To meet a huge demand in the marketplace, accounting software specialist Pastel Software has followed the September release of the new Pastel Partner V5 for Windows program with an Afrikaans version.
"The market for an Afrikaans accounting package in South Africa is significant and we have invested accordingly," said Pastel managing director Ivan Ferrer. "Pastel Partner V5 is the only off-the-shelf accounting software for Windows applications that is available in Afrikaans. The software is flexible enough to allow some users on a network to work in English and others in Afrikaans, on the same set of data at the same time."
Ferrer added that with the release of the dual English-Afrikaans program, Pastel is ensuring that accounting software users will have the opportunity to work in their choice of the two main business languages of South Africa.
"Pastel is also developing versions in other major languages for its international markets and the program will soon be available in French, German, Portuguese, Dutch, Danish and Polish."
The Pastel Partner V5 for Windows program boasts improved usability and connectivity and a number of important new features, including a Data Converter, a facility which allows users to seamlessly convert data from other accounting packages to Pastel.
Within the connectivity improvements, statements can be automatically emailed, or printed for posting, or both. The same applies to documents such as invoices, purchase orders, quotations and other documentation.
External documents, such as spreadsheets or word processing files, can also be linked to masterfile records such as a customer or supplier record.
The program enables users to email any reports or export them in HTML format for direct publication to the Internet or intranet and conduct Internet banking.
"From the usability point of view we have made the program more intuitive. Simplified and modified screens make features more discoverable. Over 20 `assistants` guide users through all tasks that are not repetitive, such as budgeting, new price lists and the like," said Ferrer.
Increased functionality is achieved with more than 1 000 changes from V4.
A significant new feature is that customers can be given user-defined ageing periods, ranging from daily to monthly, or whatever period the user selects. Separate definitions can be applied to each customer.
"We have also introduced goods received notes for suppliers; a built-in reminder facility in the form of a `to do` list; `one-to-many` document linking which allows, for example, one invoice to be linked to multiple sales orders; the automatic creation of purchase orders from sales orders or invoices, and a discount matrix per customer category per inventory group with volume break levels," said Ferrer.
Tools which enable the owner of a business to more effectively control, manage and analyse the business have been added. One example of this is ratio analysis with which users can analyse key areas of the business with 10 common financial ratios.
Another example is the Control Centre, which enables real-time online monitoring of key areas of the business, with optional email notification if a critical value is exceeded.
There are over 100 000 users of Pastel accounting software in 40 countries.
Share
Editorial contacts