What sort of businesses use Hansa and Office/2?
What computers will the packages run on?
What are the period end routines?
Don't open item systems run slow?
Can I get data in and out easily?
Where are the packages running?
Tell me about the software authors
Is it approved in the UK?
What modules are available?
What distinguishes Hansa and Office/2 from the competition?
What do they cost?
How do I know which package best suits my business?
What support is available?
Q: What sort of businesses use Hansa and Office/2?
A: It is usually 2nd or 3rd time users who now need a more integrated approach and want a system that "doesn't get in the way". Hansa and Office/2 are used by distribution and stocking companies, trade retail, transportation, food, construction. Hansa's job costing is used by design houses, professional services, consultancies, advertising agencies and printing/publishing companies. Also Hansa's sophisticated multi-national trading facilities make it very attractive to the importer/exporter.
Q: What computers will the packages run on?
A: Any combination of Windows 95/98/2000/NT, Mac OS and Unix. A Linux version is also available.
Q: What are the period end routines?
A: None, all data is open item and you can analyse and report on historical data for as long as you want to keep it. Generally businesses keep up to 3 years data on-line.
Q: Don't open item systems run slow?
A: No, the unique design of the software and the database gives almost instantaneous response no matter how much data is there. The packages are the fastest Windows systems on the market and will happily run in true client/server mode over the Internet or GSM mobile phones.
Q: Can I get data in and out easily?
A: Yes it is very fast to import and export data from any file in tab delimited ASCII format in either Office/2 or Hansa Financials. If you want automatic data transfer from or to other applications, Hansa has an ODBC pump which updates the database of your choice every time data is written to the Hansa database. Hansa also has a dedicated port on the server which can communicate with other applications (including this web page) using Open TCP/IP commands.
Q: Where are the packages running?
A: Household names using them are Costa Coffee (part of Whitbread) and Alfa Laval but the vast majority are smaller companies with 1 to 15 users. They are running in 19 language versions in 40 countries in 50,000 businesses.
Q: Tell me about the software authors
A: Hansa Business Solutions (previously known as Baltic Business Software) started in Stockholm in 1989 and now has 150 staff in offices in 14 countries.The International HQ was moved to central London several years ago where the technical support for the UK is also centred.. Hansa started developing for the Apple Mac and moved over to PC Windows in 1994. The system has always been a true Windows system and there is no DOS or DOS heritage in any of the variations. The maturity of the packages has lead to a very intuitive and pleasant user interface - some call it the most elegant system available.
A: Yes - The programs have been fully accredited by the ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales) to conform with UK accounting requirements. Hansa Business Solutions is a full member of BASDA (UK Business and Accounting Software Developers Association) and co-operates fully with UK VAT directives for example.
Q: What modules are available?
A: Today we have Sales and Purchase Orders, Stock, Sales, Purchase and Nominal Ledgers, Sales Support (Diary, Letters & Mailing & e-mail), Quotations, Job Costing, Employee Expenses, Production, Service Orders, Fixed Assets and Contracts for repetitive billing. For specialised requiements there are modules for EPOS, EDI, External Users and Project Planning. All the modules are fully integrated in one company database.
Q: What distinguishes Hansa and Office/2 from the competition?
A: Put simply SUPERIOR DESIGN. Users comment that data entry and search times are cut by two thirds when they use Hansa. The sophisticated features are hidden from the occasional user so training is simplified and users aren't frightened by the power and flexibility of the package. The windows work like your desk - you can have as many as you want open at the same time and where you want them on the screen. You can save these preferences so that wherever you are, the package works the way you want it to. The underlying software technology is state of the art so you are future proofed and being multi-platform you can move them onto whatever hardware or operating system is in vogue at the time.
A: The Office/2 software is £350. Extra users are £200 each. Support is available at £150pa plus £60 per user. Hansa starts at £700 for the three ledgers but a typical multi-user implementation is £4000 upwards. You would need a quotation from one of our consultants after we have discussed your requirements with you.
Q: How do I know which package best suits my business?
A: Hansa Financials and Office/2 are the same program but with a different user interface offering different menu options. Both can be multi-user but Hansa has programming and customisation options. Hansa also has batch and serial numbers, more modules available, multi-currency, multi-location stock, assemblies, automatic discount calculations, user defined analysis codes, what ifs in the Nominal Ledger and multi-lingual facilities. Both packages support dual base currency primarily for the EURO.
A: This is where Countdown Systems come in! We provide all the training and implementation services to UK customers who buy Hansa Financials and Office/2 from us. This would include installation, project management, initial setups, data import from previous systems, user and system manager training, customisation and post implementation review. After the system has settled down and all is running smoothly, technical support and software updates are provided directly by Hansa Business Solutions in London.
