It’s been busy @ the “ROI Labs”

You might think the summer months are quiet — vacations, sun, beaches, backyard cook-outs and all that “fun” stuff. But I’ve learned something in my many, many years of working with programmers. If I open the blinds on their windows, give ‘em a few iced lattes and a couple of tofu dogs, those guys think they’re on vacation and they don’t stop doing their development work.

As you can see from this month’s update, there’s been a LOT going on behind the scenes. I am very proud of these new features — all of which have been developed at no additional charge to our customers. In fact there’s so much to tell you — I might even re-send this update out a few times in case you are on vacation, although I would imagine these updates make great beach reading….

Enjoy!

Introducing FLEX Lists

This is gonna be big. Trust me.

Starting NOW, you will see a new little widget sprinkled throughout Revolution Online giving you the option to [SAVE AS FLEXLIST] and it looks like this:

And even inside the QueryTool, you have an option to do a query and save the output as a FLEXLIST.

When you select this option, you are prompted to name your list.

And then here’s where the magic happens. Once you’ve SAVED your FLEXLIST from anywhere in the database or via the QueryTool, you can now do some amazing things with these lists. Using the “Combine Lists” tool, we give you the ability to work with your own FLEXLISTS directly in Revolution Online. You can merge these lists together, find unique records that appear on both lists, as well as subtracting records that appear on one list from the other. You can then save the resulting records to another FLEXLIST.

But wait….there’s MORE!

We even provide you with a FLEXLIST TOOL that allows you to perform certain functions against these lists — such as: assigning flags, comments, contact history or assigning major gifts projects.

Ticklers to Outlook

In addition to setting up ticklers and getting reminders on-screen as well as via email, now you can set them up to go directly into your Outlook Calendars. Just click the Outlook Appointment button.

Now, you can get on-screen reminders, emails sent directly to the specified email address AND Outlook Calendar Appointments. (You know what that means, right? There’s no excuse for forgetting my birthday).

Job Management & Tracking – Full Transparency

The ROI world has been quite abuzz lately with our new Job Management & Tracking System. If you don’t know what this is, read on….

Because ROI Solutions operates as a full service provider in addition to application hosting, we offer our clients data extracts and programming upon request. In fact since our founding back in 1999, we’ve processed over 12,000 “job requests.” These requests have historically been sent to your technical account manager for implementation and logged into our internal Job Management & Tracking Database.

NOW the Job Management & Tracking System is ONLINE and located in the “Jobs” Tab including full history of every request every submitted:

Within this tab, you will be able to submit any requests directly through Revolution Online and track its progress to completion. There you can attach documents (such as mail plans and comments) and see Real-Time progress on your requests and as well pick up any files directly online.

In addition to being a nifty management tool, we offer full history of all request ever submitted to ROI Solutions – including your prior mail plans, counts, and extracts — all online! Full transparency and history in all of the requests submitted on behalf of your organization.

Secure Upload – PCI/DSS

You already know that you can process credit card and EFT gifts through Revolution Online. Those gifts can be keyed in or they can come in from your website using the ROI Open API. But what about those “other” places you get donations from…like from other Vendors? You know, those files they put on an FTP site and then you have to retrieve them and so something with them ???? Well, now you can use the ROI Secure Upload Feature to get them into your database — safely and securely — meeting all PCI-DSS rules and requirements.

Using the New Secure Upload Feature, we allow you the ability to upload sensitive credit card data directly into Revolution Online for immediate processing of payments.

Located in the Tools–>Commands Section of Revolution Online, select the Secure Upload option:

From there, the on-screen widgets will step you through the process of uploading your file allowing you to enter in the password protection and encryption information.

…And then depending on your organization’s business rules, once inside Revolution Online, these transactions can be handled in any way you desire — including automated processing of the donations and credit card/EFT processing.

Did You Know?

ROI has a Facebook Page and it’s a great way to keep up on the inside scoop on many development features. Click the below link to find us and become a fan.

You can also follow us on Twitter:

Whipping up a “Quick Batch”

When I was a kid, I used to come home from school each day and tell my mom all about my day over an afternoon snack. And if it was a special day (like if I came home with a good report card or a special piece of artwork that only a mother could love) mom would whip up a quick batch of cookies.

You know the kind that comes from a tube right from your freezer where all you gotta do is slice it and stick it in the oven…mmmm.

Located in the New Batch Input screens, we now give you the ability to whip up a quick batch yourselves. It isn’t quite cookies and milk, but it’s pretty close.

More on the Batches….

When you select ADD NEW within batches, you will notice a few new features have been added to your options.

Correction. If you have made simple data entry errors such as an incorrect donor id, source code, or amount, this batch type allows you to easily enter both the REVERSAL of the old transaction, and the corrected PAYMENT information in one step. Rather than entering the REVERSAL transaction, then entering the PAYMENT information separately, you can enter the information in a single screen; when you lock the batch we automatically create both the REVERSAL and its replacement PAYMENT transaction.

Auto-Decline. This batch type allows you to easily enter transactions that you know have already been declined, such as rejected credit card payments or returned checks. Rather than entering the PAYMENT transaction, then entering the REVERSAL information, you only need to enter the information once and when you lock the batch we automatically reverse out any payments you entered in the batch.

Credit Payment. Our CREDIT batch lets clients create credit card and e-check transactions where the proceeds are quickly and automatically deposited directly into your merchant account. No more hassles with duplicate data entry or questions about whether transactions posted to your bank account are also posted to your database. It is only available to clients who have signed up for it, so contact your ROI Client Services rep if you’re interested.

Whole Batch Reversal. Did you ever enter an entire PAYMENT batch, then decide the whole thing was a mistake? For example, two people might have keyed the same batch by mistake, or you might have had some other glitch that made you want to undo the whole darn thing? That’s what the Whole Batch Reversal is for. As its name implies, it lets you create a REVERSAL for an entire existing payment batch. It only works if the batch is already locked and has not had any transactions already reversed… but when it works, it does all of the heavy lifting for you.

Custom Profile Reports

You can build your own on screen displays for donor information by selecting the Profile Report within the navigation in any record. This lets you build dynamic on-screen displays with whatever information, in whatever order you want to see. Simply click on the Profile Report Option:

Then specify the items you want to have appear in your custom display:

Once you’re done building your criteria, click “Process” to build your custom display. You can also save your report for future use in case you have a board member or someone that always wants to see particular information about a record the same way each time.

When you built your on-screen report, you can hit PRINT and it will print exactly as you’ve specified. Particularly useful if you have on the road fundraisers and need to give them the “skinny” on a particular donor they’re about to meet.

Did You Know? – [CUSTOMIZE]

Anytime you see the word [CUSTOMIZE] you can click it and actually [CUSTOMIZE] your display. It’s really neat. We like the word [CUSTOMIZE]. It’s one of those words that lets you be you.

Everywhere You Want To Be.

Time spent monthly processing credit cards the “old fashioned way”: Days.
Number of systems needed: Several.
Confidence in prior process integrity: None.
Processing credit cards directly through Revolution in a single process without extra keying and having the funds hit your bank account the same day: Um…priceless.

Imagine a world where you didn’t need disparate systems for dealing with Credit Card or EFT transactions in multiple locations. Well, imagine no more. Today, ROI clients can take advantage of a single entry point Credit Card/EFT Terminal. Located right in the batch entry screens you’ve come to know and love, we provide you input screens to transact your credit cards/EFT contributions through Revolution Online.

This Terminal processes both credit cards (Visa, Master Card, Amex, Discover) and Electronic Funds Transfers (e-checks) directly to your specified bank account(s). It requires set up with one of our partner companies who will provide you with a Merchant Account. Once set up, the rest is….just easy. No more having to key (or upload) this stuff in to separate systems for the transaction and then back into Revolution for receipt processing.

*Contact your ROI Account Manager for more information or for set-up forms.

ROI Solutions is certified PCI-Compliant for all card transactions.

From the Client Files….

From the “Great Ideas from our Clients File” we give you the option to customize your display windows for Donations, Contact History, and Donation Summary. By selecting the Choose Output Columns “thing-a-ma-bob”, the available fields (columns) can be checked or unchecked.

Once you select which fields you want see (and save your choices) the window will provide a display of the things you want to see.

And remember, these displays can be changed for Donations, Contact History, and Donation Summary.

Business Rules

In your client-specific reference tab, you will find an online placeholder for your business rules. This allows you the ability to store specific notations about business rules as well as attach original documents and specifications for any business rules.

Did You Know? – Filter the Contact History

You can filter the display of the contact history. Simply use the drop down menu option in the Contact Type and select your option.