- Cerebiz CEO interviewed by Microsoft’s BizSpark program in Australia. - More»
- BizSpark Partner Solution Profile: Cerebiz on-Demand – Business Intelligence and collaboration in the cloud - Today I caught up with Jayantha Ekenayake, President of Australian based technology company Cerebiz to talk about his company’s Cloud Solution that provides Business intelligence & collaboration for Small to Medium Enterprises. - More»
MYOB related questions
Q: Does cerebiz on-demand work with any version of MYOB ?
A: Cerebiz on-demand works with current and the immediately prior version of MYOB Accounting, Accounting Plus, and Premier. MYOB users have found it worthwhile upgrading to the latest versions, to obtain the benefits of the new MYOB functions and features as well as the ability to run them with Cerebiz on-demand.
Q: Will Cerebiz on-demand be upgraded automatically in line with future upgrades of MYOB?
A: Cerebiz on-demand will keep abreast of new versions of MYOB Accounting, Accounting Plus, and Premier.
Q: How does Cerebiz on-demand extract the MYOB data?
A: Cerebiz on-demand puts a very small data extract program on the MYOB computer that works in conjunction with an ‘Open Database Connectivity’ (ODBC) tool on the MYOB system that is an industry standard way of transferring data from one system to another. The data is encrypted and hence secure while on its path across the network to the Cerebiz on-demand Data Store.
Q: How often does the extraction process happen?
A: The extraction process may be preset to happen as often as required. The determining factor is how ‘up to date’ the data that Cerebiz on-demand relies on needs to be. Typically it is done daily, weekly, or monthly but it can also be done ‘on the hour’ for example.
Q: Does the Cerebiz on-demand process alter our MYOB data in any way?
A: no, Cerebiz on-demand does not affect or alter the data in the MYOB system as it is a one way process (except in the case of the Accountant two-way link where corrections and journals created in Cerebiz can be submitted for review and posting back into MYOB).
Q: Does the size of our MYOB database matter?
A: Cerebiz on-demand is designed to work with all sizes of MYOB databases. There may be a database quota limit that becomes relevant to the choice of Cerebiz on-demand monthly plan that you choose.
Q: Are there any MYOB extras we need to run with Cerebiz on-demand?
A: There are no additional MYOB modules or ‘extras’ that you require to run with Cerebiz on-demand, however the MYOB ODBC driver should be installed in the MYOB computer.
A: Allocating an account to the wrong MYOB category is a common occurrence. For example an account that is really a ‘Cost of Sales’ is set up as an ‘Expense’ account. Cerebiz on-demand handles this by providing a ‘drag and drop’ account mapping facility that enables an Accountant to easily shift the ‘errant’ account into the right category. The mapping facility interprets the incoming data from MYOB and automatically maps or routes it to the right account category.
Q: Can we upload previous year data bases?
A: You can select the data bases for previous year(s) to be uploaded.
Access to your MYOB and other data’ related questions
Q: How is Cerebiz on-demand different or better than our existing report writer?
A: Report writers present a ‘fixed view’ on the data that they are used to report on. This means many reports may be needed to present the different views on the data required to manage the business better.
Cerebiz on-demand is much more than a report writer in that it represents all the MYOB data in a multi-dimensional ‘cube’ that enables any view of the data to be ‘rolled over’ and looked at from different perspectives. This is also known as “Slicing and dicing” and ‘drill down’ and as it is interactive, it provides the user with the immediate ability to pull up data to support better understanding and better decision making. For example in static report (using standard report writers) you will be able to see product sales by monthly, by quarterly, by half yearly, by yearly comparison with your respective budgets and variances for the period. In Cerebiz on-demand multidimensional cubes, you will be able to see for example same information by region, by customer, by sales person etc. just selecting these dimensions in a single view.
Another important aspect of Cerebiz on-demand is that it provides the views in a browser anywhere, anytime 24x7 so ‘reports’ are not tied to having to go to a central location to obtain them. The Cerebiz on-demand ‘data views’ may be saved or printed on the user’s computer.
Q: Can Cerebiz on-demand replace all our spreadsheets?
A: Cerebiz on-demand offers a number of standard templates to view and drill down on the MYOB data. If any spreadsheets contain data not in MYOB, a new template would need to be set up to manage and access such data. Cerebiz on-demand offers the potential (subject to a customization arrangements being in place between Cerebiz and your business) of full database management capabilities to complement MYOB for any data that MYOB does not hold or deal with.
Q: Can Cerebiz on-demand replace our Access database that holds data external to MYOB?
A: Cerebiz on-demand offers full SQL database management capabilities to complement MYOB for any data that MYOB does not hold. Hence the need for database tools such as Access can be eliminated. Naturally a customization arrangement needs to be entered into for such data base development as well as new Cerebiz on-demand templates that will need to be set up to access the extra data which is outside the standard MYOB database.
Q: Can Cerebiz on-demand provide for Budgets and Cash Flow data not handled in MYOB?
A: Cerebiz on-demand has standard templates to handle Budgets and Cash Flow.
Q: Can we use our own choice of Internet browser
A: Currently Cerebiz on-demand is designed for use with Microsoft Internet Explorer & Firefox.
Q: Can users view and print data, or only view?
A: Cerebiz on-demand provides the views on the data in a browser anywhere, anytime 24x7 and these ‘data views’ may be saved or printed on the user’s computer.
A: Cerebiz on-demand represents all the MYOB data in a multi-dimensional ‘cube’ that enables any view of the data to be ‘rolled over’ and looked at from different perspectives. This is also known as ‘drill down’ and as it is interactive, it provides the user with the immediate ability to pull up data to support better understanding and better decision making. There is no waiting on any reports.
Q: Does access ‘anywhere’ mean anywhere on the globe?
A: Yes, anywhere the user has access to the Internet and a computer with a browser.
Q: Does access ‘anytime 24x7’ mean 365 days per year access?
A: Yes it does, subject only to short periods of ‘essential maintenance’ which will be notified beforehand whenever possible. The infrastructure used by Cerebiz on-demand is designed to be extremely reliable with very high target uptime 99.9%, however there may be occasional malfunctions in the infrastructure that cerebiz on-demand utilizes and there can be no 100% guarantee, nor can down time due to such causes be predicted.
Q: Can access be restricted to nominated users?
A: Yes, all access to Cerebiz on-demand is by user name and password.
Q: Can Cerebiz on-demand be set up so users only see ‘their own’ data?
A: Yes, the ‘user name’ can be linked to specific template views of the MYOB data so each user can only see what s/he is authorized to see.
Q: Is the whole of the MYOB database available to access via Cerebiz on-demand?
A: Yes, however an appropriate template is required to access and view specific data. Also, of course, there is the user level access security.
Q: Can Cerebiz on-demand access prior year MYOB data even though those years are closed off?
A: Yes, Cerebiz on-demand templates can be set up to access any data. Including all prior year data. This is important for any year to year comparison purposes.
Investment related questions
Q: Are there different versions of Cerebiz on-demand?
A: There are two Cerebiz on-demand ‘offerings’ being Business version for business owners and managers, and an Accountant's version for external Accounting Firms.
Q: How is the pricing structured?
A: Prices are set as monthly subscriptions payable quarterly or annually in advance. Various options are separately priced and selectable.
Q: Is there an upfront charge?
A: There is no up front charge for the standard Cerebiz on-demand offerings.
Q: Do we need extra or special hardware?
A: No extra hardware is required for Cerebiz on-demand apart from a broadband connection to the Internet.
Implementation related questions
Q: What is a typical installation time frame for Cerebiz on-demand?
A: Base on the use of standard templates from the library, the typical installation time is within one business day.
A: No, Cerebiz on-demand uses online methods such as GoToMeeting that require no special hardware or software at the user end other than a telephone and broadband Internet connection.
Q: Will our MYOB technical support people need to be involved?
A: As part of the Cerebiz on-demand setup, there is a small piece of software to handle the data extracts that needs to be installed on the MYOB computer. This may involve a small amount of time (less than an hour) on the part your technical support people.
Support related questions
Q: Do you offer support for Cerebiz on-demand?
A: Online video clips, online chat, and email support are offered for questions involving use of the service.
Q: Is the support available outside of business hours?
A: Support via online chat and email is available during business hours in the Australia / New Zealand region.
Q: What is the typical response time to obtain email support?
A: Support via email is typically ‘within two business days’.
Security related questions
Q: Does Cerebiz on-demand use secure encrypted Internet connections?
A: Yes Cerebiz on-demand uses secure SSL links for all transfer of data over the Internet.
Q: Will our MYOB data remain confidential?
A: Cerebiz on-demand applies standards of confidentiality and care to client data at the same level as it would to its own confidential data. We understand that confidentiality is the essence of our business.
Q: How secure is the Cerebiz on-demand central data store?
A: The Cerebiz on-demand Data Store is housed in specialist facilities that include failover capabilities and controlled access.

