JeraSoft is excited to announce the major release of VCS 3.1. Here you can find a full list of new functions and improvements available by updating the software. 


Please be informed that during an update to the latest version 
VCS 3.11.2:

Management

Clients

  1. JeraSoft VCS is integrated with third-party tax calculation engine SureTax. This tax calculation is based on the location of the customer’s taxing jurisdiction. It contains virtually very jurisdictional rate and rule in the US, US territories and Canada. It allows to manage your compliance with tax law.
     

    1. You can configure the SureTax tax profile in the Clients/Resellers settings. This tax profile will be used for further calculation in invoices.  
       

    2. Moreover, it's possible to adjust a taxation for non-calls charges: packages and extra chargesThis enhancement introduces a new "ZIP Code" field in the Client's settings
      Here you can enter the code for further calculation of tax rates at a location (see screenshot below). 

       Note: For further information on how to use it, read the article US Taxation in our Knowledge Base.  


2. You can manually notify customers on changes of rates assigned to the account via "Rate Notification" option. To do so, open Client's settings and click the down arrow  next to the Rate Notification check box. Then, select an account and click "Notify Now" (see screenshot below).  

Please note, a manual notification is only for orig accounts that belong to the client and notifies clients about unique rate changes. If you assign the same rate table to the client and account, it will send only one notice of rate changes.
 

3.  We have implemented tags that enables to organize resources more flexible. Basically, tags were integrated to replace previously existing groups. The tag provides similar functionality as an assigned group. Here's a full description of tags, see below in the section Configuration→Tags. 

    1. Client Info form allows you to apply a tag to the client. Here you can find a new field "Tag" in the System information sub-panel (see screenshot below). Each tag consists of value that you define and can be used instead of groups. The tag doesn't need to be pre-existed in the system. You can provide an unlimited number of tags for each client.
       
For a detailed guide about how to use tags to your advantage, read the "Tag" article in our User Guide.


Screenshot: Client's settings

4.The Quick Search toolbar of the Clients section was significantly updated. These updates include:
 

    1. Search clients by Account Name (i.e. an identification account name indicated in the field: ID/Name/ANI, not a general name), whereas the search by Account (a general name) was removed
    2. The next search parameters: ID, Company Name, E-mail, Control Panel login were removed. However, some of them are still accessible in the advanced settings. 
    3. Search through clients by Name and only by first letters ("start with" rule).
    4. Search clients by their Main e-mail from the full list. To find all clients with specified main e-mail, use * (asterisk) in this field.
       

5. You can modify client's notes by clicking the edit icon in the Notes tab of respective client's settings.

6. The autocomplete for login/passwords is disabled for several forms: authentification of API testbed, account form, payments gateways, rate tables form of automatic email import, etc. It's applicable for the Chrome web browser. 

When you delete the client by changing the status to deleted or click a respective icon , the Client Panel of this client will be disabled and origination/termination settings of his accounts will be off. However, his accounts will not be deleted from the system.

Rate Tables

This section has a rich set of new features and enhancements to streamline the workflow with rates. 

  1. Now, it's possible to apply tag for respective rates in the Rate Table section. The default Rate Group for jurisdictional billing was removed.  Use the "at" (@) sign as a default tag for rates instead of this group. To do so, open the Rates settings and click the gray down arrow  in the Extra Fields column. Then, add or select an appropriate label from the drop-down list of the "Tag" field.  

    You can find full description of the tags below in the section Configuration→Tags
    . 


Screenshot: Rate Table settings

2. From now on, it's possible to add extra rates for destinations. Therefore, you can add codes to additional (extra) rates.  

Due to this modification, 
extra rates and the Extra tab were completely removed from the Rate settings. Alternatively, there is a new option "Policy".  It allows selecting a rate's type for a code: regular rate or an additive (extra) rate:

During the billing, the system takes one regular rate and all additive (extra) rates that are appropriate for the call. Click the down arrow  in the Extra Fields column to find it. Now all rates (regular and additive) are represented in a general list of rates. 

Please note, a regular/additive rate table will be determined by accessible dynamic and static tags used for the call. 

3. Quick search functionality is modified. So, you can filter rates by the status (active/stashed)Stashed (unconfirmed) means that the rate will not be used for billing or routing process.  Also, a new option "Difference Status" allows to show changes of rates, how the rate differs from a previous one. 

 

Screenshot: Rate Table settings/search settings


4. Possibility to manage future changes of rates manually. To do so, enable the simple mode of Full A-Z import and import rates. Then, click the "Future changes" button on the toolbar of Rates tab. It will show a list of conflicting rates. On the screenshot below you can find two pairs of conflicting rates because of different effective dates.
 

Screenshot: Rates tab


5. The import process flow of rate tables was optimized and you can use the "Import" tab in the most efficient way (see screenshot below).


Screenshot: Rate Table import


Please, pay attention to the important moments:

  1. If you create an import template for a rate table, this template will be used as default.
  2. Client's currency and Client template's currency should be the same. Otherwise, you need to create an exchange rate.
  3. If you update the Rate Table (i.e change the Reseller) specified in the Calling Cards series, you need to reassign a respective rate table to the Calling Cards series.
  4. Currencies of a parent and current rate tables should be the same. 
  5. The working method with Parent Rate Table could be applied only for origination.
  6. If you assigned a Rate Table to the Client/Account/Manager/Sub-Reseller/Reseller with no permissions to use it, these adjustments would be reset.  Please, re-assign rate tables correctly before the update. Otherwise, the traffic won't flow normally.


6. The option "Parent Rate Table" appears in the Rate Tables section. It helps to extend codes of the current rate table. 

 Therefore, codes with the same length in the current rate table will have the priority. However, longer codes from the parent rate table will override the codes in this rate table. Also, it allows to apply child rate tables with special rates to clients. 

For example, you can create a Child Rate Table for some destinations and add special rates. Then, specify a respective Parent Rate Table (that includes all standard rates) in the Child Rate Table settings. And assign this Child Rate Table to the Client.

 

Screenshot: Rate Tables settings

 

To add a particular rate table from the full list of available accounts, open the Account section and click the plus icon  in the Orig/Term details columns to add a rate table for respective account.

7. Tab "Simulate" has a new field "Tags" in the settings. It allows to filter rates by respective labels. 
 

 Screenshot: Rate table section/ Simulate tab
 

8. Tab "Export" has new columns: "Prev Diff Status", "Next Diff Status", "Prev Diff", "Prev Diff Status (export)".
Check out the "Export" article in our User Guide
for more details.


Invoices

  1. There is a new pre-invoicing option that allows adding future charges in invoices. Now, you can select the type of charges for invoices in the "Included Charges" field. 

By default, the invoice includes all uncovered charges.

Screenshot: Invoices settings

It's not possible to include a charge twice with standard settings. To re-include already used charge in the invoice, you need to combine parameters "uncovered" + "covered" in the "Included Charges" field.


2. You can include specific charges by ID in the invoices (only for API).  The ID for extra charges and packages you can check in the Transactions section. Then you need to add the variable "charges_list" with respective values in the "Parameters" field of the API Testbed section (see screenshot below):

 

Screenshot: API Testbed settings

Balance Report


The option "Client ID" is added in the Balance Report section. Also, the client identification appears in the full list of Transactions and Invoices. 
 

Screenshot: Balance Report section

Resellers

  1. New possibility to add an orig/term rate table to the Reseller directly on the page with full list of Resellers

    To assign an orig rate table for a respective Reseller, click the Orig rate table icon 
    To assign a term rate table, click the Term rate table icon .


Screenshot: Resellers 
section

2. Added possibility to delete the company logo in the Reseller settings. To do this, open the edit form of a respective Reseller with logo, then click the delete icon to remove an old logo.

3. Adding and editing forms have a new auto-complete option that works according to the Reseller settings. Therefore, while creating a new client under respective Reseller, you will have already filtered drop-down list with available parameters in the following fields: Code deck, Rate Table, Routing Plan, Groups, Clients Template, Taxes profile and other fields related to the Reseller settings. 

4. The Reseller form has a new mail template: Reports Watcher. This option is designed to configure templates for reports.

Please use respective variables for the mail template Reports Watcher:

    • ${report["title"]} - head of a report template
    • ${report["interval"]} - an actual report period of time
    • ${report["title-full"]} = ${report["title"]} + ${report["interval"]}
    • ${report["webUrl"]} - URL to view report in the web portal
    • ${report["id"]} - ID of report template


Please note, the field "E-mail" of Reseller's contact information became mandatory. After update to the latest version, make sure that all e-mail addresses of your Resellers are specified in their settings.

Client Packages

This section has new icons accessible from the full list of packages. To renew the package, click this icon . Besides, we strongly recommend not to renew the package on the expiration date. To cancel the package, click this icon .

Presets

  1. Now the Presets and Traffic Processing are separate sections in the system to make the work with them more painless and provide with a flexible search. You can find these sections in the Management. Read more about these changes by clicking on a link to the articles: Presets and Traffic Processing in our User Guide.

2. The quick search tool is updated and you can filter presets by Factors Watcher rules from the full list of existing presets. Click the down arrow  on the search toolbar for these settings.

3. You can find the details about Factors Watcher ("Blocked by" parameter) under which a preset is created. To access it, choose the preset and point to the Details icon  of the "Notes" column.

4. The import of presets is updated. Now the user can import presets by Code and Code Name at the same time from one file. 

Please note, that the API method of workflow process of the Presets, Traffic Processing, Reports, Import was changed. So, you need to modify API method. You can check modifications in System section - API Testbed.

Traffic Processing

From now on, you can add tags and rules that will be applied only for calls with specified tags. Therefore, Traffic Processing form has two new fields: "Tags Match" and "Tags Add".  

all - applies for calls with all next specified tags. 
any - applies for calls with at least one of next specified tags. 

Screenshot: Traffic Processing settings

Here's a full description of tags, see below the section Configuration→Tags. For a detailed guide about how to use tags to your advantage, read the "Tag" article in our User Guide.

Also, you can check values (i.e VoIP Gateway, Client/Account for which the rule is applied) in one column "Applied to".

Retail 

Packages

  1. It's possible to add a tag to the package. Thus, when you assign a package with tag to the client, a routing process will be performed according to the settings including tags. 
     
  2. Due to the appearance of tags, DID Limits sub-panel has a new field "Allowed DID tags". Here you can specify tags that are used while creating DIDs.
     
  3. New option "Pre-activation" is accessible in the Package Application sub-panel.  You may use it in order to provide prepaid services for customers.  For example, you may include a charge of the package in the invoice for a previous month. To activate it, you need to indicate the period in hours when the package will be reactivated and the pending charge will be created.
     

Screenshot: Packages settings
 

 

  1. When you assign different packages (with specified volume limits and tags) to the same client, please note, two or more packages couldn't be used simultaneously.
  2. If you add a tag to the package, this tag will be dynamic by default and will not be displayed in the Routing Analysis report and CDRs List.

 

4. The Quick Search toolbar of the Packages section was updated. Now, you can filter packages by the Reseller and status. 

DID Management

  1. The DID Management form was modified and there are new fields: "Tag" and "Hold Days" (previously available in the DID Groups)
  2. DID Groups field was completely removed due to the appearance of tags in the system. 

Screenshot: DID Management settings


Statistics

  1. As we continue to evaluate the design of our system interface, the view of the report query form was modified. Now, the drop-down list with all accessible filters is available in the query form without any additional clicks (see screenshot below). Following sections have an updated form: Summary report, Orig-Term Report, Balance Report, Profit Report, LCR's list, CDR's list, Calls Rerating, Reports Templates, Rates Analysis, Routing Analysis, Active Calls. 
     
  2.  The Side-by-Side reports (report comparison over different periods) are available via the Compare Period option in the Summary, Orig-Term and Profit Report sections. Click the  plus sign near the "Interval" field to enable it. Moreover, when you select one of Time parameters for Group By, the end date of the Period 2 will be set automatically to make equal intervals of Period 1 and Period 2 (see screenshot below)

    Please note, that the Side-by-Side reports are the part of an experimental approach to develop reporting tools. This objective function might be modified according to the client's suggestions.


    When you use "Compare Period" option in the Summary Report and Orig-Term Report sections, default chart templates will not be accessible.


  3. You can start a quick search by typing filters' names in the bar at the top of Filters menu. It will display all filters that have specified letters. If you enter more letters, fewer filters will result. 

 

Screenshot: Summary report section

4. From now on, Reports Templates save the order of selected columns in the report.  And a new option "Visibility" that allows controlling visibility of respective reports templates. Whether you want to keep templates private or leave them visible for users under specified Reseller. 

To enable this option, select one parameter from the drop-down list:

 

Screenshot: CDRs List and Reports Templates forms

 

It's allowed to save Reports Templates with empty fields. 

5. Currently, you can filter calls by partial Conf ID in the CDRs list section. To perform a partial search, please use an asterisk (* ) in the "Conf ID" field of the filters sub-panel. 

How to perform a search by partial Conf ID:

For example, the Conf ID of a respective call is 1647398901830024226688. To filter calls by:

  • To filter calls by the first digits of Conf ID, enter digits + asterisk(*): 16*. 
  • To search calls by the middle digits of Conf ID, enter a search term by this formula: asterisk(*) + digits + asterisk(*): *7398*. It will match any Conf ID containing the string 7398, even if it occurs in the middle of a large number.
  • To find calls by the last digits of Conf ID, enter asterisk(*) + digits: *88.  

Screenshot: CDRs List section

6. New chart types (stacked bar/area/line) are accessible in the chart type settings. Use the stacked charts to display cumulative series of values and emphasize the total (see screenshot below).
 

Screenshot: Chart Settings 

Tools

Rates Analysis

In this section, next fields (Originators, Terminators, Rate Tablesare included by default in the list of chosen filters per report. So, there is no need to select these fields from the drop-down list of filters. 

Screenshot: Rates Analysis section 

Factors Watcher 

  1. Now, Factors Watcher tool allows blocking all number of the client or account, if you group by the client/account respectively. A while ago it was only possible to block by code/code name.  To configure these settings, you need to:

1) open the Tools → Factors Watcher section;
2) create a new factors watcher and group by the Client/Account;
3) open again already created factors watcher;

4) then, add a rule and choose Block Client/Account in the "Action" column. 

Thus, a new preset with * code (i.e. all numbers) for specified Client/Account will appear. 

The options Block Client/Account will be invisible if you skip the second step (i.e. create a new factors watcher and group by the Client/Account) and "Group By #" fields are empty. If you group data by the Client, the option "Block Account" won't be visible in the drop-down list of the "Action" column. 


Screenshot: Factors Watcher settings


2. Moreover, you can add a time profile in the Factors Watcher settings. When you choose the time profile, it will take into account the statistics in the Factors Watcher according to the chosen value, for example at peak times.

However, if you click the "Test Query", it displays the statistics without the selected time profile.

3. The quantity of active presets is visible in the "Presets" column of the Factors Watcher section. Click the icon  in this column for quick access to the full list of presets for proper factors watcher. 

 4. The users can add the Factors Watcher based on the side-by-side Summary Report. All you need to do is:

5. Also, new parameters for rules are available among the list of factors. For example: cost_total_1 (of the 1st period), cost_total_2 (of the 2nd period), cost_total_diff (difference in %). 

Therefore, you can adjust factors by your own using the next formula and pre-existing factors: factors_name_1 - value for the first period; factors_name_2 - value for the second period; factors_name_diff - a difference between periods.

You can find an example on the screenshots below: 
 

Screenshot:  Factors Watcher settings

6. The Factors Watcher section has auto-complete drop-down lists for following fields of the "Match" column: Client, Account, Code, Code Name, VoIP Gateway (see screenshot below). It's implemented to prevent users from entering wrong data.

Routing

Routing Plans

You can also add tags to the routing rules. Therefore, Routing Rules tab has these fields: "Originator Tags" and "Terminator Tags".  

all - applies for originators with all next specified tags. 
any - applies for originators with at least one of next specified tags. 


Screenshot: Routing Rules tab

Configuration

From now on, it's not possible to delete or archive a tax profile assigned to the Client, Call shop, Reseller, Calling card.

Payment Terms 

  1. We extended the facility to set automatic customer reminder emails. Thus, your customers can receive an overdue payment notification. 

    From now on, the Payment Terms form has a new field "Notify Days (After)". Here you need to specify how many days after the payment date reminders will be sent to the client and then apply these payment terms to the client. As a result, t
    he system will send reminder notifications via email on the respective dates. It helps to take the stress out of chasing late payment.

    Screenshot: Payment Terms section


  2. From now on, you can add the rounding rule for client's balance while low balance notification.  For example, to round up to 2 decimal places you need to add the variable ${client['balance']} in the Mail template: Low balance notification of the Reseller settings and specify the number of rounding decimals in the "Totals precision" in the Currencies


    Screenshot: Reseller's settings



  3. Due to payment terms improvements, the Reseller form has a new Mail Template: Overdue Reminder. This template is used when the system sends a payment notification to the Client according to the settings of the "Notify Days (After)" field in the Payment Terms section.

  4. When you set up payment notifications related to the invoicing (Invoice, Invoice Unpaid Reminder and Overdue Reminder), the invoice that you're reminding the customer about will be sent attached to this email notification. It's useful in case the client lost or deleted the original invoice. 

Tags

JeraSoft team has implemented tags that will enable to organize resources more flexible for your billing environmentFrom now on, new section Tags is available in the Configuration. Implemented tags provide an advanced work with international and local calls.

You can apply tags to almost any object in the system: clients,client's templates, accounts, packages, VoIP gateways, rates, routing rules, traffic processing rules, DiDs, taxes profiles. 

Basically, tags were integrated to replace previously existing groups (i.e. orig, term, DID, rate and VoIP host groups) for unifying VCS functional interface. The tag provides similar functionality as an assigned group. Therefore, an attached tag provides the same functionality as an assigned group. However, with tags, it's easier to manage rates, routing plans/rules, organize clients, filter data in the report, configure routing process by A-number, etc. 

Please be aware, that Groups were completely removed from the system. However, your configurations with groups will be saved. You will have tags with the same names as they were in groups. But notes of groups will be permanently deleted.


  1. To get started with tags, you do not need to open the Tags section. You can add the tag right in the settings of clients,client's templates, accounts, rates, VoIP gateways, routing rules, traffic processing rules, packages, DIDs that you would like to be tagged in the future. 
  2. Please, avoid using commas in the name of the tags. 
  3. You can provide an unlimited number of tags for each resource.
  4. Use the "at" (@) sign as a default tag for rates.
  5. Also, you can see tags that you created in the system and those belonging to your Reseller.


Screenshot: Tags section

We strongly recommend that you properly configure rates and assign tags. If you configure in the way that some rate tables will have several accessible tags, it will work randomly

Also, you can find out tags that were used while the call processed in the CDRs list. These new columns are available for creating a CDRs report:

For more information about tags, read the article "Tags" in our User Guide. 

Invoices Templates

1. We extended the functionality of the"Included calls" option that is located in the "Attached CDRs list to the invoice"  drop-down menu. Now, you can select following optional parameters: 

    1. All payable - allows including calls with any duration that have non-zero costs and use packages. 
    2. Non-zero payable - permits including calls with a non-zero duration that have any cost and use packages. 
       

When you select "Non-zero payable" parameter in the "Attached CDRs list to the invoice" menu, then:
1) created outgoing Invoice for Client will have attached CDRs file with:

  1. incoming/outcoming non-free calls, that should be paid by the Client
  2. outcoming free calls with non-zero duration
  3. outcoming free calls by package volume limits with a non-zero duration

2) created incoming Invoice for Client will have attached CDRs file with:

  1. incoming/outcoming non-free calls, that should be paid to the Client
  2. incoming free calls with non-zero duration
  3. incoming free calls by package volume limits with non-zero duration (it's applicable in the case of usage of termination limits) 

Screenshot: Invoices Templates settings

2. Invoice Templates have a new group "Custom Taxes Table" with variables: name and cost. While creating taxes table, the table class should be "suretax_items". 

 

Screenshot: Invoice Template settings

4. Now you can add filtration by the static tags to the attached file of CDR's list. First, enable "Attach CDR's list to the invoices" option. Then, select a respective column (Static Tags) in the "Attach CDR's list to the invoices" drop-down menu.

5. The parameter {group_notes} was removed from the Invoices templates. If you need to use this variable, please add respective notes manually in the invoice template.

6. The parameter {vh_group} was changed to {vh_tag} in the Stats Table settings of Invoices templates. Please, rename this parameter in your templates to make it work properly. 

Please note:

  1. For proper usage of SureTax, the Invoice Number should contain only Latin and numeric characters. Max length is 40 symbols. Dst and Src Numbers should be in format NPANXXNNNN (10 digits). 
  2. CDRs table of the created invoice displays calls according to the settings of "Attach CDR's list to the invoices"
  3. Stats table of the created Invoice shows calls included in the CDR's table.

7. New column "Cost" is available for usage in invoices and invoice templates only in the *xls format. 


Settings

  1. New possibility to create an invoice with zero amount. Check out this option in the Configuration → Settings. To enable this feature, tick the "Allow zero invoices" check box in the Invoicing settings sub-panel.  
     
  2. Moreover, the "Round monetary value" was integrated for invoices. This option forces the values in the CDR`s report and CDR`s files to be rounded according to currency settings To activate it, go to the System → Settings and tick the "Round monetary value" check box. 
     

VoIP Gateways

  1. Due to the modifications of LNP/MNP module, VoIP Gateways settings has a new field "Gateway Type" with following options:

     2. The number of built-in types of Files Downloader is increased and now it's available to choose next types:

     3. LNP Files Collector check box allows to enable special file collector that processes downloaded LNP/MNP files and stores them in the database. 
 

 Screenshot: VoIP Gateways settings


LNP/MNP Databases

This section represents LNP/MNP local databases of two providers: Numuri and TJA. Here you can find the list of Numuri ranges and TJA numbers downloaded by LNP Files Collector. It's intended to facilitate the administration of number portability.
 

JeraSoft VCS is integrated with other providers: Broadvox, Vera Networks, PCT. 

To find more details about this module and configurations of external data download, open the article "LNP / MNP Databases" in our User Guide.


Screenshot: LNP/MNP Databases section

System

Events Log

Previously existing RADIUS configurations (i.e. RADIUS Accounts/Destinations/Fraud Protection/Routing) were removed due to the changes of logging on the RADIUS server. Now, RADIUS Server configuration includes all RADIUS settings mentioned above.

 

Screenshot: Events log settings/Configuration tab

Some loading messages are removed from this section. For example, the alert message for downloading factors watcher is disappeared from the Events log. Moreover, the error message of an archive creation of the Backup Manager will be further displayed as an alert message. 

Audit Log 

A visual representation of this section is modified and the Quick Search functionality is extended.  Now, you can find logs separately corresponding to a respective action (creation/modification/removal) or according to context elements (Clients/Accounts/Calling Cards/Rate Tables/Invoices).
 

Screenshot: Audit log section

Now, when you delete a client from the system, his history form will be disabled in the Audit log section. 

Mail Queue

The quick search tool of the Mail Queue section was updated:

    1. You can make a search of the full list of emails by the Reports Watcher and Rates Notificator parameters. To do this, click the arrow down  on the search toolbar and select a respective parameter in the "Type" field.
    2. New modes "Nofity (After)" and "Notify(Before)" are accessible in the "Type" field of the search form.

API Testbed 

Now, a special API method "clients/authorizeAdd" allows adding a pre-configured Authorize.net client's profile. It enables to transfer the client's credentials via API and there is no need to register the client via Client's Panel. It includes next parameters: id_clients, id_customer_profile, id_payment_profile.
 

Screenshot: API Testbed settings

Roles

  1. From this version, a created user can assign the role with respective permissions. Therefore, if the user has access to create roles, he can assign the role with permission similar to his own or less than it.
  2. Now, the user with disabled Management/Clients module in the Roles section will not see the Clients List from the Clients Panel. 

 

Client's Control Panel

  1. Now, the Client can see in his statistics the packages currently assigned to him (active, pre-activated) or used (archived) previously. All other packages of the Reseller will be invisible for this Client. 
  2. Also, when you delete the client (i.e. its status is "Deleted" in the Client's settings), its login/password for access to the Client's Panel will be reset and you can use it for another client.