Description Of The Business And Significant Accounting Policies	6 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2013
Description Of The Business And Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Description Of The Business And Significant Accounting Policies	1. Description of the Business and Significant Accounting Policies Description of the Business ARI Network Services, Inc. (“ARI” or the “Company”) provides technology-enabled services that help our customers effectively and efficiently sell more whole goods, parts, garments and accessories (“PG&A”). Our customer base of more than 22,000 dealers, 195 distributors, and 140 manufacturers utilize ARI’s products and services to drive and manage leads, efficiently service consumers at the parts counter, and enable eCommerce sales of PG&A. ARI’s solutions are aimed at markets with complex equipment requiring service and sold through an independent dealer channel and including the outdoor power, powersports, marine, RV, automotive wheel and tire, and white goods markets. Most of our solutions leverage our library of electronic content that we have published and aggregated into a large content management system, which contains data related to more than 10 million active parts across more than 469,000 models; more than 500,000 active accessories; SKUs across more than 73,000 active products; more than 300 actively updated whole goods brands; and holds full model data and images for more than 175,000 active models. We market our products primarily through software-as-a-service (“SaaS”) and data-as-a-service (“DaaS”) business models that typically contain both an annual auto-renewing subscription component as well as a variable usage-based revenue component. It is the nature of our products, along with the content and the continual management and updating of the content, which allows us to sell the majority of our products and services in a recurring revenue model. Today, more than 85% of our revenues are recurring. We were incorporated in Wisconsin in 1981. Our principal executive office and headquarters is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The office address is 10850 West Park Place, Suite 1200, Milwaukee, WI 53224, and our telephone number at that location is (414) 973-4300. Our principal website address is www.arinet.com. ARI also maintains operations in Duluth, Minnesota; Cypress, California; Virginia Beach, Virginia; Floyds Knobs, Indiana; and The Netherlands. Basis of Presentation These consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of ARI and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. We eliminated all significant intercompany balances and transactions in consolidation. Any other adjustments deemed necessary by management for a fair presentation of all periods presented have been reflected as required by Regulation S-X, Rule 8-03, in the normal course of business. Significant Accounting Policies Our accounting policies are fully described in the footnotes to our Consolidated Financial Statements for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2012, which appear in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 29, 2012. There were no changes to our accounting policies during the six months ended January 31, 2013. Revenue Recognition Revenue from software licenses, annual or periodic maintenance fees and catalog subscription fees, which are included in multiple element arrangements, are all recognized ratably over the contractual term of the arrangement, as vendor specific objective evidence does not exist for these elements. ARI considers all arrangements with payment terms extending beyond twelve months not to be fixed or determinable and evaluates other arrangements with payment terms longer than normal to determine whether the arrangement is fixed or determinable. If the fee is not fixed or determinable, revenue is recognized as payments become due from the customer. Arrangements that include acceptance terms beyond the standard terms are not recognized until acceptance has occurred. If collectability is not considered probable, revenue is recognized when the fee is collected. Revenue for use of the network and for information services is recognized on a straight-line basis over the period of the contract. Arrangements that include professional services are evaluated to determine whether those services are essential to the functionality of other elements of the arrangement. Types of services that are considered essential to software license arrangements include customizing complex features and functionality in a product’s base software code or developing complex interfaces within a customer’s environment. Professional services revenue for set-up and integration of hosted websites, or other services considered essential to the functionality of other elements of this type of arrangement, is amortized over the term of the contract. When professional services are not considered essential, the revenue allocable to the professional services is recognized pursuant to contract accounting using the percentage-of-completion method with progress-to-completion measured based upon labor hours incurred. When the current estimates of total contract revenue and contract cost indicate a loss, a provision for the entire loss on the contract is made in the period the amount is determined. Revenue for variable transaction fees, primarily for use of the shopping cart feature of our websites, is recognized as it is earned. Amounts invoiced to customers prior to recognition as revenue, as discussed above, are reflected in the accompanying balance sheets as deferred revenue. Amounts received for shipping and handling fees are reflected in revenue. Costs incurred for shipping and handling are reported in cost of revenue. Trade Receivables, Credit Policy and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Trade receivables are uncollateralized customer obligations due on normal trade terms, most of which require payment within thirty (30) days from the invoice date. Payments of trade receivables are allocated to the specific invoices identified on the customer’s remittance advice or, if unspecified, are applied to the earliest unpaid invoices. The carrying amount of trade receivables is reduced by an allowance that reflects management’s best estimate of the amounts that will not be collected. Management individually reviews receivable balances that exceed ninety (90) days from the invoice date and, based on an assessment of current creditworthiness, estimates the portion of the balance that will not be collected. The allowance for potential doubtful accounts is reflected as an offset to trade receivables in the accompanying balance sheets. Capitalized and Purchased Software Product Costs Certain software development and acquisition costs are capitalized when incurred. Capitalization of these costs begins upon the establishment of technological feasibility. The establishment of technological feasibility and the on-going assessment of recoverability of software costs require considerable judgment by management with respect to certain external factors, including, but not limited to, the determination of technological feasibility, anticipated future gross revenue, estimated economic life and changes in software and hardware technologies. The annual amortization of software products is the greater of the amount computed using: (a) the ratio that current gross revenue for the network or a software product bears to the total of current and anticipated future gross revenue for the network or a software product, or (b) the straight-line method over the estimated economic life of the product which currently runs from three to five years. Amortization starts when the product is available for general release to customers. All other software development and support expenditures are charged to expense in the period incurred. Legal Provisions ARI is periodically involved in legal proceedings arising from contracts, patents or other matters in the normal course of business. We reserve for any material estimated losses if the outcome is probable and can be reasonably estimated. We had no legal provisions for the three or six months ended January 31, 2013 and 2012. Deferred Loan Fees and Debt Discounts Fees associated with securing debt are capitalized and included in other long term assets on the balance sheet. Stock issued in connection with securing debt is recorded to debt discount, reducing the carrying amount of the debt on the balance sheet. Deferred loan fees and debt discounts are amortized to interest expense over the life of the debt.

1. Description of the Business and Significant Accounting Policies

Description of the Business

ARI Network Services, Inc. (“ARI” or the “Company”) provides technology-enabled services that help our customers effectively and efficiently sell more whole goods, parts, garments and accessories (“PG&A”). Our customer base of more than 22,000 dealers, 195 distributors, and 140 manufacturers utilize ARI’s products and services to drive and manage leads, efficiently service consumers at the parts counter, and enable eCommerce sales of PG&A. ARI’s solutions are aimed at markets with complex equipment requiring service and sold through an independent dealer channel and including the outdoor power, powersports, marine, RV, automotive wheel and tire, and white goods markets.

Most of our solutions leverage our library of electronic content that we have published and aggregated into a large content management system, which contains data related to more than 10 million active parts across more than 469,000 models; more than 500,000 active accessories; SKUs across more than 73,000 active products; more than 300 actively updated whole goods brands; and holds full model data and images for more than 175,000 active models.

We market our products primarily through software-as-a-service (“SaaS”) and data-as-a-service (“DaaS”) business models that typically contain both an annual auto-renewing subscription component as well as a variable usage-based revenue component. It is the nature of our products, along with the content and the continual management and updating of the content, which allows us to sell the majority of our products and services in a recurring revenue model. Today, more than 85% of our revenues are recurring.

We were incorporated in Wisconsin in 1981. Our principal executive office and headquarters is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The office address is 10850 West Park Place, Suite 1200, Milwaukee, WI 53224, and our telephone number at that location is (414) 973-4300. Our principal website address is www.arinet.com. ARI also maintains operations in Duluth, Minnesota; Cypress, California; Virginia Beach, Virginia; Floyds Knobs, Indiana; and The Netherlands.

Basis of Presentation

These consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of ARI and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. We eliminated all significant intercompany balances and transactions in consolidation. Any other adjustments deemed necessary by management for a fair presentation of all periods presented have been reflected as required by Regulation S-X, Rule 8-03, in the normal course of business.

Significant Accounting Policies

Our accounting policies are fully described in the footnotes to our Consolidated Financial Statements for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2012, which appear in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 29, 2012. There were no changes to our accounting policies during the six months ended January 31, 2013.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue from software licenses, annual or periodic maintenance fees and catalog subscription fees, which are included in multiple element arrangements, are all recognized ratably over the contractual term of the arrangement, as vendor specific objective evidence does not exist for these elements. ARI considers all arrangements with payment terms extending beyond twelve months not to be fixed or determinable and evaluates other arrangements with payment terms longer than normal to determine whether the arrangement is fixed or determinable. If the fee is not fixed or determinable, revenue is recognized as payments become due from the customer. Arrangements that include acceptance terms beyond the standard terms are not recognized until acceptance has occurred. If collectability is not considered probable, revenue is recognized when the fee is collected.

Revenue for use of the network and for information services is recognized on a straight-line basis over the period of the contract.

Arrangements that include professional services are evaluated to determine whether those services are essential to the functionality of other elements of the arrangement. Types of services that are considered essential to software license arrangements include customizing complex features and functionality in a product’s base software code or developing complex interfaces within a customer’s environment. Professional services revenue for set-up and integration of hosted websites, or other services considered essential to the functionality of other elements of this type of arrangement, is amortized over the term of the contract. When professional services are not considered essential, the revenue allocable to the professional services is recognized pursuant to contract accounting using the percentage-of-completion method with progress-to-completion measured based upon labor hours incurred. When the current estimates of total contract revenue and contract cost indicate a loss, a provision for the entire loss on the contract is made in the period the amount is determined.

Revenue for variable transaction fees, primarily for use of the shopping cart feature of our websites, is recognized as it is earned.

Amounts invoiced to customers prior to recognition as revenue, as discussed above, are reflected in the accompanying balance sheets as deferred revenue.

Amounts received for shipping and handling fees are reflected in revenue. Costs incurred for shipping and handling are reported in cost of revenue.

Trade Receivables, Credit Policy and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Trade receivables are uncollateralized customer obligations due on normal trade terms, most of which require payment within thirty (30) days from the invoice date. Payments of trade receivables are allocated to the specific invoices identified on the customer’s remittance advice or, if unspecified, are applied to the earliest unpaid invoices.

The carrying amount of trade receivables is reduced by an allowance that reflects management’s best estimate of the amounts that will not be collected. Management individually reviews receivable balances that exceed ninety (90) days from the invoice date and, based on an assessment of current creditworthiness, estimates the portion of the balance that will not be collected. The allowance for potential doubtful accounts is reflected as an offset to trade receivables in the accompanying balance sheets.

Capitalized and Purchased Software Product Costs

Certain software development and acquisition costs are capitalized when incurred. Capitalization of these costs begins upon the establishment of technological feasibility. The establishment of technological feasibility and the on-going assessment of recoverability of software costs require considerable judgment by management with respect to certain external factors, including, but not limited to, the determination of technological feasibility, anticipated future gross revenue, estimated economic life and changes in software and hardware technologies.

The annual amortization of software products is the greater of the amount computed using: (a) the ratio that current gross revenue for the network or a software product bears to the total of current and anticipated future gross revenue for the network or a software product, or (b) the straight-line method over the estimated economic life of the product which currently runs from three to five years. Amortization starts when the product is available for general release to customers. All other software development and support expenditures are charged to expense in the period incurred.

Legal Provisions

ARI is periodically involved in legal proceedings arising from contracts, patents or other matters in the normal course of business. We reserve for any material estimated losses if the outcome is probable and can be reasonably estimated. We had no legal provisions for the three or six months ended January 31, 2013 and 2012.

Deferred Loan Fees and Debt Discounts

Fees associated with securing debt are capitalized and included in other long term assets on the balance sheet. Stock issued in connection with securing debt is recorded to debt discount, reducing the carrying amount of the debt on the balance sheet. Deferred loan fees and debt discounts are amortized to interest expense over the life of the debt.