USA Need simple software for basic thing (but I don't know where to start)

[sloof70]

Hey guys! I come to you with what might be an easy question for you to answer.

I work for a manufacturer's rep agency, and every month I input totals onto an Excel spreadsheet. This report shows the monthly total sales for each of the manufacturers we represent, and compares it with the same months of last year. (2011 columns are full, but 2012 only has January, so total column only compares Jan '11 with Jan '12). We do this for probably about 70 manufacturer's, showing current year as it progresses and last year. It shows totals in dollars and percentage increase/decrease.

Excel spreadsheets are becoming a problem for this, because the equations are so fragile (one inserted row can ruin everything), and they don't allow you to easily export data to any decent-looking report.

Basically, I need a simple software that does this. The only information that I need to be able to enter into the system is the sales rep that manages the line and the monthly total. I need it to show at least the prior year, and only compare the months entered in the current year with corresponding months for last year, so as to get an accurate dollar total and percentage increase/decrease. I would like to be able to export reports that show different data, such as only one salesperson's numbers, only one month, a rainbow of charts and graphs, etc.

Does anyone have any ideas for a simple and preferably free software to do this?

 

[Claudette]

Hi, Our Informer software would be able to that for you - Have a look on our website Welcome to Information Edge, if you need anymore details message or email me on (e-mail address removed)

 

[Aleck]

Hey guys! I come to you with what might be an easy question for you to answer.

I work for a manufacturer's rep agency, and every month I input totals onto an Excel spreadsheet. This report shows the monthly total sales for each of the manufacturers we represent, and compares it with the same months of last year. (2011 columns are full, but 2012 only has January, so total column only compares Jan '11 with Jan '12). We do this for probably about 70 manufacturer's, showing current year as it progresses and last year. It shows totals in dollars and percentage increase/decrease.

Excel spreadsheets are becoming a problem for this, because the equations are so fragile (one inserted row can ruin everything), and they don't allow you to easily export data to any decent-looking report.

Basically, I need a simple software that does this. The only information that I need to be able to enter into the system is the sales rep that manages the line and the monthly total. I need it to show at least the prior year, and only compare the months entered in the current year with corresponding months for last year, so as to get an accurate dollar total and percentage increase/decrease. I would like to be able to export reports that show different data, such as only one salesperson's numbers, only one month, a rainbow of charts and graphs, etc.

Does anyone have any ideas for a simple and preferably free software to do this?

It is a good idea to make a simple business solution on your own on base of the IMPFORCE. You can get accounting, CRM, and related documents workflow in result as additional benefits from this simple and cheap platform. In addition, you can use powerful and flexible report wizard for any required reports producing. However, you will need to study this software features and tune your own solution, but this just in case if you really want spend a little.
In result you get possibility expand your solution in the future and be free from IT specialists using

 

[Jessy Thames]

Hi Sloof,

Might be that I'm new to this forum and to the discussion. But I'd like to get you with a better accounting software HANDDY JOTBOOK that works as per your requirements. The software's UI is quite good so as to let the non-accountants to handle the accounting tasks in an easier way.

You can also download your income and expense reports in spreadsheet. Added to this your reports can also be viewed in a graphical form or in a chart. Managing your financial statements is more flexible than many other software where in you've to upgrade for those features.

Just have a try with HANDDY JOTBOOK at free of cost. No matter you're not to lose anything, but can gain a finest accounting I suppose.

 

[Dalkeith]

Sloof this can be done easily in any good database package.

If you have Access have a go at it. Anything built in Excel should be able to be built in Access. It requires a complete re-write and you will need to think slightly differently but you will learn a massive amount from it.

Essentially you use the same functions and syntax for calculting things between Excel and Access however in a database it is impossible to break columns and rows through inserting new information.

This was why databases were created to make the relationships within a row inviolate for finacial transactions.

I should add that someone that knows what they are doing might be able to build something that does 80% of what you want in a day. Edge cases can take a lot longer depending on the complexity.