Creative Manager Pro, Ad Agency Software and Project Management Groupware for Creative and Design firms, has released version 7.7 adding Client Presentation Tools, Budget Notifications.
April, 18 2005
Lakewood NJ-Creative Manager, Inc., provider of Creative Project Manager and Creative Manager Pro, has released version 7.7 of its flagship product, adding enhancements to fifteen areas within the flagship Ad Agency Management system. The new update offers a dramatic improvement in the way images can be presented to clients.
No installation or conversion will be necessary, and the update is free to all users of Creative Project Manager and Creative Manager Pro. All client logins and vendor logins are free.
Using the new features, users are now able to package a set of images to be presented to their client and then reveal them one at a time during a conference call presentation to the client. This allows the user to pitch the idea and present the images while on the phone with a client.
The new version also brings budget notifications to a new level. Being able to get notifications when a task, service, or item goes over the planned budget in any of these areas will help managers stay on top of the bottom line throughout the project cycle.
Ron Ause, Director of Marketing for Creative Manager, Inc., said "The new client presentation features were implemented based on requests from our current user base. Adding new features on a monthly basis is now a tradition at Creative Manager."
Creative Manager Pro continues to invest heavily to add the new features which work with Apple's OS X Unix-based Operating System and Microsoft Windows. This month's update continues in that tradition.
The following are some of the details of the update:
1. Added the ability to specify the background color along with the height and width for .swf and .mov files that are added to a digital art review request
2. Added the ability to specify the background color only for .jpg and .gif files that are added to a digital art review request.
3. Added a checkbox next to each digital asset added to the digital art review area that will allow the user to hide or show the image to the client. Also, add the ability to edit an art review request that has been sent for review. If the user selects to show an image that was previously hidden, then the client log-in user will hit a refresh button to reveal the additional image.
4. Notify users if a task goes over budget. The notification options are similar to the over budget notification currently available at the project level.
5. Allow holidays to affect scheduling of assignments (ie. skip December 25 for work assignments)
6. Added a checkbox to the meeting request that indicates that the attendee is optional. When the system notifies the user that they are invited, it displays (optional) next to the invitation. This is similar to functionality in Outlook, and other similar packages.
7. Added a warning when a user approves a meeting request and the user has a calendar conflict
8. Added ability for client login to change their own password
9. Added a notification to PO entry to inform the user if adding this PO will cause the task or item specified to go over budget. Added an option to require approval of the PO's that cause the budget to go over.
10. Project Hourly Realization Rate Report. This is similar to the Project Profitability Report with two more columns (actual hours) and realized hourly rate (AGI/actual hours)
11. Created a new report of all timesheet hours by person by day for quick submittal to ADP
12. Modify the billing worksheet report to add a sub-total and grand-total of the hours column
13. Added a PO report showing detail of accruals
14. Change the available service box in the Task and Service estimate to show Service ID.
15. Added support for sales tax on the vendor side and created a sales tax report for VAT tax reporting (tax billed to customers - tax paid to vendors).
When asked about the new upgrade, Ause said "We're Always Listening! Budget notifications help our clients stay under budget, and deliver on time. And, when a client says that they need a new feature done, or that an existing feature is not working one hundred percent for them, we're there for our clients one thousand percent!"
Creative Manager Pro goes beyond costing to offer full Project Management, CRM, Digital Asset Management, billing and accounting, and Extranet capabilities.
Creative Manager Pro (at http://www.CreativeManagerPro.com), is the only Ad Agency software and Project Management Software for the Creative Design industry, created exclusively for design firms, ad agencies, in-house creative/MarCom departments, and creative service firms. It is a web-based integrated project management software and job tracking solution which streamlines the entire firm, from developing new business, to staffing, managing, and executing projects through to accounting and financial reporting.
Creative Manager Pro is a full-featured, intuitive system which makes project and ad agency management a breeze. Creative Manager Pro supports Customer Relationship Management, Document Management, Shared Calendaring, Accounting and much more. Because it is web-based, there is nothing to install and it can be set up in a single day. It works with both PC and Macintosh from any location over any connection. It may also be installed locally on the client's own servers. All options include training and support to ensure that clients are up and running quickly.
Among the many features of Creative Manager Pro:
- Graphically view your firm's metrics - manage your firm by the numbers.
- Manage Contacts and Leads
- Create Project Schedules, Calendars and Manage Tasks
- Take your contacts and calendar on the road with iCal, AddressBook & Outlook
- Approve Timesheets, Purchasing, Billing and Budgets
- Review and Approve Artwork Online
- Store and Manage Digital Assets
- Manage and Balance the Books
- Free client and vendor access to streamline workflow.
- Quick startup/import from Clients & Profits, Adman and other systems
- Full-featured CRM (Client Relationship Management)
- Extranet capabilities
- Manage media with an interface to the Strata Media Buying systems
- Charting of important industry metrics and firm statistics
The team members at Creative Manager, Inc. have been leaders in ad agency software and project management software for the creative industry and on the Mac OS for over 26 years. They provide their creative clients with two major offerings: Creative Project Manager and Creative Manager Pro. Both programs work seamlessly with the Mac OS and Windows.
Creative Manager Pro - Ad Agency Software and Project Management Software
