The Serenic Navigator financial software offerings may appear as separate, individual offerings, but are in fact interconnected and interrelated. Guided by our commitment to serve not-for-profit organizations, Serenic Navigator is a family of products designed to grow with you and give you the features and functionality your nonprofit or NGO needs to achieve its mission in a highly efficient and effective manner.

Once you have determined which purchase model you want to follow – license or subscription – you’re ready to determine what fund accounting version is the best fit for the needs of your nonprofit.

• Basic, only available in under the Subscription model, is designed for smaller organizations with very basic processes and needs. It includes all the necessary core functionality as well as some moderately advanced functionality. For example, Purchase Requisitions are not supported in this version, but Purchase Orders and Purchase Invoices are available.

• Business Essentials, or BE, is available under the Subscription and License models and builds off the Basic version by adding functionality, including Purchase Requisitions and Batch Allocations. Also included are two additional modules: AwardVision Basic and BudgetVision.

• Advanced Management, or AM, is available under the Subscription and License models and is our most advanced version. The additional functionality included in this version is designed for larger nonprofits and NGOs with more complex processes and accounting needs, and includes Workflow Management, a transaction approval module, and the advanced BudgetVision features “Calculations & Assumptions” and “Approvals.”

View a list of some of the features and functionality available in the Serenic Navigator family of products. For a full feature comparison, download the full fact sheet on our website.

Contact us if you have further questions about the License vs. Subscription models, and the Basic, BE or AM versions. Lots of options; we’re here to help you navigate through them!

When considering nonprofit accounting software, the purchasing model adds another dimension to the decision process.  Which is the best fit for your nonprofit, NGO, or public sector agency?  Last week we discussed the license purchase model.

Another option you have is to move to the cloud by subscribing to the product.  Under this model, Serenic installs and maintains the software on servers belonging to a 3^rd-party provider under contract to our company.  Your data is stored on these servers in a solid-built facility, secured at multiple levels, including locks, video cameras, biometrics, and guards. At all times, our service provider is proactively monitoring the system for problems, with anti-virus technology, backup and disaster recovery, and data privacy protocols in place.

In addition to the relief from the IT requirements, your organization may prefer predictable monthly fees, as compared to a single, initial capital investment.

With Serenic Navigator, you will purchase named users – for example, if you have 20 users needing access to Navigator, each of these users will require a subscription. (If you’ll remember from last week’s article, under the License model you purchase concurrent users.)

To access the program, you will be provided with two implementation options, depending on certain functional requirements of your organization.  In both cases, you’ll install a low-profile application to your computer, or to multiple computers (e.g., office and home computers).

• Option 1, Application Virtualization Client (App-V) – Once App-V is installed, an icon is added to your computer’s desktop and you will open Serenic Navigator Online just as you access programs installed directly to your computer.  You will be able to import and export to your local installations of Word and Excel.
• Option 2, Citrix Receiver – Once the Citrix Receiver is installed, you will open a web site to log into the system and access Serenic Navigator Online.   You will also have access to Word and Excel from this interface.

Under the subscription model, Serenic is responsible for applying all upgrades as part of the service. To support this process, customizations are not allowed.

In our next article, we’ll look at some of the feature differences between the different Serenic Navigator offerings.

Serenic offers multiple versions of its award-winning fund accounting software, and multiple ways to purchase our software – in fact, it can be a little overwhelming to determine what combination of offerings is the best fit.   In this article and the next, we’ll explore the two purchase models: License and Subscription.  First up, we’ll explore the benefits of following the License model and how it applies to a purchase of Serenic Navigator.

Under the traditional software model, you purchase a license that provides your organization with the perpetual right to use the software. You then install the product on your organization’s computers and servers.

Some nonprofits are most comfortable with their data stored locally and are willing and able to make a capital investment in the necessary servers.  Additionally, they may prefer to pay their costs upfront, rather than a monthly subscription fee.

An alternative under the traditional model is to purchase a license and contract with a 3^rd party to host the product on their servers and to provide access via the Internet.  Under this option, your nonprofit or NGO is spared the cost of purchasing and maintaining the servers.

With Serenic Navigator, you will purchase concurrent users – for example, if you have 20 users needing access to Navigator, but expect no more than 10 users accessing at any point in time, you would purchase 10 concurrent users.

One benefit to the License model is that should your nonprofit need specialized functionality, you can contract to have the product customized to meet your specific needs.

For example, a client outsources their Payroll to a 3^rd party, which provides a data file in a specific format.  The client would like to import this data into Serenic Navigator.  Without a customization, they would need to modify this file to match the standard import format required by Serenic Navigator.

However, because the client owns a license for Serenic Navigator, they can arrange for a customization to the import process so that the system uses the data layout defined by the 3^rd party Payroll provider.  When they receive a data file from their provider, they can seamlessly import their information with no manual steps by their staff.

With both of these options, maintenance of the financial software – for example, applying upgrades – is under your direction and control.

Next week we’ll discuss the subscription model, providing online accounting software in the cloud.

We’re excited to announce the expansion of our Serenic Navigator Online (NOL) product suite, which is now available in three offerings:

• Serenic NOL Basic
• Serenic NOL BE (Business Essentials)
• Serenic NOL AM (Advanced Management)

Serenic NOL is a Software as a Service (SaaS) version of our award-winning Navigator financial management system. The cloud-based subscription model leverages Internet streaming functionality with access to Serenic’s financial management software for the term of the subscription. The Serenic NOL product features are designed to meet specific needs of nonprofit and public sector organizations, which are increasingly connecting to the Internet to automate and simplify business processes “in the cloud.”

“Serenic Navigator Online offers NGOs and nonprofits financial management functionality coupled with the advantages of a decentralized software deployment model,” according to our CEO and President Randy Keith. “Organizations with multiple offices, remote workers and distributed workforces especially benefit from using a cloud-based solution. If their situation changes for any reason, NOL clients can easily and cost-effectively transition to the on-premise version of the Serenic Navigator financial management suite.”

NGOs and nonprofit organizations can download the Serenic Navigator Online Success Kit or informative white paper for more information.

Our nonprofit customers who have been using Serenic Navigator Online have experienced the many benefits of “the cloud.” Like accounting software for government organizations, NGO management software needs to track multiple funding sources and complex projects – often across widely dispersed geographical locations.

Navigator Online customers, such as Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake, have successfully moved from using QuickBooks and multiple spreadsheets for financial management to our accounting software for government, NGOs and other small- to mid-sized nonprofits.  Properly designed NGO management software can use the cloud (versus software installed on an organization’s own servers) to help track multiple dimensions from original receipt of funds to project completion.

Navigator Online, is a streamlined software as a service (SaaS) version of Serenic’s flagship software that brings the power and functionality of Serenic Navigator through cloud computing.  A primary benefit is its cost advantage, which especially helps organizations that don’t have an IT department but still want to track finances across multiple dimensions. Users have online access without having to pay separate hosting or virtual private network (VPN) fees like they would with other accounting software for government or NGO use.

Navigator Online’s dimensions feature enables the tracking of extensive financial details while making data entry easy for users to access “in the cloud.” Reporting features provide easier financial tracking, because accounting teams can easily post and track expenses for a specific campaign or project. Accounting software for government and NGOs needs to include tools for tracking and reporting – especially critical for remote locations who can now access data “in the cloud” and use more relevant, timely information for real-time decision making.

NGO management software that offers financial analysis capabilities provides insight for organizations to quickly analyze spending for a specific team or project. This ensures the most up-to-date data is used across all locations. Download the Navigator Online Success Kit to evaluate whether your organization might benefit from a cloud-based service.

We believe access to information is an inalienable right of non-profits and NGOs everywhere.

This is our promise to you:

1. You have the right to access information with your laptop anytime, from anywhere.

2. You have the right to a predictable monthly fee that includes software and hardware.

3. You have the right to knowledgeable support from people who understand your organization.

4. You have the right to move your information from a hosted environment to an on-premise solution when you so desire.

5. You have the right to a 99.999% uptime guarantee.

6. You have the right to be running on the most current version of our software.

7. You have the right to create a system that supports your unique processes and provides interfaces designed for individual roles.

8. You have the right to segment information any way you see fit with user defined dimensions.

9. You have the right to a fully integrated system that provides access to all financial data and mirrors your business processes across departments and funding organizations.

10. You have the right to real-time information with powerful budgetary and management controls.

Our next series will feature Serenic Navigator’s Decentralized Deployment Model.

Non-profit organizations are the revolutionaries of our time. Rather than leading the charge with marches and protests or scientific inventions, organization leaders tackle the problems of the world with research, volunteers, and specialized programs. While their methods are largely non-violent, their passion for individual causes is strong.

Unfortunately, many of these passionate non-profits have been diverting precious energy, time, and effort to managing administrative tasks. Forced to work within budgetary constraints, they have opted to suffer with low-cost, low-functioning accounting applications. Those days are over. Thanks to revolutionary advances in software, Internet accessibility, and bandwidth, non-profits of any size can have access to powerful software like Serenic Navigator Online at an affordable price. That means organizations will have more time to spend on causes and will spend less time on administrative hassles.

Let the revolution begin!

Full access to the Serenic Navigator white papers available here: http://www.serenic.com/resources/whitepapers/navigator-online-registration.aspx?rsc=12&cpc=CMP-01189-G214DD&lnc=43

Social media is quickly becoming a powerful marketing and communications tools. Rather than tracking conversations in a separate application, organizations need to stay on top of the dialog. NGOs and non-profits need information in real-time as vendor, donor or constituent dialogue could impact services, funding, or spending decisions.

Serenic Navigator Online frees you to integrate contact information with social media contacts so you can store Twitter names and even view Tweets real-time from many master records. You can also access important websites and send e-mails from many areas in the application.

Full access to the Serenic Navigator white papers available here: http://www.serenic.com/resources/whitepapers/navigator-online-registration.aspx?rsc=12&cpc=CMP-01189-G214DD&lnc=43

Some accounting systems are based on a rigid chart of accounts. Information can be summarized and grouped, but only when it is in consecutive order. And if you have segmented account numbers, they are generally defined as departments or sub-accounts. You just don’t have enough options for analyzing your organizational costs in enough detail.

Serenic Navigator sets you free from rigid hierarchical dictates and lets you define dimensions, assign values, and set up attributes to reflect your reporting and accounting needs. By capturing data at the right level of detail, you will be better able to identify potential problems before they arise – across all the areas that matter to your organization. With unlimited dimension values, you can build categories like programs, projects, service areas, facilities, and geographies and control posting using user-defined date ranges you assign. Individual users can take advantage of time savers like commodity codes and short cut keys to speed up data entry, while keeping track of categories associated with individual transactions.

Full access to the Serenic Navigator white papers available here: http://www.serenic.com/resources/whitepapers/navigator-online-registration.aspx?rsc=12&cpc=CMP-01189-G214DD

Our next post in this series will feature how Navigator 2009 in the Cloud gives you Freedom of Speech .

It takes funds to keep organizations going and there are always plenty of bills to be paid. NGOs and non-profits need to be able to make payments easily without losing sight of budgetary and grant restrictions.

Serenic Navigator Online gives organizations the flexibility to manage their expenditures from any location and to make payments in a number of different ways. Navigator gives you control over your remittances with options like:

• Flexible payment terms. Pay vendors based upon due dates or user-defined parameters.

• Pay by invoice or vendor. Print a single check per invoice, combine all invoices for the same vendor, or combine some of the vendor’s invoices while printing separate checks for others.

• Pay electronically. Use ACH formats to make Electronic Funds Transfer and automatically e-mail the vendor a remittance advice when the EFT is processed.

• Customizable checks. Select from multiple check formats or create a custom format and add logos and addresses to check stock.

• Signature control. Automatically print signatures on checks with full security, and add a second signature when the check amount reaches a user-defined amount.

• Expense allocations. Line allocations let you distribute expenses to multiple profiles.

Full access to the Serenic Navigator white papers available here: http://www.serenic.com/forms/resource.aspx?rsc=12&lnc=43

Our next post in this series will feature how our Cloud Solutions offer The Right to Categorize .