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.

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!

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.

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!

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!

It is never to early, though, to ask “what’s next?”  In answer to our questions, Sage has released a public ‘roadmap’ (MAS 90 MAS 200 Roadmap) for the MAS 90/MAS 200 product line.  This roadmap outlines Sage’s future plans for MAS 90/MAS 200.  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 of popular Extended Solution titles, implementing top requested customer enhancements and providing ongoing product updates with minimal disruption.  The idea is to release new features & functionality over time with product updates, rather than waiting for a “major” upgrade.
• Microsoft SQL Server Support
• New financial reporting alternative:  Business Insights Intelligence.    FRx will be supported by Microsoft until December 31, 2012 and Sage is targeting Quarter 2, 2010 for this new reporting tool in a familiar Microsoft Excel interface.

Following is a general timeline for Sage MAS 90/MAS 200 product updates.

1. Product Updates for Version 4.4 (March, June, September, December 2010 and March 2011)
2. Version 4.5 (Quarter 3, 2011)
3. Product Updates for Version 4.5 (September, December 2011 and April 2012)
4. Version 4.6 (Quarter 3, 2012)

In addition, Sage has announced the following Product Retirement Schedule.

1. Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 Version 3.71:  September 30, 2010
2. Sage MAS 200 SQL Edition Version 3.7x:  June 1, 2011
3. Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 Versions 4.0, 4.5 and 4.1:  September 30, 2011

Visit the Sage roadmap (MAS 90 MAS 200 Roadmap) for specific details on what’s included in the Product Updates and new versions.  And, as always, feel free to contact us if you have any questions!

Anyone whose business accepts credit cards should be aware of the Payment Card Industry (PCI) requirements for storing, processing and transmitting card information.

If you can get past the fairly monotone narration of the video, it does a good job of both explaining the technical requirements for securely handling credit cards and the processes that MAS 90 and MAS 200 use to assist with adhering to those requirements.

MAS 90 and MAS 200:

• Currently, Sage does not support either MAS 90 or MAS 200 on Windows 7.  Support for Windows 7 is expected to begin with the release of version 4.4.
• Version 4.3 will not be supported on Windows 7 until the release of Service Update 18.  That service update is expected to be released by March 31, 2010.
• Version 4.4 should start shipping to Sage business partners by mid-February.  Customers can expect their copy of version 4.4 to arrive by the end of March.

MAS 500:

• Version 7.3 is supported on Windows 7.
• None of the older versions of MAS 500 will be supported on Windows 7.

We encourage you to check with Aries before purchasing new PC’s with Windows 7 so that we can keep you posted on Sage’s support policy for that operating system.  Please call or e-mail us with any specific questions.

Stay tuned for another post this week regarding the new version 4.4 of MAS 90 and MAS 200.

The Aries Webinar Series is a monthly educational webinar series which will focus on technology and general business subjects relevant to small and medium-sized businesses.  You can view the schedule for upcoming webinars along with a description of the topic by visiting the webinar section of our website.

These webinars will be presented by Aries team members and by featured guests.  Some of the future topics are:

• Sales tax audit challenges and solutions to protect your company
• 17 things you should be doing right now to reduce outstanding accounts receivable balances
• Do you want to increase cash, profitability, sales and company value?  Learn from Johnny Gates, a partner with www.b2bcfo.com, how he has helped small and medium-sized businesses achieve those goals.
• How can my company benefit from an internet marketing strategy?  Chad Barr, president of CB Software, will demystify internet strategies and explain how internet marketing, if used properly, can be a valuable and cost-effective tool for your business.
• Are the costs and stresses of managing your network, workstations and servers keeping you awake at night?  Hosting and managed networks may be the answer.  Brian Strong from Claris Networks will talk about how to reduce those costs under control and get rid of the stress of dealing with IT issues.

Here are the details for the first webinar: