The next update to our Web Based Room Booking and Resource Scheduling software MIDAS is on the horizon, and throughout March we’re giving you a first look at some of the new features and improvements you can look forward to in this next MIDAS update..

One of the areas of our software that we often receive feedback and ideas for new features for is “Invoicing”. We’re pleased to once again adding even more Invoicing features for v4.12, one of which will facilitate the ability to maintain a line of “credit” for each of your clients.

Adding credit for a client is really simple, and is done via the “Current Credit” field in each client’s database entry. Simply enter the amount to credit to associate with the client and click “Save Changes”:

Then, the next time an invoice is generated/created for the client, this credit will be applied to their invoice as a discount, and the line of credit remaining for the client updated accordingly.

Example 1:

• A client entry has a $70 credit associated it.
• The client’s next invoice is for a total of $100.
• $70 is automatically deducted from the pre-tax total of their next invoice
• The client’s remaining credit balance automatically reduces to $0

Example 2:

• A client entry has a $70 credit associated with it.
• The client’s next invoice is for a total of $50.
• $50 is automatically deducted from the pre-tax total of that invoice
• The client’s remaining credit balance automatically reduces to $20, which will be applied to their next invoice

Users with access to the invoicing capabilities of MIDAS and who also have the ability to modify clients can update the amount of credit associated with each client at any time.

MIDAS v4.12 is expected to be made available to Beta Testers later this month, with a general release shortly after. We’re currently looking for additional testers to help test and provide feedback/bug reports on pre-release versions of our software. Becoming a tester is free and no experience is required, and what’s more we’ll reward you for your participation! Find out more about becoming a MIDAS Beta Tester here. If you would like to be notified when v4.12 is fully released, then why not join our Mailing List?

We love receiving feedback and suggestions from our customers, and one of the most popular areas that we often receive ideas and suggestions for is Invoicing.

So based on this feedback we’re introducing a host of exciting new features and improvements to the invoicing capabilities of MIDAS for v4.10!

Alternative clients for invoicing

Traditionally, when an invoice is generated in MIDAS for a client’s bookings, the invoice is for that particular client.

However, there are many cases when the person that a booking is for differs from the person who’s paying for it. Quite often for instance its desirable for invoices to instead go to a treasurer or finance department, rather than to the end-client who is actually using your facilities.

With MIDAS v4.10, you can now optionally set an alternative client to use for invoicing for all a client’s future bookings!

Greater control over invoice access

As you may be aware, an extensive range of user permissions are already available within MIDAS allowing administrators to precisely control what each user can see and do once logged in.

One of the user permissions that can be granted is “Can use invoicing?”. If this permission is granted, the user has access to all invoicing features within MIDAS (the ability to generate, create, view, modify, delete, print, and send invoices). Without the “Can use invoicing?” permission, a user has no access to any of the invoicing functions.

We’ve extended this user permission for v4.10 to include an additional “Restricted” option. Now, if a user’s “Can use invoicing?” permission is set to “Restricted”, they will still be able to generate and create invoices, but they will only be able to view, modify, delete, print or send those invoices which they themselves generated/created (i.e. they will have no access to other invoices generated/created by other users).

Of course, individual users can still be granted full invoicing access as before – allowing them access to all invoices, but this new “restricted” option will give administrators greater control over who can access which invoices.

Greater control over Booking Type Discounts

MIDAS allows you to associate percentage discounts to each of your booking types.
This facilitates charging different room rates depending upon the “type” of booking.

For instance, if you have a room which is usually charged at $100/hour, you could setup a “Non-Profit” booking type with a 50% discount so that any bookings assigned that particular booking type would only be charged at a rate of $50/hour instead of the standard $100/hour rate.

In previous versions of MIDAS, booking type discounts have only applied to room rates. Resources (equipment, consumables, staffing, etc) have not been affected by any booking type discount, and were always charged at their standard rate.

In MIDAS v4.10, administrators can now control how booking type discounts are applied; you can choose to have them only applied to your venue charges (as in previous versions of MIDAS), or only applied to your resource charges, or applied to both venue and resource charges.

Also, in v4.10, for the first time we’ve allowed you to enter negative numbers into the booking type discount field. Entering a negative discount will increase the venue/resource charge by the percentage amount you specify (as opposed to discounting by the specified amount)

Show invoices numbers on booking blocks/tooltips

Up to two booking fields can be set to show on “booking blocks” within your booking grid (with a further two booking fields set to show on associated tooltips), however it’s previously not been possible to show a booking’s invoice number on its block/tooltip.

In MIDAS v4.10, this has changed and you can now set invoice numbers to show on a booking’s “block”/tooltip, and also in the Monthly Overview too!

Want to help shape and improve future MIDAS updates? Then why not consider becoming a Beta Tester? – it’s free, there’s nothing to install, and no technical knowledge is required!