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Accpac Customer Survey will be emailed out next week!

 

 Our Customers Are Everything!

Without satisfued customers, none of us would be in business today! It is our goal to ensure we are providing you with financial and operations software and servcies of the highest possible quality.

You will receive an email invitation to participate on our customer relationship survey within the next week.

The email invitation will contain a link directing you to a secure, customized electronic survey aimed to capture your thoughts and opinions regarding your experience working with us.

Youe feedback though this customer relationship survey will greatly assist us in imporving the products and services you depend on.

The survey will be coming from sagepartner@mwshop.com. Based on our experience, we are finding that many SPAM filters are extremely sensitve, and may block you from receiving the invitation. if you do not receive the survey invite by September 7. 2010, please check your SPAM filter. If you still do not have it, please contact us.

 

Microsoft Windows 7 is here and Sage Accpac is Ready!

        We are pleased to announce that Sage Accpac ERP 5.6, 5.5, and 5.4 (current version and 2 prior) will be supported on Microsoft Windows 7 upon the General Availability of Sage Accpac Version 5.6 in early December 2009. Windows 7 support will be limited for certain configurations in the Extended Enterprise Suite and some 3rd party software component that operate together with Sage Accpac die to timing of product release and legacy issues.

Please refer to the links below for additional documentation and links to Windows 7 Support for Sage Accpac ERP.

Sage Accpac and Windows 7 Blog from Sage

Sage Accpac Windows 7 Support PDF

 

Important PCI-DSS Compliant Information

 

Your ability to process credit cards may be at risk; if you store, process, or transmit cardholder data, you must be PCI-DSS compliant by July, 1 2010. The ability to process credit cards is vital to your company. So Sage has created a resource center to help you understand what PCI-DSS is, and to help you achieve compliance before the deadline.           

What is PCI-DSS:

                PCI-DSS is a set of requirements for enhancing payment account data security. Its standards include requirements for security management, policies, procedures, network architecture, software design, and other measures created to protect customer account data. Developed by American Express, Discover Financial Services, JCB, MasterCard Worldwide, and Visa International (the founder of the PCI Security Standards Council), PCI-DSS is designed to facilitate global adoption of consistent data security measures.

 

 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. Ensure the applications you use are compliant (see www.visa.com/pabp).
• 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 Additional Information Please Visit: http://www.sageaccpacinfo.com/PCI/

Sage's New Software Assurance Polices

Description of Sage Accpac Add-on Product Purchase Policy 
Effective October 1, 2009, sales of Sage Accpac products to existing customers will only be available to customers enrolled in a Software Assurance plan. This policy change will protect customers from potential mixed version compatibility issues that may occur if a customer is not on the latest released version prior to their purchase of additional Sage Accpac products. Additionally, this policy change aligns Sage Accpac add-on product purchase policy with similar practices followed across the broader Sage business.

Products Included in Add-on Product Purchase Policy 
Software Assurance enrollment will be a prerequisite for purchasing any of the following Sage Accpac or Sage-related products: 

· Sage Accpac ERP Edition upgrades – 100 Edition to 500 Edition; 100 Edition to 200 Edition; 200 Edition to 500 Edition

· Sage Accpac database server and user licenses

Sage Accpac modules – General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, G/L Consolidations, Multicurrency, Intercompany Transactions, Transaction Analysis and Optional Field Creator, Purchase Orders, Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Products, Order Entry, National Accounts Management, Uni Sales Analysis, Return Material Authorization (RMA), Inventory Control, Serialized Inventory, Project and Job Costing, In-house Payroll, Alerts and Alerts Server, Financial Link Professional, etc.

· Sage Accpac LanPaks (additional User licenses) 

Effect of Enrollment in Software Assurance
All Sage Accpac products require subscription to a Software Assurance plan. Subscribing to Software Assurance will ensure customers continue to have access to the latest Sage Accpac features for their entire product set, including any new products they purchase. Customers who remain current on their Software Assurance plan are eligible to receive all product updates and version upgrades during their enrollment period, maximizing their Sage Accpac investment. Without a current Software Assurance plan, customers will not have access to such features nor other Sage Accpac products.

How to Enroll in Software Assurance
Customers can enroll in Software Assurance by contacting Sage directly at 800-945-8007, or through their Sage Accpac Reseller of Record

 

http://www.sageaccpac.com/support/softwaremaintenance/add_on_policy

What a Fully Integrated Business Solution can do for you

One of the most frequent problems I encounter is the "fractured" systems of the mid market.  I have worked on them; you know the one you inherited when you started the job.  Accounting is on one system, Inventory is on another, half the sales force is using Gold Mine and the other is using Act as a customer relationship management tool (CRM).  Last but not least they decided to open a web store that doesn't integrate to anything.  This is the least productive of systems, and as more business software was developed in the 80's and 90's, it became a norm. 

I won't even mention the save all; Excel. I have actually asked companies what they currently use to run their companies and Excel is what I get as an answer.  Every CFO, Controller, GM, Accounting Manager, and Sales Manager relies on Excel to manipulate numbers to provide information.  But that doesn't mean it should be the sole methodology of dealing with business needs.

The interesting thing is, business management is really busy and when a manger brings in a solution that takes care of a need they just go with it.  This has been the evolution of software over the past 15 to 20 years.  Business leaders need to understand what a fully integrated system can do for their business so I will explain as best I can.

It doesn't' matter the size of your company if inefficacy is present you are not making the money you could. 

As business managers you need to demand a fully integrated system.  Trust me they are out there.  Because every time you have an employee key something in rather than letting an integration do it for you it's costing you big bucks. You are basically paying employees to be the integration you need which in the long run takes more time and A LOT more money.

For example let's take that web store.  If your web store is not integrated to you inventory, your order entry systems and your credit card processing all that information needs to have human intervention. 

Let's just break that down.  First if your Inventory is not integrated to the store, you have to manually or  import your stock items into the web store.  Next you have to maintain the pricing, description or other information on the web store.  So again that is double entry.  Next how do you handle out of stocks?  Can you tie that web store into an order and pre authorize it and have it automatically charge the card at shipment.  That's right at shipment, which is the rule of merchant accounts.  Now who is keying the order into the system from the web store?  How long does that take, what if there is a problem what do you do?  Do your customers get automatic notification of shipment with tracking information? I hope you are not storing any credit card information on your system, if you do you must make sure that that its encrypted and certified.  (Now that will cost you)

This one scenario can cost you time, people, and money.  Just do the ROI and figure it out.  How long does it take to record a new stock item?  Who makes sure both system are in sync?  Price changes, descriptions, obsolete items; how long do those take?  Credit card functions, who does that and how is it handled?  Is it processed properly?  And the Order Entry function, have you been lucky enough to have someone map the data for export and import into your OE system?  Or are all those orders manually entered?  Wow, how long and how much does that cost and how many mistakes are made? Just multiply that out by the number of orders and it adds up quickly. 

So with all this in mind you need to demand a fully integrated system and eliminate all the duplicate hours of work. You know that more and more people are shopping on the internet and I don't see that diminishing anytime soon; do you?  Will your web sales increase in the next year or two? There are solutions out there that address all this; it can really turn your web store into a true profit center.  My customers who have done this are amazed at how much business comes to them this way and they can track those sales and with the full automation of processes it runs so smoothly and is very profitable.  And isn't profit what we want out of our business?

The Future of Accpac

In May Sage released a great white paper on the future of Accpac ERP. I have attached it so everyone can check it out. Enjoy!

The Future of Sage Accpac White Paper

Need an ERP?

I touch so many people that are in a quandary, they know they need a new system and just don’t know where to start the process.  Immediately they will get on Google and start the process we all use when we research.  Type in a few key words and see what happens…OMG. 

 

I just typed Software and behold I got 1,910,000 hits for software, even Google  has software to download.  I put in Business Software and I get 970,000 hits (now I am getting some where). Next step lets try Accounting Software 34,700,000…. No, this is not going to work.  Who has the time to shift through all this?

 

Next I call a friend, what are you using?  How do you like it?  What’s it cost?  Tell me the real story!  Who set it up?  Do you still need all the excel spread sheets?  After I get off the phone I realize they don’t have the same type of business and it just won’t work for me.  Now what, do I need a consultant.  How much is that?  Where do I find that?  Back to Google. 

 

I was a Controller and CFO for over 25 years and for some reason the IT stuff used to land in my plate because I was responsible for accounting and administration functions.   Looking for new software it was tough; you have so many things on your plate that looking, testing, and researching for the right software can be a real burden. 

 

I wish I had a consultant like me back in those days.  Strange statement but 6 years ago I started my second career with a Value Added Reseller (VAR); that’s what we used to call them.  Now we are called Partners, the channel and business partners but we are the people who sell it, install it and support those intimidating business and accounting solutions. There really are three types of software for business these days; the “Mom and Pop”, “Mid Market”, and the “Big Guy” solutions.  The “Mom and Pop” stuff you can buy off the shelf and some can install it and get it running properly. With some luck and real understanding of their business and accounting they can make it work.  I have seen that over the years, but at some point they outgrow their “Mom and Pop” solution and need something more robust.

 

  Next, the Mid Market ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) Software with lots of bells and whistles.  This would be for the 10-150+ users with lots of requirements.  I never really understood the ERP tag, Enterprise was appropriate because it starts the all encompassing, Accounting, Inventory, Payroll, CRM, EDI, Web integration, Marketing, MRP, MSP and the rest.  All linked together and functioning as one system not fractured.  Wow this is good….

 

Then we have the Big Boys with huge price tags more than 90% of the companies in America can’t afford.  Give me a fortune 500 and I will show you the heavy weights.  That is a whole different story. 

 

I play in the mid Market and I love what I do.  My client lists include Power Plants to Fast Food restaurants, from Manufacturing to Distribution and last but not least Service Companies.

 

Stay tuned! More to come!

A Better Payment Structure for Sage Software Assurance

       I assist Sage is collecting payment for Software Assurance from our customers, which is harder then it might seem. Even though I feel renewing your software assurance is a vital part of keeping your business current its a huge payment that always seems to be unexpected.  Most of our clients have to pay thousands of dollars each year to stay on the current version of Sage Accpac and CRM; which can be a big hit.

So my question is; would it be more convenient to pay for Software Assurance on a Monthly basses as apposed to one yearly payment?

What is Software Assurance?

This is a common question I get from Clients when I call to remind them that it is time to renew their Software Assurance.  Software Assurance is a type of maintenance plan that allows Accpac Customers to run the latest version and services packs for Sage Accpac ERP without having to pay for the upgrade price when moving to the next version or applying the latest service pack. A common misconception is that labor is included in Software Assurance; SA is a contract strictly concerning Sage and your Accpac Software. It does not cover any labor for upgrading or installing the latest service packs.

There are a few other benefits to renewing your Software Assurance that most customers are not aware of. When renewing your S.A. you will receive one free Anytime Learning Training Session and a 25% discount off Anytime Learning Subscription packages. Anytime learning is product training on Sage Accpac core modules and is available on-demand. You also have access to view your online account information where you can view your product information, participate in product- specific forums, or join a user group where you can interact with other Accpac Users to discuss ways to better utilize and expand your software.

Unfortunately there are late fee and penalties if you choose not to renew on time. These fees will include a one-time flat rate fee charge of 15% (based on annual maintenance fee) charged to these who renew within the late renewal period and the service plan contract will be backdated to the original expiry date. If your service lapsed more than 90 days then clients must pay both the reinstatement back (lapsed) fees. These fees will include a 25% late fee for each year to the maximum of two years (based on the annual maintenance fee), plus lapsed time, and one year forward. Late fees are capped at two years back. The maximum a client will pay to get back on the plan, regardless of the number of years they have lapsed service, is 63% of the Service Level Plan, which includes one year of maintenance paid in advance.  If you choose not to renew on time, it can be very costly and that is why Answers urges our customers to renew their S.A. on time every year.  And please keep in mind that keeping your system up to date is investing in your business.

Tribal Knowledge

            Tribal Knowledge; this is a term that I have been hearing a lot lately. It means the knowledge within a group of people that is not recorded and only known within that group. With the economy the way it has been many companies are losing bits and pieces of their tribal knowledge and aren't realizing the impact it holds on their company until it's too late.

            With this is mind, what kind of impact would a few key employee layoffs have on your company?