Your Partner for Success

PLUSS Corporation Newsletter June 2004

PTM Inc. has announced a stand-alone version of the touchscreen timeclock that can fit any business need.

1.) PTM - Quick Tips

2.) Using PTM's scheduler to open workorders for specific jobs

3.) Question's on undefined areas in bookkeeping

4.) How many times should you Re-index files or Re-distribute data?

5.) Microsoft's Steps to Enhancing Your Online Privacy

6.) Sales & Marketing Plan Strategies

7.) Network Failure (Slowdowns, Disconnects, and Data damage)

8.) PRODUCTS AND SALES

PTM

1.) Quick Tips

* (E.I.) from main menu: Password protection of PTM.

* (Q.O.D.) from main menu: Transaction Invoice Register.

* (Q.E.D.) from main menu: Combined checks and Deposit Report.

* (N.E.N.) from main menu: Chart of Accounts Report.

2.) Using PTM's scheduler to open workorders for specific jobs

PTM's Scheduler now gives you the ability to schedule a Tech for a specific job by Customer and/or unit, quote the time and dollar amount and open a new workorder all from the same screen!!!

3.) Questions on undefined areas in bookkeeping

Q.Whenever labor for a specific Tech is billed out, the amount goes to an incorrect G/L number, why?

Q.My Shop Tech received a raise in pay, which was entered into Payroll. Now each time I run Payroll, it shows his old pay rate, why?

Q.Whenever labor for a specific tech is billed, it bills out at an incorrect shop rate, why?

Q.Whenever a specific Credit Card is selected for payment on a sale, it does not show up in J. Deposits, it shows up in M. Income/Receivables under that credit card name, why?

Q.A G/L number was created from a Workorder or Invoice, how does this happen and how can I correct it?

Q.A G/L number was created from a Purchase Order, how does this happen and how can I correct it?

Go here for the answers: http://www.pluss.net/articles/qua/aua.html

4.) How many times should you Re-index files or Re-distribute data?

To answer this question a basic understanding is required of what the Re-index utility and the Re-distribute data utility actually does. These utilities are designed for specific reasons and are extremely valuable; however if a user is constantly relying on such tools there is a serious underlying problem. This article will help clarify not only what these two functions do, but also when and why it is proper to utilize these tools along with how to identify overuse of these utilities

MICROSOFT

5.) Microsoft's Steps to Enhancing Your Online Privacy

REDMOND, Wash., June 9, 2004 --- Consumers and businesses are increasingly concerned with protecting the security and confidentiality of their online information, and with good reason. Unsolicited junk e-mail makes up more than half of all e-mail communications, according to the Pew Internet and American Life Project survey (December 2002). The misuse -- and fear of misuse -- of personal information have made consumers skeptical of Internet commerce. As a response, governments worldwide are imposing detailed requirements on the collection and use of personal information….

MISCELLANEOUS

6.) Sales & Marketing Plan Strategies

Design and Implementation of a new Sales & Marketing campaign must be carefully thought through from the beginning. What message do you want to send about your company, products, and services? What are the anticipated results? What is the execution strategy? What is the cost ratio versus expected return?

These are just a few of the questions that run through our minds in the early stages of planning. If your goal is revenue growth and expansion, I believe you need to design, develop, and implement your Sales & Marketing plan on that foundation. Here is some criteria to consider while planning:

· Identify your markets and your profit potential in the selected markets

· Segment your markets by customer, service, etc.

· What type of penetration is desired: existing, new, different, or all of the preceding

· Design a plan to include procedures and controls to monitor and evaluate market penetration by segment

· Determine and build internal and external sales strategies

· Evaluate and plan staff training to generate internal monitoring controls, evaluation processes, and customer education if necessary

· Plan to control revenue growth with product mix, product promotion, and customer pre-qualification

· Evaluate expected sales and then ratio numbers to your sales staff’s current compensation package to see if consideration is needed for additional or different wage incentive programs

· Design controls to evaluate, monitor, and drive the highest level of profit possible

· Determine the type of media and then budget advertising accordingly

· Develop a backup plan in case of immediate campaign disaster

The results of a well balanced and executed Sales and Marketing campaign can be resounding. Constant expansion of products and services, market area, clientele types, etc. all contribute to the continued growth and success of any company. Plan your work and work your plan!

Kenny Nau, Director of Sales

7.) Network Failure (Slowdowns, Disconnects, and Corrupted data)

There are many network/computer issues that may rise up in a shop environment. These issues may range from network slowdowns to loss of data. It is very important to have a cable company test the network cabling and switches on an annual basis. You also need to test for a dual ground on the electrical circuit, and any possible interference coming through the cabling. Interference can be caused by a number of sources such as cable being to close to florescent lights, electrical wiring, and more. 9 out of 10 network problems that we have encountered comes down to hardware failure. Other issues are network configuration or Operating system failure. For example, welding equipment has been known to causing noise interference so severe, that data is destroyed and computers cannot see each other on the network. Attenuation or network cable length of run beyond the capability of the cable creates signal degradation and is a common cause with network failure. Once the hardware and network architecture is properly setup and functional, the base for any system is manageable.

Jeremy Martin CISSP, CCNA, A+, Network+

8.) PRODUCTS AND SALES

* Stand-alone TouchScreen TimeClock $199

* Security Policy Templates $179

* Save 10% on Information System Vulnerability assessments

* Free for the first 50 callers, a 10-minute basic security survey ($95 value).
* PLUSS Publishing sale – STOCK CALIF R7 forms on sale now for $125.00 @ BOX

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PLUSS Corporation

5565 Hwy 2 West

Columbia Falls, MT 59912

5565 Hwy 2 West ^. Suite 1 Columbia Falls, MT 59912
1-800-835-9609 ^. Fax: 406-892-8611 ^. Web site: www.pluss.net