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Caseware Time

Caseware Time is the central component of Caseware's practice management product, Time & Today.  Intended for local installation (or hosted from a Terminal Server), a module called Time Web Sheets that provides web-based time entry from the client's web server is now available.   Mid-size firms and firms with branch-office locations can use the scalable back-end recently released and the Terminal Server compatibility.  Setup includes the ability to import balances, client lists, and other user-specified data through text files.

The application's design is intuitive, with workflows fully documented and shown as navigational aids.  This makes it easy for new users to become familiar with the application.  Terminology is customizable, as are taxes, allowing for an international client base.  Recent updates to their product include the ability to have unlimited work codes for users, track history for rate changes by employee, and a SQL back-end to better handle growing datasets.  The SQL backend has removed the need to create a new file at each year-end.

Caseware Time is easy to use, and built for offices moving toward paperless.  Drill down reporting through a dashboard, a document manager (with template management for new documents), and report writing are all built into the application.  With this functionality, it's possible to create and manage custom newsletters and periodic announcements for clients and maintain the distribution lists all in one location.  Best of all, reports and documents can be exported to Excel, Word, PDF, or to a Web page. Reports can be produced as a batch, and sent by email to a client or distribution list.

Timekeeping is built around simple time tracking, with integrated timers for Caseware audit software, and user-set timers for other tasks.  The new Web Sheets module allows for mobile time entry.  Based on the firm's preference, time review and approval can be enforced.  Billing features include budget tracking, billing-on-the-fly, and in-line editing of invoices.  As would be expected for accounting firms, billing from WIP is available, as is carry-forward billing and final billing for write-up/write-down.  Discounts and refunds can be tracked, and projects can be managed.  As might be important for large projects, extensive contact records are possible and client subsidiaries can be grouped, tracked, and reported.  By-office break-outs for firms with multiple offices can be specified, and managers for those offices can have their performance tracked separately.

Advantages:
- Support for firms operating outside the U.S. with other tax considerations and differing terminology.
- Extremely scalable with features to grow into
- Provides an intuitive layout and an effective workflow for entering and managing time and billing entries.
- Scalable and is well-suited for firms with branch offices.
- Workflow options for time approval, bill formatting.
- Document manager and custom report writer.

Final Verdict:
Caseware Time is an excellent product choice for small and mid-size firms in need of an application to centralize many firm administrative tasks.

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