CTR Systems, Inc.
Headquarters: Warrendale, PA with satellite offices in Baltimore, MD and Ft Lauderdale, FL
Employees: 90
Founded: 1964
Complex revenue recognition scenarios; service business control
Warrendale, Pennsylvania-based CTR Systems has two primary business entities: a unit that sells, installs and services parking revenue control software and equipment, and a payroll and time and attendance software and service business unit. A third entity, a holding company, owns these two businesses. Khameleon consolidates and reports results for all three. CTR Systems has built a reputation as one of the top systems integrators in the country. The company takes pride in delivering excellent customer service.
CTR began using its Khameleon system in 2004. Nancy Gilkey, CTR's controller, described how Khameleon keeps track of all costs in the parking control business. Parking jobs are entered and the system automatically generates any material purchase orders required. Budgets for materials and professional service hours are also entered and technical installers and project managers charge their time and materials to specific projects. Khameleon then automates CTR's parking service revenue recognition processes, applying the business logic Nancy defines.
It's a complex matter, triggered when different project events or milestones are reached. Khameleon recognizes revenue for materials, for example, when they ship to the customer. Project revenue is recognized when time or performance milestones are attained and maintenance contract revenue is recognized periodically, according to contract terms. To further complicate matters, some project contracts include budgetary limits, so Nancy has to be sure the company does not bill for or recognize revenue should costs exceed the limits.
Khameleon's ability to manage these complex rules streamlines the revenue recognition process, making revenue performance easy to see while ensuring decision rules are applied consistently and accurately.
Because maintenance is such a big part of their business, Nancy credits Khameleon's ability to keep information "all in one place" as an important part of their business. Nancy said Khameleon "allows us to integrate all aspects of the business, from order entry to purchasing, to revenue recognition, and on after the sale to maintaining maintenance contracts." That creates a comprehensive picture of the full range of interactions with each client, a useful tool in managing long-term customer relationships.
"We have the ability to keep track of customer information for years." Nancy continued. CTR uses Khameleon's Service Desk module to record service calls and track service technician time, parts used, and incident disposition. The company also monitors overall activity against service contracts, so they can see exactly how much it cost to support each customer. Armed with this information, CTR is able to price and quote renewal maintenance contracts better.
Nancy is an active Khameleon client who regularly attends the user feedback meetings at Khameleon's annual user conferences. She describes Khameleon's support staff enthusiastically, saying that "the people they have are wonderful and answer my questions quickly."
When asked if she would recommend Khameleon to a person considering it, Nancy responded, "Absolutely. Knowing how we have performed on prior projects is essential to our success." She continued: "Khameleon gives us the tools we need to offer our customers products and services at a competitive price while allowing us to monitor our costs according to the budgets we set for the projects."