D-Tools System Integrator v23: As time flies by, SI stands at the ready for quick assistance.

The march of time for our industry knows no limit. As we enter the annual holiday season, many of us will have limited availability due to well-deserved time off. Nevertheless, client demand does not relent with the arrival of the season.

With this in mind, here are key features of the SI platform that can help you maintain productivity during this time. We're committed to ensuring you have the resources and support needed to address common year-end challenges.

For those ready to upgrade your prior version of SI, please reach out to our Customer Success team. For those considering the acquisition of D-Tools SI software, please reach out to our Account Management team.

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Data, Data, Data

In today’s world, your team’s data is more relevant and important than ever. In SI, this data provides users with critical information and contributes to the presentation of various milestones and convergence points in the software.

Quick Access to Client Information

If you need client information urgently, use the SI Client Explorer. Client Explorer displays all contact information for your clients in one centralized view. To streamline your view, use these built-in tools:

• ​Filtering: Show only the information relevant to your current task
• ​Layouts: Save preset views for different scenarios (sales calls, project reviews, etc.)
• ​Declutter: Hide fields you rarely use
• ​Custom Layouts: Select exactly which data fields appear and in what order

These tools help you focus on what matters most for each situation, giving you faster access to the information you need.

You can also use Custom Fields to add data that isn't native to SI. For example, create fields to track:

• ​Date of last service
• ​Date of last contact
• ​Whether the client has a service plan

Custom Fields support multiple data types including text, dates, yes/no checkboxes, list entries, and hyperlinks. SI has 24 custom fields for clients:

• ​5 text fields
• ​5 list fields (dropdown options)
• ​5 date fields
• ​5 boolean fields (Yes/No)
• ​4 hyperlink fields

Service Order Explorer

To review a client’s service record, use SI’s Service Order Explorer. Use search, filtering, and layouts to extract the desired information quickly. You can filter to a client’s record and review the status of their Service Orders. If numerous Service Orders are returned, you can organize your view by dragging the column header of Status up one row, grouping SOs by Status. Right-click on any service order to collapse or expand its details, allowing you to focus on specific orders while keeping others minimized. Custom Layouts work here too—including Custom Fields you've created—so you can display exactly the service order information you need.

Notifications via Workflow Rules

Nothing delivers quick data in SI like Workflow Rule notifications. These in-app presentations offer a lot of information at a glance, but the email version can provide even more detail. Using the Insert Field function, your team can include key details about the event for those being notified, including Project’s Custom Fields. Workflow Rule notifications are available for Projects, Purchase Orders, Tasks, Service Orders, and Service Plans, each with its own criteria and data sets respective to its application within SI.

Business Analytics (Dashboards)

Business Analytics provides fast access to critical data across all SI modules: leads, projects, POs, tasks, and service orders. View this information through dashboard widgets on your home page or dive deeper with dedicated reports in the Business Analytics module. Sales teams can use Business Analytics to track leads and bids throughout the sales cycle, identifying opportunities and bottlenecks at a glance.

To get started, open the Business Analytics module in SI and explore the pre-built reports for your area of focus. Identify the source of the analytic you wish to create (e.g., Client for leads and prospects). After selecting your filters, you'll see real-time data for the leads and prospects you and your team are actively working on. Once your bid is an active Project in SI, you can use the Projects section to review related data. Analytics can be displayed in column, bar, pie, or table formats and exported to Excel for further computation.

Cloning Records

Cloning in SI lets you create new records based on existing ones, saving you from re-entering repetitive information. You can clone clients, catalog items, POs, tasks, service orders, and even entire projects. For example, to create a new Service Order for a client, right-click on any prior Service Order in SI to create the new one. The process can access prior data such as the client, any linked SI Project, SO name, description, items, resources, and checklist. All data will pre-load into the new SO, and you may only need to update the description and date fields.

Cloning works the same way for Clients, POs, Tasks, and Catalog Items: right-click any existing record and select 'Clone' from the menu. Once the item is cloned, update the model number and other details as needed.

Cloning an SI Project can speed up the process of new bid creation, including client details, location and system assignments, taxes, scope of work documents, products and labor items with pricing, and fully engineered Visio or Auto-CAD drawings. The Project Wizard will appear to aid users, and you can update incrementally or skip steps as needed.

Quick Reporting (Quote or Otherwise)

Reporting in SI is something that teams can engage in with regular rapidity. Two icons are anchored to the Reports tab in your SI Project and SI Project Explorer: Project Summary (management-level report) and Quick Quote (a succinct 2-3 page document summarizing a Project’s values). SI lets you choose from additional report types in the Reports section and determine which reports can be accessed and how they are labeled.

This feature can be found in SI’s Report Settings under the default reports section. In the Reports section, you'll see options for all available reports—including the two defaults, plus any custom reports or report groups your team has created. You can personalize reports for specific clients or situations without creating entirely new report templates.

Another area of reporting is SI’s Job Costs reports, which provide quick access to data related to a Project’s estimated and actual costs. This mechanism is on the Project Explorer ribbon (under the “Home” tab). Job Cost reports display your project values with cost, price, and variance columns related to products, labor, and labor hours. This can be used for a single Project or multiple Projects filtered to a specific data point. All report data in SI can be exported to Excel for further analysis.

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Looking Ahead: SI V23 and Beyond

The last few years have seen tremendous updates and enhancements to the System Integrator platform. With each development, D-Tools has shown itself to be fully engaged in bringing to market one of the most effective software platforms available. Updates in v23 (and prior recent releases) reflect a commitment to addressing the real-world challenges faced by system integrators.

D-Tools System Integrator v23 is more than just a software update—it’s a strategic partner for AV integrators navigating a complex and hectic industry landscape. By combining robust multi-office settings with seamless data synchronization, v23 empowers businesses to operate with unprecedented efficiency and offers the flexibility to craft a custom software environment to suit their needs.

Are you ready to experience SI v23? Visit the D-Tools website to request a demonstration of these features or explore the full range of utilization with the PSG training and implementation team. With V23 as your ally, your business will be poised for a brighter and more profitable future.

Be sure to tune back in for future installments on SI’s v23 and beyond. The team is continually evaluating ways to improve and enhance your team’s usage of and experience with the SI platform. Explore these and other features by securing time with the Professional Services Group of SI and integration industry veterans to maximize your team’s ability to succeed with the software.

For more information on these and other features of SI, see the D-Tools v23 page. You can also review support documentation and videos, or get more detailed information via upcoming webinars and by enrolling in SI training with the PSG team.

That’s why we are here—to ensure your success with our product! Check back next time for more on v23!