eTEK International Inc. — eTEK Accounting

Article Tools

• Print This Article
• Email This Article to a Friend
• Save This Article
• Order a Reprint

From the April/May 2008 Review of Contractor/Construction Accounting Systems

eTEK International continues to provide the latest technology to construction-related businesses, including contractors, service companies and distributors. Its newest release (Version 12.4) of eTEK Accounting for Microsoft Office 2007 is designed to run on Windows Vista, as well as Windows XP, and has been completely updated to take advantage of Microsoft Office Technology. The new interface utilizes brand new Microsoft Windows 2007 toolbars and icons. eTEK Accounting is available in several different versions including eTEK Accounting for Microsoft Office 2007, eTEK Accounting for Office XP/2003 (formerly MTX), eTEK Accounting for Microsoft SQL Server, (formerly known as Millennium) and eTEK Xpress, a hosted web-based product.

Learning Curve/ Ease of Use -- 5 Stars
It may take a while to become familiar with the latest version of eTEK Accounting. Rather than using the standard drop-down menu, the latest version of eTEK Accounting utilizes the Microsoft Office 2007 ribbon, which is a fully customizable toolbar that can be displayed anywhere the user desires (or hidden). The installed modules are displayed directly below the ribbon, and clicking on a module will bring up icons and functions relevant to the chosen module. The various drop-down menus and tabs provide further program access. eTEK maintains its uncluttered data-entry screens, and lookup options are available throughout the program. As always, eTEK includes a sample database for new users to use until they feel comfortable. This may be particularly handy for those just becoming familiar with Microsoft Office 2007. The company profile allows user to enter the guidelines to utilize with the job cost module.

Vendors, customers and inventory items can all be entered on the fly for quicker system processing. Users can easily track WIP billing and maintain contract billing. As well, equipment usage can be tracked and charge and labor rates can be monitored for more accurate billing. Subcontractor costs can be managed by either Job or Subcontractor. And users can refer to and adjust original estimates as work progresses, updating burden percentages accordingly.

Modules & Functionality -- 5 Stars
eTEK Accounting for Microsoft Office 2007’s base system includes the following modules: GL, AP, AR, Cash Management, Financial Reporting, System Utilities, and a built-in CRM system that handles supplier, customer and employee databases. Add-on modules include Job Costing, Payroll and Supply Chain Management, which includes Work/Sales Order, Purchasing and Inventory Control. Also available is ePRO, the Project Management feature that integrates with Microsoft Office 2007 applications along with eTEK’s job costing systems. An Estimating module is also available, and eTEK has added kitting/assemblies capability in its Inventory module, as well.

Productivity Tools -- 5 Stars
The addition of the kitting/assemblies capability in eTEK will now allow companies to create specialized assemblies. Multiple pricing levels can be utilized for all assemblies, making it easy to offer multiple versions of the same item and charge based on complexity of the finished product and number of components used. eTEK has simplified new job setup by providing the ability to select a previously entered job and use it as a template, limiting the amount of necessary data entry. Large projects can be divided into separate jobs, with separate phases assigned for each job. This system makes it much easier to track job progress for larger jobs without being overwhelmed. The Job Cost Master Editor allows users to view job status including percentage complete and provides an area to enter estimated start and complete dates.

Import/Export/ Integration -- 5 Stars
eTEK’s open database architecture ensures smooth integration between eTEK Accounting and all Microsoft products such as Excel, Access, Outlook and Word. eTEK’s use of the Microsoft Office 2007 ribbon makes it even easier to import or export data. All modules and add-ons integrate seamlessly with eTEK’s core modules, making it easier to build the system based on current needs and add additional modules later.