Product category:
Business Software
News Release from: Mardak | Subject: Construction accounting software
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 15 May 2007
Accounting solution specifically for
construction
Mardak is the only newly developed accounting solution specifically for construction in the last 10 years.
In recent years the construction industry has been heard criticising the lack of choice when it comes to choosing accounting software Packages on offer are commonly either generic accounting systems with a few add on modules or an old system with a new face
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 22 Nov 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
New companies migrating to Mardak
Latest companies to sign up with Mardak Construction Accounts include Arthur Wait, Asset Interiors, Coltman Precast Concrete, Hirst and Danson and Imperial Business Interiors .
Mardak: new functions, features and functionality
Two recent additions include fully featured Document Management and Document Processing modules.
It is very unusual to hear of any entrepreneur starting up a business to develop financial software.
Mardak Construction Accounts (MCA) however, did just this.
Launched to the market in 2004, one of the major benefits of starting from a clean sheet was being able to use the latest technology available.
Further reading
Mardak sign Jarvis
Jarvis Group is the latest company to sign up with Mardak Construction Accounts for their accounting software solution.
Mardak - Trilectric case study
Trilectric knew they had to find a replacement software solution and wanted a package that would offer 100% accuracy and 100% reliability.
MCA now incorporates multicurrency functionality
Mardak Construction Accounts now incorporates Multicurrency functionality and, as well as being UK compliant it now satisfies Southern Ireland VAT and Subcontractors tax legislation.
Mardak has taken the lead in providing a functionally rich and technically excellent application, with no compromises in the design and implementation.
Dedicated to introducing innovative ideas MCA not only provides the standard accounting functionality expected from a high end application but provides a level of originality previously unavailable.
It is hard to believe, but Mardak is the only newly developed accounting solution specifically for construction in the last 10 years.
A prime example of Mardak's technical functionality and modernisation is the Business Intelligence Monitor (BIM) module.
We are all used to having notification pop-ups when an e-mail arrives because a service is monitoring our inbox, so why not for our accounting system?.
With Mardak, predefined criteria (triggers) are set, and when they are met during day to day processing, the system will notify the manager by an on-screen message, or if away from the office via an e-mail or text message.
This facility enables managers to identify and monitor the most important areas relating to their Company, Contracts, Sub Contractors or any other information held in the Mardak System.
BIM brings about a long awaited pro-active approach to business control rather than having to endure the routine of interrogation by enquiry or reports to find the required information.
Managers can define as many triggers as they wish to ensure that they are notified immediately when critical information comes about.
In recent years the advancement of technology has seen the standard computer memory size increase dramatically.
Unlike many other systems, Mardak's modern and carefully devised software has utilised this so there is no limit on the amount of data which can be stored in MCA.
Gone are the days when lengthy historical reports have to be printed and paper copies archived to make room for new data.
As well as freeing up valuable storage space, more importantly it means that no transaction is ever deleted allowing a complete transaction history to be easily accessed within seconds.
As a modern company, Mardak are responsive to concerns regarding the environment.
In recognition of the continual quest for a paperless and environmentally friendly office, MCA developed Document Management.
The facility to save electronic copies of all key documents such as, contracts, invoices, statements etc...
These can be held directly against a customer's account and an image of the document can be viewed within seconds.
These documents can be kept as Adobe PDFs allowing instant emailing of paperwork to relevant parties saving both time, postage, and of course using unnecessary paper and envelopes! Further uses of this function can include storing insurance certificates for sub contractors, equipment leases etc...
When it comes to reporting, endless tables of data can prove a real headache to try and make sense of.
Often one requires a quick overview of how a certain account or subcontractor is performing.
MCA has an excellent Graphing feature, allowing all reports and enquiries to be displayed in a variety of graphs within seconds.
Bob Adams, Director of Strongbond Construction .
commented, "Our Contract Managers and Surveyors find it very easy to interrogate the system to access financial information on their contracts." There is the additional option of saving these as PDFs making it easy to email reports to appropriate persons, again saving on paper and time required to otherwise print reports out.
The system has been designed from the outset to be fully integrated with Microsoft Office so when requesting enquiries or reporting, Mardak offers the option to export data to Microsoft Excel, Word or Powerpoint.
Mardak recognised the need for software to be highly integratable so wrote MCA using Open Platform technology where users can choose to hold data files in any structured database such as SQL or Oracle.
This simple foresight and understanding of industry requirements by the team at Mardak has earnt them great praise from their clients.
Mardak allows data to be returned to each client PC quickly and efficiently.
Clients can also use the internet to connect to Mardak from any of their remote offices by using "Mardak in a Browser", safe in the knowledge the system is encrypted and secure.
Clients can have up to a 5 level nominal structure, which allows for restrictions to be placed on specific users.
Individual users can be given a different security status for each module.
This enables system managers/administrators to restrict some users to reports and enquiries only.
It is also possible (where permitted) for users to be able to select which columns are allowed within each enquiry and for managers to give a default enquiry.
All of the static detail records (Names and Addresses, payment terms etc) allow the client to define which fields are defaulted when creating a new account thus saving time and increasing accuracy.
Static details (including Suppliers, Sub Contractors, Customers, Contracts, and Employees) allow the clients to create their own definable fields.
The types of fields are Value, Dates, Plain text, Boolean (Yes/No).
Any changes made to static data are also stored for Audit purposes.
Static Audit shows which user created the record and which user changed it.
Static Audit also illustrates the changes (before and after) at field level for each record.
MCA Contract Ledger provides contract cash position management.
This facilitates clients to look at any payments (Cash, Cheque, BACS etc.) actually made to Suppliers, Sub Contractors, Employees etc and compare against cash received from Clients.
This is an essential tool for contract and cash flow management.
As a company, Mardak place high importance on customer service and understand that communication and consistency is key to ensuring client satisfaction.
From the moment a contract is signed, each client is assigned a Project Manager who oversees the process of installation and migration through to the "Go Live" day.
They ensure that the client is kept informed of progress and provide a point of contact to whom they can address any queries.
Existing client, Paul McKane, Group Financial Controller for the Natta Group commented, "Mardak listen to you and construct a plan in how to give you what you want and they keep you updated all the way, you are not left with nothing for weeks or months on end".
"You get a great product combined with prompt support and knowledgeable staff who genuinely care for what they do".
The support team uses standard Microsoft tools such as "Remote Desktop" which means they can understand and deal with any issues immediately.
Mardak are so confident of the excellent service which they provide that they offer an open book service of their clients.
Potential clients are invited to contact any of Mardak's existing clients for reference and user reviews of the software.
This is an unusually confident gesture rarely seen in any industry! The system is fully compliant with all UK legislation including the new CIS which has recently been brought in and recently celebrated achieving recognition from the HMRC for their CIS online filing.
Payroll allows the user to continue processing Week 1 of the next Tax year without having completed the Year end Process.
This makes for a very practical and flexible approach.
In addition to this, Mardak can be multi legislative and work in multi currency should a client require it.
Mardak have designed an exceptionally user friendly and accessible accounting system which is fully scaleable to suit single site companies through to multi site international organisations.
Judging by their steady growth and recruitment of further staff, they are succeeding in their aim to provide a modern and highly functional accounting package for the construction industry.
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