"We first computerized our office in 1986. At the time there was no effective software specific to the Hearing Aid Industry. We hired two software writers and developed our own program, which we used to run our office until December 2005.
We have looked at many Hearing Aid office software programs over the past twenty years, but it was not until we found simba and met with Aleem that we were confident enough to replace our old system.
We were able to transfer all of our existing data (demographic, accounts receivable, hearing aid history, etc.) into simba. This would not have been possible with many other hearing aid office programs.
Although we were initially wary of switching to an internet-based system, we have been pleasantly surprised by the many advantages of this model. Having an offsite server which is managed by Blueprint Solutions frees us from all of the technical headaches of managing our own system. Manufacturer catalogue updates and software upgrades are automatic, and daily backups, network security and virus protection are also looked after, allowing us to focus on serving our clients instead of maintaining our systems.
Our patient data is one of our most valuable assets, and having it located in a highly secure facility gives us great peace of mind. This also gives us the ability to easily access the system from multiple locations.
As there were no up-front license fees or server hardware to purchase, getting started with simba was a very low-risk proposition, and the affordable monthly fees keep our software budget stable and predictable.
Over the past 18 months, simba has proven to be extremely reliable, and its ease of use and completeness has transformed the way in which our office runs. I recommend this software to everyone, and invite anyone interested in improving their office efficiency to visit us."
Murray Davidson, H.I.S.
President & Owner
Davidson Hearing Aid Centre
Ottawa, ON
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"Our transition to simba was simple and problem-free. The dynamic properties of simba, especially its ease of use, have streamlined operations and increased our data usability, integrity and security. With powerful features, and professional and courteous service, simba has so much more to offer than the average OMS!"
Eric McKeown
President
The Harmony Hearing Group
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"When I opened my clinic 4 years ago, I looked at several different office management software programs. They all had some good features, but overall the bad outweighed the good. So for 3.5 years I used Noah 3 to manage my client files (notes and hearing aids) and QuickBooks to manage the financial end of the business.
I felt things were going OK, but once my practice picked up I found it difficult to keep up with the pricing changes and the outstanding third party payments. So I started looking at various programs again and that is when I discovered simba. What first attracted me to simba was fact that the pricing lists were updated automatically and that the naming of the hearing aids in the price list was the same as it was on the manufacturer's invoices. This made things easy for my administrative assistant.
Since I started using simba in February 2006, I have discovered many other advantages that I never thought of previously. The ease of VAC billing with the automatic forms has cut down on forgotten billings since we can enter them in simba when the transaction occurs and print them off at the end of the day rather than trying to get everything done at the time of the transaction. The marketing reports have helped me to know who needs to come in for warranty check ups, annual assessments and follow up visits. The ability to have ADP, VAC, WSIB and other third party payers billed directly in simba and consequently into QuickBooks has greatly improved our ability to follow up on outstanding balances and therefore decreased write-offs. The way items are integrated directly into the QuickBooks system has also made my monthly reconciliations easier and quicker.
The support on-line and over the phone has also been a big help and response time is always very quick. The on-line training allowed my staff to really work with the system under direct supervision without cutting into my already busy schedule. The support staff is able to talk even the most inexperienced person through the steps to solve any problem.
Overall I am very happy with simba, the support we've received, as well as the time it has freed up for me. I can't imagine my life without it."
Carri Johnson B.Sc., M.Sc., Reg. CASLPO
Dispensing Audiologist/Owner
Near North Hearing Centre
North Bay, ON
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"As an independent computer consultant, I recently converted the operations of a fair-sized hearing aid centre to simba OMS. Prior to selecting simba OMS, we evaluated six competing programs, and found them all to be either incomplete in their feature set or extremely cumbersome to use. simba OMS had the features we needed, in a very user-friendly interface.
simba OMS is tailored to automate hearing aid dispensaries. It automatically handles third-party billing, tracks the whereabouts of aids, and supports marketing efforts. Meanwhile, it produces accurate accounting data utilizing an industrial-strength mainstream accounting package. The staff loves it, because it is easy to learn and use, and produces critical information fast. Management loves it, because access privileges can be configured by user, and business as well as financial data is kept accurate and up-to-date. The accountant loves it because no data re-entry is required, and financial reports and statements meet accounting standards. And I love it, because it works for my client, as promised.
The design and technology of simba OMS makes it scalable from the one-provider office to multi-location chains. Up-time is guaranteed through professional hosting service. Staff training was short and made easy by a separate training environment, which is now used to "try new procedures". Technical support is excellent although, due to the robust platform, hardly ever needed!
Since implementation, numerous program upgrades and customizations were requested and implemented, without any downtime. The few minor problems that arose were quickly resolved, usually within the hour. Today, the system is operated by fairly non-technical staff, without any on-site technical support.
We have recently made several suggestions, such as improving the user guide and ironing out a few user interface inconsistencies. Our experience with Blueprint Solutions has been that such improvements are typically implemented in a matter of weeks, rather than years, and that the entire community of simba users benefits from these improvements."
Helmut Ratz, Dipl-Ing (Geod.) (FRG)
Information Technology Consultant
Toronto, ON
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"A few months ago we changed from Clarity OMS to simba OMS. When I was told this was to happen, I of course decided I would never be able to learn this new system and began missing the old and tried way. Thankfully I was proven wrong. simba is very easy to use and has proven to be very helpful in our daily clinical work.
Of course my training would not have been possible if not for Blueprint Solutions, and their competent and professional staff. They were available at any time to walk me through any difficulties I experienced. The remote assistance software was extremely helpful as they were able to connect to my system and show me exactly how to solve the problem I was experiencing. I am now at a point where simba is a pleasure to use, and I find it to be a great help in my daily workload."
Gloria Blue
Office Manager
dB Audiology Inc.
Saint John, NB
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"We have been using simba for a few months now and we like it very much. The program is easy to learn and use and it has made our office run much more efficiently. It takes seconds to provide a client with an estimate - no more price lists and calculators! Help is always just a phone call away - no waiting 20 minutes for a technician to come on the line. Instant access to help makes a huge difference in a busy office. A great product. Keep up the good work!"
Lise Hebert
Office Manager
Montcalm Audiology Ltd.
Burlington, ON