October 2000
SOFTWARE REVIEW
Low-cost
Time & Billing
Bargains abound in boxes
and on the Web
by John Hedtke
The
following is the text of the review as applicable to BalaBoss Client
Navigator
BalaBoss Client Navigator
BalaBoss Software Corporation
The first product in this review is BalaBoss Client Navigator. BalaBoss
Client Navigator is the highest-end product of any in this review. It's
overpowered for the sole proprietorship but it has the strength and feature set
to handle time and billing for mid-sized and even large firms.
Client Navigator would do credit to many accounting systems for the level of
detail, although this makes the client and timekeeper setup process somewhat
more complex than some smaller time and billing packages. The company provides a
data import service when you buy the software and are converting from another
program.
Data entry is straightforward. You can customize some fields as well as add
footers and text to the invoice format. Version 5.04, scheduled for release this
fall, will let you add a logo or bitmap to your invoices as well. You can output
invoices to the printer, email or fax. You can also send invoices to a word
processing program for additional editing and printing.
BalaBoss also has the most complete sample data files of any of the programs
in this review. You can experiment with every feature in depth.
In addition to the time and billing features, BalaBoss has may cool features
that set it apart from other packages in this review. For example there is an
extensive contact manager that even lets you set activity flags and print custom
sets of labels.
The product also has a file room application for tracking the location of
physical files and documents, very handy for large firms that store records for
their clients.
There is a tree view that lets you set up a complete organization chart view
of your clients and their separate divisions.
But the slickest feature is that you can customize buttons and link them to
another application (such as tax software) and automatically retrieve the client
information from BalaBoss, which then starts a timer and posts the information
to the client timesheet.
The company is also working on data synchronization software for the Palm
Pilot. BalaBoss only has average documentation and no online help. Moreover, the
screen design is a bit cluttered and unclear.
BalaBoss Client Navigator is the most expensive of the products reviewed
here. While it has more details and power than smaller shops are likely to be
interested in, it is a first rate package for shops with at least 10
timekeepers.
