08.16.2012 User Meetup

Owned by Ed Cable
Last updated: Aug 16, 2012Version comment
4 min read

Agenda

Before each meeting we'll post a proposed agenda.  You can add any item you would like to cover to the agenda by emailing the user list or editing this wiki page. 

Session

Description

Presenter

Time

Introduction

We will also have an introduction of everyone on the call so the community can get more personally connected.

Ed Cable

5 min

Implementer Show & Tell

Amit Jain from Digamber Finance

Amit Jain

15 min

DiscussionSamiha J update | Discussion on PPI/Social Performance ManagementEd10 min

Demo/Tutorial

Admininistrative Documents | Writing Reports using Pentaho Report Designer

Lukasz B

15 min

Open Office HoursSupport/feedback  

On the Call

  • Amit Jain (Digamber - India)
  • Lassaad (enda - tunisia)
  • Nayan (Conflux - India)
  • Jakub (SolDevelo - Poland)
  • Thomas Ndugwa (Vastech - Uganda)
  • Ashok (Conflux - India)
  • Lukasz Babski (SolDevelo - Poland)
  • Praveen (Hugo - India)
  • Arun (GK - India)
  • Krystian (SolDevelo - Poland)
  • Vishwas (Conflux - India)
  • Marco (Quipu - Peru)
  • Ed (COSM - USA)
  • Zayyad (Intrasoft - Kenya)

Notes

From: http://sync.in/UApSRBzEzK

Agenda:
  • Presentation from Amit
  • Samiha J Update
  • Demonstration of new Admin Documents Functionality
  • Tutorial on creating new and modifying existing reports using Pentaho Report Designer
Action Items:
  • Accounting Working Group to Reconvene
  • Send functional requests for improving admin documents to mailing list
  • Additional details on using reports designer to come
  • Ed to send Amit account statement template from Mifos BI Repository
Demonstration of Admin Docs Functionality
  • Looking for feedback at what status would like to be able to attach admin documents
  • Now for receipts currently loan repayment and disbursal
  • What places could it also be used?
  • Amit: not giving receipts from Mifos.
  • Would be able to do a printout of amortization - 
  • RBI: wants details of the account - interest you've been charge - want account statement to be given to customer in his own language
  • Would be good to use for statement of account.
  • Lassaad: want to generate receipt when apply payment
  • jakub: this can be added pretty easily. 
  • Thomas: module is very useful
  • Better if had more information on the receipt >> this example was just a sample - these could be more complex
  • Arun:
  • Is this a system-generated receipt or 
  • MFI can create their own template and then upload - once uploaded mifos generates it using their document.
  • Arun: can i print it out and then upload back in? >> No but can always modify template and upload and we're also adding 
Pentaho Reports Designer
  • Where to Download
  • reporting.pentaho.com >> reporting creation tools >> downloads >> version 3.6.0 stable (zip download works well)
  • To Open
  • run the reportdesigner.bat file
  • Using Report Wizard
  • First select template (theme), then select datasource
  • (Lukasz will send link about selecting mifos datasource)
  • Then select items
  • Choose formats
  • Biggest problem is connecting with database --> will create a wikipage explaining how to connect database
  • Creating from blank page (not the wizard)
  • Editing an existing report
  • ResourceID - point to fields in database
  • Can also create functions related to those labels. 
  • Localizing
  • Choose language in environment settings when selecting the rprt files and then it will pull in localized resource labels.
  • Will be in format of data
  • Can create one report template but with several properties files
  • Currently Mifos reports should have the properties files for English, Spanish, and French.
Digamber
  • Using Mifos since September 2009 - at about 30,000 members now
  • Have a B+ CRISIL stable rating
  • Why Mifos
  • Wanted a web-based technology to serve their growing client base
  • After research came across Mifos - a true and simple web application that was free for all
  • Very easy interface - staff that is not very literate that doesn't know language and computer easily
  • Easy interface on a rock-solid platform
  • Implementing Mifos
  • Didn't have staff but on own - had to install web-based application on own for first time
  • First version using was 1.2
  • At this time community was at a very nascent state 
  • On this version for a while because not many new versions were coming out
  • Using July 2009 for several months, happy with results and put in production. 
  • Challenges initially
  • Was it stable?
  • Support?
  • none available initially
  • Too few reports (only 5 coming with mifos)
  • Are we both new in microfinance?
  • Accounting
  • Few users to share experiences with
  • Initiatives with Mifos team
  • Became first Mifos Cloud customer in North India with Grameen Foundation
  • Finally were able to get support
  • Vision really was for help
  • Community is growing and becoming smarter. 
  • User Meeting are very helpful
  • Benefits
  • Web-based
  • Clear vision with Mifos X for the future
  • Support from Conflux including Nayan and all team members
  • Sharing with worldwide users throughout community
  • New initiatives
  • Mobile integration, accounting, and other queries to discuss at summit
  • Want to capture data in the field in real time
  • Security restrictions for cloud (their offices only) and restriction from unwanted users
  • Arun: what are the biggest challenges
  • Accounting capabilities in Mifos
  • Maker and checker concept for Mifos ACC would need to be carried out across entire application (Amit - not sure if I carried out this right)
  • Accounting export provided by Mifos has been very beneficial 
  • But still 
  • Human Resource and Payroll
  • Would like to see it integrated.
  • 3 applications using currently - payroll online
  • Pre-microfinance approval application (web-base and separate from Mifos)
  • Zayyad: what version of Mifos are you currently using?
  • Amit: 2.4.1
Accounting Integration at Digamber
  • Zayyad: having a challenge with not all transactions being exported to Tally (namely savings deposits) 
  • Amit: not directly exporting and importing from Mifos to Tally - are opening XML/Excel file and then renaming per requirements are manually putting data into Tally on a consolidated basis.  
  • Copy and paste from the tally export screen into Excel, Filter in Excel by Branch --> then enter into Tally by Cost Centers
  • Doing the direct import - has some problems with duplicate operations
  • 2 options for cross-verification
  • Manually input in system and confirm with what has been done in mifos so far - all have been correct.
  • Zayyad: is missing membership fees and savings transactions
  • Amit: not a deposit-taking MFI so not using savings.