December 2007

As 2007 Zooms Away

December is typically one of our busiest months of the year as many labs want to be ready to launch new software in the new year. And how true this has been with seven new installations this month already (and more to come) along with customization projects.

We will take a little breather next week for Christmas and want to remind you that our offices will be closed December 24 and 25 and then at noon on December 31 through January 1. We hope that you too will have the opportunity to enjoy the two long weekends coming up with friends and family and holiday celebrations.

Snow Does Not Stop Us

Snowy weather does not typically keep us from making it to the office. But impassible or icy roads can. Here in Pennsylvania, we are sometimes prevented by the police from travelling if the roads become too dangerous. With modern technology, we are prepared to continue support and work projects from home. If we can not make it to the office, we check both email and voice mail throughout the day. If you need support, please be sure to leave your full name, your lab and telephone number and a brief description of the issue at hand.

What We Have Accomplished This Year

The support personnel who guide you are all accomplished programmers. During the time they are not talking to you on the phone or visiting your lab, they coordinate with two more programmers who are dedicated to writing the code and doing the first-level testing for releases to the standard DentaLab for QuickBooks and for custom requests. This coordination involves system design, research, and testing and occasionally taking the time to do some coding too. The list of accomplishments for DQB is on our website at mainstreet-systems.com in the support section.

In 2007, working with Chris Kelly from Orthoplant in Australia, we developed a new software offering called Product Costing. This is described in its own section below. We also made the transition from Crystal Reports to Stimul .NET for our reporting tool. This new tool offers much greater flexibility to create reports and queries in a variety of output formats. It makes greater use of SQL (the Structured Query Language) to easily create new reports and data formats. Because MSDE (Microsoft Desktop Engine) is no longer supported, we have also begun the transition to SQL Express for the data tables included with the standard release.

Through having the basic structure for this and then working with custom requests, we have been able to answer the needs of those labs who need not only English, but another language for their technicians to fully understand the work tickets to do their job.

The combination of QuickBooks with not only our case management software but also other offerings in the Intutit Developers Network has provided a wide range of excellent reliable software at affordable prices. Because of the success of DentaLab for QuickBooks, many labs both large and small are also making QuickBooks their choice for accounting and financial management.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q; Are the DentaLab for QuickBooks 30-day trials the same as the actual system?

A: The trials are typically one version behind the latest release. They include the features in the base system as well as the supplements for scanning, notifications and barcode tracking. The trials have security features at launch and at intervals to check the trial period dates to assure there has been no date tampering. We recommend that once you have reviewed the system sufficiently to determine that you wish to proceed, you take the steps to become licensed before putting the system into live production for your lab. We will then work with you to download the latest release.

Q: What is the number one issue for the DentaLab support team?

A: In our in-house License Manager, we keep support logs on each licensed lab. A review of these has shown that the number one issue we encounter is network connectivity. Often, those who encounter this have not read the installation guide or do not have their hardware and network setup correctly. We strongly recommend that, unless you have taken the steps to understand networking, you secure the support of a local network shop to help you do this. Network setups require both hands-on physical setups and software specifications for sharing and connectivity. We are always willing to coordinate with your local network support. We also recommend that you be sure you are given adequate written documentation and training on the specifications, security and passwords for your system before signing off and paying your bill.

Looking Forward to 2008

In the spring of 2008, renovations on the historical building in the Village of Lederach complex will be ready for us to move from our cramped quarters here in the Medical Arts Building in Souderton back to Harleysville. We will look forward to having more space again and a training room for you to come to visit. We will once again start offering the Saturday group training sessions that have been so popular in the past.

While here in the company of dentists, they have told us what they would like to see from the labs. We will be continuing to work toward software that will provide a foundation for better communication and coordination between the doctors and the labs.

Do You Need More Time?

As we talk with labs of all sizes, we find one common concern and that is time. Many labs would like to do more planning, more innovation, more communication, but find themselves immersed in the time-consuming tasks of getting the cases done and out the door. In some ways, the computer and its software can be an extra helping hand to save you time, to make sure you are not wasting precious time. Here are some ideas:

• Make use of window envelopes. QuickBooks invoices and statements can be easily designed to show your return name and address in one window and your customer's in another.
• Buy an inexpensive one-up label printer. Use it to create case labels, special labels, occasional mailing labels.
• Setup one station to primarily handle calls on case status, case delivery, price estimates, billing inquiries. Learn how to access this information quickly.
• Scan your prescriptions and other case documents. The few seconds it takes to scan can be simultaneous with other case handling activities and can then save you tons of time and labor costs by retrieving this information directly from the case record rather than filing, storing, searching and refiling paper records.
• Setup to transfer the pertinent case information such as patient name, pan, shade, teeth, request and ship dates to the QuickBooks invoices so that these can be displayed, printed and used as retrieval fields.
• Learn to use the Microsoft Windows clipboard to cut and paste text whenever appropriate, such as doctor's preferences, case plans, transferring to and and from emails. Setting up your table of lab notes can also be a way to easily transfer standard phrases and specifications to and from these records.
• Record quality control issues and analyze remakes in the remake, product group and customer group analysis reports toward the goal of determining how and why remakes occur so that they can be reduced.

Product Costing
Knowing the cost of producing a product or service is essential to any business. This knowledge can become critical if faced with competitive pricing or with opportunities for new business based on meeting price requirements. Cost analysis is an important part of maximizing profits. At times it may uncover ways to reduce costs.

• Estimate production costs
• Allows for price experimentation, potential profits
• Easy to understand samples included to get you started
• Clear and comprehensive reports
• Integrate with QuickBooks, DentaLab for QuickBooks, or create your own entries

Available now at a special introductory price.

Call 1-800-257-4535 or visit www.mainstreet-systems.com to learn more about Mainstreet Systems and our software designed specifically for dental laboratories.