New Feature: Mileage Logs

StudioCloud is excited to announce that the latest version of StudioCloud now includes mileage tracking. This feature is one of our most requested features on the feature request forum.

Please note that this feature is currently only available in the StudioCloud desktop business software.

Here is a short breakdown of what is included in mileage tracking:

• Using the odometer of a vehicle you can track the distance traveled
• The mileage logs can be given a custom mileage type such as business, charity, personal, etc.
• The mileage logs can be associated with a job.
• The mileage logs can be associated with a vehicle.
• The mileage logs can be associated with a driver.
• The mileage logs can be associated with a location.
• The mileage logs can be tagged.

Here is a tutorial on how to create a mileage log.
https://app1.studiocloud.com/support/index.php?/article/AA-00776/192/

Here is a tutorial that explains how to associate a mileage log with a job.
https://app1.studiocloud.com/support/index.php?/article/AA-00777/198/

Here is a tutorial on how to create a mileage type.

https://app1.studiocloud.com/support/index.php?/article/AA-00775/198/

Here is a tutorial on how to create a driver.
https://app1.studiocloud.com/support/index.php?/article/AA-00774/198/

Here is a tutorial on how to create a vehicle.
https://app1.studiocloud.com/support/index.php?/article/AA-00773/198/

New Feature: Jobs

With the latest release of StudioCloud, version 3.1.275, we have implemented a new feature called jobs. Jobs are used to group clients, events, invoices, and/or projects together.

Some examples of when jobs could be used are below:

• If you are a wedding photographer a job is ideal for tracking a wedding because many weddings often include more then just the wedding event itself and often have more then just one invoice associated with them. For example, the wedding might also include a bridal photoshoot or another type of  pre-wedding photoshoot.
• If you are a portrait photographer a job is ideal for a portrait shoot that might include an initial client consultation, the photo shoot, and a sales/preview session.
• If you are a tattoo artist a job is ideal for a multi-session tattoo or for a single session tattoo that might also include an initial client consultation.
• If you are a massage therapist a job is ideal to group all of the massage sessions together in one central location.

Here are some other uses for jobs:

• If you want one central location to track everything that is happening in your business then jobs would be a good fit.
• If you are a photographer that wants a system to archive a dvd of images for a photo shoot then using the job number would be a great archival method. A good naming system would be to use the job number with a combination of the client name and/or the photo shoot date.

Here is a tutorial on how to create and edit jobs.

https://app1.studiocloud.com/support/index.php?/article/AA-00764/196/

Here is a tutorial on how the job numbering system works.

https://app1.studiocloud.com/support/index.php?/article/AA-00766/196/How-to-change-the-Job-Number.html

New Feature: ePayments

StudioCloud has updated ePayments to no longer be flash based and, as such, we now support ePayments on iPhone, iPads, Android phones, Android tablets, as well as any internet browser.

We have also added in additional options listed below

• You can send ePayments for invoice balance dues
• You can send ePayments for payment dues
• You can send editable epayments where either you or the client can enter the amount that they desire to pay directly into the epayment.

Please refer to this tutorial for instructions on how to use the new features. http://app1.studiocloud.com/support/index.php?/article/AA-00435/0/

New Feature: Pipelines

With the latest release of StudioCloud, version 3.1.270, we have implemented some new features and functionality for managing everything that needs to be done in a business. We will be doing a blog post with video and written tutorials as well as examples later this week to introduce the new concepts.

Below is a quick introduction to the new features.

New Pipelines

We have added some new pipelines. Here is a breakdown of where each pipeline should be used.

• Client Pipelines
• Client Pipelines are used for tracking inquiries or leads to make sure they get converted to paying customers. 
• Event Pipelines
• Event Pipelines are used to track what needs to be done before and after a scheduled appointment,session, or event
• Order Pipelines
• Order Pipelines are used to track the overall status of the entire order or invoice
• Task Pipelines
• Task Pipelines are used to track specific items in an order that a customer has ordered. An order must be created from a invoice to use task pipelines.

Assign Pipelines Directly To Events And Invoices

• We have also added in the option to assign pipelines directly to events or invoices. This is useful in situations where you don't need to assign tasks to employees but just need to track the overall status of an event or invoice.

Assign Default Pipelines

We have also added in the option to assign default pipelines for clients, events, invoices and products/services.

• Default Client Pipeline
• This is useful so that when you create a new inquiry you can automatically have a default pipeline you use for that client.
• Default Event Pipeline
• This is useful so that when you select the calendar type or calendar sub type for an appointment, event or session it will automatically apply the correct pipeline for that event.
• Default Invoice Pipeline
• This is useful so that when you create a new invoice it will automatically have the desired pipeline associated with it
• Default Task Pipeline
• This is useful because you can setup default pipelines for products or services so that anytime they are added to a order it automatically has the required steps that you need to do to complete that product or service.

New Pipeline View

There are 3 new pipelines view so that you can easily see the status of a client, event, or invoice.

• Client Pipeline View
• The client view lets you see where a client is in the client pipeline
• Event Pipeline View
• The event view lets you see where an appointment, event, or session is in the event pipeline
• Invoice Pipeline View
• The invoice view lets you see where an invoice is in the order pipeline

Coming In Version 3.1.271

• In the next update of StudioCloud you will be able to assign default pipelines to a client from a CloudForms. That means that when a client fills out a form it will automatically have a pipeline when it is added to StudioCloud
• In the next update of StudioCloud you will also be able to assign an email template to a cloudform which will automatically be emailed to the client when they fill out a form. Essentially this is a automatic response to the customer that you have received their questionnaire.
• In the next update of StudioCloud you will also be able to automatically send emails or text messages using client pipelines from a new or edit client window

New Feature: Sending Emails

With the latest release of StudioCloud, version 3.1.268, we have added in the option to send emails directly from StudioCloud's servers. This new feature resolves issues that some people have experienced when sending emails. If you have experienced any of the problems below you may want to consider using this new feature.

• If you use an email account that is not supported by Adobe Air such as Hotmail, Yahoo, or .Mac
• Your internet service provider blocks access to sending emails from a specific port
• You experience internet issues when sending emails
• You travel and can not predict if the service you are using will be blocking you from sending emails

To enable this feature simple go to settings, click on the Manage Email Accounts button, edit the desired email account and then select the "Send From Server" checkbox under the outgoing mail tab.

Please note that this feature is only available for customers who are paying subscribers or are on a 15 day free trial.

Support Policy For Free Accounts

Due to overwhelming demand for StudioCloud’s products we need to re-emphasize our support policies in order to continue to give our paying clients the best possible customer service.

In 2010 we released StudioCloud’s free product and announced that the free product did not come with customer support. Free StudioCloud accounts could and still can access the written tutorials, video tutorials, and/or community forum but other support options were not available to them.

Over the last few years, we have not been strict in enforcing this policy. However, due to the large number of customers who are using our free services, we are now enforcing that policy and we will no longer be able to provide support for free accounts.

When you sign up for a free StudioCloud account, you also receive a 15 day free trial of all of StudioCloud’s services. During the 15 day free trial period, you will receive support in order to make sure you can get StudioCloud up and running. We encourage you to take advantage of this time period to really try out StudioCloud.

After the 15 day free trial has expired you will need to subscribe to the PartnerBoost, EmployeeBoost or one of our add-on products, which start at $10 a month, to receive support. All of our paid for services come with live chat, email, and trouble ticket support. Please also note that StudioCloud does not have any contracts, our subscriptions are month to month, and you can cancel at any time.

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