This past January at the international VeraSage conference, I was talking with Ron Baker about how we can more effectively get the message out that the only way for a business to know that a software consultant knows what they are doing is by having that consultant provide them with a fixed price for every project.

Ron provided a wonderful insight.  The most effective way to demonstrate the absurdity of a particular idea (in this case, the billable hour) is to ridicule it.

Greg Kyte, who is a VeraSage Fellow, CPA and professional stand-up comedian, and I started working on a video lampooning the practice of billing time.

The result is Bob’s Barbecue.  It is the first in a series of videos which will depict all of the many ways that the billable hour is harmful and risky for your company.

Additions include:

• Multiple Company Aged Invoice Report:  Print your A/P Aged Invoice Report in a multi-company format and combine vendor information.  You’ll get a complete picture of your vendors across all MAS companies, helping you identify opportunities for improving the bottom line, negotiating better volume discounts or consolidating orders to save on shipping.
• Accounts Payable Check Sorting Options.  Print checks alphabetically by vendor name, not just by vendor number.
• Expense Distribution Tables.  Streamline the entry of invoices in A/P when you need to regularly allocate across multiple departments.
• Security in Item Inquiry.  Four new permission settings are available to further restrict users.  These permissions apply to Item Inquiry and are Allow Access to All Item Inquiry Tabs Including Main and Quantity, Allow Access to Costing, Receipts and Vendor Information, Display Standard Cost Information and Display Vendor Information.
• Inactive Items.  An inventory item can be designated as ‘inactive’ in Inventory Management so it can no longer be purchased or sold.  If an item is marked inactive, you can process returns using RMA or a Sales Order Credit Memo, or maintain history for warranty purposes.
• Company-Specific Background Colors.  Assign an easily identifiable background color for each company in MAS.  This helps ensure entries are made into the correct company.
• 2011 941 Form Update.

Contact Aries Technology Group at (865) 291-0005 x721 for further information about this Product Update or to arrange a time to install the update.  Thank you!

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

Almost a year ago we completely eliminated our Exchange and Sharepoint servers.  Those two applications managed our e-mails and documents.

What replaced them?  Google Apps.  We quickly and easily moved all of our e-mail, documents, spreadsheets, images and presentations up to Google’s servers in the cloud.

My favorite part of Google Apps is a component called Google Sites.  Google Sites gives us the ability to setup a site for every project and share that site with our customers and business partners.  Sites make collaborating with the project team more effective by providing a real-time project management tool.

Let’s say that your design team and distribution center is in the Unites States and your manufacturing plant is in Mexico.  A Site could be created each time your company creates a new design.  Everyone on your project team would have the appropriate access to project scope documents, design images and the issues list.  Since these documents are maintained in real-time on the Site, management would have constant access regarding whether or not the project is staying on track.

So, how exactly does Google Apps reduce costs and stress?

Using Google Apps eliminates license fees for software such as Exchange and Sharepoint and it eliminates the need to pay IT costs to support and upgrade these applications.

There are two versions of Google Apps:  Standard and Premier.  The Standard version is free.  We elected to go with the Premier version at $50/user/year.  The Premier version provides us with additional storage space (25GB as opposed to 7.4GB) and includes spam filtering and virus scanning.

Because you are able to leverage Google’s virtual servers, you no longer have to worry about technical issues with servers at your site.  We were able to get rid of all but one server (and our goal is to get rid of it as well).  Not having to deal with servers was a huge reduction in stress for our company.

Are there downsides?  Of course.  We have experienced occasional periods of sluggish performance.  And without internet access it is a little tough to connect to the cloud.

If you are a real Excel power-user you may be disappointed in the functionality of the Google Apps spreadsheet.

However, here is the beauty of these types of Apps:  they are constantly being upgraded (sometimes daily).  The upgrades happen without any effort on your part and they are included in the annual price.

Will they eventually catch up to the functionality level of Microsoft Office?  Yes they will.  And I think they will surpass that functionality in the not too distant future.

Is your company using Google Apps?  If so, what has been your experience?

If not, why not?

Extended Solutions are customizations for the MAS modules.  Previously, Sage announced they were getting out of the Extended Solutions business and would turn over support and future enhancement of the bulk of the solutions to authorized developers.  However, they are retaining 56 of what are considered the ‘most used’ solutions.  These 56 solutions will be gradually incorporated into future MAS 90/200 product updates over the next several years.

The new roadmap provides a timeline for incorporation of the Extended Solutions into the core product.  Click the link below to view the updated roadmap.

Sage MAS 90 and 200 Roadmap – March 2010

Sage MAS 90/MAS 200 Roadmap - Updated March 2010

Basically, PCI-DSS is a set of requirements for enhancing payment account data security.  The requirements include security management, policies, procedures, network architecture, software design and other measures created to protect customer account data.

There are 12 requirements that fall into six categories.

1. Build and Maintain a Secure Network: Install and maintain a firewall and use unique, high-security passwords with special care to replace default passwords.
2. Protect Cardholder Data: Whenever possible, cardholder data must not be stored. You must also encrypt any data passed across public networks, including your shopping cart and web-hosting providers.
3. Maintain a Vulnerability Management Program: Use anti-virus and keep it up date. Develop and maintain secure operating systems and payment applications.
4. Implement Strong Access Control Measures: Access to cardholder data – both electronic and physical – should be on a “need-to-know” basis. Ensure those people with access have a unique ID and password. Do not share logon information.
5. Regularly Monitor and Test Networks: Track and monitor all access to networks and cardholder data. Ensure you have a regular testing schedule for security systems and processes including firewalls, patches and anti-virus.
6. Maintain an Information Security Policy: It’s critical that your organization has a resource for governing your company’s data security. Ensure you have a policy and that it’s disseminated and updated regularly.

For Sage MAS 90 and 200 customers, versions 4.30.0.18 and 4.40.0.1 are in the process of being certified.   For Sage MAS 500 customers, version 7.3 will be compliant.  In addition, Sage Payment Solutions is a Level 1 credit card service provider and currently is in full compliance.

Please click here for additional information regarding PCI-DSS compliance in MAS 90 and MAS 200.  Click here for additional information regarding PCI-DSS compliance in MAS 500.

Sage has officially announced that Excel-based software add-on Sage MAS Intelligence from Alchemex will replace FRx as the financial report writer for MAS 90, MAS 200 and MAS 500.  Sage MAS Intelligence will be available in June, 2010.

One of the primary ways that Sage MAS Intelligence is different from FRx is that it supports using ALL of the MAS modules and not just the General Ledger module that FRx is limited to.  Sage MAS Intelligence works with Microsoft Excel 2007 to offer flexible reporting The look and feel is similar to a Microsoft Excel pivot table.  Other versions of Excel are also supported but the reporting wizard will only work with Excel 2007.

Each Sage customer on a current basic maintenance plan will receive one user (named license, can be installed and run on only one workstation) at no charge to replace their FRx single-user product.  Sage MAS Intelligence will work with MAS 90/MAS 200 Version 4.4 and MAS 500 Version 7.3.

Here are a few key points about the new Sage MAS Intelligence reporting tool:

• Excel-based reporting tool with access to all MAS modules and data.
• Includes some pre-defined operations and financial reports.
  • Dashboard Analysis
  • Financial Reports
  • Sales & Purchase Reports
  • Financial Trend Analysis
  • Multicompany Reports (connector add-on required)
• User-level security available
• Additional add-ins provide extra flexibility:  saving report outputs to specific location, publishing reports in html, emailing capability, ability to run reports from a desktop shortcut.

Stay tuned for further announcements and details regarding Sage MAS Intelligence!  In the meantime, please contact me if you have further specific questions.

PlanetTogether’s Scheduling Optimizes your Resources

• Advanced Planning & Scheduling systems save time and money
• Allocate work to your resources based on your rules and requirements
• Consider resource and material availability to enable better decisions
• Coordinate sales, production, purchasing, and management with an interactive manufacturing plan
• Connect your existing ERP and business systems

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer

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Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
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17 Things You Should Be Doing Right Now To Reduce Outstanding Accounts Receivable

1.  Create A Plan
2.  Provide Timely & Accurate Information
3.  Develop KPIs
4.  Define Roles
5.  Standardize Messaging
6.  Document Activities
7.  Define Dispute Resolution Procedures
8.  Centralize Data & Communications
9.  Manage Your Resources
10.  Score Customers Using Cost of Credit
11.  Be Proactive
12.  Focus on Key Accounts
13.  Automate Business Processes
14.  Secure Financial Information
15.  Involve Your Sales Team
16.  Escalate Trouble Accounts
17.  Work as a Team

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/839814768

As with my former post on Sage MAS 90/MAS 200 product roadmap, let’s take a look at the Sage MAS 500 roadmap.  The roadmap (Sage MAS 500 Roadmap) outlines Sage’s future plans for Sage MAS 500.  I’ll summarize a few key points below.

• Product Strategy:  Sage wants to provide more ‘value for maintenance,’ which will include incorporating features and functionality based on top customer-requested enhancements.  The idea is to release new features & functionality over time with regular product updates, rather than waiting for “major” upgrades.
• New financial reporting alternative:  Business Insights Intelligance, a new reporting tool in a familiar Microsoft environment.  FRx will be supported by Microsoft until December 31, 2012.
• Focus on enhancements to advanced manufacturing/distribution.
• Goal to reduce impact of upgrades on MAS 500 customizations.

Following is a general timeline for Sage MAS 500 product updates.

1. Product Updates for Version 7.3 (December 2009, February 2010, May 2010)
2. Version 7.4 (Quarter 2, 2011)
3. Product Updates for Version 7.4 (expected to be released every 3 to 4 months after the official release of 7.4)
4. Version 7.5 (Quarter 4, 2012)

Visit the Sage roadmap (Sage MAS 500 Roadmap) for more specific details about Version 7.3 features, as well as a retirment schedule for previous versions.  And, as always, feel free to contact us if you have any questions!