How to Make Free or Cheap International Calls Using VoIP

April 8th, 2009

Most of us have some friends and family living, studying or travelling in different parts of the world. In the past, expensive international call charges meant that people often went for weeks or months without actually hearing their loved ones? voices. These days, though, all that has changed. Thanks to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology, it?s now possible to call anyone, anywhere, at any time, for as long as you want ? and it?s cheap, if not free.

Airmail letters, telegrams, long-distance echoes ? it?s time to relegate all these to history. These days, thanks to email, it?s easy to communicate with people all over the world. Email and messaging services allow you to read, almost instantly, what someone has written to you. And now VoIP technology means you can make international phone calls using broadband, too.

These calls can be free, as long as you?re prepared to accept some limitations. For more flexibility, you can sign up with a VoIP provider that offer low-cost monthly call plans.

Free international calls
Typically ?PC to PC? enables you to make free international calls. To enjoy free international calls, you, and the person you?re calling, both need the following.

1.a computer or laptop
2.a broadband connection
3.a headset/ microphone/ speaker (these may be integral to your computer)
4.an account with a VoIP provider that allows this type of calls, such as Skype or MSN.

This system suits many people. But it does have its drawbacks:

? you are tied to your computer, as is the person you?re calling;
? you need to make sure that you?ve both signed up to compatible providers that will allow you to talk to each other (usually, this has to be the same provider, though is starting to change);
? it is totally independent of your traditional landline service, so you can?t just pick up the phone and dial any number you need/want to, it has to be PC-to-PC;
? you can use this to make a calls to other landlines or mobiles, but if you do, you will be charged for the calls by the minute;
? you often find it?s best to agree in advance a time to call the other person, by email, so with a PC-to-PC so that you ensure you catch each other at each others PC;
? the call quality isn?t as good as that of a regular landline or mobile phone.

Many people are happy to put up with these limitations, because the calls are free. So if this set-up suits you, then that?s great.

Cheap international calls
You may, though, decide that you want the flexibility of making calls using a traditional home telephone instead of through your PC with headsets. If so, you could consider signing up with a VoIP provider that allows this.

With this method, you sign up to a paid call plan with a VoIP provider. The VoIP provider will send you an adaptor that allows you to plug the base of your normal handset into your computer or router. This uses VoIP technology to make ?phone-to-phone? calls. The only difference is that the calls go through your existing broadband connection ? and not through a landline.

It means that you can simply pick up the phone and dial a number, as before. The person you?re calling doesn?t need to have a computer, or broadband. The call quality is so good that the person you?re calling won?t know you?re using VoIP.

How much you pay depends on the call plan you choose. You can choose one that includes just a few European countries, for example, or the US and Canada, or one that covers many more countries around the world. Whatever you go for, the monthly cost will be capped. As long as you call only the countries listed in your call plan, you?ll pay exactly the same subscription, each and every month, for unlimited, anytime calls. No unpleasant bills!

So, if you?re looking to make cheap international calls, it?s simply a matter of working out which suits you best. Then free or cheap calls are yours to enjoy.

Costas Kariolis ? Online Marketing Manager of Vonage UK. Vonage are leading low rate VoIP providers for home & small business users. Offering free international calls and cheap phone calls to landlines via an internet phone service for a set monthly fee. For interviews, quotes, images or comments contact: Costas Kariolis Online Marketing Manager E-mail: theteam@vonage.com

Tags: calls, cheap, international, over, phone, phones, providers, voice, voip
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VoIP ? The Perfect Way to Make Cheap Phone Calls

April 8th, 2009

Making calls through broadband, using VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology, tends to work out much cheaper than using conventional phone companies. Here are the main ways in which VoIP providers can keep their own costs low ? and thus pass on savings to broadband phone customers.

There are several ways that you can save money by using VoIP to make phone calls. It depends mostly on the type of broadband connection you already have, and how a broadband phone might best fit into your life.

No line rental (cable broadband customers)

The biggest savings will be for people who have the newer, fibre optic based cable broadband technology. In the UK, Virgin is the main supplier of cable broadband. With this, your cable broadband is totally separate and independent from your phone line (which may or may not be with the same company). So you can cancel your phone line at any time without affecting your broadband connection.

This means that you can easily switch to making all your calls using VoIP technology (over your cable broadband), and cancel your old phone line completely. You?ll make savings instantly, because you will no longer have to pay for line rental, which can be upwards of ?10 a month. And that?s before you?ve even picked up the phone to make your first call!

A second line for cheap calls (ADSL customers)

Alternatively, your broadband may be the older ?ADSL? copper-based technology. BT, for example, uses this. If this is the case, your broadband connection comes through your provider?s telephone line. If you cancel your landline, you?ll lose your broadband connection, too.

If you have ADSL broadband, you can however still enjoy substantial savings by using your broadband to make phone calls. You could, for example, use VoIP to call PC to PC. In this case, most of your calls will be completely free. If you call from your PC to another landline, you will probably pay for the calls. The tariffs, though, tend to be significantly cheaper than those levied by traditional phone companies.

But you?ll probably make the greatest savings by using VoIP as your second phone line ? and use that to make your main landline or mobile calls. You could either use it as a second family line, for example, or keep it for business, or start using it to make all your calls. You?ll still have to pay for your line rental with your existing provider and your ongoing broadband costs , but, once you?ve set up your second phone line, you can use that line to make much cheaper calls.

Unlimited anytime calls

VoIP providers offer various packages of different country bundles. Each, though, for a low, set monthly fee, allows you to make unlimited anytime calls to landlines in the countries listed in your bundle. This means no more clock-watching, no waiting until a certain time to pick up the phone, no nasty phone bill surprises.

Traditional phone companies, by contrast, have a range of tariffs (often rather confusing). They may charge different rates for day, evening and weekend calls, for example. And they typically charge by the minute. That is, the longer the call, the higher the charge. Broadband phone providers don?t do this. You just pay your set monthly fee, and that?s it.

Free call features

Traditional telephone companies usually offer 3-5 call features. If you want to set up any other features (such as call divert, caller id or caller waiting), you will be charged. VoIP providers typically offer all the same features, and more, for free.

So whatever your existing broadband set-up, you can make significant savings by using voice over IP to make most, if not all, of your phone calls.

Costas Kariolis ? Online Marketing Manager of Vonage UK. Vonage are leading low rate VoIP providers for home & small business users. Offering cheap phone calls and free international calls to landlines via an internet phone service for a set monthly fee. For interviews, quotes, images or comments contact: Costas Kariolis Online Marketing Manager E-mail: theteam@vonage.com

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    Tags: calls, cheap, international, over, phone, phones, providers, voice, voip
    Posted in Computers | No Comments »

    How VoIP Could Benefit Your SOHO (Small Office, Home Office)

    April 8th, 2009

    It?s hard work running your own businesses. As well as being an expert in your own right, you also need to handle or oversee all the paperwork, finances, cash-flow, and record-keeping. One of the best ways to help yourself and your SOHO is to make your phone calls over your existing broadband connection. Find a good VoIP provider, and you can be sure that your ?small office, home office? ? at least when it comes to telephone calls ? runs as smoothly as possible.

    Here are 10 ways in which Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) can most benefit anyone who runs a SOHO (Small Office, Home Office).

    1. Save money. You?re probably aware by now that using VoIP slashes the costs of making telephone calls. If you?ve got a cable broadband connection (such as Virgin) you can cancel your cable phone line but keep your cable broadband connection. This means your VoIP phone line becomes your main phone line without the need to pay line rental anymore. If you?re an ADSL broadband customer (such as with BT), you can?t cancel your phone line without losing your broadband connection. But if you still make a lot of calls, you can still save thanks to the unlimited call packages available from VoIP providers.

    2. Cheap second business line. If you decide that you need a second line, with a second work number dedicated to your SOHO business, it?s easy to set up. Whether you?re a cable or ADSL broadband customer, you can easily find a VoIP provider and start making calls to other landlines or mobiles using your existing broadband set-up.

    3. Predictable monthly bills. VoIP offers unlimited, anytime calls to landlines and sometimes, mobiles. This means that you always know what your bill will be. No unpleasant surprises, no bill shocks. You can manage your SOHO budget much more smoothly.

    4. Choice of dialling code. When you sign up to a VoIP provider, they will usually give you the option of choosing a dialling code that suits you. If your customers are in a different part of the country, you can choose a code that?s local to them. So when they need to speak to you, they pay only the cost of a local call.

    5. Online account and record keeping. Free, detailed online records mean that you can check whom you called, when, and for how long, at any time.

    6. Choice of packages. When you sign up, you can choose the package of countries that that suits you best. Do you just call UK numbers? Or do you need to include European destinations? Perhaps you make most of your calls to the US or India? Whatever your SOHO needs, there will be a package to suit you. And you can change or upgrade whenever you want, as and when your SOHO business grows.

    7. Always be contactable. You customers will know they can always get hold of you. Most VoIP providers throw in an armful of free features, including many that traditional landline providers would charge for. From call waiting to ring-back, 3-way calling and call forwarding, you can rest assured that there?s everything you need to make sure you offer top-class customer service.

    8. Unlimited anytime calls. You can call customers back confident that you can talk for as long as they need you to, without worrying about the telephone bill. If you offer to call customers back when they ring you, you will add value and make your business stand out in terms of customer relations.

    9. Call clarity. Your customers won?t know you?re using a broadband telephone unless you tell them.

    10. Easy to set up. If you?ve got a broadband connection and a DECT telephone, all you need to do is find a good VoIP provider and sign up. They?ll send you the adaptor you need to connect your phone to your broadband (using either your computer or your router) and you?re ready to start making cheap calls through the internet.

    So if you run a small business, or you are self-employed and work at home, using broadband to make phone calls makes sound business sense.

    Costas Kariolis ? Online Marketing Manager of Vonage UK. Vonage are leading low rate VoIP phone providers for home & small business users. Offering cheap phone calls and free international calls to landlines via an internet phone service for a set monthly fee. For interviews, quotes, images or comments contact: Costas Kariolis Online Marketing Manager E-mail: theteam@vonage.com

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      Tags: calls, cheap, international, over, phone, phones, providers, voice, voip
      Posted in Computers | No Comments »

      Checklist: How to Choose a VoIP Provider For Your Small Office, Home Office Business (SOHO)

      April 8th, 2009

      Once you?ve decided to use VoIP for your Small Office Home Office, it?s time to get set up. You?re probably keen to get going, find a VoIP provider, and start saving money on phone calls. It?s a good idea, though, to take a little time to consider some of the points on this check list. That way, you can be sure you?ve chosen the VoIP provider that?s best for you, and best for your business.

      Who are the best established VoIP providers?

      VoIP isn?t new technology, as such, and though broadband telephony is likely to become the way we all make telephone calls, you want to be sure that your provider is reliable and experienced.

      What?s your existing broadband infrastructure?

      Make sure you know how your existing broadband works. Is it cable (eg Virgin)? If so, you could cancel your cable telephone line entirely without affecting your broadband connection. If it is ADSL (eg BT), however, you can?t cancel your phone line because you?ll lose your broadband, too. You can, though use a VoIP phone line as your second phone line which you could use to make your business calls.

      Do you need just one line, or two?

      If you work from home, either all the time or part of the time, you may want to separate business from private telephone calls, so a second, cheap VoIP phone line might make more sense, especially if your business is growing or likely to grow.

      What features will help?

      Will your customers be able to get hold of you whenever they need to? Check that the VoIP provider offers inclusive features such as call-forwarding, three-way calling, ringback, do not disturb, call waiting or voicemail sent to your email address.

      Call plans.

      Think about what you need in terms of the business calls you make. Do you call mostly UK numbers? Or do you need to call other European countries, or mostly the US? Look at the call plans the VoIP offers. Is there a good choice? Is there one that suits you? Are calls to mobiles included?

      What exactly does ?unlimited? mean?

      Make sure you understand exactly what the VoIP provider is offering. If it says ?unlimited?, does this mean that the calls really are unlimited to the countries listed in your call plan? Most VoIP providers will have a ?fair usage? policy. That is, they will give you have a generous allowance of free minutes, say 2000 (about 33 hours a month). What is the VoIP?s allowance? Is your SOHO likely to use more minutes than that? What will you pay if that happens?

      What will you pay if you call countries outside your plan?

      Check what you?ll be charged if you call countries outside the call plan you?ve signed up to. VoIP usually offer very competitive rates, but it?s a good idea to check. If you think you may make regular calls to a country outside one call plan, it may be a good idea to see if there?s another call plan that includes that country.

      What do its customers say?

      Try and find some of the customer feedback about the VoIP provider. Reviews from customers, either satisfied or disgruntled, will often tell you a lot about what you need to know about a company in terms of reliability, customer service, technical support, customer satisfaction etc.

      What are the extra costs?

      As well as the advertised monthly call plan, make sure you know exactly what else you might have to pay for. The VoIP provider may, for example, charge a set-up or administration fee, a line activation fee, a cancellation fee. There may be charges for equipment, too, though some of it may be free.

      Is the VoIP?s website clear?

      You don?t want to have to root through a website to discover hidden charges and the small print. A well written, professional, clear website, with all the charges clearly set out, is a sign that the VoIP provider is committed to professional transparency.

      What?s the support like?

      A phone line is one of the most crucial elements of any SOHO. So it?s a good idea to make sure that the VoIP provider offers technical support and customer service 24/7. Can you always get hold of someone if you need to? Do you have to pay for this?

      What add-ons do they offer?

      If or when your business starts to grow, can you adapt your VoIP phone system accordingly? Find out whether the VoIP provider offers add-ons such as a second phone line, a fax line, or the ability to make calls from your laptop.

      Can you keep your number?

      If you?re starting up in business, it may make sense to get a whole new business number. But if customers already use your landline number, you may want to keep that. Check that the VoIP provider offers the option of ?porting? your existing number to your new VoIP phone provider.

      Can you choose a dialling code?

      You may want a VoIP telephone number that?s local to you. Or you may want one that?s local to your customers. Either way, find out what the VoIP offers in terms of choosing dialling codes, and check that the code you want is available.

      What about emergencies?

      A final important consideration is to think about how your business would cope if your broadband connection went down. If that happens, and your VoIP telephone is temporarily out of action, you need to make sure you have a back-up plan (such as a mobile), particularly in case of critical business calls or even calls to the emergency services.

      Once you?ve been through this check list, you should be ready to choose your VoIP provider. It shouldn?t take long to get your VoIP phone line set up, and then you?ll be ready to start saving money by using your broadband to make and receive business calls.

      Costas Kariolis ? Online Marketing Manager of Vonage UK. Vonage are leading low rate VoIP providers for home & small business users. Offering cheap phone calls and free international calls to landlines via an internet phone service for a set monthly fee. For interviews, quotes, images or comments contact: Costas Kariolis Online Marketing Manager E-mail: theteam@vonage.com

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        Tags: calls, cheap, international, over, phone, phones, providers, voice, voip
        Posted in Computers | No Comments »

        Choosing a VOIP Provider For Your Home: Points to Consider

        April 8th, 2009

        If you?re ready to try VoIP for your home, there are several points worth thinking about before you choose your VoIP provider. That way you can be sure you pick the set up that?s right for your family?s needs and your particular set-up.

        Do you already have broadband?

        You need broadband at home in order to be able to make phone calls using VoIP technology. It?s a good idea to make sure you know whether it?s cable (such as Virgin) or ADSL (such as BT), as this may affect your options.

        Do you want to make calls from your PC? Or from a regular telephone?

        You can make free PC-to-PC calls if you use a VoIP provider such as Skype. This might be just right for you, as long as you don?t mind being tied to your computer. The person you?re calling must also have broadband, must also have signed up to the same provider, and must also be at their computer. This set-up suits many people. You can also make calls from your PC to other people?s phones, but you will be charged for these. And you will still have to be sitting at your computer, of course.

        Alternatively, you can choose to make VoIP calls using your existing telephone (phone-to-phone). This is simply a matter of connecting your telephone to your computer, using an adaptor that the VoIP provider will send to you. This kind of service is not free ? you usually pay a low monthly subscription. What you typically get in return is unlimited anytime calls to landlines in countries listed in the call plan you?ve chosen.

        Which VoIP providers are popular and reliable?

        The chances are that broadband telephony will become the way we all make telephone calls. VoIP has been around for a while, but it?s only recently that it?s started to become mainstream. So you want to be sure that your provider is reliable and experienced. Take a look at customer reviews and feedback, as these will often tell you a lot about the provider.

        What is the customer service and technical support like?

        Find out whether you can get help and support, from a real person, 24/7. Do you have to pay for this, should you need it?

        What call plans do the VoIP providers offer?

        Think about the calls you and your family need to make. Are they mostly to UK landlines? Do you regularly call other countries? Or are most of your calls to family and friends in the US and Canada, or in India? Check that the VoIP provider offers a call plan that suits your calling habits.

        What about calls to countries outside your call plan?

        There?s no point paying for a call plan that includes a ton of countries you rarely call. Check the VoIP providers international call rates. These are usually pretty competitive, so you may be better off going for a call plan that covers the countries you call most frequently, and then paying for the occasional call outside that separately.

        What?s your budget?

        When you make phone calls the traditional way, using a landline, you pay for the landline rental itself, plus the cost of any calls you make, usually by the minute. This means that people rarely know what their bill is going to be. VoIP providers work very differently. Once you?ve signed up for a particular call plan, you can make unlimited calls to landlines in that plan. No nasty bill surprises: you know exactly what your bill will be, as long as you stick to the destinations in your plan. And that helps with household budgeting, of course.

        Are there any hidden costs?

        Check what else you may be expected to pay for. Look, for example, for set-up fees, administration fees, cancellation fees/policy, refunds policy, equipment costs etc. Does the VoIP provider try to hide these? Or are they clearly spelled out, which suggests that the provider is committed to transparency?

        Do you want VoIP as your only line? Or do you want a second home line?

        If you?ve got cable, such as Virgin, then you can cancel your Virgin phone line without losing your broadband connection. That is, you stop paying cable line rental and simply start making all your calls via your new VoIP phone service, using your existing broadband connection. If you?ve got ADSL broadband (such as BT), then you won?t be able to cancel your phone line, because it would terminate your broadband connection. You can still, though, enjoy substantial savings by setting up a second line with a VoIP provider and use that to make most of your calls.

        What features do you need?

        Does the VoIP provider offer all the features you need? Think about facilities such as caller ID, call waiting, voicemail, 3-way calling, ringback etc.

        Can you transfer (also known as port) your number if you want?

        Will the VoIP provider allow you to keep your original telephone number? How does this process work?

        Can you choose a dialling code that?s local to you?

        If you decide to go for a new number, or a second line, can you choose an appropriate dialling code?

        What if your broadband goes down?

        Be aware that if your broadband connection is lost, however temporarily, you won?t be able to make VoIP calls during that period. Think about what your back-up would be, particularly if you needed to make emergency calls, or someone was trying to contact you. Have you got a mobile?

        If you?ve considered all these points, you?re ready to go ahead, choose a VoIP provider and start saving money by making calls through your home broadband.

        Costas Kariolis ? Online Marketing Manager of Vonage UK. Vonage are leading low rate VoIP providers for home & small business users. Offering cheap phone calls and free international calls to landlines via an internet phone service for a set monthly fee. For interviews, quotes, images or comments contact: Costas Kariolis Online Marketing Manager E-mail: theteam@vonage.com

        Tags: calls, cheap, international, over, phone, phones, providers, voice, voip
        Posted in Computers | No Comments »

        VoIP (Voice Over IP) Explained

        April 8th, 2009

        Telephone calls through broadband: this is the future of telephony. Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology represents a revolution in the way we communicate. Here?s an outline of three of the most common ways that VoIP can be used to make cheap phone calls.

        You?ve probably heard about new technology that allows people to use broadband to make cheap phone calls. Perhaps you already make calls or video-calls yourself from your computer. Whatever you know already, it helps to have a clear, basic grasp of how this exciting new generation of telephone services works and how it can be used.

        The technical name for making cheap phone calls using broadband is ?Voice Over Internet Protocol?. Some people call it ?Voice Over IP?, or even ?VoIP? (say ?voyp?). Perhaps you?ve heard of ?VoIP phones?. VoIP is, basically, the umbrella term for the technology for making telephone calls using the Internet and broadband. It uses audio systems to encode speech in a way that means that it can be transmitted digitally over an Internet Protocol network.

        There are many ways of using VoIP technology and a broadband connection to make phone calls. Here are three of the most common.

        1. PC to PC

        The first, simplest and typically free way to use VoIP is ?PC to PC?. For this, you?ll need to be at your computer, as will the person you?re calling. You?ll also both need a headset/microphone/speaker. And you?ll need either USB VoIP phone, which plugs into your computer?s USB socket. If you don?t have that, you can install or download a piece of software called a ?softphone?. This allows VoIP calling without dedicated equipment. Though this is undoubtedly the cheapest way to make VoIP calls, the call quality is often not great. And you?re tied to your computer.

        2. PC to Phone

        The second popular way to use voice over IP is by using your PC or computer to call a normal landline or mobile phone. The advantage of this is that the person you?re calling doesn?t need to have signed up with the same service, doesn?t need all the equipment etc. You, though, will be charged for these ?outage? calls. And you are, as above, tied to your PC.

        3. Phone to Phone

        A VoIP provider sends you a VoIP adaptor. You use this to connect your normal digital cordless (?DECT?) telephone to the broadband modem / router on your computer. Once you?ve installed the VoIP provider?s software (this converts the analog signal to a digital one), you continue to use your phone exactly as before, using your existing broadband connection to make cheap telephone calls. To call, you pick up your existing digital cordless (DECT) phone and dial as normal. Your computer doesn?t even need to be switched on. When their phone rings at the other end, they answer as normal.

        The beauty of this final method of using voice over IP is that your computer doesn?t even have to be switched on for you to use the VoIP technology and broadband to make calls. The person you?re calling doesn?t have to have signed up to the same VoIP provider. Nor do they need to have broadband, or be at their computer. In fact, they don?t even need to have a computer.

        So there it is ? three of the most common ways in which you can now use VoIP technology to make cheap phone calls.

        Costas Kariolis ? Online Marketing Manager of Vonage UK. Vonage are leading low rate VoIP Providers for home & small business users. Offering cheap phone calls and free international calls to landlines via an internet phone service for a set monthly fee. For interviews, quotes, images or comments contact: Costas Kariolis Online Marketing Manager E-mail: theteam@vonage.com

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          Tags: calls, cheap, international, over, phone, phones, providers, voice, voip
          Posted in Computers | No Comments »

          Construction Software is Not the Same as Manufacturing Software

          April 7th, 2009

          In today’s world, it is fairly common to come across a contractor that also manufactures some or all of the products that they install for their customers. Custom cabinets are a common example, as are some structural steel and low voltage products. Companies that fall in to this category that are looking for new software often have assembly job shops that design custom pieces and a separate installation department that installs the products at a customer’s site. These companies especially can benefit from new construction software that allows for the most accurate estimating and quoting capabilities.

          Unfortunately, finding a piece of construction accounting software that covers both sides of the business is not as easily done as it is said. Although both sides of the business deal with job cost, there are several issues that arise when trying to integrate the two sides with one piece of software.

          For example, manufacturing jobs involve a separate set of constraints than construction jobs. In manufacturing, you often deal with work centers, machinery, and individuals that carry out the manufacturing process. These job shops often have to rush jobs, change schedules, or make other changes on the fly based on priority shifts. Having software that is flexible enough to deal with these sudden changes is imperative in a manufacturing situation. However, this is not the case with construction jobs. Construction projects generally involve longer lead times and have to consider variables such as subcontractor scheduling that make quick and extreme changes in plans very difficult, if not impossible to pull off.

          Second, manufacturing and construction differ in the way that cost accounting works. Manufacturing projects track direct labor, materials, and a set overhead allocation when calculating job cost. These job costs are accumulated as the project moves forward from one work center to another. These costs are tracked on the balance sheet as assets until the job is shipped off, meaning that inventory costs constantly change as projects move along. Manufacturers also need to know the current progress of a job to tell customers when the project will be complete and delivered.

          Construction projects, on the other hand, recognize revenue and costs on a percentage complete or job complete basis.

          Most contractors do not record costs until they are actually billed for them, regardless of whether or not the labor has been completed. They are concerned with the cost to date of a project in relation to the estimated budget for the project and monitor under or over billing based on the percentage of the job complete and the percentage of the estimated cost incurred to date. This kind of cost break down simply does not work in a manufacturing environment.

          Construction software will record costs in a linear fashion as the job moves along. These costs can be captured and tracked in real time with the right combination of software and processes.

          Another difference between construction and manufacturing sides of a business is that the construction side often has to deal with project management issues such as RFIs, change orders, and submittals. These things are simply not relevant in manufacturing but must be accounted for in a construction accounting package. Construction software also allows for progress billing, which is not necessary in manufacturing.

          Last of all, manufacturing jobs require quotes that involve a bill of materials which is not usually done in a construction job. Manufacturers like to use software to keep track of things such as change orders, revision histories, and drawings that are not covered by construction software.

          Therefore, although manufacturing and construction companies both deal with ‘job cost,’ the term refers to different things in the two companies. As a result, it is necessary to separate construction software and manufacturing software.

          David Kraft is a freelance author that writes about numerous subjects. He is very knowledgeable about construction accounting software and writes tips for business owners looking for advice in selecting their next package. Visit his construction software reviews site for more information.

          Tags: accounting, construction, management, software
          Posted in Computers | No Comments »

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