ELMA 3.2.5
The ELMA company is glad to announce updating of the product line, change of price policy, and also release of the new version of the ELMA 3.2.5 system.
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In this version developers delivered emphasis on improvement of user interfaces. In particular, interfaces of document flow and the portal of a system were considerably improved; there were fast and convenient instruments of operational setup of own interfaces of tasks, documents and other objects. There were new convenient tools for operational information analysis and control of work of the employee which considerably will facilitate work of the head and will help it to make the correct management decision timely.
Changes concerned also a product line. All applications of the ELMA system work at the BPM platform that essentially distinguishes our system from similar developments. Therefore purchasing, for example, the module CRM, you receive not just effective solution for sales department, but also an opportunity to quickly create the reporting under work with clients or to control maintaining the transaction with the help of an active funnel of sales. I.e. you always receive potentially bigger functionality of a system which gives the chance for its further development without considerable labor costs and monetary injections.
The mechanism of permanent improvement is put in all ELMA applications. Therefore at all applications developed based on the BPM platform is "+": ECM+, CRM+, Projects +. Also you can separately buy the ELMA BPM and ELMA KPI application. According to updating of a product line, also price policy of the company changed.
As well as before, use of the ELMA system promotes increase in transparency of a company performance, quality improvement and processing speed of flows of documents and information, allows to control efficiency of all employees conveniently. Thus, due to use of the ELMA system the profitability of business in general increases.
Improvements happened in all product line of ELMA.
New in the general functionality of a system
Business process management
One of important competitive advantages of ELMA is that almost everything in a system is configured visually, by means of a mouse. However for change of parameters of some objects, for example, of fields of a card of partners or transactions, deeper setup of a system – writing of razor-forms was necessary earlier.
In the new version of a system we implemented a possibility of setup of forms of objects in simple and convenient graphic WYSIWYG editor. So setup of forms is performed by means of a mouse!
The form designer is built-in directly in the Designer of ELMA: with its help you will be able quickly to define appearance of cards of documents, problems of business processes, partners and other objects of a system.
The mechanism allows to transform appearance of forms beyond recognition: you can not only define arrangement of elements on a card – it is possible to add and remove new tabs, functional units, buttons, office elements.
Improvements of the internal portal
Work with organizational structure
In the version of system 3.2 the organizational structure of the company could be modelled on several tabs of the designer – it allowed to facilitate model, to make it more readable and attractive visually, besides, it is easier to service organizational structure on several tabs. In version 3.2.5 we made a number of improvements on work with the enclosed organizational structures, made this process more convenient.
The most important innovation in a question of work with the enclosed organizational structures is the master of transfer of elements between organizational structure tabs. Work of the master is very simple – you just select what elements it is necessary to transfer from the current tab to the new or already existing organizational structure tabs.
What is especially important, all communications of transferable elements remain: being selected from a system (in areas of responsibility of business processes, at distribution of access rights, at appointment of employees to positions) after transfer they will remain and will continue to function as earlier. It will allow to bring order to those organizations which simulated an organization structure on one tab earlier and were afraid of transfer of model on different tabs because of labor input of the procedure. Now it is possible to carry out this task very quickly!
Emergence of function of search of use of elements became one more important completion of the mechanism of work with organizational structure. Now process of service of organizational structure became safer – before removal of an element of organizational structure it is possible to be convinced whether it is involved somewhere in a system. In case of removal of the necessary element of organizational structure, all logic tied on it will be damaged – for example if the element was selected from an area of responsibility of some process, then after removal of this element of organizational structure, business process will work not as initially thought.
Search of uses of an element of organizational structure carries out thorough scanning of a system. Search results are grouped in system modules and made out in the form of a tree. So, it is possible to see, for example, that some employee is appointed to some position, the position is used in several business processes and also some indicators are tied to it.
Now before removal of an element of organizational structure the Designer of ELMA will warn about possible risks of this action and will suggest to execute scanning of a system regarding use of an element.
Appearance of the portal
When developing the new version of a system huge attention was paid directly to the interface of the internal portal. We made the interface much more logically and more user-friendly.
In particular, the main menus of a system underwent big changes. In the bigger number of sections the possibility of use of the configured filters appeared. For example, now it is possible to configure any filters in tasks – it will allow to find tasks of the necessary condition in one click. For example, it is possible to create the filter which will display all your current problems of approval of documents which require accomplishment until the end of the working day.
In general, lately we gradually implemented the mechanism of filters in all system modules. Filters will allow to build quickly the user-friendly interfaces providing to the user the necessary information in one click of a mouse.
What is important, in a system there is a special universal portlet allowing to display any filter on the homepage. For example, it is possible to display the same problems of approval of documents (the filter of tasks), requests in a week and their statuses (the filter of processes), the list of projects of the specific manager (the filter of projects), etc. In this case the user will not even need to perform any operations to obtain necessary information.
The display command of the filter can also be tied to any link in a system: for example, it can be a menu item or the button of a portlet.
New in ELMA ECM+
Setup of document forms in the visual editor
Thanks to a form designer there was an opportunity to flexibly configure document forms and also forms of creation and editing documents. In the Designer the form is presented in the form of set of blocks: you can move them by means of a mouse to the right places, delete unnecessary blocks, add new.
For documents of different types different cards can be configured that will allow to consider specifics of these documents. For example, by means of a form designer it is possible to create here such card:
Improvement of interfaces
When developing version 3.2.5 we made work with documents much more simply. Pages of tasks were considerably processed – the necessary elements are on a type while unnecessary we removed far away and in general processed execution of pages – now it is more convenient to work with them.
On pages of problems of document flow it is possible to place data from a context of business processes now. It allows to make pages of tasks more informative – all information, necessary for work, is available on one page, it is not necessary to make additional actions that to browse it. On the page of a task it is possible to display as document attributes, belonging to a task, and absolutely random data from a context of business process or a route of the document.
Classical example of use of a new feature – process of approval of payment documents. When often the head is interested only the amount, the receiver and a payment date – will hardly watch the document the head – this information to it, as a rule, enough for decision-making.
Really, for accomplishment of a task of the document the user not always needs – to know usually enough the document of value of couple of its attributes. Thanks to a new feature work with documents will be performed much quicker.
Access control
In a system the new level of the rights to the document – Issue of the Rights appeared. With its help it is possible to permit the user to issue to other users of the right to the document, the user's rights which are not exceeding on powers.
It is very convenient, for example, in the following case: you set a task to the colleague, but do not want to issue him full authority for the document or even on editing the document (you are afraid of editing of versions or attributes). However if to issue to the contractor of the right only to reading, it will have problems at involvement of other employees to work – for example, his subordinates. Now you can issue to this user of the right to reading and issue of the rights – then the contractor will be able to delegate a task to the subordinates who will also acquire the rights only to reading the document without a possibility of its editing.
New functionality
The additional functionality was received by transactions of approval and acquaintance. Now users can execute interruption of these transactions, without waiting for their end if there was such need. For example, if the document lost relevance or was sent mistakenly.
Besides, the list approving or examining now can be managed after the beginning of approval – it is possible to add to the corresponding lists of new contractors or to delete from them unnecessary (in this case the task from them is removed).
Also function of formation of the sheet of acquaintance was implemented. Now sheets of acquaintance in the PDF format can be created on a template the same as earlier it was possible to create sheets of approval. Besides, if approval or acquaintance with the document was executed by other user on substitution of the initial contractor, it will be mentioned in the document. Thus, it will be visible who was a real contractor of a task.
Transactions with web documents
Web documents are actively used in the modern companies for fast information exchange and creation of content "on the fly". In order that users could use the tool of web documents wholeheartedly, new features were added to it.
In particular, now all transactions which are made with normal electronic documents – approval are available to web documents, acquaintance, commenting and other actions are available both from basic, and from an expanded card of the web document. Except standard menus of Actions and Sending, on a shortcut bar often used actions of Change of access rights and Creation of the connected document are taken out.
Now it is also possible to find all information on the web document from a full-fledged card: to similarly standard electronic documents, the information about the author of the document and last modifications is added, the history of all transactions and comments is visible.
In a tab of the Version of the web document it is possible to see all change history irrespective of who and when made them. For fast obtaining information the user can not pass into a card, and use the About the Document button on basic representation.
New in ELMA Projects +
In version 3.2.5 our solution for the project organizations gained considerable development. Thanks to new tools creation of the effective pipeline of projects became possible – when process of management of projects is delivered on a flow, projects are executed accurately, and the necessary people it is always aware of the state of affairs.
We entered a concept of project lifecycle. Project lifecycle consists of the sequence of stages. Project stage characterizes a current status of the project. For example, it can be a stage of initial budgeting of the project or a stage of final signing of the closing documents of the project.
At the same time the project is only in one stage therefore managers and curators of projects can obtain quickly information on a current status of the project only having learned its stage. However it is not the main charm of new functionality: transitions between stages can be configured as active, i.e. in attempt of change of project stage business process will be started.
This business process can automate some regulated procedures (sending documents for approval) or to execute check – whether really it is possible to transfer the project to a new stage (if the stage of writing of terms of reference is finished, a system will request from the manager of terms of reference – otherwise will be refused transfer to the following stage).
Thus, project management does not come down to spontaneous activity which success entirely depends on experience of the contractor – the ELMA system turns it into completely controlled and monitored process.
Solution for maintaining registers
Starting with version 3.2.5 the solution for maintaining registers of projects appeared. Now it is possible to perform search of projects in the necessary parameters and to save them in a filter format. It allows to receive lists of projects on the necessary condition, for example, it is possible to watch the status on all projects of the specific manager or to quickly receive projects on the specific customer.
Solutions on labor costs
In the new version of ELMA 3.2.5. there was a possibility of formation of filters of labor costs and their use in separate portlets. The solution allows to find quickly the labor costs and labor costs of the subordinates on the necessary condition in one mouse click – in general the solution of filters standard for the ELMA system, is implemented just as in other system modules.
Moreover, information on labor costs can be taken out in a separate portlet of the project and to constantly carry out monitoring of this important indicator. It is the form of display of operational information, convenient for the head, of the project course necessary for control, the analysis and acceptance of effective management decisions on a work progress over the project.
In general the mechanism of labor costs received a lot of small completions and improvements, it became more pleasant and more convenient to work.
New in ELMA CRM+
Form designer
As our practice shows, most often requirements to change of standard forms happens during the work with CRM: change of cards of partners, transactions, etc.
Thanks to innovation – a form designer – this problem is solved quicker and more simply now. In a case the form designer works with CRM in the same way: in the Designer you see a schematic form where by functional units it is designated as where it will be displayed to the user. Moving blocks, deleting them and adding new you change appearance of a form.
On screenshots the example of how the card of the partner can be changed is given – the standard form contains a large number of tabs, to the user a large number of various fields which solid part he can never use is displayed:
To change a form, we will open in the Designer a card of viewing a form of the partner on editing. Let's delete not used tabs, we will change arrangement existing that it was more convenient to us. Information which was had on a separate tab (the list of relationship with the partner) earlier we will transfer to the first tab – this information will be always in the public eye now:
After preserving of changes to a card of the partner in a web part will look as follows:
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Everything is very simple! In this way it is possible to redefine appearance of other objects of CRM. And, it is separately possible to change not only a card of viewing an object, but also the page of its creation and editing (the page of creation of the partner, the page of editing the transaction). It became even simpler and more convenient to work with clients in ELMA!
Telephony
Opportunity is necessary for effective work of sales department not only to appoint calls to partners in their registration form, but also to call, without quitting the system. In the new version of ELMA 3.2.5 the ability to integrate with three IP telephony systems appeared: Infratel, Oktell and Asterisk.
If on your server one of these programs is set and the module CRM + is activated, then you can:
1. Make outgoing calls from the client's card, clicking according to any link of the phone number in a system. At the same time the outgoing call at the same time is fixed in a card of the partner – it is possible to browse all history of calls. 2. Accept and fix incoming calls. These calls are also fixed in a card of the partner.
When the incoming call arrives, the ELMA system browses the list of phones at partners, opportunities or contact persons. At the same time there is a following: 1. If a system does not identify the phone number, it opens a form of creation of a new opportunity in which in the field Phone is written the entering number. Thus, it is possible to create the new potential client. 2. If a system identifies the phone number, it opens a form, the client identified by a system in which it is possible to write a call subject, the discussed issue and comments. After clicking of the Save button in a system relationship Incoming call with that client whose card is displayed on a form is created.
After connection and activation of the module CRM + cards of partners, contacts and opportunities change a little: on the toolbar above there is a Call button and phone numbers are displayed in blue color. If the module CRM + is not connected, phone numbers are displayed in black color and represent the plain text.
By clicking the Call button or the phone number, the outgoing call to the client is performed. At the same time the dialog box for fixation of an outgoing call in ELMA appears. After the conversation in it it is possible to write a subject or comments on an outgoing call. After clicking in a dialog box of any of buttons of further actions in a system relationship Outgoing call with the client whose of card called is created. Its card remains open and in it on the Relationship tab record about an outgoing call appears. Record is crossed out because the call is noted as executed at once.
Thanks to integration of ELMA into the IP-telephonies programs, employees can quickly do calls to clients, at the same time all history of relationship and comments according to the results of negotiations remains in a card of the partner. What considerably facilitates control of work of sales department for the head and in general does work of employees of more organized.
Instrument of tracking of dynamics of transactions
Information on a stage of transactions, can move in the form of convenient for the head of sales department or the commercial director to a form for control and the analysis of stages of transactions – Loudspeakers of transactions. The head selects the employee (one or several) and the period for which it is necessary to create the report.
Information is developed in the form of easily read out and informative table on which all transitions of transactions from a stage in a stage are visible. And also those stages which were left without change. Stages are displayed by those flowers what are defined for them in a funnel of sales. The head sees over what orders the employee qualitatively worked and what were left without change or were even rolled away on earlier stage.
On diagonal in light yellow squares the number of transactions which did not change the stage during the selected report period is displayed. In light green squares higher than the diagonal is displayed the number of transactions which passed from some previous stage into the subsequent. It is positive dynamics. In pink squares lower than the diagonal is displayed the number of transactions which replaced the stage with the subsequent with previous. I.e. the transaction was rolled away from an agreement signature stage on budgeting back. It is bad dynamics of transactions. In the right extreme column it is shown how many transactions and at what stage are closed with success. In line it is below shown how many transactions and at what stage are closed with failure.
Having clicked on digit in a square, it is possible to open a window with the list of transactions in which it is shown - what transactions make this digit. Thus, the head sees the current situation on work of the individual employee or the whole department that helps it to make effective management decision quickly.
Improvements of reports
In the new version the functionality of reports is added. Many users wanted to work with reports in a new way. Quite often there was a need to share the constructed report with other users of a system and standard printabilities and export of reports was explicit insufficiently. Therefore the mechanism of preserving of reports was created.
Now after generation of the report the user can save it as the web document of the ELMA system. It can be necessary to record the current situation and to learn its dynamics in the future or to send the saved option to other employee – for this purpose earlier it was required to export the report and to create the electronic document, or to use e-mail. So to use external means.
To reduce time for this standard transaction, the single interface of preserving and sending the report was specially developed: after verification of the contents, document title and the choice of receivers, a system will undertake creation of the web document, preserving of the created report and creation of tasks for the selected contractors.
Integration with ELMA
At a certain stage of growth of IT infrastructure of the enterprise, the number of integration ligaments of a set of the used information systems reaches hundreds of points, and their support becomes extremely expensive. At such moments competent business addresses the specialized systems – integration buses (ESB - Enterprise Service Bus) which undertake routing of messages between the different systems. In the systems it is necessary only to develop connections to actually bus.
Though ELMA is successfully used as the center of integration infrastructure in the small and medium enterprises, in the new version needs of large business were considered – and in Corporate delivery of ELMA the module of integration into data buses appeared.
For preparation of the new module two solutions were selected:
- MSMQ – Microsoft Message Queue – the standard solution of the leader of IT of the industry which is used by thousands of the companies. Differs in universal availability on Windows servers.
- JMS – Java Message Service – the open complex developed by Sun company on the basis of which tens of solutions (including IBM WebSphere, Oracle Weblogic, SAP NetWeaver) implemented at the enterprises of all industries – from grocery chains to space holdings are developed.
- ELMA gives an opportunity of storage of any number of message queues of different types – to similarly integration modules with other systems.
In business processes special blocks of sending the message to the bus and data acquisition and buses appeared. Work with the bus is fixed in a special log that allows to configure, debug and accompany integration easier. Thus, developers need only to describe logic of processing of packets of a specific product, all the rest will undertake the module of integration into Data buses.
Updating of integration with MS Outlook
We remind that users who got used to work with e-mail using the Microsoft Outlook program thanks to integration with ELMA can create from the interface convenient to them the user tasks and documents in the ELMA system on the basis of e-mails. The document can be not only is created, but at once registered in ELMA from the Microsoft Outlook program.
Clients and partners of Elma company start active use of ELMA 3.2.5
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