When it comes to Software, there are often many questions, both directly and indirectly related to our product and/or support and installation. We have attempted to answer the most common questions that we are asked on this page and have arranged them into categories so you can find the answers you are looking for faster. We will be adding Opto FAQ’s to this page on a regular basis, If you do have any questions that are not covered within the FAQ’s on this page please feel free to contact us.
Opto Software is a product of Opto Software Pty Ltd which is a 100% Australian, owned and operated software provider who have developed a Turnkey software solution for Manufacturing and Inventory businesses as-well as all-encompassing MRP/ERP software solutions. All software development and ongoing modifications and revisions are carried out right here in Australia as we believe in supporting the local economy first and foremost. The software is currently used by hundreds of customers Australia wide and we have been delivering specialised software solutions since the mid 1990’s.
Yes Opto is 100% privately owned, Australian based and furthermore the owners of the business work within the business every day ensuring that Opto Software continues to provide the best products and service that we are known and respected for and have been for over 20 years.
Opto ERP Manufacturing Software, being 100% Australian owned and operated means that you, the customer deal with the company who builds, develops, sells, implements and supports the software. We do not have any resellers or partners and hence can provide the best in service and support and not focused on finding the next $!
Being a smaller developer has its advantages, we are agile and this means that we implement solutions that are tailored to your business requirements so we will not fit you into a ‘box’. We are truly unique and are committed to offering the very best solution to each and every one of our customers Australia wide. Our solutions are truly turnkey and not merely an ‘add-on’ and we integrated to the major accounting software packages such as MYOB, Xero and Quickbooks to name a few.
Working with our customers and adding new features and functionality that improve their business processes and workflows is just 1 reason that our customers stay with us for the long term, with a 90% + customer retention ratio we must be doing something right…
We have a small, professional team based in Brisbane and we do not use resellers or partners to promote our product as our product is in-depth and a turnkey solution not merely an add-on so we believe that you deserve the very best in advice and support to ensure a successful implementation. We are often interstate seeing our customers and carrying out new installs, so if a visit in person is required we can normally accommodate. Alternatively we can provide all the information you may require, including a free personalised demo of the Opto solution via the web at a time to suit you and we are always available on-line or via a phone call to discuss your requirements in detail.
Our customer range is typically small to medium sized manufacturing businesses, from single users up to nearly 100 users with multiple locations and they cover a diverse range of industries including – manufacturers, fabrication, job Shops, laser & plasma cutting, mining distribution, retail, construction, civil and even import/export businesses. As our solution is turnkey, we work with every customer to implement a solution that is specific to their business so no 2 installations are identical.
We have customers that have multiple locations and utilise multi currencies within their business and also require remote web based clocking and real time scheduling, whatever your business is looking for we have most likely provided a very similar installation before.
No, not a CRM as such, however every version of Opto Software contains complete, indepth records of clients, suppliers and employees and can be used for reports, look ups, recording notes, follow ups, financial history and much more removing the need for a separate database. As it can be used for sales orders, your sales department will find all the information to hand to provide professional and accurate quotes to both new and existing clients and to manage all sales orders through to completion and despatch.
No matter where you are based in Australia, we most likely have existing customers that are local to you as we have hundreds of installations Australia wide. In a particular industry segment, and wondering if we have any customers that are similar to you, just ask us as we most likely do.
Materials can be either purchased to stock and picked using a backflush function for jobs, Issued manually to jobs from stock or purchased directly to individual jobs or groups of jobs. Or a combination of all 3.
Yes, each Machine or Activity centre has its own record to which date driven notes and attachments (including images) can be applied. Reports on PM activities etc along with parts drawings etc are also available.
Multi currency software is a must in these times of growing international trade and Opto caters for any currency natively including US$, Euro and YEN and additional currencies can be added with ease.
Like any Turnkey software solution, there are processes and implementation schedules and we follow a proven path to ensure successful deployment with minimum impact on your business. This process begins with scoping (requirements gathering) which we call a ‘Discovery Workshop’ and this allows us to gather your business processes and workflows and to document how we are going to address these and provide a solution that is tailored to your business and not ‘off the shelf’. The next step is to implement the system, setup your workstations and to train you, ensuring that you are productive from day 1 thus reducing any downtime and impact on your business. From there we offer ongoing support and assistance and additional training where required.
We have 2 pricing models for our software, you can either purchase Opto outright so you have a perpetual license to use the software or you may prefer our subscription based model which offers the flexibility of ‘pay as you go’. If you require a personalised quotation for your business, just contact us and our friendly team will be happy to assist.
Yes you can upgrade to Opto at any-time, simply call us and we will provide you with details of the upgrade path and we will assist you to ensure a smooth transition from your existing iTMS system to the new Opto Software solution.
The are many changes in the new Opto system that include a new user interface that is windows based making it very user friendly, simplified layout and improvements to many functions which will improve efficiencies but above all iTMS users will still have all the powerful features plus many more in a new environment which is faster, user friendly and intuitive and is designed so that you can be productive from ‘Day 1’. For the more technically minded, we have also enabled industry standard integration with cloud based software (RESTful API). Another benefit of Opto is the ability to add on web based extensions and tools such as wireless devices, web applications, web stores, mobile apps and more.
Yes, we will continue to provide support and maintenance for the iTMS system, however we cannot guarantee compatibility with newer versions of windows platforms. The iTMS system will no longer be actively developed, however, if a customer requests a modification or change then we will supply a quote for the works to be carried out wherever feasible.
Yes, we have many customers that operate multiple locations and even some that have locations in multiple countries and require multiple currencies and different workflows and processes attuned to both their locality and business requirements.
Yes, we are happy to provide potential customers with reference points upon request, these can be local to your business and/or within your industry or sector.
No, Opto is not cloud based software and is typically installed on your company server, however we can install Opto Software within a data warehouse if you prefer. We will need remote access to your data rack so that we can install the software and run updates as and when required. Most businesses that we deal with prefer to have the software on their company servers as they do not want to rely on having an internet connection to be able to run the software. Another issue dependent on your location could be speed, if you are reliant on an internet connection to run your software and the internet speed in your area is average then a server install would be advisable as it will provide both the speed and continuity that your business requires. Your business can still take advantage of the additional ‘Web Tool’ add-ons that Opto offers as these can be connected via any mobile device with a wireless or internet connection.
This is very much dependent on the size of the business and the product and modules purchased. A standard Manufacturing software solution can be live within 6-8 weeks assuming your business can dedicate the required resources to ensure the smooth implementation.
Opto licencing is based on concurrent users and there is an annual licence renewal fee which can be included within the annual support and maintenance plan.
As with most business software products, there is an annual support and maintenance cost which also includes renewal of the licensing fee. Opto offers the most comprehensive and all-encompassing support package on the market as standard and this includes:
All this from a 100% Aussie owned and supported company, so local support from staff who use the system every day.
We believe in happy customers and as such we deal with over 90% of support requests the same day and as we use the same software system every day, we are able to identify and resolve issues fast which lets you get on with your work. In additional to our standard Support, we do offer optional priority service level agreement plans which provides increased access to support and services dependent on the SLA package chosen. So you can choose the level of support that best suits your businesses requirements and budgets, safe in the knowledge that the Opto support team are committed to offering the best possible service to all our customers all of the time.
Yes, we are often asked to provide training for customers who employ new staff and this can be provided specific to their roles and requirements within the company or more generic as required. We have staff who carry out all our training, we do not employ external consultants or trainers, resulting in a professional, tailored package with follow up assistance and support as required by Opto staff members. To fit in with your business requirements we can deliver training in the following formats:
We can also provide customised user manuals that offer an ongoing reference point for staff and can be used during new staff inductions which, in turn, reduces ongoing costs for your business.
We use the Revelation Software database which uses a flat file structure, so no need for external databases or SQL.
No, the only requirement is either a Server or a file server PC that meets the minimum requirements and these can be found below
OPTO – Recommended Hardware & Software Specifications
Yes, Opto provides seamless integrations to the major accounting packages including – MYOB, Reckon, Xero, QuickBooks and many more. We can offer both local and cloud based solutions dependant on your requirements and once you link the accounting software to Opto you have a true ‘end to end’ solution for your business, reducing errors and duplication and in turn increasing profits.
Yes, you can export any data you wish from Opto in the following file types – Excel, .CSV and MS Access.
