MetaRecords > Services > MR9 vs. MR8

MR9 compared to MR8

Now that the next generation of MetaRecords business management software, MR9, is available, how is it different from MR8? If you know MR8, this section is for you: It highlights the changes in MR9 from MR8 in all areas of the software.

Major upgrade

MR9 is a major upgrade from MR8, which we are no longer updating. MR8 is almost 20 years old (which is ancient in software terms) and unable to take advantage of newer technologies that we think will better serve you going forward.
Web based
You log into MR9 through a browser. This means:
- No installation process
- No in-house server to buy or maintain
- No need for IT
- No updates to install
- No backup process
- Access through any major browser
- Use on a Mac or PC
- Use on a tablet or smartphone (some features may not work)
- Work anywhere, including borrowing someone else’s computer (nothing to install!)
Includes Idea Collaborator requests

If you are an MR8 client and participated in our Idea Collaborator, you might wonder why we did not incorporate a good suggestion made there into MR8. Instead, we took the best and most popular ideas from the Idea Collaborator and used them to design MR9.

For example, the Aged A/R Report generated a lot of complaints and suggestions in the Idea Collaborator, so it has been majorly redesigned in MR9. It was a static report in MR8, but in MR9 it is the truly useful tool for collections it should be. It is interactive so you can view the information as you want and for time periods up to 12 months+. Plus all client and outstanding invoice information — even previous collection efforts documentation — is directly accessible from the report.
MR9 is subscription only

MR9 is an SaaS(Software as a Service) Cloud platform and available by subscription only. The old purchase model required users to make a substantial investment in hardware, purchase an expensive software license upfront, and maintain a separate maintenance contract, resulting in a huge initial financial commitment. In addition, on-going outlays were required for hardware replacement or expansion, additional licenses, and software upgrades.

On the other hand, MR9 can be started with a very small initial investment — and no future expenses for hardware maintenance, replacement, or software upgrades. Furthermore, user licenses and storage space can be increased or decreased on demand offering efficient management of your financial resources.

OMTI uses the Microsoft Azure platform for the same reasons. Web technology, including 3rd party components, are utilized in MR9 under the subscription model. The cost to each MR9 client to have their own copy of these components would be so expensive that it wouldn’t “pencil out” for our clients, so selling MR9 under the purchase model is no longer feasible.

With a monthly subscription, instead of a large lump sum upfront for software and user licenses, our clients can manage their software expense as part of their regular overhead, adding and subtracting user licenses as needed, even canceling the entire program if needed without further financial obligation.
New user licenses

If you already use MR8, either with your own server or in the cloud, you will find MR9 user licenses a little different from what you are familiar with. Each user must have their own user ID and password — similar to how you sign into bank apps.
Always the latest version

Because MR9 resides on Microsoft Azure’s Cloud Services, you never have to wait for your desktop app to update. You will always be working with the latest version of MR9 automatically.
More secure than an in-house solution

Security is always important when dealing with sensitive and critical information, such as much of the information court reporting and other legal support businesses handle. MR9 follows general security rules for business applications – and because MR9 resides on Microsoft Azure’s Cloud Services, you can be assured that your information is secure.
Up-to-date technology

Obsolete technologies have been eliminated — such as fax service. And essentials have been updated to state of the art such as MR9’s email function, which is both simplified — you don’t need to know HTML to create email forms — and expanded — you can add images to your email forms — plus you can email any correspondence and include attachments.
Most plug-ins included

With the exception of MR Connect (the MR9 version of MR Connect) and Data Reader, most plug-ins are included for no additional cost.

MR8 vs MR9 Functions

Most MR8 functions are included in MR9. Some were no longer needed so we discontinued them. And there are new ones to make MR9 work even better for your business. If you want to see which MR8 functions are included in MR9, which have been discontinued, and what new functions have been added, check out the MR8 vs. MR9 function comparison chart.

Click to view the comparison chart

O = included X = not included

Module/Function	Function	MR8	MR9
Orders module
Orders	Orders (Case Manager in MR8)	O	O
	Parts (part of Case Manager in MR8)	O	O
	Tracking (Task Manager in MR8)	O	O
	Notify Runners	O	O
	Send Forms (Print Forms in MR8)	O	O
	Receive Records	O	O
	Daily Orders Audit	O	O
	Orders in Progress	O	O
	Processed Orders	O	O
	Orders Turnaround	O	O
	Orders Analysis	O	O
	Daily Tracking Summary (Daily Task Summary in MR8)	O	O
	Print Certified Mail Cards	O	X
Production module
Production	Turn In	O	O
	Production Sheets	O	O
	Envelopes and Labels	O	O
	Shipping (part of Turn In in MR8)	O	O
	Repository	O	O
	Log Analysis	O	X
	Productivity Analysis (Tracking Productivity Analysis in MR9)	O	O
	Daily Task Summary (Daily Tracking Summary in MR9)	O	O
Billing module
Billing	Post Invoices (part of Billing in MR8)	O	O
	COD Invoices	O	O
	Send Invoices (part of Billing in MR8)	O	O
	Transfer Invoice	O	O
	Export Invoices	O	O
	Send Billing Forms (Print Billing Forms in MR8)	O	O
	Reprint Posted Invoices (part of Send Invoices in MR9)	O	O
Inquiry module
Inquiry	Invoice Inquiry	O	O
	Client Activity	O	O
	Client Analysis	O	O
	Receivable Transaction Inquiry	X	O
	Anniversary Inquiry	O	O
	Marketing Inquiry	O	O
	Payment Inquiry (part of Receivables Transaction Inquiry in MR9)	O	O
Receivables module
Receivables	Receive Payments (Payments in MR8)	O	O
	Enter Other Transactions	O	O
	Send Payment Receipts	X	O
	Daily Register	O	O
	Daily Balance Log	O	O
	Finance Charges	O	O
	Monthly Journals	O	O
	Aged A/R	O	O
	Send Statements (Monthly Reports > Statements in MR8)	O	O
	Client Account Activity	O	O
	Paid Invoices	O	O
	Voided Invoices	O	O
	Collections Letters (Collection Manager in MR8)	O	O
	Collections Follow-up	O	O
	Collections Forecast	O	O
	Summary Invoice (plug-in)	O	X
Payables module
Payables	Request Checks	O	O
	Print Checks	O	O
	Fee Checks	O	O
	Check Reconciliation (Check Reconciliation Report in MR8)	O	O
	Sales Commission Report	O	O
	Override Sales Commission	O	O
	Sales Tax	O	O
	Reward Points Summary (MR8 plugin)	O	O
	Reward Points History (MR8 plugin)	O	O
	Reward Points Analysis (MR8 plugin)	O	O
	Import Check Reconciliation Data (part of Bank Reconciliation in MR8)	O	O
	Bank Reconciliation	O	O
Reports module
Reports	Business Analysis	O	O
	Misc. Sales	O	O
	Client Rating Report	O	O
	Insurance Billing	O	O
	Processor Production	O	O
	Tracking Productivity Analysis (Tracking in MR8)	O	O
	Invoices (In Invoice Inquiry in MR9)	O	O
Tools module
Tools	Bulk Import	X	O
	Bulk Update	X	O
	Tag Manager	O	O
	Forms Templates (Form Manager in MR8)	O	O
	Label Templates	X	O
	Notes Finder	O	O
	Repository Download Log (Repository Access Log in MR8)	O	O
	Download Backup File	X	O
	Email Log	X	O
	Merge History	X	O
	Query Maker	O	O
	QuickBooks Integrator	O	O
	Database Manager (not needed in MR9)	O	X
Entities module
Entities	Firms	O	O
	Contacts	O	O
	Locations	O	O
	Business Units	O	O
Setup module
Setup	Lists (Code Manager in MR8)	O	O
	Users and Groups	O	O
	Chart of Accounts	O	O
	Service Item Subgroups	O	O
	Service Item Master	O	O
	Billing Rate Groups (in Lists in MR9)	O	O
	Billing Rates	O	O
	Billing Sets	O	O
	Invoice Headers	O	O
	Invoice Messages	O	O
	Scopes	O	O
	Repository Descriptions	O	O
	States	X	O
	Tracking Steps	O	O
	Form Types and Groups	O	O
	Form Data List Templates (Form Data Source Templates in MR8)	O	O
	Form Packages	O	O
	System Preferences	O	O
Connect module
Connect	Send Invitations	X	O
	Import Online Orders	O	O
	Publish COD Invoices	O	O
	Fulfill Points Redemption Orders	X	O
	Support Tickets	X	O
	Activity Log	O	O
	Connect Preferences (Site Configurations in MR Web)	O	O
Help module
Help	User Guide	X	O
	Online Training	X	O
	Update History	X	O
	FAQ/KnowledgeBase	X	O
	Online Support > Team Viewer	X	O
	Live Chat	X	O
	Report Issues	X	O
	Suggest Ideas	X	O
	About	O	O
Personal module
Personal	Notifications and Messages	O	O
	Change Password	O	O
	Locked Data	X	O
	User Preferences	O	O
	Close All Tabs	X	O
	Log Out	O	O

What’s inside MR9

MR9 has the same modules as MR8 plus more. If you use MR8, there will be a lot of familiar features and functions. However, every module and function has been rethought and restructured to work better incorporating new technology and more flexible, streamlined workflows. For example, better screen layouts and interactive reports give you quicker access to information when you want it.

MR9 compared to MR8

MR8 vs MR9 Functions

What’s inside MR9

Check out what’s new in MR9 by module: