Constructech Magazine Recognizes Cardamel Consulting and Kova Solutions for 2010's Top New Construction-Industry ERP Product

REDMOND, Wash., May 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Builders now can offer prospective homebuyers the chance to select their lots and then design their new houses online, thanks to the sales and enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution for homebuilders from Kova Solutions LLC and Microsoft Dynamics SL, an application recently named Constructech Magazine's 2010 New Product of the Year.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO)

Developed by Microsoft Certified Partner Kova Solutions and Microsoft Gold Certified Partner Cardamel Consulting Inc., the Kova solution -- a financial and operational management system that makes it easier for homebuilders to buy, sell and build homes -- earned top honors in the competition, which recognized technology products targeting the construction industry. The product, built on Microsoft technologies and the project-based ERP solution Microsoft Dynamics SL, streamlines the home purchase process by helping buyers select the communities in which they want to build and then customize their new homes. Buyers can go online to view community information, select lots, design their homes, qualify for financing, choose interior and exterior finishes, and even print out their own brochures, all before ever contacting a salesperson.

The Kova product is especially well-targeted to serve today's homebuyers. Industry research shows that 80 percent of new homebuyers start their home searches online, and 50 percent of all homebuyers use the Internet frequently as part of their home searches. Industry sources report that prospects have begun eliminating homebuilders and their communities from consideration if their websites are not sufficiently strong and interactive.

For the builder, the Kova solution manages the sales order from contract to construction and warranty, including all of the contracting, deposits, contingencies, change orders, cancellations and lot transfers. The solution also incorporates the accounting that enables variance purchase orders, change orders, back charges and customer refunds to flow into accounts payable and allows all costs to be captured and allocated to specific lots.

By implementing the Kova solution, builders can save staff costs and provide a satisfying experience to prospective homebuyers during the sales process.

Kendra Saffle, Kova Systems manager of Las Vegas-based American West Development, reported:

"Kova Solutions was able to provide us with a completely integrated software solution that saves time and minimizes costly mistakes. With this implementation, we don't need to fill the positions we had to eliminate as the economy lagged.

"This technology ensures that the options buyers choose are compatible with the home they select. Customers are excited to be able to see their floor plan and how the options fit together. Kova has helped us save sales."

Kova and Cardamel offer the new solution in various configurations consisting of these different modules:

• Kova Web Pro, which delivers the opportunity to turn prospects into buyers by building a strong emotional connection online
• Kova Sales Pro, which provides an eloquent solution for managing orders in a process that is engaging for both the homebuyer and the salesperson
• Kova Design Pro, an Internet-based application through which buyers can access the builder's design center and shop available choices to create their homes
• Kova Production Pro, which provides an easy way to transition the home from the sales office to construction, where builders can approve purchase orders from the field
• Kova Customer Service Pro, which allows the builder to have a complete history of the house so that the customer service team can effectively communicate with the homebuyer

"With the Kova solution, we estimate we will save Oakwood Homes $500,000 in unnecessary change orders," said Frank Walker, project manager of Oakwood Homes LLC in Denver.

The award-winning solution from Cardamel and Kova is uncomplicating the technology that homebuilders use.

"Before implementing Microsoft Dynamics SL and Kova Solutions, we relied on several different software solutions that were unable to communicate with each other," said Oakwood Homes Assistant Controller Henrietta Cordero. "Cardamel Consulting, Microsoft Dynamics SL and Kova Solutions gave us an integrated accounting solution that allowed us to minimize our input time."

About Cardamel Consulting

Cardamel Consulting, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner headquartered in Centennial, Colo., sells, implements and supports Microsoft Dynamics business solutions for project-oriented companies. Since 2004, Cardamel has been helping companies improve business processes and deploy Microsoft solutions to enable them. Cardamel focuses on the architecture, engineering and construction industries but also effectively serves companies in other professional services and manufacturing.

About Kova Solutions

Kova Solutions, based in Woburn, Mass., is an emerging growth software company that provides solutions for the homebuilding and manufactured housing industries.

About Microsoft Dynamics SL

Microsoft Dynamics SL is an enterprise resource planning solution specializing in helping companies with the accounting and management of their project- and service-based operations. Microsoft Dynamics is a line of financial, customer relationship and supply chain management solutions that helps businesses work more effectively. Delivered through a network of channel partners providing specialized services, these integrated, adaptable business management solutions work like and with familiar Microsoft software to streamline processes across an entire business.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

SOURCE Microsoft Corp.