Inside IBAS

The main principals behind Interblend are software programmers who, over the years developed various modular business applications. HR/payroll, accounting, lending/financing and sugarcane farming modules are just a few from the list of their combined portfolios. Since these applications were designed as modular, this led to redundancy both in database design and system operation, not to mention that this approach requires heavy maintenance. The developers need to write lots of middleware -- highly customized software to share raw data among inter-related modules in order for these modules to "talk" to each other. 

Imagine, for example, Application A requires a database of suppliers and Application B requires a database of customers. Imagine more, that one person can be both a supplier in Application A and a customer in Application B. Since these two Applications A & B have their own independent databases; guess what, you have to enter the information of one person twice: one in Application A as a supplier and another in Application B as a customer. Now, imagine further that this one person who is both a supplier and a customer, at the same time, make a payment arrangement to offset what he sells over what he buys, or vice-versa. So now you have an idea of how things can get complicated from there.... 

After such a long time (actually, years) of careful design and analysis, IBAS was developed to offer the same modular user experience but under one database architecture behind the scene. If you notice that we use puzzle imagery a lot both in the actual product and on this website because puzzle pieces represent the modules that makeup IBAS and the frame that holds them together is one database architecture that all these modules share. Our logo says it all. Also, this whole project is like such a behemoth puzzle that needs to be assembled one piece at a time.

Interblend is derived from interdependent modules that can function alone but can blend just fine when taken as part of a whole.

"INSIDE IBAS" is an online endeavor to help the user navigate through the IBAS ecosystem.

In our experience, we found out that:

1. Clients can use one application for multiple types of companies
2. Clients can have multiple branches of one company
3. Clients may need two or more modules to serve the ones mentioned above
4. Clients want a one-access log-in to multiple modules

Based on these pretexts, IBAS shall be:

• able to provide the user to have single access to all modules depending upon his or her access rights
• able to create different types of business entities
• able to replicate one type of business
• able to provide common information to be shared among the business entities under the client's tutelage

Refer to these videos, this one and this one for more information.

The next section shows the modules that we are actively developing. Note that these are not our complete portfolios. Please proceed to IBAS actual website to see them.

IBAS is designed to run on a multi-user, server-based environment. All processing happens in the server and the server just gets input from, at the same time, gives feedback to other computers connected to it. Interaction with IBAS is through any browser so it can be set-up in a local intranet or over the internet. IBAS is cross-platform. It can be installed on any computer running Windows, iOS or Linux operating system... and, yeah, even on Raspberry PI.

Speaking of browsers, although IBAS will run just fine on any popular browser, each one has its own peculiarities. We made a compilation for you here, in case you are interested.

Some notes before we proceed:

1. Actual product aesthetics may vary from the screenshots provided in this on-line guide  or on the accompanying videos due to the dynamics of software development. We are trying our best to keep our documentation up-to-date but this may not always be the case.
2. All illustrations herein were created using Windows operating system.
3. If you see a bookmark 🔖 icon, it means it is something to be remembered by, or something to be noted of.

IBAS' layout has four cardinal panels. At the top is the header panel where pertinent information of your company is placed, including your logo. By default, the name of the service provider, that is, Interblend Total Solutions, is being shown. Those info will change accordingly once you get into your own company and branch.

The left panel is called the "user's panel" since this area is dedicated to the user. From logging in to logging out and anything in between. 

The right panel is for advertisements and other matters.

The center panel is also called the "working" panel. This is where all actions take place.

There are three ways you can gain access to the IBAS system.

1. You have to register yourself
2. Someone has to invite you. When someone invites you, they are the one who registers you to the system.
3. Use the demo account. 

For the first and second options, you need to have an email address. That is the requirement. There is no need for an email for the third option. All you have to do is typed in "demo" in the email box, and "demo" in the password box. This video will show you how.

The demo account, however, is for anyone who wants to peek into IBAS without registration. Of course, anybody can do that. So, whatever you enter in IBAS using the demo account is accessible to everyone who also uses the demo account.

🔖Therefore, do not enter any actual data of your company using the demo account. 

To register yourself in IBAS, simply click the Register link found at the user's panel.

You will be prompted with a form that you need to fill up. The fields are self-explanatory but those indicated by the red asterisk (*) are required to be filled up. 

To select an occupation, just type in a keyword and the list will be filtered accordingly. For example, typing "admin" will show all designations having "admin" in their descriptions.

Once you are through, save the information that you provided. IBAS will send you an email to the email address you provided. Check your email for any message coming from support@interblend.ph. The email contains a link for activation. Click it to get you officially registered. After you receive the confirmation message, use your email and your password to access IBAS. 

 🔖Passwords are case-sensitive.

Here's the tutorial video.  

The next step to do after you have your access to IBAS is to enter a business entity since you cannot enter any transaction without an entity. There are two ways:

1. If you are invited to join an existing company, you may accept the invitation and enter such company.
2. Otherwise, you may create your own company or business entity. 

This section will explain the second point since the first point requires an existing company before anyone can be invited. 

A business entity is what you submit to Security Exchange Commission (SEC) if you belong to a corporation and to Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) if not. Most of the time, the name of the business entity and the name of the physical store or branch are one and the same. However, this is not always the case. There are business groups that operate multiple stores like in the case of franchising and big corporations and you can notice the difference of a business entity and the store in their official receipts or on their signages like on the graphic illustration at your left.

Upon creation of your business entity, IBAS will create one store that has the same exact information as your business entity. However, if they are not the same, you can edit both independently from each other. How to create your own business entity? Read on.

After you logged-in, you would be taken to a page called StartPoint. StartPoint shows two lists. The top list displays all the business entities that you created or joined in. The bottom list shows the business entities you are invited to join. If you are new to IBAS, both these lists are empty.

Click the Create Your Own Business Entity button to start. IBAS prompts you to enter your business entity's information. You can fill them up later but for now, provide at least the name. Click the Save button and IBAS will prepare the rest for your business. The preparation may take between 1-3 minutes. After that, you will be directed to IBAS' home page where you will be presented with the basic IBAS package consisting of five modules:

1. Procurement
2. Inventory
3. Sales
4. Accounts Payable (A/P)
5. Accounts Receivable (A/R)

You have the chance to try these modules for 30 days. After which, you have the option to stop using this service or start your subscription. You may also want to subscribe to one or several modules instead of the five being offered. As we go along, we will publish more modules so stay tuned.

Now that you created your first business entity, it automatically serves as the default entity. In your next log-in, IBAS will directly load the entity you just created. However, if you want to add more entities or if you choose to disable the automatic loading of entity, you have to go back to the StartPoint page. It is where entity-related stuff are managed. 

To access StartPoint, click the Personal Settings link and select Go To StartPoint.

All the steps above are demonstrated in this video.

When you create a business entity, you automatically inherit the "Creator" role. As the creator, you have full administrator access. Here's what you can do as an administrator:

1. Edit the business entity information
2. Add additional store/branch (you have one during the creation)
3. Invite more users and assign their respective rights

Let's try #1. Try to fill up the rest of the information of your business entity if you haven't done yet already. Click the Administration tab and you will be prompted for more options.

Click the Set/Edit Company Info to edit your business entity info. This time, you can even upload your company's logo that will be shown in the header panel.

You may assign which type of industry your company belongs to and you can even assign multiple industries to it. Why is this important? You can use this information later on if you are looking for suppliers of particular products or services.

Click on the Set/Edit Stores to edit the information of your branches in the same manner you edit the information of your business entity. Take note that the Initials field is automatically generated as you provide for the branch's name but you can override it by giving it an explicit value. So, for example, if the initial is "XTC", you may edit it to "XTC - Main", presumably for your main office or main branch, or "XTC-Dumaguete" for your branch in Dumaguete City.

If you wish to add more stores or branches, please write to support@interblend.ph and make the subject "Additional Branch Request".

You may add banks information -- those that you have transactions with. 

You may set-up the different currency bills and coins that you use. They will become handy later on for cashiers for calculating change of cash sales transactions and also for the Payroll module when distributing cash salaries to staff or personnel.

 Default Values allow you to set-up the system's parameters. Most of the time, you give them default values so that you don't have to supply them during operation but you can always override those default values.  

This is a long form text area designed for your content that you can fill up with as many words as your heart desires. You can write articles, long mission statements, company policies, executive profiles, company awards/distinctions, office locations, shareholder reports, whitepapers, media mentions and other pieces of content that don’t fit into a shorter, more succinct space.

Articles – Good topics for articles include anything related to your company – recent changes to operations, the latest company softball game – or the industry you’re in. General business trends (think national and even international) are great article fodder, too.

Mission statements – You can tell a lot about a company by its mission statement. Don’t have one? Now might be a good time to create one and post it here. A good mission statement tells you what drives a company to do what it does.

Company policies – Are there company policies that are particularly important to your business? Perhaps your unlimited paternity/maternity leave policy has endeared you to employees across the company. This is a good place to talk about that.

Executive profiles – A company is only as strong as its executive leadership. This is a good place to show off who’s occupying the corner offices. Write a nice bio about each executive that includes what they do, how long they’ve been at it, and what got them to where they are.

This is a long form text area designed for your content that you can fill up with as many words as your heart desires. You can write articles, long mission statements, company policies, executive profiles, company awards/distinctions, office locations, shareholder reports, whitepapers, media mentions and other pieces of content that don’t fit into a shorter, more succinct space.

Articles – Good topics for articles include anything related to your company – recent changes to operations, the latest company softball game – or the industry you’re in. General business trends (think national and even international) are great article fodder, too.

Mission statements – You can tell a lot about a company by its mission statement. Don’t have one? Now might be a good time to create one and post it here. A good mission statement tells you what drives a company to do what it does.

Company policies – Are there company policies that are particularly important to your business? Perhaps your unlimited paternity/maternity leave policy has endeared you to employees across the company. This is a good place to talk about that.

Executive profiles – A company is only as strong as its executive leadership. This is a good place to show off who’s occupying the corner offices. Write a nice bio about each executive that includes what they do, how long they’ve been at it, and what got them to where they are.

This is a long form text area designed for your content that you can fill up with as many words as your heart desires. You can write articles, long mission statements, company policies, executive profiles, company awards/distinctions, office locations, shareholder reports, whitepapers, media mentions and other pieces of content that don’t fit into a shorter, more succinct space.

Articles – Good topics for articles include anything related to your company – recent changes to operations, the latest company softball game – or the industry you’re in. General business trends (think national and even international) are great article fodder, too.

Mission statements – You can tell a lot about a company by its mission statement. Don’t have one? Now might be a good time to create one and post it here. A good mission statement tells you what drives a company to do what it does.

Company policies – Are there company policies that are particularly important to your business? Perhaps your unlimited paternity/maternity leave policy has endeared you to employees across the company. This is a good place to talk about that.

Executive profiles – A company is only as strong as its executive leadership. This is a good place to show off who’s occupying the corner offices. Write a nice bio about each executive that includes what they do, how long they’ve been at it, and what got them to where they are.