The partner-focused part of Summit runs from Sunday, July 10th through Tuesday, July 12th.  Beginning on the afternoon of the 12th and running through Friday, July 15th, the conference switches gears and becomes completely focused on customers.  The best part of this arrangement is that Sage and partners (like us) will jointly welcome and host the customers.

It provides a fantastic opportunity for you to not only spend time with Sage executives and educators but to work one-on-one with your Sage partner to improve your knowledge of Sage products and to hone your project management skills to make you an invaluable team member for your company.

Here is a guide to all of the General and Breakout sessions along with prices for attending the conference.  Summit is being held in the Washington, DC area at the Gaylord National.

It’s a great location for bringing the family along as well.  All 3 of us are going this year, which I’m definitely looking forward to.  There is a Metro station close by and a water taxi that runs the Potomac from National Harbor to Georgetown, Old Town Alexandria and Mount Vernon.

I’ll see all of you there!

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.

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!

1. The payroll tax exemption.  The first benefit provides employers with an exemption from the employer’s 6.2 percent share of social security tax on wages paid to qualifying employees.  This benefit would be effective for wages paid from March 19, 2010 through December 31, 2010.
2. The new hire retention credit.   Businesses will also be eligible for a general business tax credit of 6.2 percent of wages paid to the qualified employee (employee must be retained for at least a year), up to a maximum credit of $1,000.

Visit the IRS website for more detailed information and check with your tax adviser on whether the new HIRE act applies to your company.

The bottom line could be that this change may radically alter the nature of 1099 filing and require businesses to issue millions of 1099 documents each year.  The two key changes are:

• 1099′s would be used to track payments not only for services but also for tangible goods.
• Businesses would be required to issue 1099′s not only to individuals and partnerships but also to corporations.  This list could include items such as a new computer purchase from Apple, airline tickets for next year’s conference, monthly office rent and phone bills.  Almost every vendor for every business would become a 1099 vendor.

The full impact of this new regulation won’t be known until the IRS issues its regulations.  That will probably happen sometime next year.  We will continue to update this blog as more details are made public.

The Cato Institute was founded in 1977 by Edward H. Crane, and is a highly-respected non-profit public policy research foundation headquartered in Washington, D.C.  For more information, visit www.cato.org.

My first post entitled “Why Does Work Suck?” explores an idea that has become a fundamental part of our business and personal philosophy.  That idea is a Results-Only Work Environment (ROWE).  The basic concept is for businesses to eliminate fixed work schedules, required meetings and rigid vacation/sick/personal policies and to focus on achieving results.

I expect to be a regular contributor to the Sage blog with as many as one post per month aimed at educating  some two million global Sage customers and prospects about a host of business and technology topics.  Some of my upcoming topics include:

• How to reduce IT costs and stresses
• How to initiate a project within your company
• What is project management and why is it important?
• Pricing strategies
• How to choose a web designer

If there are any topics you are interested in learning more about, please feel free to make suggestions via a comment.  The topics can be specifically related to Sage and Sage products (such as MAS 90 or MAS 500) or anything related to business and technology.

The Sage blog is part of Sage’s overall social media strategy.  You can follow them on the Sage fan page on Facebook and on SageERP for Twitter.

And if you have not already checked them out, here are links to our blog feed, Facebook fan page and my Twitter page:

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

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/699755968

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