Using NEOSYS Media System

Multi-brand plans and schedules

A plan/schedule is per brand. If you must execute multiple brands on one plan or schedule then you must create a master brand, perhaps a “corporate brand”. You can further indicate the exact brands in various places within the body of the plan/schedule but in particular you can indicate the brand code per material, in the material table at the bottom of the plan/schedule data entry screen. This goes part way to supporting multi-brand plans/schedules. For example the media diary shows the brand per material however the billing analysis reports and most other NEOSYS documents are based on the overall brand of the plan/schedule.

How to create a media schedule in NEOSYS?

You can view a short video tutorial which explains how to create a media schedule in NEOSYS by clicking on http://youtu.be/iNm4TrUNl8M or visit the neosys youtube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/neosysdubai/videos for all available tutorial videos.

Copying Plans in NEOSYS

Note that on pasting into Excel etc it splits each line into multiple lines ONE PER DATE in the grid, but on pasting back into NEOSYS, it combines such lines back up into one schedule line where possible, i.e. the lines that are identical except for the date.

Copying plans created in Excel to NEOSYS

1. Create an Excel sheet as shown below
2. Ensure that the title name for each column in the excel sheet is as per the field name in the schedule file
   • To save time you only need to put one of two words of the column title eg media or vehicle will have the same effect as Media Vehicle )
3. Copy ALL the cells from the excel file including the header row
   
   
   
   
4. In NEOSYS, open the required schedule, go to Menu -> Media -> Schedules -> Schedule File
5. Enter the schedule details such as schedule no., campaign, company etc
   
   
   
   
6. Click on the media vehicle field and paste the copied cells
   • The cells will now be pasted to its respective fields
     
     
     
     

Copying plans created in NEOSYS to Excel

1. In NEOSYS, open the required schedule, go to Menu -> Media -> Schedules -> Schedule File
2. Copy the details from the vehicle lines that you require, as shown below. Crudely select the rows you want to copy or press Ctrl+A to select the whole document, then press Ctrl+C to copy
   
   
   
   
3. Open Excel and paste (Ctrl+V).
   
   
   
   

Copying vehicle lines in NEOSYS

1. In the schedule file, copy the vehicle line that you require. (Highlight the details and then press Ctrl+C or press Ctrl+A followed by Ctrl+C for copying all)
   
   
   
   
2. Go to the Media Vehicle field in the schedule file where you wish to copy the details and paste (Ctrl+V).
   
   
   
   

Choosing a plan or schedule numbering method

Before creating a plan or schedule you need to decide whether to number it sequentially or code it manually. You don't have to stick to one method or the other every time and can use a combination of both methods depending on the situation.

The following principles apply to both schedules and plans, however plans are nearly always best suited to the manual coding method. Note that if you are using schedules like plans then they are also best suited to the manual coding method.

Automatic numbering

If you use NEOSYS to process a random stream of orders from clients, for example a lot of newspaper or classified ads, you are forced to use the NEOSYS automatic numbering system. However this means that will later on you will always have to be given the schedule number in order to access it, or you will have to search for it within NEOSYS.

Two ways to get automatic numbers:

• Click the New button
• Enter a single letter in the schedule number field (e.g. "X") and press Enter. You will get a schedule number like X9999 i.e. the next sequence number in the series of whatever letter you chose.

Manual numbering

If you are using NEOSYS for monthly or yearly scheduling for major clients, there is a great way to avoid the bother of always searching for schedule numbers. Just manually create your own schedule numbers according to some consistent logic just as you would when inventing a standard for naming spreadsheet or word processing files.

It is well worth learning this method and not just using the automatic schedule numbering system for everything.

In all cases the schedule number should start with a basic structure like - BRANDCODE+YEAR+MONTH.

(Brand code ideally remains constant, year and month will change as per period. The month is subject to change more frequently and hence placed towards the tail end of the schedule/plan number)

For example, a COKE campaign in December 2010.

COKE1012

Single digit months should be entered like 08 for consistency.

COKE1008

To help you get started with this method remember the pattern like this: (BBB represents the brand code, YY represents the year and MM represents the month)

BBBYYMM (recommended - year first, month second)

Some people prefer to reverse the year and the month as follows. However this can get very confusing if everybody in your company does it their own way is not consistent (does "1110" Nov 2010 or Oct 2011?) so we recommend that you all stick to the "year first" "month second" concept since it allows correct alphabetic sorting if the need arises within or outside NEOSYS.

BBBMMYY (not recommended - month first, year second)

Not infrequently you may have more than one schedule for a particular brand on one month. In this case simply extend the basic schedule number according to some consistent logic. Here are some examples.

COKE1012B
COKE1012C
COKE1012TV
COKE1012RADIO
COKE1012ETC

Once you decide on your schedule number, just type it in the schedule number field and hit the enter key and select the option to create a new schedule (you may also copy an existing one).

Concepts and Calculation under Discounts and other charges

What is net amount?

Net Amount in the following discussion refers to the interim resultant amount after all the additions and deductions are made up to the point in question - ignoring any additions and deductions in columns to the right. It is therefore a varying amount (not shown on the screen or printout) and depends on where you are in the steps of progressive calculation towards the final Net Amount which is shown in the Net Unit Amount column on screen and printouts. If we say "10%N" (or just "10%" since N is always implied) then we mean 10% on the Net Amount as defined above. By comparison, "10%n" means 10% calculated on “one before net”, in other words, 10% of the intermediate net amount calculated *before* the last addition/deduction.

Calculation in discount/charges columns

Code	Explanation	Format
g	It means "one after gross". If "g" is appended it means the value is xx% of the value in one column after the gross column	xx%g
G	It means "on gross".If "G" is appended it means the value is xx% on the gross amount	xx%G
n	It means "one before net". If "n" is appended it means the value is xx% of the value in one column before the net column	xx%n
N	It means "on net". If "N" is appended it means the value is xx% of the net amount	xx%N

Below are few examples of the usage of these codes. Check the calculations highlighted in green in particular, to understand the difference when using these codes. By default calculations in a column are carried out on the net value available from the previous column to the left. If the immediate previous column is empty, then the net amount from the next column available to the left is considered for calculation.

The codes listed above can be used in any column under discounts and charges to override the default calculation.

Note that sometimes different codes effectively mean the same thing. For example N, G, g or n in the first addition/deduction column all mean the same thing since there is nothing to work on but the Gross Unit Amount.

Significance of “g”

In the example below we use “g” to calculate fee on Gross + "one after gross" which in this case is Loading. If loading were absent, then the value present in the next available column to the right of gross column is used as the "one after gross". By default each column calculation is carried out on the net value. If "g" were absent, then fee would be calculated on the net. In this particular example we append "g" to fee and loading is present, hence fee is calculated on Gross + Loading.

Below is the screenshot of the example.

Calculation of Bill with the use of “g” is as follows:

Bill		Gross	Loading	Discount	Commission	Fee	Total
	Value (AED)	100	+12	-11.2	-20.16	+5.6	86.24
	Explanation		+12% of 100	-10% of 112	-20% of 100.8	+5% of 112	86.24
	Cumulative	100	112	100.8	80.64	86.24	86.24

Significance of “G”

In this example, we use “G” to calculate fee on gross. By default, fee would be calculated on the net obtained from the first available column to the left which in this case is the commission column. We specify “G” to override this default calculation. Below is the screenshot of an example.

Calculation of Bill with the use of “G” is as follows:

Bill		Gross	Loading	Discount	Commission	Fee	Total
	Value (AED)	100	+12	-11.2	-20.16	+5	85.64
	Explanation		+12% of 100	-10% of 112	-20% of 100.8	+5% of 100	85.64
	Cumulative	100	112	100.8	80.64	85.64	85.64

Significance of “n”

In this example we use “n” to calculate fee on "one before net". In this case Discount is the column which is "one before net" as the net value is obtained from the Commission column. If commission column was empty then Discount would be considered as the "net" column and Loading would be the "one before net".

By default each column calculation is carried out on the net value. If "n" were absent, then fee would be calculated on the net from the commission column. In this particular instance where we append "n" to fee and commission and discount are present, fee is calculated on net available in the discount column.

Below is the screenshot of the example.

Calculation of Bill with the use of “n” is as follows:

Bill		Gross	Loading	Discount	Commission	Fee	Total
	Value (AED)	100	+12	-11.2	-20.16	+5.04	85.68
	Explanation		+12% of 100	-10% of 112	-20% of 100.8	+5% of 100.8	85.68
	Cumulative	100	112	100.8	80.64	85.68	85.68

Significance of “N”

We use “N” to specify default calculation which is "on net". Hence appending "N" or blank space has the same effect. In this example, fee is calculated on net after commission is subtracted. Below is the screenshot of an example.

Calculation of Bill with the use of “N” is as follows:

Bill		Gross	Loading	Discount	Commission	Fee	Total
	Value (AED)	100	+12	-11.2	-20.16	+4.03	84.67
	Explanation		+12% of 100	-10% of 112	-20% of 100.8	+5% of 80.64	84.67
	Cumulative	100	112	100.8	80.64	84.67	84.67

Commission based costing

It’s the situation when the commission is not returned to the client and no fee is charged. An example is shown below

In this example agency subtracts commission of 5% from the cost and not from the bill as commission is not returned to the client. No fee is charged in this transaction.

Fee based costing

It’s the situation when commission is returned to client and a fee is charged. An example is shown below

In the example agency subtracts commission of 5% from the bill and the cost, and charges the client a 15% fee for this transaction.

Booking without showing all discounts and charges from the supplier

NEOSYS can optionally issue media booking orders with certain discounts and charges omitted.

This allows the final net cost of media to be recorded in NEOSYS while not forcing the final net cost to be shown on booking orders.

On media plans and schedules append the letter "X" (or "x") to the discount or charge(s) that are not to show on the booking order.

For example, enter a discount as -5%X if it is not to be shown on the booking order.

Handling Cost to Agency/Cost to Client in online media

In online/digital media if the user is entering the impressions as a package on the rate card i.e. 1 rate for 500,000 impressions, then when handling free to agency / free to client there seems to be a problem and I have outlined an example:

Agency cost: 500,000 impressions paid and 500,000 impressions free
Client bill: 750,000 impressions paid and 250,000 impressions free

In this case a package can't be made of 500,000 each as then it shows the same for the client.

Solution

This is a costing issue so it should show in the existing costing columns as follows:

Setting up a date range for the appearance of Ads under any media type

Clients may want to set a date range for appearance of their Ads. The can be many reasons for it, some of which are stated below:

• Handling long term bookings in Outdoor, Digital or continuous daily bookings in Newspapers:
  In case you need to do bookings for a series of days i.e. 10 days or 4 weeks, especially with Outdoor, NEOSYS allows you to enter the same in the specification as follows, then follow instructions for entering material code given in the end:

Outdoor hoarding site near Airport,4 weeks
Outdoor hoarding site near Airport,28 days
Outdoor hoarding site near Airport,1 month
Outdoor hoarding site near Airport,3 months
Outdoor hoarding site near Airport,1 year

• TV Ad having no fixed date of appearance:
  Creating Ads when the day of their appearance is not fixed. This mainly happens when Client wants to give an option to the channel to air the ad on any day of the week. In Television media sometimes there is no guarantee that the channel will place the ads especially when the dates are pin picked by clients. So giving the channel option to air any day of the week increases the chances of the Ads getting aired.e.g if you have an ad which you want to appear any day between 6th - 10th June, enter the date range in specification as follows and follow the instructions given in the end:

TV commercial about nutrition,5 days

Once you have entered the specification, enter a Material code (e.g. X) on the start date of the campaign in the date grid box. You MUST enter a Material code(e.g. X) in the Date grid, for the date range to show in schedule printout. This feature doesn't have an effect on the amounts, but instead NEOSYS calculates the start and stop date based on the date you select in the Date grid.

Example Below screenshots show how the entered date range is reflected in the booking orders

Why doesn't the date range appear in Schedule printout even after entering booking specifications like shown above?

This issue is noticed in a schedule printout when the following settings are used:

• A numeral is used in the date grid to select the start date
• List option is chosen under Date Format in the Media Schedule Printout screen

To avoid this problem ensure that a Material code (e.g. X) is used in the date grid, to select start date of the campaign. This issue occurs only in schedule printout. The date range appears properly in booking orders and invoices even if a numeral is used.

Understanding where ad status information is stored

Normally one can see ad status like booked, certified, invoiced etc per ad in the media diary report but the same information is also stored internally in the schedule file record.

In normal circumstances, the media diary and the internal information in the schedule should always be identical.

The ad status information in the schedule is used when NEOSYS support team uses the CREATEADS procedure to recreate the media diary files and reports.

You can see the status information stored in the Schedule File on the Dates popup: Unbooked, Without certificate, With rejection certificate, Uninvoiced, All.

Handling booking of additional dates on already booked lines

Situation explained

In a schedule which has a line which is already booked (eg. booking order no 10001) and later on you add another date to that line and book the same (eg. booking order no 10002) and thereafter you cancel or amend the 1st ad, the cancellation or amendment order mentions the booking order reference number of the 2nd booked ad (i.e. 10002).

Solution explained

NEOSYS is designed to only show the last booking order as it doesn't support handling of multiple dates with multiple orders as ad dates are not linked to the booking order number. In such a situation above, any new dates have to added on to new lines in the same schedule. Incase you do need to add the date to the same line, then it is recommended that you cancel the first ad and rebook both the ads again.

How to book a schedule with one vehicle in different lines with different currencies

Situation explained

Vehicle ABC with currency USD was selected on line 1 of a schedule and thereafter you enter a couple of other lines for other vehicles. Later on you change the currency on the Vehicle File of vehicle ABC to be AED and enter another line in the schedule - i.e. line 4 for vehicle ABC with currency AED. Now, when you go to book this vehicle and click on the book button on the New Booking Order Page, the booking order will show only the 1st line of that vehicle as NEOSYS cannot send a consolidated booking order for the same vehicle with different currencies.

Solution explained

Hence you need to send separate booking orders for the same vehicle as they are in different currencies. So, either you can book vehicle ABC from line 1 first and click on the book button again to book the next one, or if you want to book vehicle ABC from line 4, just put in the line number of the schedule in the option below and click on book.

How to book specific lines in a schedule with multiple lines of that vehicle

Situation explained

Schedule has several lines for the same vehicle. You want to create separate booking orders for each line or a combination of lines.

Solution explained

You need to specify the line number while generating the booking order. In case you want only one line, then specify that line number in the Schedule lines Ids field. If you want a combination of lines then specify those line numbers in the Schedule lines Ids field.

To book a single line

To book a combination of lines

Showing the Brand/Product Name on Booking Orders for Sundry and Agency clients

On booking orders for clients which are marked as “Sundry” or “Agency” clients, the brand name (from the NEOSYS Client/Brand File) is presented as the client name and the product name is omitted.

If you still want the product name to show on the booking order enter the brand name on the Client/Brand file with a colon in the form “XYZ Corp:ABC”.

Processing List of Wrong Ads

Agencies have to cope with the fact that ads places in publications can go wrong and hence NEOSYS has come up with the following feature to followup/generate a report of such wrong ads which need action:

1. In the Certification File, generate the required list of ads pending certification, and in the space to enter the Certificate/Voucher/Page number, put the same wrapped in round brackets eg. (XXXX).
2. Later on you can take the ordinary List of Ads Pending Certification report and it will include all those with the Certificate/Voucher/Page numbers in brackets just as if there was no number at all and thereafter you can follow-up on such ads.

Automatic certification by importing Ad monitoring data

Automatic certification can be done using data provided by advertising monitoring services. The data must be provided, in or converted, to a special format.

The columns of the import file are matched with scheduled ads and is based on the following criteria:

1. "date": Must exactly match the scheduled date (if the time is greater than 24:00 then 25:00 on 20/01/2010 does *not* match 01:00 on 21/01/2010, nor does it match 01:00 on 19/01/2010)
2. "submedium" : Must be exact Vehicle Name or exact Alias in NEOSYS Vehicle File (case insensitive)
3. "brand" : Must be exact Brand Name or exact Alias in NEOSYS Client/Brand File (case Insensitive)
4. "duration" : Must match duration on NEOSYS Schedule File from -1 to +3 seconds
5. "advertizing time" (*not* "program time") : Must be no more than 30 mins before, or 30 mins after, the scheduled time or time range.

In case there are multiple matching ads in the schedule file for some ad in the import file then only the first scheduled ad found will be certified. The remainder will remain uncertified unless there are also multiple similar ads in the import file. Only if there are an equal number of matching ads in the import file will all the scheduled ads be certified.

In case there is more than one similar ad in the import file for an ad that has been scheduled, then the balance of the imported ads will be loaded into the unmatched ads file and are listed for comparison while doing manual certification.

It is advisable to use a fixed terminology when discussing automatic certification to avoid confusion between unmatched ads and uncertified ads.

• “UNMATCHED ads” refers to monitored ads that NEOSYS has not been able to match up to scheduled ads in NEOSYS.
• “UNCERTIFIED ads” are ads scheduled in NEOSYS which have a) not been matched with monitored ads automatically and b) not certified manually.

Invoicing “Certified Ads Only” after invoicing “All Ads”

The following issue only occurs in old versions of NEOSYS. In newer versions of NEOSYS, invoiced ads which have not been certified will not be credited when requesting an invoice on "certified ads only" basis.

In old versions of NEOSYS, invoicing with the “certified ads only” options means both of the following:

1. “issue invoice for any uninvoiced ads that are certified”
2. “issue credit note for any invoiced ads that aren’t certified” … this may be unexpected behaviour by the user

In other words, if you invoice “certified ads only” then any ads already invoiced which do not have a certificate (either you already invoiced “All Ads” without certifying, or you removed the certificate number after invoicing “Certified Ads Only”) - will have a credit note issued for them.

This behaviour allows issuing credit notes for specific ads by removing the certificate number without removing the ad from the schedule.

Like issuing normal credit notes this also means that, even if schedules are fully invoiced and do not appear on the List of Schedules Pending Invoicing or List of Ads Pending Invoicing reports, you can get credit notes.

Users need to learn that invoicing “Certified Ads only” after invoicing “All Ads” should be avoided.

Cancelling or Amending Incorrect Client Invoices

See Using_NEOSYS_Agency_System#Cancelling_or_Amending_Incorrect_Client_Invoices

How to cancel and/or reissue an invoice using a credit note

To cancel an invoice permanently

1. From the Schedule File, remove the ads that need to be cancelled
2. Click on the "Invoice" button to get the New Invoice screen
3. Click the "Create Proforma" button
4. Check that the credit note looks okay
5. If the credit note looks okay, click on Invoice and the credit note will be created to reflect the cancelled ads

To cancel an invoice when you intend it to be reissued

NEOSYS has a special option to enable you to create a credit note without removing the ads from a schedule.

1. In the Schedule File, click on the “Invoice” button to get the New Invoice screen.
2. Enter the Credit Note date in the Invoice date field
3. In the Invoice type option select “Credit Note”
4. Click the “Create Proforma” button
5. Check that the credit note looks okay.
6. If the credit note looks okay, click on Invoice and the credit note will be created.

To reissue an invoice, cancel the original invoice as above then amend the schedule (or the other way around – it doesn’t matter) and issue another invoice using the usual steps.

Credit Notes

Credit Notes for reduction in billable cost

A credit note is a document which indicates a reduction of the amount that a client has to pay versus invoices issued to date. It can be thought of an arithmetical negative.

There are many varied reasons why this could be required.

• Ads not appearing properly
• Accidental overbilling
• Discounting
• Renegotiation/Disputes

To get a credit note for the required amount follow this procedure:

1. Amend the schedule to show the final net position and billing amount to the client. This could involve removing ads or giving additional discounts etc.
2. Use NEOSYS New Invoices and request a new "invoice". You will actually get a credit note representing the changes that you have made in step 1.

NB. Do NOT select Invoice Type: "Credit Note" since this is for totally reversing the total invoiced to date.

What if none of the discount and charge columns are vacant?

You can place multiple discounts in one column using / to separate the discounts eg "-5%/-1% discount". An optional additional word/comment must be preceded by a space.

Debit Notes for increase in billable amount

Note that you can also get debit notes (supplementary invoices) in a similar manner to the above if you add ads or increase costs on the schedule.

If you both add and subtract ads and costs then the additional "invoice" issued is either a debit note or credit note depending if the net effect increases or decreases the amount payable by the client.

Credit Note for reissuing "amended" invoices

Sometimes you wish to completely reissue an invoice which has been incorrectly raised. This can happen both when the erroneous invoice has been sent to the client and beforehand.

Good accounting procedure requires that once an invoice has been issued then it cannot simple be "cancelled" and forgotten as if it never existed. It must first be reversed by issuance of a "credit note" which is a kind of invoice with a negative amount. The logic is that there should not be two slightly documents floating around with the SAME INVOICE NUMBER as this can lead to accidental or deliverate confusion.

So, if an invoice has been issued wrongly and you wish to provide a corrected version then follow this procedure:

Do it in the TESTING AND TRAINING DATABASE first time or use PROFORMA option to ensure what you get is correct BEFORE actually issuing actual credit notes and invoices.

1. Reversal the original invoice using NEOSYS "New Invoices" with Invoice Type option "Credit Note".
2. Amend the schedule to what you want it to be
3. Get a new invoice

Note: It doesnt matter what order steps 1. and 2. are done. Even after you modify a schedule, NEOSYS remembers exactly what was invoiced and reverse what was invoiced, not what is on the schedule at the time of requesting the credit note.

It doesnt matter how you amend a schedule, NEOSYS always keeps an internal copy of the schedule "as it was invoiced".

Issuing separate invoices or credit notes for selected discounts and charges

NEOSYS can optionally provide clients with a supplementary invoices/credit notes for certain discounts and charges. Without this option, all discounts and charges would have to show on a single invoice.

On media plans and schedules append the letter "X" (or "x") to the discount or charge(s) that are not to show on the initial invoice and should appear on a separate invoice/credit note.

For example, enter a discount as -5%X if it is to be shown on a separate credit note.

When creating invoices to clients, an option is provided on the invoice creation form to allow raising of either a) the initial invoice only, or b) the final invoice/credit note only or c) both at the same time.

You cannot raise the final invoice/credit note unless the initial invoice is actually raised. Note that this means that you cannot get proforma invoices for the "Both" option.

How do I issue a credit note for part of a schedule?

There are instances where a schedule can have single or multiple invoices and you would like to cancel the amount invoiced for only specific ads or part of a schedule in these invoices.

To select specific ads in a schedule, you can use the Supplier and Vehicle filter on the New Media Invoices/Proformas page. This technique will help narrow down the selection to specific ads.

The way to get a credit note for part of a schedule with the intention of re-invoicing them again later is to delete them, get the credit note and then add them back.

1. Copy the ads to be credited into a new temporary schedule
2. Remove the ads from the schedule
3. Ask for an invoice (you will get a credit note)
4. Add the ads back into the schedule by copying from the temporary schedule
5. Delete the temporary schedule.

This is not ideal but is only rarely required. If it becomes a frequent requirement then NEOSYS software may be developed to handle it more automatically.

If there are only a few ads, you can skip the use of the temporary schedule and do it all manually.

The recreated ads will unfortunately be missing booking order information but the original booking orders are still stored in the schedule for inspection and if you must have a booking order number for the ads on the media diary then you can rebook them and put a note on the new order referring back to the original order. If you really want everything documented correctly you can issue a booking order cancellation at the same time as the credit note. These booking orders would not be sent to the media supplier of course.

Likewise any certification information will be lost when the ads are deleted. This will have to be re-entered after the ads are added back into the schedule.

The following way does not work in NEOSYS at the moment

1. Decertify some invoiced ads
2. Ask for an invoice for "certified ads only"  hoping to get a credit note for the ads that are no longer certified.

Removing unnecessary items from List of Schedules Pending Invoices

Removing unnecessary items from List of Schedules Pending Invoices

Processing of Incoming Media Supplier Invoices

Verifying incoming supplier invoices is a major agency task - possibly greater in effort than the issuing of the original bookings.

The general strategy in NEOSYS for checking is to have a kind of holding account (called a WIP/accrued costs account) which shows at all times the exact difference between the costs as-booked-and-invoiced-to-clients, and the actual cost of supplier invoices received and posted to date.

The most common practice is for NEOSYS to automatically open a single WIP/accrual account for each schedule. This allows pending costs to be fully managed and controlled within the system and with a full breakdown.

The WIP/accrual accounts are typically configured as open-item accounts to allow even greater control by seeing exactly which media costs are pending within a particular schedule. In a large schedule with many media this is important. Standard "allocation" of debits to credits within the schedule a/c closes off items one by one leaving pending items clearly visible. It may be easy to visually match debits and credits in any particular schedule WIP/accrual account and not bother with allocation.

Note: No manual correction journals should be posted directly into the income and costs account under any circumstances. All corrections must be made in the original Schedule File and corresponding financial correction journals will be generated automatically.

Why should Media Accrual Accounts be Open Item and not Balance Forward?

Accrual Accounts are best thought of as identical to Supplier A/cs but for supplier invoices that expect to receive but have not received yet. If the accrual accounts are kept as a Balance Forward, then it is impossible to get a breakdown of the balance in accrual account especially in large schedules with many media. Without getting a breakdown of the balance in accrual account, it becomes very difficult to understand what all costs the supplier invoice has been received and what exactly are the pending costs.

WIP

If supplier invoices are received and posted BEFORE the clients are invoiced then the WIP/accrued cost account will represent WIP, other words it will be a debit balance representing the total value of supplier invoices received and posted but which have yet to be billed to the client.

Accrued Costs

If the supplier invoices are received and posted only after the clients are invoiced then the WIP/accrued cost account will represent accrued costs, in order words it will be a credit balance representing the value of costs as-booked-and-invoiced-to-client for which supplier invoices have not been received and posted.

Process if a supplier invoice is acceptable

1. In the Media Supplier Invoice File locate the ads related to the incoming supplier invoice and enter the supplier invoice number against each one.
2. In the space for the supplier invoice numbers you can also put any additional information into the same field. E.g. For a magazine, you could put both the supplier invoice number and the page number where the ad actually appeared. While you are entering the supplier invoice numbers on the ads, check that the cost to the agency on screen - which corresponds to the bookings made - agrees with the supplier invoice that you are checking.
3. If you find that the invoice amount is not correct or any discrepancy, NEOSYS has created a special function to distinguish/followup on such invoices for reporting purposes. To enable this feature for the concerned invoice, enter the supplier invoice number wrapped in round brackets eg. (XXXX). Later on, you can take the ordinary List of Ads Pending Supplier Invoice report and it will include all those with supplier invoice numbers in brackets just as if there was no supplier invoice number at all.

If the supplier invoice amount is correct - but doesn't match the booking order cost

1. Amend the cost-to-agency columns on the schedule file.
2. Request an invoice for the schedule.

Requesting for an invoice generates the appropriate accounting entries for cost adjustments to the cost account and the cost accrual accounts in Finance module.

The invoice will generate a zero invoice "to the client" and a "cost invoice" for the difference between the original cost and the new cost.

Scenario 1 - What are the entries created when the media purchase invoice is slightly more than the booking cost (after invoicing the client)?

Eg. Booking order cost was 5000 AED, but the Media Purchase invoice was received for 5500 AED:

Client A/c     DR  0
Income A/C     CR  0 
Cost A/c       DR  500 
WIP A/c        CR  500 

Scenario 2 - What are the entries created when the media purchase invoice is slightly less than the purchase order (after invoicing the client)?

Eg. Booking order cost was 5000 AED, but the Media Purchase invoice was received for 4500 AED:

Client A/c     DR  0
Income A/C     CR  0 
Cost A/c       DR  -500 
WIP A/c        CR  -500

If the supplier invoice is acceptable for posting

Enter the supplier invoices directly into the Finance Purchase Journal.

Supplier A/c Credit 100 Schedule/Accrual A/c Debit 100

Locating long overdue Supplier Invoices/Credit Notes

- If you have one accrual a/c per schedule automatically created by NEOSYS

Print the Trial Balance of the Media WIP/Accrual Ledger and investigate the older accounts at the top of the report using the Supplier Invoice File or List of Ads Pending Supplier Invoices report.

- If you have one accrual a/c per supplier

Print the Detailed Ledger A/c (Outstanding Items Only) of the Media WIP/Accrual Ledger and investigate the older items using the Supplier Invoice File or List of Ads Pending Supplier Invoices report.

Writing-off long overdue Supplier Invoices/Credit Notes

Follow exactly the same steps as in the above section "If the supplier invoice amount is correct - but doesn't match the booking order cost".

Note- NEOSYS will generate cost adjustment in the usual media cost accounts but you may like to amend the journal before posting to go to some other a/c such as “other income – supplier invoices not received”.

Posting media supplier invoices before issuing schedules to the client

Assuming that you are accruing media costs by schedule and not by vehicle or supplier then the contra account of the supplier invoice posting will be the schedule code or, if the schedules codes are pure numbers then SCH9999 where 9999 is the number of the schedule.

Supplier invoices posted before issuing invoices to client are work in progress (assets) but, in NEOSYS common practice, we still post them into the Media Accruals Ledger which could more properly be called Media Accruals/WIP Ledger.

The accrual account for the schedule is created as soon as the schedule is approved and not only when the invoice is issued to the client. Schedule approval happens in practice automatically at the time of the first booking. Therefore unless you book a schedule (or specifically enter the approval date on the schedule file, there will be no accrual account created for you to post the supplier invoice into. This is logical since if you haven't booked or specifically approved a schedule then you should arguably not be able to post supplier invoices for that schedule.

Processing wrong Incoming Media Supplier Invoices

If you find that the invoice amount is not correct or any discrepancy, NEOSYS has created a special function to distinguish/followup on such invoices for reporting purposes. To enable this feature follow the procedure below:

1. In the Supplier Invoice File, generate the required list of ads pending supplier invoices, and in the space to enter the supplier invoice number, put the same wrapped in round brackets eg. (XXXX).
2. Later on you can take the ordinary List of Ads Pending Supplier Invoice report and it will include all those with supplier invoice numbers in brackets just as if there was no supplier invoice number at all.

Accounting entries created by the Media System

Invoice journal entries are created automatically but are left un-posted under Menu > Finance > Journals > Journal Entries - Media Invoices/Credit Notes (INV).

Note: These entries are generated automatically by NEOSYS

Entries when client is invoice for 120 with cost 100

Client A/C             Dr.  + 120
Income A/c             Cr.  - 120

Cost A/C               Dr.  + 100
Media Accrual A/C      Cr.  - 100 (Schedule a/c)

Note: Media accrual is a provision done as you haven’t received supplier invoice.

Entries on received a supplier invoice that media has accepted

Note:But while entering the Media Purchase Invoice (Supplier Invoice) you need to pass a manual entry under Menu > Finance > Journal > Journal Entry - select Media Purchase Invoice, and enter the journal as follows:

Media Accrual A/c      Dr. + 100 (Schedule a/c)
Supplier A/c           Cr. - 100 

For a more detailed note on this topic, refer to Processing of Incoming Media Supplier Invoices

Allocating amounts in the accruals a/c against the supplier invoice

At the same time of receiving/posting the supplier invoice

To allocate the accruals against an incoming supplier invoice, you may click on the ALLOC VCHS column in the Media Purchase Invoice journal and from the pop-up list of unallocated items, click on Allocate and save the document - these items will not appear as outstanding in the accrual ledger.

After receiving/posting the supplier invoice

Many a times at the time you receive the supplier invoice you are unable to allocate the same against the outstanding items in the accrual account. Hence after posting the same and/or at a date you can go to Menu > Finance > Vouchers > Vouchers Allocation and enter the accrual account number and click on OK - here from the unallocated supplier invoice amounts, select the one you want to allocate by clicking on Allocate button and thereafter it pops up a list of all accruals which are allocatable. From this list select the ones you want to allocate.

Using NEOSYS VAT/Sales Tax Accounting for Media

Setting up standard Sales Tax Percentage

If all schedules should have the same VAT/Sales Tax% then specify it in the media Configuration File.

The default Tax Code can be entered here as well.

Create a schedule with VAT/Tax%

If a standard VAT/Sales Tax% is not defined in the media Configuration File then you must manually add the tax code or tax percentage at the bottom of every schedule that should have tax.

Create the invoice

Before you do this, Issue a proforma invoice first to check that the tax appears correctly.

Report on Cost VAT Tax

To get a report on the media cost tax make sure that schedule follows these requirements and then create Media Diary report.

All these points MUST be met, otherwise cost tax will not appear in Media Diary report:

1. "Z" flag should not be used on the schedule line.

2. Schedule has to have any tax code entered, even OZ (0%).

3. Company file main market agrees with the vehicle file market code.

4. Supplier market code is either blank or agrees with the vehicle market code.

If the market code is "UAE" or "KSA" then system will add 5% to COST TAX. HARDCODED currently.

Will be configured per period in the Company File soon and not hard coded since rates and countries may/will change in the future.

Finance Entries

Entries when client is invoice for 120 with cost 100 and 5% VAT

Client A/C              Dr.  + 126
Income A/c              Cr.  - 120
VAT Control A/C         Cr.  - 6

Cost A/C                Dr.  + 100
Media Accrual A/C       Cr.  - 100 (Schedule a/c)

Note: Media accrual is a provision done as you haven’t received supplier invoice.

Entries on received a supplier invoice that media has accepted

When entering the Media Purchase Invoice (Supplier Invoice) you need to pass a manual entry under Menu > Finance > Journal > Journal Entry - select Media Purchase Invoice, and enter the journal as follows:

Media Accrual A/c       Dr. + 100 (Schedule a/c)
VAT Control A/C         Dr. + 5
Supplier A/c            Cr. - 105

For a more detailed note on this topic, refer to Processing of Incoming Media Supplier Invoices

Post the Sales Invoice Journal created

In Finance Journals, check that the tax columns appear, the tax amount is correct, and then post it.

Check that the Sale Tax A/c is correct

It should show an entry for the tax liability incurred by issuing and posting the above sales invoice.

How to handle production costs on media rate cards

Some media like out of home often has production costs which vary in parallel with the base cost.

One solution in NEOSYS is to place two columns on the rate card. Then on the schedule select the first column while mentally remembering the second amount, then simply type the second amount into the “Loading” or “Other” column. This is likely to be automated in the next version NEOSYS.

If there are any discounts and charges and they apply only to the base cost then placing the production charges in the “Other” column makes it clear to everybody that they do not take part in the discounting.

Specifying Gross Unit Bill Amount to Client in Ratecards

Normally the Gross Unit Bill Amount (in other words, the gross unit cost to the client) is taken from whichever column the user selected from the ratecard when creating media plans or schedules.

1. You may specify, in the ratecard's Client Rates section, which is the default ratecard column to be used per client and/or per brand but this can be overridden during selection.
2. If there is a column titled BILL or CLIENT in the ratecard, and there is no default Ratecard Column specified for the client and/or brand, then that column will be used for the client.

Specifying Gross Unit Cost to Agency in Ratecards

Normally the Gross Unit Cost Amount (in other words, the gross unit cost to the agency) is taken as a copy of the Gross Unit Bill Amount to the Client, however NEOSYS can get a different rate in a number of ways.

1. Agency Ratecard Column can be specified per client and/or per brand in the Client Rates section of the ratecard
2. Otherwise, if there is a column titled COST or X in one of the columns after (to the right) of the column selected for the client.
3. The ratecard used to decide the agency costs may be different from the ratecard for the client. Use the Vehicle Cost File to specify the date of the rate card that the agency uses.
4. You can specify a "column offset" in the Vehicle Cost File. For example a cost offset of 10 would mean that if the first ten columns are rates for the client then the second 10 columns would the costs to the agency in parallel. ie if the client rate is taken from column 3 then the agency rate will be taken from column 13.

Restricting Access to Selected Ratecard columns

In the Authorisation File put a task called RATECARD ACCESS “XYZ” where XYZ is the title of the ratecard column eg “COST”. The quotes are required.

Add an appropriate lock to the task and give the key to the authorised users only in the usual way.

Alternatively you can restrict access to the first 10 columns with a task RATECARD ACCESS A (with no quotes). The second 10 columns can be restricted with RATECARD ACCESS B .. and so on up to the current maximum of 40 columns.

How to Use and Manage Materials

In order to assign a material to an ad, simply type a letter to identify that material, into the Dates calender of the schedule as shown below:

When the schedule is saved, the material automatically appears in the table of materials on the bottom of the schedule file. Also, a corresponding Material File is automatically created.

Materials can be tracked using the List of Materials report in the Media --> Materials menu.

NEOSYS can also be set up to send out an email alert warning about the list of pending material

Using Media Material File

Material file records are automatically generated from the schedules you enter.The material number is the schedule number (E.g. SCH1001) followed by a fullstop and material letter (e.g. A,B,C) i.e. SCH1001.A . One material is created for each material letter present on the schedule.

If a schedule reuses material from previous schedules you must enter the previous schedule number in the list of materials at the bottom of the schedule file. This will prevent new material from being created automatically by the new schedule.

If you mark materials in the Material file (or Schedule File) as having been delivered to you then NEOSYS can alert you daily by email about material due for delivery by deadline date.

Exporting Invoices in Excel Format

Using NEOSYS Invoices menu, Audit Invoices/List

To “export” we run the normal audit procedure but with output format=xls.

You can also get an html version of the invoices but this currently doesn’t show all the third party system alias codes.

Classic concepts from financial audit are used to ensure a complete and unduplicated stream import files and invoices. NEOSYS uses system controlled sequential audit numbering so that you can ensure that you have all the invoices up to a certain point and be confident that there are no duplications. The system still works when invoice numbering is discontinuous for any reason.

Steps:

1. (Optional/Repeatable) EXPORT WITHOUT CLOSING
   • Followed by visual inspection and maybe a *trial* (not real!) import into other system.
   • Any new invoices generated afterwards will be appended to the old batch.
2. EXPORT AND CLOSE
   • Closing will “finalise” the audit batch ensuring that the same invoices will not be exported again.
   • To “re-export” a prior batch, specify the right audit number – for example the one prior to the current audit no.
   • If re-exporting, then the current latest other-system client/supplier alias codes will be used
3. Import the exported file/audit batch into your other system.
   • If any other-system client/supplier alias codes are wrong then fix the codes in NEOSYS and repeat from the previous step
4. Repeat from 1.

Notes: To find the current audit number, run the audit report in html format WITHOUT closing.

All invoices are appended to current latest audit batch no. Audit batch no starts from “1” per company if invoices are numbered by company, or per database if not.

If you export and don’t close then any new invoices raise subsequently will be APPENDED to the current latest audit batch no.

If you export and don’t close then you should *not* import that batch into your other system (except perhaps on a trial basis) because the next export will contain the same invoices PLUS any new ones. If you do try to import both the old and new version of the same audit batch number then before you import the new version of it, you must edit out the invoices that you have already imported. If you attempt to import both the old and the new extended version of the same audit batch number without doing any editing then your import will:

1. Fail if it is capable of recognizing duplicate voucher numbers, or
2. Import duplicates transactions if it cannot.

Once you close, then all new invoices will start being appended to a new batch of invoices with a new audit no.

Getting media executive sales commission statements

NEOSYS can calculate both due and pending commissions as a percentage of the net cost to the client for each ad. The percentage can be determined by the number of days between the invoice and the receipt. Client receipts must be entered into the NEOSYS finance module and allocated against the invoices

The commission structure must be setup beforehand in the Media Configuration File as follows:

Once the commission structure is setup, use the Media Diary to get commission statements. Make sure that you select one or both of the options “paid” or “unpaid” otherwise you will not get any receipt or commission columns

This will give you a report something like the following which shows the total commission due and pending per executive

You can click on the summary total lines to see the details including the commission % and amount per ad as follows.

Selling TV spots

This procedure is only for when you want full control over positioning of ads in programs and breaks. It is not required for simple TV ad sales.

Setting up the master files

Create a vehicle

Click here for how to handle media vehicle with multiple suppliers

Create a rate card with standard price brackets

Specify the station programs and break times/durations for every date (there is a way to import as well)

Entering orders from clients

Enter ads roughly into programs (not into breaks yet)

You must follow the 3 step process below. Specification comes automatically.

Positioning ads in breaks

Closer to the actual date position all the ads precisely into breaks

Lets have a look at all ads on July 5th

Select an un-positioned ad

Finally select where in the break this ad should appear compared to other ads.

There is only one break in this program.

Issuing orders to the stations

Close to the day of execution issue an order to the station

Understanding the Terminology of words like Invoice/Costs in the Media System

the meaning of In NEOSYS practice if you say "invoices" without any further clarification this means and only means SALES invoices. If you said MEDIA invoices (intending to mean media module invoices and to clarify from job module invoices) then there is confusion because the advertising industry standard terminology for NEOSYS media suppliers AND NEOSYS media vehicles is "media" so "media invoices" sounds much like "invoices from the media" which are of course Purchase Invoices. Therefore we MUST call invoices issued out of the NEOSYS media module "Invoices", "Media Sales Invoices" or "Media Module Invoices" but not "Media Invoices".

When mentioning Cost in NEOSYS, Cost alone means always and only Cost to Agency but you can say Cost to Client/Cost to Agency if you want to spell it out.

Understanding how ads appear in different colors in the schedule

Color shows by preference in the following order:

1. Brown - Scheduled only
2. Green - Booked
3. Blue - Certified
4. Orange - Supplier invoice entered
5. Black - Invoiced
6. Gray - Full Credit Note

e.g. when you create a new ad in a schedule it will appear as Red. If an ad has been invoiced, it will show as black regardless of if the ad has been certified or not or it has been booked or not.

A box around the ad means certified wrong or problem on supplier invoice (they are entered without round brackets to indicate that there is some problem)

Below screenshot displays how these different type of Ads appear in the schedule. Wiki explains how to schedule/book/certify/certify wrong or invoice ads etc.

Automatic CPM calculation in Schedule File

If the letters "CPM" are present anywhere in the Specification field in the schedule file, then Gross Unit Cost is converted into Net Unit Cost using a factor of 0.001.

So you can put something like "IMPRESSION CPM*" in the Vehicle Ratecard for automated calculation of cost for digital ads (as shown in screenshot below).

Once the above is entered in the ratecard file, then follow the below steps to use the ratecard entry in a schedule file:

1. In Schedule file select ratecard.
   
   
2. Then select the option required from that ratecard entry.
   
   
3. Enter number of impressions in the popup (this popup appears only if "*" is entered in the ratecard file
   
   
4. Then the net unit amount gets calculated as shown below.
   
   

Income Sharing

This NEOSYS feature provides a method to share any % of income from a particular client between companies.

E.g Company A and B are handling two different Newspaper campaigns for ClientX, a % of the fee amount can then be given to company Z.

Prerequisites:

• In the Client & Brand File, the two fields, "Company" and "%Share of Fee" are used to dictated what percentage of bill fee to share and with which company. See Client & Brand File Income Sharing
• In the Media Configuration file, under section Media Accounting, enter the Media Income Share account code. See Media Config Income Share
• In the company file of the company sharing the income, there must be an inter-company account between that company and the company to share income with. See Setup intercompany account
• A % or amount must be entered into the Fee column on the schedule.

Automatically generated inter-company entries will only be generated if the schedule's bill has a fee amount or % entered.

The amount to be shared is a % of the fee entered in the schedule.

Screenshot below:

1. Media Configuration file: Define which media type income account you want the companies to share.
2. Client & Brand file: Define which company should receive shared income from other companies and what % of the bill fee should be shared.
3. Schedule file: Make sure that an amount or % is entered in the Fee column. Otherwise no income is shared.