Nacka, Sweden-based Beslutsmodeller AB has released a Windows version of its accounting software, Scala. Scala for Windows sits on the existing Scala for MS-DOS system, enabling users to work in either MS-DOS or Windows. Scala is a modular software financial environment that has been designed for large coroporations and is available in 22 languages. Across the globe, Scala products are marketed by the Scala Group of companies which has a presence in 50 countries and its software has been customised so that it has each country’s appropriate financial legislation embedded in it. On installation, a country code is entered and the system automatically configures for that country. As for its basic features, Scala for Windows is a modular system with the General Ledger module at its heart. The General Ledger enables users to gain summary information or drill down to the transaction level, and even the invoice can be displayed. Other add-on modules are the Sales Ledger, which has multi-level credit control, customer analyis and integration with marketing databases; Purchase Ledger, which administers all accounting steps; Consolidation, which supports up to 30 currencies concurrently, differing account charts and so on; Purchase Control, which keeps track of stock levels and can issue requests for quotations. Other modules are Portfolio Management, Liquidity Planning, Payroll, Fixed Asset Register, Stock Control, Sales Order Processing, Manufacturing, Planning and Control, and Serial and Lot Number Tracking.
Btrieve
All these modules can be configured to suit the company’s needs. Scala for Windows also has a number of report functions. There is also a help desk aimed at minimising the need to call on Scala’s help but it has in-built call facilities to field service staff. The product can be integrated into standard applications such as 1-2-3, Excel and Crystal Reports, as well as bar code readers and speech recognition systems. It has Btrieve file handling that enables users to select business application to access data. The Scala Group has its origins in Beslutsmodeller, which was established in Sweden in 1978. In 1986 it totally rewrote its software because of the problems it experienced in transfering software country to country. It claims to have more than 10,000 companies using Scala worldwide. In 1991 it released a Unix version of Scala. Prices depend on number of users but the firm is not giving details.
