A real draw to Web systems is their money-saving capabilities. They offer users better access and integration with other platforms and equipment. You can run the new product anywhere, on numerous computers, even simultaneously. Users no longer have to spend money on servers, networking computers, maintaining networks or making backups. Savings from better data safety, lower maintenance and faster setup are instant and grow quickly. Here are numerous other benefits of Internet-based systems:
Web systems have more direct, robust links to new technology such as call centers and kiosks, using application-programming interfaces (APIs). APIs are more solid, fail-safe methods than what Windows programs offered to link to other equipment and platforms.
These new Web systems also make enterprise-level accounting integration or batch importing one or more store's data into accounting systems a one-step process from anywhere. Authorized users access dashboard-style menus to make changes to one or more facilities. In older systems, users had to apply changes store by store. Plus, cost benefits are immediate and add up handsomely over the intermediate and long term.
Loading data on additional or new computers no longer requires use of software CDs, and monthly updates are made automatically over the Internet.
For security purposes, vendors of Web systems can keep data on at least two independent Web servers at a reputable data center and make backups daily. Separate servers can process reports. Therefore, resource-intensive reporting remains separate from the servers housing and processing your data. Moreover, you never have to worry about losing data. Web systems offer a level of security comparable to Windows programs backing up every transaction offsite—making these systems the backbone of your disaster-recovery plan.
The security and reliable interface to other platforms lets ACH/bank draft go mainstream, eliminating fees associated with credit cards, and letting managers auto-draft from tenants' accounts every month. Negligible draft fees mean big savings over the long run.
Web systems can offer modules to integrate with your website, letting customers manage their accounts online to view balances, itemized charges and payment history. Customers can make one-time or recurring payments on your website and see the update immediately.
Software vendors can tailor the integration with your website so you can customize settings on the fly. You can easily change coupons, office hours, post notices to tenants or change procedures, such as the number of days a tenant can be past due before being locked out of making payments online. Better access from anywhere and integrated certified-mail processing means less drive time and less fuel costs for everyone.
Good Web systems present owners with revenue-management functions in a user-friendly way to automate rate management. Web systems can analyze rates, filter out customers and units eligible for rent changes and send alerts. Because users have access from anywhere, owners and managers alike can monitor and execute rent changes and letter printing.
Web systems bring good news for operators abroad. Many vendors have systems that translate into different languages. For example, Microsoft's visual studio .NET offers Unicode language support for translating menus and screens.
Web services also make it possible to offer special tax options for countries such as Asia. Canadians have always been able to manage multiple tax rates in most Web systems. Now Australians can find their inclusive taxation, which totals tax and charges in the same software running in the United States and anywhere else.
ACH/bank draft or direct debiting of checking and savings accounts and automatic credit card billing in other countries are different from the United States. However, better, safer programming tools let good Web systems adapt to other countries’ conventions. Operators anywhere can share in the collective feedback and knowledge of a program's user base around the world.
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