FAQs

What size of organisations use Tempora?
Any size. We have start-ups and SMEs with as few as five users to global corporations with many companies and thousands of employees.

 
Can staff who work from home or abroad use Tempora?
Yes - it can be used anywhere in the world where there is a broadband Internet conection. It can handle currency, too.


Is my data secure?
Tempora is hosted by rackspace, a leading hosting provider that is certified compliant to ISO 27001:2005 - the only auditable international standard that defines the requirements for an Information Security Management System (ISMS).

Rackspace has been Microsoft Hosting Partner of the Year three times and is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner. As such, Rackspace has great expertise supporting Windows hosting solutions.

Rackspace is also renowned for its Fanatical Support service, which gurantees support 24/7, 365 days a year and is committed to providing 100 percent network and infrastructure uptime, a one-hour hardware fix and highly responsive technical support.


Where is my data actually stored?
At Rackspace's secure data centre in West London. In October 2009 the management of information security in the design, implementation and support of Hosted Systems at the LON 3 data centre facility was certified as compliant to ISO 27001:2005.

How often will my data be backed up?
Every day of the year - including weekends and bank holidays.


Who at Tempora will be able to access my data?
Only the support team under the direct control of the Managing Director. All client data are treated in strict confidence.


What is "cloud computing" and is it safe?
Cloud computing is a relatively new mode of computing that allows you to use remote servers for storing and managing your data, rather than storing them on your own computers. Tempora uses cloud computing, but the data and programs are not literally stored in the atmosphere – in reality the software service is run from our dedicated hosting facility in West London, managed by Rackspace under contract to Tempora Software. It is extremely safe, and far safer than storing your data on PCs in your workplace. It is backed up every day, and is protected from events such as fire, flood, burglary etc to which many normal workplaces can be vulnerable.


How can I be sure that only authorised users see my sensitive data?
Tempora uses a limited permission system which ensures that only the users you've allowed to have additional access can see sensitive material such as cost data.


If after a period of time I decide to stop using Tempora, will you supply me with my  data?
Yes. You would be able to export all of your client time data at any time, and probably wouldn't need any help from us to do that. However, if you terminate your contract and then ask for help in exporting your data, we would make a small charge for that work.


What is the minimum contract period?
Three months.
How long has Tempora been in business and who owns Tempora?
Tempora has been in business since 2002. Since April 2009 the company has been wholly owned by Faber Systems Ltd, a company registered in England that has been in business for over 20 years.


How much time will I need to invest in getting Tempora up and running in my organisation?
Small organisations can expect to be up and running within from a couple of days to a couple of weeks but this can be reduced if you take advantage of our configuration induction service at a cost of just £375.


I don't really have much time to invest in setting up a new system. Do you offer a consultancy service to do this for me? How much will that cost?
Yes, many of our clients prefer us to set up the system for them and train a member of their staff to administer the system. We provide a configuration and induction service at just £375, including the training.


Can Tempora be integrated with my accounts system?
Tempora can import and export data from and to most accounting systems and has a custom interface for use with Sage Line 50. If you want to check on a specific accounting package, call us on 0845 539 0208.


What does it cost to use Tempora?
The standard Tempora system, which manages time, cost and profitability, costs £15 per user per month. There are various upgrades, the most popular of which are the Prompt timesheet reminder and the HR self-service holiday planner, which each costs an additional £2.50 per user per month.


How long have you had this price and when is it likely to be increased?
This price is based on our 2011 price list. Although we have changed our pricing structure from time to time, we have never increased prices to an existing customer beyond the rate of inflation (RPI).


Do I need an IT expert to set up Tempora for my company?
Not at all. All you need to set up the system is a list of your clients and current jobs/projects/matters and staff. To make the most of the system's capability you will also need details of staff salaries and what your business overheads are.


My PCs aren't the most up-to-date, will they be able to run Tempora?
That shouldn't be a problem at all. But you will need a reliable broadband Internet connection (1Mb is adequate) because Tempora is accessed through a web browser. We support Microsoft Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari and Chrome. The Windows version of the Prompt requires Windows XP (SP3) or Windows 7.  If you have Macs, they will need OS X 10.4 or later to run the Prompt.


Does Tempora have to be installed onto my server, or my PCs?
No, unless you have the Prompt, which does need to be installed on each computer where timesheet reminders are required. There is also a Mac version of the Prompt (OS X 10.4 and later).


What happens if I have a problem with the software? What sort of technical support do you offer?
We provide remote support and maintenance, which is covered in your rental fee, on weekdays (excluding English public holidays) between the hours of 9am to 5.30pm. You can access this service by phone or email.
Do you use premium rate phone lines for technical support?
No.


How much training will my staff need to use Tempora?
Most users learn how to use the time entry facility after a five-minute introduction. Administrators, that is the people responsible for adding clients and jobs, or staff and rates, will pick up those additional skills during the induction session if you choose that option.


Can I link Tempora to my invoicing software?
Yes, via the import and export facilities. Tempora can be linked to most systems via Excel using CSV files.


Do I need to start using Tempora from the beginning of my financial year, or is it possible to import earlier data?
You can start using Tempora at any time because it reports the time worked, cost and profitability by client on a monthly basis. It is possible to import historical data if they are in an appropriate format.


We currently keep our data in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. Can that be imported into Tempora?
Yes. You can import clients and jobs etc, and we can even import historical time data if they are in an appropriate format.


Can I access Tempora on my smart-phone?
This feature is at an advanced stage of development and we expect to offer it by April 2011. You will be able to record time using smart phones that have suitable web browsers e.g. iPhone.


My staff are not good at filling in timesheets. They either forget or put it at the bottom of their to-do lists and then lose track of where they’ve spent their time. Can Tempora help?
That's a common problem. So we've come up with Tempora Prompt – an add-on designed specifically to remind your staff to complete timesheets on time. It can be configured to work on a daily or weekly basis, and it can range from gently reminding staff to fill in their timesheets to locking up their computers until their timesheets are up to date! Tempora Prompt is available in PC and Mac versions.


Why should I choose Tempora over and above the more well-known time management packages?
Because it's so much more than just a time management package. It was designed to help busy finance managers identify just how much profit their business is making from each client at the press of a button. Yet despite being clever, it's quick and easy to implement, easy to use, inexpensive and doesn’t tie you in to any long-term commitments. It's flexible, too. Being web-based, you and your colleagues can access it from anywhere.


Will I be able to track costs and expenses as well as time with Tempora?
Yes. Third-party costs and expenses can be entered individually against a specific job or imported from Excel.

 
Does Tempora enable me to plan and budget projects, and then track time and expenditure against those projects?
Yes, your chosen administrator can set monthly fee budgets at client or job level and then run off a report that compares the total value of the billable and non-billable time worked and the non-time costs with the budget values, on a monthly basis.