The folks at 90Minds (of which we are proud members) teamed together to create Ask90Minds.  A free resource for questions regarding:

• Epicor
• Sage Abra HRMS
• Sage Accpac
• Sage MAS 90
• Sage MAS 200
• Sage MAS 500
• SageCRM
• SAP Business One
• Microsoft Dynamics GP
• Microsoft Dynamics NAV
• Open Systems
• Traverse

Why would you use Ask90Minds instead of the software publishers’ knowledgebases?  Because you want the real answers from real technology consultants who have years of in the field experience with companies just like yours.

90Minds is a network of 27 independent technology consultants who work everyday with a variety of business management software applications.  These consultants provide assistance with advanced technical questions.

In addition to technical support questions, you will find a rich and constantly expanding library of how-to articles, common mistakes and issues encountered with new software versions.

All of these articles are written in clear, easy to understand language that is unbiased by software publishers.

Give it a try and let us know what you think.

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.

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?

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.

Greetings Aries Technology Group readers!

My name is Adrian Montgomery, Marketing Director at Aries Technology Group.

I will be using this blog to keep you informed of upcoming events here at Aries Technology Group.

We have serveral webinars scheduled the first one is regarding Avalara.  Please see below for a description and register today!

Join us for a Webinar on March 10

Attend this informational webinar focused on

Sales Tax Audit Challenges and Solutions to Protect Your Company.

Become fully automated and completely audit compliant with AvaTax!

AvaTax can Automate the entire Sales Tax Process, including:

• Sales Tax Rates – no more Tax Codes and Schedules to maintain
• Product Taxability Rules – map to your Inventory Items
• Sales Tax Return filing and payment remittance
• Seamless integration to all major ERP’s including Microsoft, Sage, Quickbooks, Epicor, NetSuite, Intacct, Infor and Exact
• Achieve compliance automatically – 14,500+ unique tax jurisdictions and with 100,000+ taxability rules
• Audit protection – Average sales tax audit penalty = $35,000
  Street address level tax assignment – More accurate than ZIP codes
• Industry leading training and support – included

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/645291600