What best practice looks like with Programa

Welcome to Programa’s comprehensive guide, where we break down the essentials of using our platform to streamline your design workflow. Here, we summarize the key features and benefits of Programa to help you get started and maximize your design practice.

Getting Started Dashboard

When logging into Programa, you’ll land on the “Getting Started” dashboard. This dashboard is designed to guide you through the initial steps of setting up your account and understanding the platform. Key activities include:

• Creating Your First Project: Begin by setting up a demo schedule to familiarize yourself with the interface.

• Adding Content: Start specifying products and utilizing the Web Clipper for easy data import.

• Utilizing Resources: Explore our detailed guides and help center for a deeper understanding of each feature.

Schedules

Schedules are a core component of Programa, allowing you to centralize all project data. Key benefits include:

• Flexible Layouts: Customize Schedules by category or room.
• Comprehensive Views: Access summary, financial, and detailed views of your schedules.
• Procurement Tracking: Monitor logistics, order deadlines, and payment dates.
• Product Approvals: Reduce all back and forth with clients,
• PDF and Online Sharing: Export schedules as PDFs or share them via a live web link for real-time updates.

Client Dashboard

The Client Dashboard provides a centralized location for clients to review project information. Features include:

• Branded Experience: Customize the dashboard with your studio’s branding.
• Approval and Feedback: Clients can approve items and leave comments directly in the dashboard.
• Real-Time Updates: Ensure clients always have access to the most current project details.

Web Clipper

The Web Clipper is an essential tool for importing product information directly from supplier websites. Benefits include:

• Quick Data Capture: Clip images, product details, and attachments with ease.
• Efficiency: Save time by directly importing data without manual entry.
• Consistency: Ensure all product details are accurately captured and stored in your Schedules.

Pinboards

Pinboards are a simple online presentation tool for collating images and concepts. Benefits include:

• Easy Integration: Import content from your image library, web clipper, or direct uploads.
• Presentation Modes: View pinboards in detailed or presentation modes for different contexts.
• Client Sharing: Share pinboards with clients via a live link or through the client dashboard.

Project Management

Programa’s project management tools help you keep track of tasks and deadlines. Key features include:

• Kanban Boards: Use columns for to-do, doing, in review, and done to manage task progress.

• Time Tracking: Track time spent on tasks directly within the platform.

• StudioWhip: Get a universal view of all tasks and deadlines across projects.

Invoicing

Programa’s invoicing system helps you manage project finances efficiently. Key features include:

• Integration with Bookkeeping Software: Programa integrates with Stripe, Xero and QuickBooks.

• Creating Invoices: Create invoices by pulling products directly from your schedules and adding time-tracking data.

• Customizable Items: Add custom line items to invoices for more detailed billing.

• Syncing with Time Entries: Time entries from the time tracking tool can be added to invoices, ensuring accurate billing for hours worked.

By leveraging Programa’s invoicing system, designers can streamline their financial management and ensure accurate, timely billing for their projects.

Address Book

The Address Book centralizes all your contacts, including suppliers, clients, and other stakeholders. Benefits include:

• Organized Contacts: Keep all contact information in one place.

• Tagging System: Use tags to categorize contacts for easy filtering and retrieval.

Trade Portal

The Trade Portal is a curated marketplace for sourcing and specifying products from leading brands - available exclusively to designers in Australia and New Zealand, with a U.S. launch coming soon.

• Save time: Source and specify products effortlessly with powerful search, preloaded specs, and personalised recommendations.
• Stay inspired: Browse curated collections, discover trending products, and explore by category - from lighting to furniture, art, and fixtures.
• Simplify collaboration: Share selections with clients, streamline procurement, and send products directly into your Schedules - no spreadsheets needed