Below is  a general timeline for product updates and release dates:

Two changes of note are the addition of Sage 100 ERP Shipping by SmartLinc.  SmartLinc is a replacement for the prior Starship solution (Starship is sill supported by V-Technologies, independently) and is available in two versions

• Process Shipper – on-premises, browser-based
• Ship One –  cloud-based

SmartLinc includes complete carrier & shipping support for the US and Canada, as well as rate shopping, email notifications, and Bill of Lading support.

Another announcement is the Sage ERP Payroll module for SQL.  This will be a standalone payroll module and will integrate only to Sage 100 Premium (SQL).  This payroll module is based on the former Sage Accpac Payroll.

Another note of interest is that Sage Payments will play an even larger role in the Sage 100 ERP credit card transaction processing.  Payment data is not stored in the software itself but instead is stored in the Sage vault for tighter security and compliance.

Access the full roadmap here.

Highlights for Abra HR:

• Support for Active Directory logons.  By linking your Abra login id to your Windows login id, you can eliminate the need for a separate login and password to get into Abra.
• Ability to access Sage Abra Support through a chat link located within Abra.
• Employee Find is faster and includes searches for both first and last names.
• Increased security with SSN/SIN masking for all reports (standard and those created through Secure Query).

Highlights for Payroll:

• Greater flexibility for creating custom payment forms.
• Ability to choose whether or not a check should display in Employee Self Service.

Highlights for Employee Self Service (ESS):

• Sage Employee Analytics has the ability to create custom graphical dashboards (when used in conjunction with Sage Crystal Dashboard Design).  Combine workforce cost and performance data into a high level overview and quickly drill down for more detailed analysis.  These dashboards can be viewed from most web browsers (Safari, IE, Chrome and Firefox).
• The ESS user interface has been overhauled to provide easier navigation and the ability to customize the look and feel of your ESS system.
• The new Time Off Calendar provides managers with a monthly view of employee’s’ pending, approved and rejected time off.
• Employees and managers can access ESS on their mobile devices including iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Windows CE, Windows Phone 7 and Windows Mobile.
• SSN masking for dependents and beneficiaries in Open Enrollment.
• The new Provider Enrollment Details report allows you to send open enrollment information to the benefit provider prior to sending the enrollment updates to Abra.

For more details about all of the enhancements in version 9.1, please click on the What’s New in Sage Abra v9.1 document.

Highlights of the roadmap include:

• Release of Version 4.5!  The roadmap includes an overview of new features in this new version.
• New features in Product Update 6 for Version 4.4
• An overview of Sage Connected Services (like Federal and State e-Filing, Sage Sales Tax and Credit Card Processing)
• Sage ERP MAS 90 Online
• An update on Sage MAS Intelligence, Sage’s new financial reporting tool
• Information on Sage CRM
• A preview of Sage MAS 90 and 200 Version 5.0

SMI is Sage’s recommended replacement for FRx (which has been discontinued by Microsoft).  SMI is Excel-based and can be used to generate financial statements and is capable of generating reports for other MAS 90 and MAS 200 modules such as Accounts Receivable, Inventory Management and Sales Order.  In addition, reports can be created using multiple databases (even non-Sage databases).  For example, a report which combines data from MAS 90 and Abra HRMS.

For a more in-depth look at what you need to learn to get started with SMI, check out the list of Customer Resources that Sage has made available.

Highlights of the roadmap include:

• New features in Product Update 5
• Announcing Product Update 6 availability in July 2011
• Overview of automated sales tax processing by Avalara
• Overview of credit card processing by Sage Payment Solutions
• Overview of Sage ERP MAS Intelligence (FRx’s replacement) including information about an FRx Conversion Utility
• New features in Version 4.5, including payroll, sales order and accounts receivable
• Overview of SageCRM
• Announcing MAS 90 Cloud Deployment (only framework modules available)
• New features coming in Version 5, including auto update

• 3.7x, 4.0, 4.05 and 4.1:  September 30, 2011
• 4.2:  September 30, 2012
• 4.3:  September 30, 2013
• 4.4:  September 30, 2014

If you have any questions about the roadmap, please be sure to give Aries a call!

MAS 2o0 SQL Version 3.74 will be supported at least until MAS 200 SQL Version 4.5 is released (scheduled for late 2011).  Sage has not determined an exact retirement date for 3.74 but they may as the release date for version 4.5 gets closer.  My opinion is that Sage will support 3.74 for a “reasonable” amount of time to give 3.74 users enough time to move to 4.5.

For more information, see the Supported Versions document published by Sage as well as the Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 Roadmap – July 2010.  Please contact us to assist with your MAS upgrade.  Helpful documents to review before upgrading are the MAS 90 Supported Platform Matrix and the MAS 200 Supported Platform Matrix.  These guides will assist in preparing your hardware and network for an upgrade.

In an effort to provide additional features and benefits on a more timely basis than the traditional once-a-year upgrade, Sage is releasing Product Updates on a quarterly schedule.  Each of these Product Updates will include both customer-requested features and select additions from the Extended Solutions catalog.

The main enhancements in these two updates are to the Bank Reconciliation module.  Below are highlights of these new features:

• Adjustments, such as bank fees and interest earned, can be entered directly into the Check, Deposit and Adjustment Entry screen and posted to General Ledger.
• Easily select Bank Reconciliation transactions to flow to General Ledger from the Check, Deposit and Adjustment Entry Screen using a column titled ‘Select for General Ledger Posting.’
• Information added to the Comment Field in Bank Reconciliation will also flow through to General Ledger when transactions are posted.
• A new task added to the Bank Reconciliation Main menu — Transaction Register — provides the ability to post selected transactions from Bank Reconciliation to General Ledger.
• New security has been added to the Role Maintenance in Library Master to provide more detailed security for users in the Bank Reconciliation module.
• New Paperless Office features have been added to Bank Reconciliation, such as the ability to email and fax registers.

In addition, Sage MAS 90 and 200 4.4 is now compatible with Microsoft Office 2010.

For a complete list of enhancements in Sage MAS 90 and 200 Product Updates 3 and 4, please see What’s New in Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 4.4 Product Updates 3 and 4.   Please feel free to give us a call if you have any questions!

Version 4.45 is optimized for SQL Server to offer scalability, easy integration with other applications and enhanced reporting services.  It takes advantage of SQL Server capabilities such as job scheduling, database maintenance plans and faster searches.  Integrations with other applications take place at the application level using Business Objects to ensure successful upgrades to new versions.

The Business Framework provides the ability, using standard scripting, to automatically change the available choices that are presented in MAS 200 or to automatically enter data.  For example, a script could automatically change the expiration date of a sales quote depending on the type of quote that is chosen for a particular customer.

For additional details, please click here for Sage’s Pre-Release Announcement for version 4.45.

Below are some tips to Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Do I need to download the 2010 Interim Release Download (IRD):  The IRD is required for if you process 1099′s and use the 1099-INT or 1099-DIV form.  There are no changes to the Form 1099-MISC.   The IRD is required for Payroll customers running Versions 3.73, 3.74, 4.0, 4.05, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4.  The IRD is required for customers who are using Electronic Reporting for 1099 or W-2 filings.
2. Do I need to download the 2010 IRD if I’m using the Federal and State eFilingand Reporting feature:  You will still need to apply the IRD if you choose to use Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200Federal and State eFiling and Reporting.
3. I used the Magnetic Media module in previous years.  Are there any changes?:  Yes.  The Social Security Administration (SSA) will not accept W-2 information from employers on any type of magnetic media. Instead, they require electronic filing of W-2 information.  Sage MAS 90 or 200 versions 4.0, 4.05, and 4.10, and Sage MAS 200 for SQL versions 3.73 and 3.74 Magnetic Media module and SageERP MAS 90 and 200 versions 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4 Electronic Reporting module will allow you to create a MMREF-1 (EFW2) format file for uploading to the SSA’swebsite (www.ssa.gov/employer).  The MMREF-1 file is formatted to the SSA’s Electronic Filing and Magnetic Media Reporting specifications provided the applicable IRD has been downloaded and properly installed on your system.  Some states may still accept magnetic media filings; please check the informationyour state has provided to you for their policies.  If your state accepts magnetic media filings and uses the Federal MMREF-1 format, you can use the Electronic Reporting module to create the media for your state filing.
4. I’m supposed to electronically file my W-2s in the EFW2 format, so why does Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 show a MMREF-1 format?  The Social Security Administration has replaced all references to MMREF-1with a new acronym “EFW2″.  There is no need for concern, because even though your Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 software will still reflect the historical MMREF-1 acronym, the file format is the same as EFW2 and will be accepted by the Social Security Administration.
5. For companies who must print 1099 forms, what are the changes this year?  There are no new changes to 1099-MISC Form reporting in 2010.  Form1099 –DIV has form alignment changes for versions 4.20, 4.30, 4.40 and 4.45. With Form 1099-INT, a new box, Box 10, has been added to the forms and will be available in Vendor Maintenance in the grid to enter the CUSIP number.
6. I have an Extended Solutions enhancement. Will I need to update it after installing the 2010 IRD?  If you own a Sage ERP MAS 90 or 200 Extended Solutions title you may need to update it because of 2010 year-end changes.   Please contact Aries to review which Extended Solutions titles may need to be updated after installing the IRD.
7. Does the IRD contain changes to Payroll to support the Qualified Employee reporting as allowed by the HIRE Act?  Yes.  Customers running one of the supported versions of Payroll must have previously installed the Q2 2010 Payroll Update before installing the 2010 Year End IRD.  The Year End IRD includes additional changes to report Code CC in Box 12.  A 2010 W-2 HIRE Act Instruction Document will be displayed at the end of the installation of the IRD.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions!

The next release for Sage MAS 90/200 will be Sage MAS Intelligence at the end of August.  Sage MAS Intelligence (SMI) is a financial reporting replacement for FRx (which is being discontinued by Microsoft as of December 31, 2010).  SMI is an Excel-based tool that provides pre-defined financial reports, access to all MAS modules (not just GL), user-level security and consolidation of multiple companies.

In addition, the new roadmap outlines the proposed Product Updates for MAS 90/200.  Product Update 2 was released on July 14.  Future product updates are slated for September 2010, December 2010 and March 2011.  In addition, Version 4.45 is scheduled for release in October 2010.  Version 4.45 will provide Microsoft SQL Server 2008 support (new license customers only) and enhancements will be made to the payroll, sales order, purchase order and accounts receivable modules.

Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 Roadmap – July 2010