them to speak with me and they will forward my contact information. Just passing it on...
What would you change about your experience with NumberCruncher?
I wish I had found them earlier.
I really have nothing to change here - We listened to them, did what they suggested and it worked!
Overall Feedback
There is not just one best part of NC – Additionally, our experience has proved a powerful and adaptable program, compatible with QuickBooks, great and caring support, user friendliness, constant updates to meet growing needs, prices that are reasonable, trial software and most importantly a smooth transition.
Powerful program- Our first needs were to find a program that could handle the multiple ways our company acquires orders and then process them efficiently. Our points of entry for orders include - web, phone, mail, fax, email, purchase orders. Now we process as follows:
*Web orders- directly downloaded every half hour from our multiple sites (different platforms) into sales orders. This feature was custom made for us at a reasonable cost.
*Phone – our sales/customer service dept. handles all placements of orders and creation of quotes (quotes can later be transferred to a sales order at a click of a button)
*Fax, email, purchase orders – our accounting dept. actually enters all of these, as there is no need for a sales interface. It keeps sales on the phones, where they are most effective.
QuickBooks compatible- QB is a great program, but becomes seriously limited when data bases get large and especially when inventory items are numerous. NC is able to host all the inventory data and not transfer that detail into QB (proxies are used to consolidate) and QB is able to be the financial accounting software it was designed to be. This was huge for us. Five years ago, we were just using QB. Our data base was over 2G – it was only a matter of time until it imploded (we had many issues with it). At that time, we relied on our outside IT company and went with their recommendation of Sage ER 100. Well, lesson learned – it was a disaster of both time and much money (easily $150,000 to $200,000). We stayed with Sage not even 2 ½ years. It was crystal clear Sage (they were willing to customize, but at enormous money!) was not a good fit and the search began for another program. My team was ready to commit mutiny and I didn’t blame them. I searched for almost a year, entertained such programs as Netsuite , Fishbowl, StoneEdge, Acctivate, MOM to name just a few! I was praying for a solution and at my wits end. I stumbled upon Number Cruncher and dove in.
Support – Support is a call or email away. I know that when I contact them, they will get back to me in a timely manner. I have never been left hanging and desperate. If I am told to “hang tight”, I know they are working on someone else’s needs and they will get to me. Time can be scheduled for larger issues as well and in a timely manner. I just recently chatted with them regarding a processing issue with our work orders and related needs. We were able to come up with an incredible solution by way of using an export function and use of Microsoft Excel. I am working on this issue and am so excited to see the results.
User Friendliness – The program at first glance is very similar to a QuickBooks layout, but goes farther for sure. Reports are easily customized and data quickly exported to name just a couple things. Training is easily done and the program definitely becomes intuitive. If you think it can do something, it probably can – just ask, no need to waste your valuable time.
Updates
NC is constantly adding updates and making things better. Their choice of this is dependent upon client needs. They prioritize based on frequency of need. But, if a unique need exists, customization is a possibility and at reasonable pricing – the cost benefit has always been in our favor. And most recently, when I had thought I needed a customization, there was a solution already in the program. Imagine that… they deterred me from a profitable customization. Speaks volumes of their ethics…
Price
The annual costs of this program, as well as any customizations, have proved over and over again to be completely reasonable. Email support is unlimited and calls are answered promptly.
Trial
This is a no-brainer...if you have any interest in this program, download the trial and start a relationship with their staff in the process of using the trial. When you do your trial, do what they suggest! Take your own data (as much as you can to get a fair representation and be able to identify any glitches that need tweaking) and use that in the testing. This requires time up-front, just as if you were going to install the program, but you will never know if the program fits your needs or can be accommodated if this step is not done. A change to a new software (never mind the time you spend looking for the software program!) program is a huge investment of time and the payback will depend on your own due diligence. Having said that, it is imperative that you thoroughly understand your process and paper flow to ensure a successful transition (no matter what program you end up with). A team leader is a must - this person must have the time to dedicate to learning the programs ins/outs. In our company, that is me. I took extensive upfront time, analyzed our process flow, brainstormed with NC to identify how the program could streamline and make more efficient our processes. I have learned and continue to learn the program inside and out. That has been the key to our incredible success. When my team ran into issues during the trial, they were brought to me. I either shared knowledge I had already learned and knew of or fielded the questions to NC. We did not bombard NC with frivolous questions and therefore I believe we have gained there respect and support as well. I may be so bold as to say I believe we are an enjoyable customer for them. I honestly feel we are all on the same team.
Smooth Transition
If you have adequately tested the program through the trial, this process should be relatively seamless as all the bumps have been identified in the trial process. NC will hold your hand when you do go live – keep excellent communication up with them to ensure this.
And finally, just to give you background on my company and its needs met with NC–
OptiMA Inc. (OptiMAcompanies.com) is a web-based retailer and we manufacture our own products. Our needs include importing order from our five websites, quotes, sales orders, purchase orders for stock, purchase orders for drop ship, inventory management, work orders (with multiple steps), returns (both from customers and to our vendors) and updating our websites product pricing.
In a nutshell our process for success–
We identified and documented our complete process/paper flow of our company before we started; designated a key project person; tested NC for a solid three months with our complete data base; hired one of their outside consultants for on-site training in addition to scheduled training via phone/remote log in, added a customization for downloading our web orders, added another customization for uploading our price changes to our websites and “ta da” SUCCESS!