Old Dog, Meet New Tricks

Mary Aquino

I liked Blackbaud’s DOS-based products. They were easy. Want to add a journal entry? That was #3 on the menu. Want to run a report? Enter #5. So easy. I sometimes tell people I prefer standalone DOS on a Windows 3.1 386MB desktop computer. No networks, dial-up internet. Those were the days.

But that’s not the way of this age. We have computers in our hands (iPhones, iPads, Androids), and we ask Alexa to play our favorite tunes or tell us the current weather. Who knew?

So I’m gonna ask you – DO you have an iPhone? If yes, is it the iPhone 11? That’s the latest, greatest. Not an iPhoner? Look at your Android phone. Is it a Galaxy S10? When you pick your next smartphone, do you go for the sleekest, shiniest, newest thing?

Okay, stay with me. Let’s talk about Financial Edge NXT. Are you using it? I mean using web view, that is. If you’re waiting for (fill in your favorite database view functionality) to be released in web view, you might be surprised at what is now available. Some very useful tools are already part of web view and if you’re only using database view, you’re missing out on veritable coolness.

Maybe you need more coaxing than that. Maybe you didn’t realize that new features are added regularly to web view. You don’t need to download any patches or install any updates. Just log in. Boom. New features are there. Are you waiting to be able to calculate depreciation for your fixed assets in web view? It’s there. What about adding deposits for miscellaneous cash you receive? There.

If you’re not taking advantage of the sleek, shiny features in Financial Edge NXT, you’re basically still using a flip phone. Yep. I said it. You’re using 1990s technology. I liked Blackbaud’s DOS products, so I resisted learning version 6, and then Financial Edge. I did, I swear. But I’m now 100% using Financial Edge NXT.

Maybe you just aren’t sure what’s included in web view. Blackbaud University can help. If you have 90 minutes, we can introduce you to What’s New in Financial Edge NXT. Yes, I said 90 minutes. You can see some of the great features already available in web view, and put your hands on a few of those features using our training environments. In just 90 minutes.

This 90-minute class is available to Learn More and Learn Everything training subscribers who have passed Fundamentals certification.

I still remember the days of DOS fondly, but I’m all about what’s new now. Old dog, shiny new tricks.