**This is strictly my opinion :) *

There's a problem with Billing software today. The programmers making the software just don't get it. I always get the feeling they are trying to indirectly compete with ModernBill. Adding in every feature possible, yet they are the same features that every other billing app has. They decide to compete on the Interface and Experience, but because of the complexity of the software, this is a failed move. So the developers continue to bloat their software.

It's beginning to bother me that no one has created a proper billing and customer management system. It seems that the 2nd generation systems are now creating a billing, csm AND accounting software in one. This is a huge no no.

Obviously accounting features can be handy and a nice addition for smaller and even medium sized businesses, but if you are serious about running a business, you're using a 3rd party accounting program.

The first program (at least that I am aware of) that has attempted Multiple Currency support is MB5. They've done a half decent job at implementing this feature and I hope that it will continue to improve with the software, but in the end it totally misses the boat. MB5 sits atop a brand new double entry accounting system that cannot be removed. Because of this, we are forced to use the software in certain ways. The system can't distinguish b/w what currency a client was billed in, as it is added to the same account in billing system regardless. I've asked about this and getting it changed, but there are no plans to do this. Their approach is to take complete control of your hosting company including the accounting dept. Because of the way it handles transactions AFTER your clients are charged, it has failed at properly implementing MC, essentially making the feature useless. Regardless...they are on the right track and could capture a huge niche by really paying attention to this feature. The Internet is global.

I've looked at other billing systems and none have taken a real stab at MC. They all suggest running 2 copies of the software...which is a REAL pain.

I don't know who will be the first company to get it right, but I see a huge opportunity for one that does. There are a lot of good applications out there. By focusing on the right features, I think you can overtake whomever is the king of billing software in this industry.

We are not looking for something to convert our default currency on the fly to another currency. As we report our financials at the end of the year, we apply the conversion at that time. We maintain separate accounts for each currency (ie. Hosting CAD, Hosting USD). A billing system merely has to maintain the currency the customer wants to be billed in, and then pull up the packages in that currency. When doing reporting it can either group by currency or provide a more advanced feature whereby it will determine at that given date the exchange rate and on the fly calculate the numbers.

Now I'm not a programmer, but I really can't see how hard this feature would be to implement. ModernBill almost got it...just get rid of that accounting system and you'll be there :)

I look forward to hearing your thoughts/suggestions.

Ubersmith Pro has had the ability to offer multiple currencies for a long time. That's due to the power of its multi-brand system.

Unlike other billing software, Ubersmith isn't bloated with every feature in the book, and as a result I have to wait a second for a page to load, rather than waiting for 30-60 seconds for a page to load like I did with ModernBill.

Although I agree there is still room for that perfect billing application, I do think Ubersmith have come close, and continue to become closer.

. . . I have to wait a second for a page to load, rather than waiting for 30-60 seconds for a page to load like I did with ModernBill.
Yikes, my MB pages load quick. Get yourself a better server. :D

Still using MB4, Bob, or are you on MB5?

FWIW, it was MB4, and it was on a shared server, but to be honest I still don't think it would have been too fast if it were on our corporate server (Like Ubersmith now is).

I just hated having a client on the phone asking me whether they had a due invoice or how much they owed, and sometimes I felt like saying "Give me half an hour while our crappy billing software loads your details".

I'll tell ya what I've wanted for a while. A stand-alone .exe which can be installed on a computer which replicates (live) all the details in the billing system. No waiting for the Web site to load when on the phone. Simply have the program open throughout the day, and things will get done much faster.

I believe WHM AutoPilot (version 3.x) also allows multiple currencies. Each "profile" can be configured with its own gateway, hosting packages, and settings, etc.

With regard to the "accounting system" underneath Modernbill v5, I agree fully.. it is a pointless "feature" for any company that already has accounting software. All that is needed is ability to export transaction details into a real accounting package.

Rather then stick to what is actually needed, ModernBill has tried to be the "everything to everybody" software package.

The big problem with software in the hosting industry is that these packages are created by "programming people" instead of actual "business people".

In other words, intead of writing the business rules and business requirements and actually doing surveys and functionality tests... what these software developers are doing is just sitting down and saying to themselves, "yes, that would be cool, let's do it."

As a result, we wind up with essentially the same billing systems that just look a little different.

Oh well, I don't see this changing any time soon. Most hosts that get larger end up writing their own customized software for a reason.

:)