All the products developed by Novtel are fully integrated with Pastel Partner and Pastel Express. This requires a constant upgrading of the custom in-house developed Pastel Integration Toolkit to ensure compatibility with the latest Pastel products.

The latest Novtel Toolkit version available is 1.4.0.4. This Toolkit is a requirement before upgrading to Pastel 11 Build 2.2. This Toolkit forms part of the Novtel product upgrade. It is a requirement to upgrade to the latest version of the specific Novtel product before upgrading to Pastel 11 Build 2.2.

All upgrades are available by visiting the Novtel Forum or specific category on the Novtel Blog for Customers doing own upgrades. Customers requiring assistance with upgrading are welcome to contact the Novtel Support team.

Novtel Website

Novtel Forum

From Management and all the staff of the Novtel Group we wish you all a merry Christmas and a prosperous new year.

• May the spirit of Christmas bring you peace,
• The gladness of Christmas give you hope,
• The warmth of Christmas grant you love.

For the Christmas season and the New Year 2012 Novtel are running a special offer for all the Schools in South Africa.  The offer we make is as follows:

• Novtel’s Pastel Statements to web – See Novtel Goes Green article.
• Novtel Hospitality to manage bookings for:
  • Sport grounds.
  • School residence if applicable.
  • Other school facilities that are rented out.
  • In Mossel Bay, Hartenbos and other Holiday towns in South Africa, the School Grounds become caravan parks over the peak season.
  • On-line Bookings facility.
  • On-Line Payment options.

• All systems are fully interfaced with Pastel Partner and Xpress.

Please enquire on the Christmas special deal we have on offer; each school have unique logistics and size therefore each quotation is different based on the logistical information of the school.

Novtel goes green with revolutionary new statement system with savings up to 913%.

The cost to business and organisations to send out statements on a monthly basis can be a costly exercise in the long run especially when 1000 to 2000 statements needs to be accommodated on an monthly basis.

In our recent market research survey, the average cost to mail one single statement is as follows:

Standard window envelope                                        R2.80 Excluding VAT

Single page statement printing                                  R0.75 Excluding VAT

Postage local distribution South Africa                    R2.35 Excluding VAT

TOTAL COST PER SINGLE STATEMENT                     R5.90 Excluding VAT

Labour component to put the statement into envelope from there packing envelopes into boxes and the transportation of boxes to post office are not included in the above calculation.

Where statements are handed over manually by hand from the organisation or business to statement receiver there is a definite labour component cost to keep track of; not included in the above calculation.

Go green effort with the new Novtel statement solution works as follows:

• Put Pastel customer statements on the World Wide Web (web).
• Use Pastel Partner as basis and as direct source of statement information on the web.
• 100% real time display of Pastel Partner data directly to the web.
• Create standard web portal for viewing of statements.
• Interface business or organisation’s website directly with our secure system 128bit encryption.
• Setup and activate web service on business or organisation Pastel main computer.
• Automatic creation of login portal for statement receiver directly on web.
• Allow statement receiver to change contact and login details directly on the web.
• Printing of statement and invoices directly from the web.
• Statements are available 24 hours a day 7 days per week, 365 days a year.

With Novtel’s new paperless statement system considerable savings are achieved.  Contact your nearest office for a relevant quotation.

The Novtel Meter Reading system is a necessity for any business that has the need to keep track of any meter readings. The system gives you not only the ability to manage your meter readings but also the ability to call up the history of any of your readings. With seamless integration with Novtel Reservations there is no need to add entirely new properties for all your meter readings it will already be there. Keeping track of your meter readings has never been easier. With an easy to learn and even easier to master interface there is no need to appoint new staff just to use the system anyone can use it.

The system is extremely powerful but will not use unnecessary system resources just to start up. The interface also gives you at your fingertips access to update your readings and managing multiple charges is also possible. It is possible to set up as many charges as you need and changes to the charges can be made while properties are already associated with that charge. Updates to the readings will also reflect on the Novtel Reservations system.

When moving the mouse over bookings on the Novtel grid the detail information of the tenant will be auto displayed on the information box bottom middle of the grid screen , did you know that when pressing Ctrl + I buttons on the keyboard the Invoice related to that booking  will be displayed on the screen.

Ctrl + Q will display the booking as a quotation.

Novtel has been using Microsoft’s Terminal services to remotely support their products.  “It works extremely well with a low overhead of bandwidth usage” says our MD Johan Grabe. Some of the benefits of using Terminal Services are the following:

1)      It Enhances Productivity Throughout the Organisation

1. Use a local- or wide-area network to deliver high-performance computing resources to remote and mobile employees. Provide core Windows applications to users of legacy PCs or thin client devices.

2)      It Improves Application and Data Security

1. Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) encryption. Allows administrators to encrypt the RDP data transmitted between the server running Windows Terminal Server and Terminal Services clients at three different levels, with up to 128-bit bidirectional RC4 encryption, and more…

3)      It Enables users to do their work from literally anywhere in the world.

1. Terminal services mean that all program data and execution is stored at a central location on the server. This ensures that all users can access the identical version of programs and documents.

Terminal services are beneficial for users that need access from different locations, whether it is at home, mobile, or in the office, as they are able to access the same programs wherever they are. In addition, it can be more cost effective, due to the installation of so­ftware only being required on the main server, rather than on every individual PC.

The importance of back office management cannot be emphasized enough. Timely and efficient accountability of work done is the key in management and growth in any business. Without the figures at hand it is so easy to lose control over expenses and what a business can afford when expanding. Let’s face it: It takes money to make money. But a rapid expanding of business could very easy result in closure of business instead of the desperately needed growth.

All people are connected together like links in a chain. The chain is only as strong as the weakest link. For efficient performance every link needs to pull in a synchronized manner.  The only way that any transaction is complete is when every step has been followed through.

Debtors’ management is as important as supplier management and cost control. When in a position where retainer agreements and recurring services forms part of one’s key income base it becomes imperative to have debit order collection system in place. With technology today most of these systems allow for importing into your back office package or interface setups. This saves an enormous amount of time and frustration.

Novtel is a registered third party developer for Pastel and all the products in the Novtel suite integrates seamlessly into most of the major back office management programs. Whether you are in retail, hospitality or any of the hire industries, Novtel and your back office program can make your management task easier.

Investment in ones back office systems is truly an investment. They key is to use it effectively. Remember, a wise man once said: “Do what you can today; you never know what tomorrow may bring.” When practicing this motto nothing will result in a crisis that you cannot handle.

Novtel Relations Management II (due for release June 2012) is packed with new features.  This program is being created to assist clients to effectively communicate with their clients and to effectively allow clients to track communications within their companies.  This forms part of effective Relationship Management within any business environment.

Any business depends on their customers and or Suppliers and maybe that is why a CRM package in an organization is seen as gold.  Today that personal touch shifted to modern day technology like e-mails & cellphones. So we come to the question, what does CRM actually mean?

CRM is an acronym for Customer Relationship Management. In short, it’s the method used to gather and utilize information about a customer’s needs and behaviors in order to develop stronger relationships with them and in turn, deliver excellent service and retain their loyalty.

A CRM system helps to understand, anticipate and respond to these needs in a consistent way throughout every aspect of a company’s delivery.

This is why Novtel decided to update their Relations Management package and give it a whole new look and feel.

The new 2012 Relations still have all the features like before, but with a few new added gizmos. Although the program is in its testing phase,

The new Relations II can send bulk mail to your entire customer listing in Relations Management with html formats that will always display the images correct and instantly.

We have found it to do wonders as we are currently using this with great success, and are amazed at this power right at the tip of your fingers. This system works by embedding your images directly into the email body, and display it correctly in all major email clients like:

• Outlook
• Thunderbird
• Gmail
• Yahoo

By embedding the images in the email body, the receiver does not need to click “download pictures”

This feature is already incorporated in Relations Management II and is due for release 2012 June.

All clients who use the Novtel products pay a monthly fee per workstation.  The fee is deducted by debit order.  In cases where no debit order is installed and the client pay by EFT, no auto authorization is allowed.  The clients who pay per EFT, must send through proof of payment to allow authorization for the following month.

AUTO AUTHORIZATION WORK AS FOLLOWS: 

RESERVATIONS:

Between the 20^th and 23^rd of every month the authorization codes is sent out from the Application program.

When a client’s program does not auto authorize, the following procedure is followed:

*          Check the Base Serial number, e.g. SP0001.  The Base Serial Number must be identical to  Novtel’s Application Program.  The client must go to “Record Upgrade” and type in the correct Base Serial Number and Accept.  Then the client restarts the system, and then the Base Serial will be changed.

*          Check the Reference number, e.g. WHFG-1TG8-C0XP.  If the Reference Number differs, it must be changed on the Novtel Application System to be the same as the one on the clients system. The reason for Reference Numbers change might occur when the client re-installed the application or formatted a hard drive on the application workstation.

*          When the Base Serial Number and the Reference Number is corrected, the client must go to Setup then Authorization

*          Check if tick is on at Use Online Authorization.

If tick is on, click on Test Service and if it shows “Test passed” the system will automatically auto authorize monthly.  If “Test Service failed” , the following procedure must be followed :

Novtel personnel will install the auto authorization program.  Internet access must be available on the workstations to complete authorization setup.

RELATIONS MANAGEMENT:

The following procedures need to be followed if Base Serial Number and Reference Number is not the same as reflected on the clients system:

*          Novtel Personnel must Click on Start then run then RegEdit, and change the Serial number and Reference Number on the clients PC accordingly.

DOWNLOAD UPGRADE:

Issues resolved and new features:

Contract:

Change not to allow cross Branch editing of contracts.

Change to make the ‘order number’ required on all contracts.

Search criteria when selecting Items to add to Contract:

Change to save the last search criteria (Code, Plant or by Description) per user when searching for Items. This will be used the next time the user makes a search.

Automated duration calculation on return of item:

Added an automated calculation of duration when returning an item. This calculation is done by using the return date and time. Half day and full day late and early returns are automatically added or subtracted. It is also possible to manually change the duration. This is done by entering a value at Hire Day adjustment.

Hire Day adjustment quantity and value is still recorded separately but the quantity is added to the total hire days. In the past the adjustment were separately charged for as a Non-Rental entry on the Non-Rentals tab and the quantity not added to the total hire days.

Setup of half and full day late and early return parameters are done at Setup Company – General tab.

Customer and Site selection:

Change to allow Double clicking Customer and Site for selection when creating a new contract.

Changeover (Swop Item)

This checkbox is available on the return window. Return time defaults to the original issue time. It is however possible to change time and date of placing the replacement item on rent.

The Changeover option is not available for non-serial items.

When returning an item ‘Changeover (Swop Item)’ must be checked in order to select another item as a replacement item. This is used when supplying a replacement item. It is possible to swop the replacement item back to the original item when repaired or serviced if necessary.

Rain Day / Off-Hire:

Change the Rain Day / Off-Hire to allow entering values other than a full day. In addition to this notes can be entered regarding the specific Rain Day / Off-Hire.

Examples:

By entering 0.4 will only charge 0.6 or 60% of a day

By entering 0.8 will only charge 0.2 or 20% of a day

Rain days will not be allowed on non-charge days if setup and activated on the specific Item. This includes Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays.

It is also possible to remove a Rain Day. The total value as added on the specific day will be removed.

Return Note:

Added the option to print return notes. This is done once all returns are completed for a specific Contract return session. Multiple returns on a Contract can be done per day. Every new return session will generate a new Return Note. Reprint of return note can be done by Return Note number or by date.

Setup Company:

Added the following additional setting to the General tab:

Return Parameters:

‘Return Cut-off (Half/Full day) hour/s’

This value is used to determine the cut-off between half and full date late or early return.

‘Default Half Day Value (If half day = 60% enter 0.4)’

This value is determined by subtracting the half day value from 1

If the half day value is 0.6 this value will be 1 – 0.6 = 0.4

Billing Parameters:  

‘Billing Day (0 = Last day of Month)’

This setting is used to determine the last day of the daily increment of contracts. Contract volumes are returned on this day and new contract volume created for the next day. Value can be entered from 0 to 28.

Saturday Parameters:

‘Increment Hire Days on Saturday (Checked = Charge)’

This is the global setting. When checked all items will be charge on Saturdays. When un-checked no Items will be charges for on Saturday.

‘Charge Half day on Saturday’

When checked Saturday are charged as 0.5 and not 1 (Full day). This will only be activated if ‘Increment Hire Days on Saturday’ is checked or ‘Charge on Saturday’ at Edit Item is checked when using item level.

‘Activate Saturday on Item Level’

When checked it is necessary to determine per item at Edit Item General tab ‘Charge on Saturday’ if Saturdays are charged or not.

Edit Item:

Added a checkbox – ‘Charge on Saturday’

This option is only displayed when ‘Activate Saturday on Item Level’ at Setup Company General tab is checked. The default setting can be changed when placing an item on rent.

Setup – Users:

Remove multi-store code 2

Non-Serial Items (LCHV):

Change to allow adding non charge items. This is done by adding a specific item first with the chargeable quantity and then repeating the process with the non-chargeable quantity.

Documents:

Added the site description to the statements and invoices. Move the order number from the Item lines to the heading.

Remove hardcoded Terms and Conditions from the Hire Contract. Terms and conditions can be customized at Setup Documents.

Change the Hire Days to display decimals. Change to only display currency symbol on monetary fields.

Modify – Import Customers from Pastel:

Change to import the Tax Number when importing Customers from Pastel.

Edit Item Tariffs:

Open the Rental Price Hourly Incl for Plant hire if Customer is set to use Category prices.