2012 Review of FOUNDATION Software - FOUNDATION for Windows
Foundation’s core construction system includes GL, AP, AR, Payroll, Purchase Order, Job Costing, DataGenie Report Designer and CPA Audit/Review Console. An excellent audit trail is built into every module, with all transactions receiving a unique code when posted. System security is multi-level, with users assigned a specific company (or companies) with security assigned per module and per feature in each module.
CONSTRUCTION/CONTRACTOR-SPECIFIC FEATURES - 5 Stars
Users can enter and track estimates for quantities, units, or dollar amounts, and can easily track estimated versus actual dollars for each job in the system. Users can also update existing estimates as the job progresses. Users can easily keep track of historical data, making it easy to more accurately estimate future jobs. FOUNDATION also integrates with various third-party industry-specific estimating programs.
Foundation’s optional Project Management module has been completely revamped, now allowing owners and project managers to easily access all job related documents such as RFP’s, transmittals, field logs and change orders from a single location called the job center. Users can track all change orders, with the ability to easily assign a category to each change order.
All customer, vendor, employee, and subcontractor data is easily managed in FOUNDATION, with subcontractor data tracked in the Purchase Order module, where users can also manage vital information such as certificates of insurance, insurance expiration dates, and workers compensation detail. The Document Imaging and Routing module provides users with the ability to manage all documents and graphic files related to a job, like job pictures, and allow users to route invoices to the appropriate personnel for approval.
The Inventory module supports an unlimited number of items, multiple pricing levels, and varying options for unit measure. The Purchase Order/Subcontract module can track spending levels for products purchased, and users can choose to enter an abbreviated version o f the P.O. or add detail as needed. FOUNDATION for Windows offers an excellent Service Dispatch module which uses a user-defined color coded dispatch board, making call scheduling, progress, and completion tracking easy. Company dispatchers can easily send messages to field technicians using text messaging, and the module also tracks associated items such as equipment warranties, equipment maintenance detail, and can manage all active service contracts.
REPORTING & MANAGEMENT TOOLS - 5 Stars
FOUNDATION for Windows contains excellent reporting options, offering hundreds of standard reports. Excellent Job Cost reporting options include the Job History detail, where users can view all data for the specific job(s) at the transaction level, and the Work in Progress report, which is vital for project managers who wish to keep on schedule and under budget. Bonding and Work in Progress reports offers users detail such as Total Cost, Prior Profit, Current Billings and Prior Billings.
The Over/Under Billing provides an in-depth look at budget details for each job, allowing project managers to see what jobs are over billed, and what jobs are under billed. AIA invoicing is also available in Foundation, and can be completed on standard forms. The optional executive dashboards offer users an excellent selection of reports in Job Cost, GL, AP, AR, and Change Order modules, The Genie Series report writers provides users with custom form and reporting options and the ability to create templates for future use. Foundation’s Document Imaging and Routing module allows users to route invoices to managers for approval and attach all related documents to one central file. Their SaaS deployment option allows easy access, with all remote and field employees able to access the system wherever they are.
INTEGRATION/IMPORT/EXPORT - 5 Stars
Both import and export Genies are available to assist users in transferring data to and from third-party applications. Other data such as purchase order, employee time , and estimating information can be imported into FOUNDATION as well. FOUNDATION easily integrates with all Microsoft Office products such as Excel, Word, and Access. Outlook integration also allows users to save emails and attachments directly to each project or job. Add-on modules such as Project Management, Scheduling, Service Dispatch, Equipment, Time & Material , Inventory, Fixed Assets, Unit Price Billing, Executive Dashboard, Document Imaging & Routing, and Consolidated General Ledger easily integrate with the core construction accounting modules.
