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Table of Contents
(click on any article title to move directly to that article)
The Podium--A Quick Overview of this issue
Tech Flash – Importing and Exporting From Nexus XP
Feature Spotlight - There's Cash in this New Feature! Turning a Blown Close Into a Great Sales Tool
Spring 2003 Calendar of Events - Industry Events this Summer
Did you know? - That there is a Win-Win situation for you?
And Epic (TM) Makes Two - MBS Has Added a New Partner
QuickBooks Linked To Nexus XP - Linkage to Popular Program Completed
MBS Adds Spanish Version of Nexus XP - Nexus XP is Latino Friendly
Some thoughts from the CEO - Fixing Trust Funds
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The Podium
This issue of the Quarterly should convince you that MBS strives for progress (if you haven’t already been convinced, that is). Our programmers constantly improve and expand our products, almost always incorporating your ideas and concerns into our programs.
The cemetery industry is dynamic, therefore it demands change. Not change for the sake of change, but change that hopefully will build your business. And that is why our products are constantly updated, to meet those changing needs.
That is the reason we devoted this issue to discussing some of those changes and improvements. In the article “There’s Cash in this New Feature” we describe how an unsigned contract saved as “inactive” can actually lead to future sales, instead of the salesperson’s effort appearing as a blown close.
In the tech Flash column we explain how you can import and export external files in a variety of formats to and from Nexus XP, saving you precious processing time without duplication of your efforts.
In the article “And Epic Makes Two” we discuss our new partnership with Epic Technologies. Epic can provide your cemetery with reliable hardware, network and operating system support on site. On the same page is the article “QuickBooks Linked To Nexus XP”. For many small and middle size cemeteries, the link to QuickBooks is good news.
On page four Fred Miller addresses the question “What Can I Do With These Trust Funds?” by describing how you can correct missing or incorrect trust data received from a selling company. Nexus can adjust the Trust Liability and Balance in a contract that previously had none. In the same article Fred talks about a new feature in Nexus that allows you to reserve a space for whomever the buyer designates. This feature should reduce family squabbles and ease the situation for your cemetery. Also on page four we talk about the release of a Spanish language version of Nexus XP. MBS has clients in Mexico, Panama, El Salvador and Ecuador.
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| ©Copyright MBS, Inc. June 2005
For Article Suggestions, Copies or Requests, please email Tom Balducci at tbalducci@mbs-intl.com.
For Site Corrections or Suggestions, please email jmcquiston@mbs-intl.com.
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techFLASH
Importing and Exporting From Nexus XP
Nexus can import transactions (payments, allowances, and payment reversals) from external files using several formats. Transactions that can be created in or exported from other software systems, can then be imported as a batch into Nexus. Transactions contained in the import file will be processed by Nexus, just as if they were entered manually through payment entry. An example of this would be to use E.Comm’s E.CheckImager to process checks and then import the resulting file into Nexus XP. The payments would then be automatically posted to their respective contracts.
Nexus can also export a general ledger link file in a number of formats at the time of period close. This file can then be used to import GL account debits and credits into your general ledger, eliminating time consuming journal entries. GL programs specifically supported are Business Works Gold, Quick Books Pro, Blackbaud, and SBT/AccPac Vision Point. Other file formats include Comma Delimited, Excel, DBF, and CSV (comma separated). The import and export functions may be able to save you considerable processing time. For more information, please contact MBS technical support.
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| Feature Spotlight: There's Cash in this New Feature
Now MBS’s Nexus XP can put all those unfunded, unsigned contracts from preneed presentations to work for you.
1. Salesperson returns to the cemetery having made a fine presentation to Mr.& Mrs. Prospect. The salesperson has carefully obtained and listed the choices of each prospect. The Salesperson explained each item on the preneed contract and touted the advantages of “Locking in the Costs” at today’s prices.
2. For some reason the salesperson’s best efforts have resulted in his return with an unsigned contract. At the last moment Mr. & Mrs. Prospect announce: “It just too much”. “We’ll have to think it over”.“It’s not the right time,”….whatever.
Now….with Nexus XP….
3. Your staff enters the contract into a new Sales Program to be created in NEXUS XP and called Pre-planning showing the items selected (but not purchased) with their accompanying prices. This information is retained in the system when the contract is saved as IN (INACTIVE). This contract will have no effect on bookkeeping until the actual purchases are made.
4. At the end of a given period of time, e.g., annually, a notice is sent to Mr. & Mrs. Prospect reminding them that you are preserving their records for them as a service provided by the cemetery. Included is information on the items they selected showing today’s higher costs vs. the costs at the time of the original presentation. Net effect; at some point Mr. and Mrs. Prospect make the sound decision that “The time is right” to purchase.
As often as not Mr. & Mrs. Prospect will purchase a part of the entire package, but not all of the elements. That’s fine!
Enter the contract they purchased in the normal way as a preneed contract. Retain the items that were selected but not purchased as a separate Pre-planning contract marked Inactive and send them the same annual letter with the price comparisons, reminding them of what remains to be done to complete the family estate.
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| Calendar of Events
July
July 31-August 2 LA/AL/MS Tristate Convention in Conjunction W/SCFA— Myrtle Beach, SC
June 12-13 Kentucky and Indiana Cemetery Associations First Joint Convention and Trade Show— Louisville, KY
September
Sept 17-21 New York State Assoc. of Cemeteries— Bolton Landing, NY
October
Oct 4-7 NCCC— Hollywood, FL
Oct 19-27 ICFA— Maui, HI
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Here's a Win-Win For You!
Do you have any friends in the industry, who invest huge amounts in software only to be plagued by horrific charges when ever there is an up-grade? Are they exasperated because their software doesn’t provide trouble free operation or perform essential tasks they need?
Do you know of cemeterians who have told you that they are:
· Frustrated because they don’t get prompt and effective support from their current vendor?
· Tired of spending endless money on a software vendor without getting satisfaction?
· Ready to go from hand kept to automated record keeping?
Recommend MBS to someone who turns out to be a new client (and you already are one) and get 10% off your next support agreement. If you’re not yet an MBS client and recommend a third party (not yourselves) who joins us, you’ll get a 5% discount on your Nexus XP license fee when you sign up.
Or, if you prefer, please call MBS and let us know who they are so that we can contact them directly.
OUR PHONE NUMBER IS (800) 844-4447
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And Epic Makes Two - MBS Has Added a New Partner
MBS has another new partner, Epic Technologies, LLC, a leading provider of technology and professional services across the nation. Epic, located in Cookeville, TN, specializes in delivering high end data networking and telephony solutions to small and medium-sized organizations. They were named by one technology integrator as the 14 th fastest growing solution provider in the nation.
For MBS’ clients, Epic means reliable hardware, network, and operating system support on site. Throughout the U.S. Epic has over 600 centers that are not concentrated in the big cities. They guarantee a response to an emergency within two hours and, if needed, an on site visit within 24 hrs. For comparison Epic charges $100 per hour, including travel time, and they offer a variety of support and maintenance agreements if interested.
To our clients, you will continue to do business with MBS in the same manner as always. When a problem arises, call the MBS support staff. They will diagnose the situation as always and resolve any MBS software issues. If it is narrowed down to a hardware, network or operating system issue, they will offer you the option of using Epic or your own local favorite.
Another function that Epic can perform for you is the secure off site storage of your data. This is the ultimate in disaster security. This option is available right now and MBS will be talking about it more in the near future.
This is MBS’ second major affiliation. The E.Comm Group in Denver, CO is the other. E.Comm allows a cemetery or funeral home to automatically deposit preauthorized contract payments into your bank account. With their E.CheckImager no preauthorization is needed, so mailed-in checks can be electronically deposited. A customer’s check, once set up in the system, is scanned and the amount of the check entered. A batch is created and sent to the ACH where they are processed. The client is informed when the transactions are complete. In both cases the payments are automatically entered into Nexus XP as though you had entered them yourselves, a real labor savings.
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QuickBooks LInked to Nexus XP
Vice President of MBS Development Joel Leach has completed the linkage between Nexus XP and QuickBooks, a rapidly rising favorite of small business operations for managing their accounting function.
QuickBooks, like all other off the shelf accounting programs, doesn’t meet the Accounts Receivable needs of a cemetery. That combination of retail installment payment plans, commissions, and trust fund management with various types of cancellations is still too much for QuickBooks.
But when Nexus XP’s AR data is moved into QuickBooks, the whole system is go. Many small and middle size cemeteries are turning to QuickBooks because of its forgiving nature, simplicity, and low cost. Accountants generally don’t like QuickBooks, because it is easy to “make mistakes”.
MBS is integrated into Business Works Gold and SBT. MBS does custom imports into most accounting systems upon request.
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Sombreros Are Flying:
MBS Adds Spanish Version of Nexus XP
MBS has recently introduced a new version of their popular Nexus XP software in Spanish. The project was done in conjunction with Steven Pearl and Jardines de las Vido Externa of Mexico City, Mexico. Mr. Pearl is spearheading the development of these new cemeteries.
Elsa Penso-Allen of Birmingham did the original language translation, and MBS’s Troy McConnell converted the screens to accommodate the language-specific field length expansions.
The translated version was next taken to the site in Mexico City where the translation was checked to assure proper context. Preferred substitutions were noted, returned to MBS and the corrections were made to the program.
Nexus XP had to add length to many of the number fields, because the peso amounts are considerable larger than dollars (about 11 pesos/dollar).
MBS now has clients in Mexico, Panama , El Salvador and Ecuador.
Should you be aware of any of our friends south of the border that might be looking for cemetery management software in Spanish, please let us know.
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What Can I Do With These Trust by Fred Miller
Fix them!
Yes, after having so many new clients be at a loss as to how to correct the missing or incorrect trust data provided by a selling company, MBS has added the ability to adjust the Trust Liability and Balance on contracts entered into Nexus XP.
Indeed, in transferring data from a previous system to Nexus XP, trust accounting was even omitted in some cases. Now MBS has added the ability to create a trust in a contract that previously had none.
This means that you adjust the original trust liability for an item on an existing contract, or add a trust where there wasn’t one before by using the Trust Adjustment Screen. This means that, if you haven’t, you can get your trust funds accurate and in accord with the bank.
The Trust Balance Adjustment screen has been enhanced to allow you to specify the date and reason for the adjustment without having to change the system date. You can also specify whether or not the posting is to occur in the current period.
The stock market is crazy these days. Suppose, heaven forbid, that you have a month in which your trust fund investments went south resulting in negative earnings. What to do then with the trust funds?
MBS has modified the system so that the negative amount will be withdrawn automatically if you have the system set up to perform automatic withdrawals. The negative amount will appear on the Withdrawal Report and will affect the total amount to withdraw. With manual withdrawals, once items have been triggered for withdrawal, the negative earnings in the Earnings field will be withdrawn from the items involved.
One more addition to Nexus XP with Version 3.5....spaces purchased can be now be “Reserved For” whomever the buyer designates. This means that a person who purchases one or more spaces can hold the space(s) for whomever they choose! Widespread use of this feature has the potential to reduce family intramural squabbles and ease the situation for the cemetery.
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