Visual Dolphin Accounting Software Tutorial Here
Before you can post your first entry, you need to set up the environment correctly. Visual Dolphin is modular, meaning you can purchase only the modules you need (e.g., General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Inventory).
Visual Dolphin is a comprehensive ERP and accounting solution designed to streamline financial operations for businesses, particularly those in high-volume retail and distribution. This tutorial article provides a step-by-step overview of how to navigate its core functionalities. 1. Getting Started: Navigation and Setup
Upon logging in, the Visual Dolphin interface is organized into modular sections.
Dashboards: Use the central dashboard to view real-time financial health indicators, such as cash flow and aging reports.
Chart of Accounts: Before recording transactions, ensure your General Ledger is configured. You can define account codes, categories (Assets, Liabilities, Revenue, Expenses), and sub-accounts to match your business structure. 2. Managing Accounts Payable & Receivable
Visual Dolphin automates the lifecycle of your transactions to reduce manual entry errors.
Purchasing (Payables): Enter vendor invoices and schedule payments. The software tracks due dates and helps manage discounts for early payments.
Sales (Receivables): Generate professional invoices directly from the system. As payments are received, use the "Cash Receipt" function to apply them to outstanding invoices. 3. Inventory and Point of Sale (POS)
For retail-focused businesses, the Visual Dolphin Retail module handles high-volume transactions across multiple sites.
Stock Tracking: Real-time inventory updates occur as sales are processed at the POS.
Multi-Site Management: Centralize data from various branches to maintain a singular view of your stock and financial performance. 4. Financial Reporting and Compliance
The software’s primary advantage is its ability to compile complex data into actionable reports.
Generating Statements: Navigate to the "Reports" menu to produce Balance Sheets, Profit & Loss statements, and Trial Balances.
Audit Trails: Visual Dolphin maintains a rigorous audit trail of all transactions, ensuring regulatory compliance and ease during tax seasons. 5. Key Tips for New Users
Automate Recurring Tasks: Set up templates for recurring monthly expenses (like rent or utilities) to save time.
Data Integration: Utilize the software's ability to integrate with other business tools to ensure all financial data flows seamlessly into your General Ledger.
For technical assistance or specific installation manuals, users often refer to the Visual Dolphin Support Resources for detailed step-by-step documentation.
Visual Dolphin is a comprehensive ERP and financial management solution developed by Software Design Consulting Group (SDCG)
. The software integrates core accounting functions—like General Ledger, Accounts Payable, and Accounts Receivable—with operational modules such as Inventory and Sales. LinkedIn لبنان Core Accounting Modules General Ledger (GL):
Acts as the central hub, consolidating financial data from all other modules to provide real-time strategic insights. Accounts Payable (AP):
Manages vendor obligations, tracks discount opportunities, and handles "Advance Allocation" to match prepayments with outstanding invoices. Accounts Receivable (AR): visual dolphin accounting software tutorial
Tracks customer payments and cash inflows, using an integrated address book to eliminate redundant data entry. Fixed Assets Management:
Covers the full asset lifecycle, including definition, accounting linkage, tracking by location, and automated depreciation projections. Software Design | Consulting Group Key Operational Workflows Sales and Invoicing:
The system supports high-volume invoicing and automatically checks client credit limits before saving. Inventory Control:
Visual Dolphin supports unlimited storage locations and tracks inventory down to specific bin numbers. Transfers between locations require an internal approval sequence to maintain accountability. Purchasing:
Similar to sales, purchasing workflows are customizable and can be set to move through predefined approval statuses (e.g., from quotation to approved order). Software Design | Consulting Group Training and Support Resources Live Online Sessions: Since July 2020, Software Design Consulting Group
has transitioned its formal training sessions to online platforms like Microsoft Teams. Specific Course Tracks:
Targeted training is available for specialized areas, such as the Visual Dolphin Fixed Assets Management Technical Support: SDCG provides a Hot Line Support
service for "how-to" questions and software issue resolution. Integrated Documentation:
The software features drill-down capabilities and extensive sorting to help users review underlying transaction details instantly. Software Design | Consulting Group Software Design Consulting Group - Dubai | Beirut | Riyadh
It sounds like you're looking for a tutorial on Visual Dolphin , the ERP and accounting software developed by Software Design & Consulting Group
Below is a simplified "Quick Start" guide for the accounting module, based on its standard workflows for General Ledger, Accounts Payable, and Accounts Receivable. 1. Navigating the "My Dolphin" Workspace When you first log in, you’ll see the My Dolphin workspace. This is your personal dashboard where you can: Access Daily Tasks: View a list of your routine accounting activities. Quick Links:
Use shortcuts to jump directly into transaction types like "Journal Entries" or "Invoice Posting". Reminders:
Check for any pending approvals or upcoming payment deadlines. Software Design | Consulting Group 2. General Ledger (GL) Setup & Posting
The GL is the core of the system where all financial data is consolidated. Chart of Accounts:
You can set up a dual Chart of Accounts to handle both local and international reporting standards. Journal Entries: Enter transactions manually or let the system automatically post from other modules like Sales or Inventory. Reversals:
If a mistake is made, use the "Automatically Reverse Entries" feature to keep your books clean. Software Design | Consulting Group 3. Accounts Payable (AP) & Payments This module tracks what you owe to suppliers. Advance Allocation:
You can register a payment before an invoice arrives and then allocate it later to settle the outstanding balance. Payment Preparation:
To pay multiple suppliers at once, use the "Payment Preparation" tool. You enter a total amount, and the system helps you distribute it across different invoices. Issuing Checks:
Visual Dolphin can automatically print checks for any payable voucher you've approved. Software Design | Consulting Group 4. Accounts Receivable (AR) & Sales This module helps you manage cash coming into the business. Invoice Management: Issue invoices based on pre-set sales terms (e.g., Net 30). Aged Trial Balance:
Regularly run this report to see which customers are late on payments and manage your cash flow effectively. Batch Posting: Before you can post your first entry, you
Group sales by batch or customer to make bank reconciliation faster. Software Design | Consulting Group 5. Reporting & Business Intelligence To analyze your data, use the built-in multidimensional reporting tools Software Design | Consulting Group Drill-Down:
Click on any account balance to see the specific voucher or transaction that created it. Dashboards:
View your key metrics (like profit trends or top-selling items) in a graphical format rather than just rows of numbers. Software Design | Consulting Group
If you're looking for deep-dive technical training, check the official Software Design Training Portal official LinkedIn page for updated webinars and PDF manuals. Are you setting this up for a new business , or are you a current user
looking to master a specific feature like the "Report Writer"?
The General Ledger (GL) is the central repository for all financial transactions.
Chart of Accounts (COA): Users can define a custom account number structure and support dual COAs for complex reporting.
Entity Management: Configure multiple corporations, divisions, and departments within a single database to eliminate redundant data entry.
Multi-Currency Support: Set up dual or multiple currencies for international operations. 2. Managing Contacts (Suppliers & Customers)
Visual Dolphin uses a centralized address book where third-party accounts are created as "contacts".
Contact Creation: A single contact can be identified as a supplier, a client, or both simultaneously to reduce errors.
Verification Process: Prior to activation, management can require a financial and legal investigation. Users can store digital copies of trade licenses and tax documents directly in the contact profile. 3. Accounts Payable (AP) Operations
Voucher Entry: Enter vendor invoices to track obligations and purchasing patterns.
Payment Preparation: Group purchases into individual batches by supplier or employee for easier reconciliation.
Check Printing: The system can automatically print checks for payable vouchers or record hand-written checks manually. 4. Accounts Receivable (AR) & Sales
Invoicing: Create invoices with predefined VAT rates that apply automatically.
Credit Terms: Establish due dates based on agreed credit terms for each client.
Sales Tracking: Monitor payments and analyze sales trends by customer, brand, or item family. 5. Reporting & Insights
Drill-Down Capability: Users can navigate from an account balance directly down to the specific voucher or transaction for auditing.
Data Export: Reports can be exported to standard formats like Microsoft® Excel, RTF, or ASCII for further analysis. Visual Dolphin supports a dual-approval system to prevent
Real-Time Dashboards: Integrated modules allow for real-time visibility across retail and back-office operations. Key Features Summary Capability Budgeting Create scenarios by project, branch, or cost center. Automation
Automatically generate recurring journal entries and reverse entries. Security
Track every change to third-party data with user, date, and time logs (SOX compliance). Integration
Real-time synchronization between mobile apps and the back-office ERP. Visual Dolphin & Dolphin Horizon Financial | Management/ERP
Visual Dolphin is a comprehensive Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution designed by Software Design Consulting Group to manage end-to-end business operations. It provides a wide range of integrated modules, making it suitable for beginners and experts across various industries. Core Modules and Functionalities
The software is built around several key financial and operational modules:
General Ledger (GL): Consolidates financial data in real-time, supporting multi-currency, multi-branch, and multi-department setups.
Accounts Payable (AP): Manages vendor records, settlement of invoices, and automated payment preparation.
Accounts Receivable (AR): Tracks customer payments, analyzes sales trends, and manages aged trial balances.
Inventory Control: Features lot/batch number tracking and expiry date management for full traceability.
Specialized Modules: Includes Project Management, Fixed Assets, Payroll, Point of Sale (POS), and Manufacturing. Key Operational Tutorials
Financial Reporting: Users can generate standard reports such as Trial Balances, Profit & Loss statements, and Balance Sheets.
Transaction Management: The system supports automatic posting from other modules and provides drill-down capabilities from account balances directly to vouchers.
Advanced Allocations: Specifically in the AP module, users can register advance payments and later allocate them to specific unsettled invoices.
Approval Workflows: Business processes like sales orders follow a sequence from quotation to approved status, requiring specific user privileges. Why Businesses Use Visual Dolphin
Global Capabilities: It features multi-lingual and multi-currency support, essential for international operations.
Data Security: It includes anti-fraud compliance (SOX) and records all changes to third-party information, such as bank details, for audit trails.
Flexibility: Built on Microsoft SQL Server, it uses data replication to share information between different locations or entities seamlessly. Visual Dolphin - Software Design | Consulting Group
Visual Dolphin supports a dual-approval system to prevent fraud.