How To Use eFax, Faxaway, MaxEmail and Protus with MAS90 or MAS200 Paperless Office v4.4+
September 26, 2011
If your company uses faxing with MAS90 Paperless Office you may know that starting with version 4.3 the features of Paperless Faxing were significantly changed. Prior to v4.30 you could use any number of Internet based faxing services such as:
- eFax
- Faxaway
- MaxEmail
- Protus
Beginning with MAS90 and MAS200 4.3 your choices were narrowed to any service you like – so long as it was Microsoft Faxing service.
This required (starting with 4.3) users to setup a fax device/modem for use with Microsoft fax. Some users found this cumbersome where their prior method of using Internet faxing was seamless.
While you still can use an Internet based service (simply substituted an email address as directed by the various fax providers) you may find that it’s less convenient for those customers who receive documents both by fax and email.
The quickest solution may be Sage’s old Extended Solution – LM-1033 which they sold until recently and which enabled a more seamless integration with the above Internet fax services.
Sage no longer sells the enhancement directly however you can order the enhancement (presently showing as available at version 4.4 product update 2) directly from DSD Business Systems.
The cost is $ 1, 060 (this includes first year maintenance) and the annual recurring maintenance is $265
eFax, Faxaway, MaxEmail, Protus integration with MAS90 and MAS200 Paperless Office 4.4+
MAS90 Online: Pre-Release Information, Pricing
September 11, 2011
Last week Sage sent around a pre-release guide to their upcoming MAS90 Online offering. Expect this to become available in October 2011 and MAS90 Online to be a competitively hosted version of MAS 90 aimed at companies in the 1 to 5 user range.
MAS90 Online modules will include:
Accounts Payable
Accounts Receivable
Bank Reconciliation
Bill of Materials
Business Insights Dashboard
Business Insights Explorer
Electronic Reporting
General Ledger
Inventory Management
Library Master
Paperless Office*
Purchase Order
Return Merchandise Authorization
Sage ERP MAS Intelligence*
Sales Order
Important Notes:
1. Upgrades have to be done by the partner and by downloading the data and then uploading the newly updated/converted data. This means Sage doesn’t upgrade the customer automatically — and the customer still had the expense of having a partner (or themselves) doing the upgrade. This sort of baffles me but I guess at least the hosting saves some complexity.
2. Crystal Reports have to all be designed offline (I think this may have more to do with licensing)
3. No credit card processing
4. No SageCRM integration
5. Phone support is additional/optional (maintenance is mandatory ).
6. Business Insights Dashboard and Business Insights Explorer will be available within the Sage ERP MAS 90 Online service.
Sage ERP MAS Intelligence (SMI) is under evaluation for compatibility at this time.
7. The following Modules and Functionality are NOT Available:
• Bar Code
• Batch Faxing
• Credit Card Processing
• Custom Office
• eBusiness Manager
• eBusiness Web Services
• FAS Integration
• Federal and State eFiling and Reporting
• Job Cost
• Payroll
• Sales Tax powered by AvaTax
• SageCRM
• Timecard
• Visual Integrator
• Work Order
8. No outbound email server for Paperless Office
9. No third party integrations
10.
MAS90 Online Pricing
Sage ERP MAS 90 Online pricing will offer customers a suite of business management software applications hosted by Sage, accessed over the Internet, for a monthly subscription fee. A minimum requirement of one full concurrent Sage ERP MAS 90
Online user license for one year is required to access the software, with optional add-on user licenses and services available for additional fees. Included in the monthly subscription fees are: the secure backup service, up to five Sage ERP MAS 90 Online companies, one gigabyte of personal storage, and one free named user license of both Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel. Discounts will be offered for multi-year contracts and pre-payments.
Sage ERP MAS 90 Online user licenses ($169*) are concurrent licenses and can be used by a pool of users.
In addition to Sage ERP MAS 90 Online user licenses, Sage also offers optional Remote Concurrent Access License (RCAL) for an additional monthly fee ($75*). RCAL licenses allow user access to Sage ERP MAS 90 Online system ─ but differ from Sage ERP MAS 90 user licenses, because they are named Citrix users.
Last Day For MAS90 Extended Solution Updates is April 29, 2011
April 6, 2011
Sage have just sent a notice that any users on Sage ERP MAS 90 or MAS 200 version 4.3 who need an Extended Solution updated (often required if a service update is being installed) to the latest version have until April 29, 2011 to request this.
As you probably know Sage stopped supporting Extended Solution (a catalog of enhancements for Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200) back in 2009. For a period of time they were still allowing some orders of the solutions but had noted that all updates (within the same version) would cease in 2010. That date has been extended through April 29, 2011.
If you are using an Extended Solution on version 4.3 and have a need for an updated version 4.3 copy of that solution (for example if you’re installing a v4.3 service update ) then you should contact your business partner prior to 4/29 and arrange to receive an updated copy of the Extended Solutions.
via Sage:
Last Chance to Request a Customer’s Extended Solutions v4.3-Compatible Extended Solutions Titles. On November 30, 2010, Sage sent you a list of your customers and the Extended Solutions titles they own. Please reference this list and contact the sales advisor team at salesadvisor@sage.com to place your clients’ orders. Sage has granted a grace period to request v4.3-compatible titles until April 29, 2011
Multi-Bin for MAS 90 and MAS 200 v4.4 Available
December 14, 2010
Sage partner Hightower Inc have just announced that their Multi-Bin for Sage ERP MAS90 and MAS200 version 4.4 is available.
The feature adds the ability to track multiple bin locations per warehouse for specific MAS 90 or MAS 200 inventory items as described below:
Inventory Management
The Sage MAS 90 and Sage MAS 200 Inventory Management module provides receipt of goods data, the movement of goods within or between locations, the sale, removal of goods, and the precise valuation and status of goods remaining in inventory at any point in time. When integrated with Multi-Bin Advanced Distribution, you will be able to track multiple bin locations per warehouse per item.
Sales Order
With the Sage MAS 90 or Sage MAS 200 Sales Order module, you’ll know the availability of specific units in inventory, or alternate items if an item is out of stock, specific customer pricing, customer credits, and much more, while entering orders. With Multi-Bin Advanced Distribution, you can mark inventory items involved in sales orders as allocated. Allocated inventory items are not available for purchase by other customers until you release the items.
Purchase Order
Streamline and organize your entire purchasing process – track shipping methods, track the date a purchase is required, track the name of person that places the order, and confirm the quantity ordered and the price. Multi-Bin Advanced Distribution modifies the Sage MAS 90 or Sage MAS 200 Purchase Order module to utilize bin locations for receipt of inventory items. Bin locations are also utilized for return of goods and material requisition entries.
Bill of Materials
Sage MAS 90 and Sage MAS 200 Bill of Materials allows you to easily create and maintain a detailed bill of components and miscellaneous charges that make up your finished items and subassembly components. Multi-Bin Advanced Distribution module integrates with Bill of Materials so bin quantities can be tracked throughout the production and disassembly processes.
Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA)
With RMA, once an item is returned, Sage MAS 90 and Sage MAS 200 will automatically generate all appropriate transactions, including credit memos, replacement orders, purchase orders, and vendor returns. Multi-Bin Advanced Distribution integrates with the Return Merchandise Authorization module so that quantity can be distributed to bins before transactions are generated.
Work Order
Issue work orders, develop schedules, and track costs associated with the manufacturing process. Sage MAS 90 and Sage MAS 200 Work Orders gives you the ability to see up-to-the-minute work in process information. The Multi-Bin Advanced Distribution module integrates with Work Order so bin distributions can be entered and updated along with each work order entry.
Bar Code
With Bar Code, collect data more quickly than ever before – warehouse and shipping/receiving staff can record bar coded items with a scanner and data is downloaded to Sage MAS 90 or Sage MAS 200. Multi-Bin Advanced Distribution modifies the Bar Code module by expanding the import files to include bin locations.
via: Multi-Bin for Sage ERP MAS 90 and MAS 200
Sage MAS Intelligence Delivery To End Users – Now Due October 2010
September 8, 2010
I just caught a post made by Jacqueline Li, Product Manager at Sage North America, updating the shipping status of the Sage ERP MAS Intelligence.
According to Jacqueline the Sage consultants and end users can download this directly from Sage Software Online (login required) and obtain registration codes from their online company project (also available within the Sage Software Online site).
End users should expect that mail notifications will be received in the month of October 2010 with full instructions on how to download the Sage MAS Intelligence (aka SMI).
Extended Solutions For MAS 90 and MAS 200 Updated As Of August 2010
August 31, 2010
DSD Business Systems of San Diego is a Gold Development Partner for Sage Extended Solutions. As such they have access to the source code for the Extended Solutions which Sage have discontinued.
If you’re not familiar with Extended Solutions they are pre-written customizations (sold separately) that once installed work seamlessly within MAS 90 and MAS 200.
For years Extended Solutions were sold directly by Sage and considered to be the “secret sauce” that Sage consultants used when they implemented new systems for customers.
During any ERP software implementation there’s usually a tiny bit of missing functionality that’s needed. For example finding a fixed cost Extended Solution that for example performed ACH Payments for Accounts Payable (not a core MAS 90 feature) was significantly cheaper and easier than hiring a programmer to modify the software to perform that task.
Beginning with version 4.4 of MAS 90 and MAS 200 Extended Solutions will not be sold separately. Instead Sage have taken the list of available solutions and intends to cull out the most popular ones for inclusion in future releases of MAS 90 and MAS 200.
Extended Solutions not selected for inclusion will have their source code made available to a number of select programmers (Preferred Development Partners) so that customers can have their enhancements upgraded.
On August 17, 2010 DSD Business Systems reported their progress on which solutions they’ve already upgraded.
Extended Solutions Recently Released
And they also reported on which solutions are in progress with a “soon to be released” date:
Extended Solutions Currently in Development
How To Install Sage MAS Intelligence for MAS 90 or MAS 200
August 24, 2010
The training department at Sage North America have just posted another video regarding the new Sage MAS Intelligence reporting tool.
Sage MAS Intelligence is the replacement for FRX Financial Report Writer which Microsoft is terminating support for at the end of next year. FRX had been the recommended financial report writer. With the decision by Microsoft to eliminate their product – the new recommended reporting tool is Sage MAS Intelligence.
Each user of MAS 90 or MAS 200 will receive a free copy of this program along with one user license. Watch for a notification from Sage in the coming weeks that will alert you to the availability of Sage MAS Intelligence.
Sage ERP MAS Intelligence Available For Download
August 9, 2010
Sage has just made their MAS 90 FRX replacement available for download online. Branded as Sage ERP MAS Intelligence (say that 3 times fast) the Excel based solution connects to not only your financial data but all other module data (ex. Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, etc).
We provided you with a first look at Sage ERP MAS Intelligence (then being referred to as Sage Business Intelligence) back in March 2010 when Alchemex did a demo for the 90 Minds Consulting Group.
View the product frequently asked questions below – or visit Sage’s site for more information and download links.
Sage MAS 90 and 200 Business Intelligence Comparison
May 12, 2010
Sage just released a pretty helpful chart which shows the main differences between some of the most popular Business Intelligence products that companies have been using with MAS 90 and MAS 200.
As you may know Sage is preparing to release a new universal Business Intelligence product which will be used on the Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 product line.
Their current release plans indicate that this will ship in Summer 2010 as outlined in a recent announcement:
Sage MAS Intelligence will soon be introduced as the ideal FRx replacement product for Sage MAS ERP. On target to be released this summer, Sage MAS Intelligence offers powerful and easy to use graphical financial reporting capabilities to access business-critical information, and makes complex reporting easy using a new report designer. Going beyond General Ledger reporting needs, Sage MAS Intelligence will provide Business Intelligence across the entire Sage MAS ERP system, including CRM and Abra.
The products compared are:
Sage MAS Intelligence (Sage’s NEW offering scheduled for Summmer 2010)
Sage MAS 90 and 200 Business Insights Dashboard
Sage MAS 90 and 200 Business Insights Reporter
FRX
BizNet
Crystal Reports
F9
The comparisons provide for ranking a wide range of features under the categories of Data Access, Report Security, Report Delivery and Distribution, Reporting Capabilities, Sorting, Aggregation and Drill Down, Database Support Provided, Operating Systems Support and MS Office Version Support.
SageMAS Intelligence Comparison- FRX, Biznet, Alchemex, Crystal, F9
Search your MAS 90, MAS 200, MAS 500, SalesLogix and Accpac Database With z.Find
May 12, 2010
Ever wish there was a way to quickly search your Sage ERP and CRM database without having to go through multiple lookup screens?
z.Find from Escape Velocity Systems uses a Google-type search to quickly locate data within your ERP or CRM database without the need to hunt from report to report or inquiry to inquiry.
You can search multiple databases as well as link in mulitiple non-ERP/CRM sources.
The product works with:
Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 (pricing TBD)
Sage MAS 500 ($6,000 plus $2,000 recurring maintenance)
Sage Accpac
Sage SalesLogix
Third Party Applications and Customizations
z.find search for MAS 90, MAS 200, MAS 500, Accpac, SalesLogix
More information – and a recorded demonstration – can be found on the Escape Velocity web site linked below.
Press Release:
EVS Launches z.Find for Sage MAS 500 ERP, Sage SalesLogix, Sage MAS 90 ERP and Sage AccPac ERP
Boulder, CO– Escape Velocity Systems, Inc. (EVS), a Boulder, Colorado based ERP innovation group announced today the launch of the z.Find now publicly available for Sage MAS 500 ERPand Sage SalesLogix. EVS also announced today the beginning of the z.Find beta program for Sage MAS 90 ERP. Development work is in progress on z.Find for Sage Accpac as well.
The z.Find is a search application that brings the first ever Google-type search capabilities to Sage ERP products. From a single interface, z.Find can return information that resides in multiple databases, third party add-ons or customized tables. “z.Find breaks away from the traditional, structured way of finding data in an ERP by tearing down the walls between modules and systems,” states Evan Garber, President of EVS.
EVS also announces that the z.Find application can be purchased, downloaded, deployed, and updated directly from the z.AppStore. “The experience of adding functionality to your existing ERP solution should be fast and easy; delivery through our z.AppStore makes that possible,” comments Garber.
EVS was formed in 2001 to combine specific industry knowledge and expertise with industry changing innovation and technology. The company’s focus is to create tools that enable mid-market enterprises to have a better, more effective experience with their ERP.
For more information, visit www.evs-sw.com or contact sales@evs-sw.com.
z.Find – Escape Velocity Systems
Sage Extended Solutions Get An Updated Site
November 20, 2009
The Sage Extended Solutions for MAS 90 and MAS 200 web site has just been updated.
The new site is a bit vague on the availability of the Extended Solutions listed.
Our understanding from speaking to partners who’ve attended Sage briefings is that as of version 4.4 (expected Q1 2010) Sage will not be selling Extended Solutions. They will however continue to support existing Extended Solutions for a period of time.
As noted previously, we understand that approximately 56 of the Extended Solutions (link to list of solutions is below) will be incorporated at some point (schedule TBD) to version 4.4 (and higher) of the Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 product.
http://www.s-consult.com/2009/11/19/sage-extended-solutions-absorbed-into-mas90-mas200/
In addition the following 25 Extended Solutions are not shown on the new site and will be rendered obsolete by the release of Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 version 4.4 and are expected to be retired.
Although there’s been no formal announcement, Sage have indicated in various partner meetings that the following Extended Solutions will be incorporated to the main product after version 4.4 has been released (Warning: Subject to change):
March 2010: SO1096, PR1018, JC1046, AR1200, SO1271, AR1027, SO1035
June 2010: BR1005, BR1004
September 2010: SO1173, AP1043, AP1101, SO1354
For now we only know that 56 solutions are being added into MAS 90 and MAS 200 4.4+. Except as noted above we don’t know when they will be added or how long it will take to add them all into the product.
Disclaimer/Warning: Prior to making any decisions on Sage Extended Solutions please consult with your Sage Business Partner. All information provided is preliminary and subject to change. This represents our interpretation of Sage’s plans for their Extended Solutions and NOT any official statement on behalf of Sage.
New Sage Extended Solutions Web Site – thanks Brett Zimmerman, Tom Maurer
Purchase Agent by JobOps now available for MAS 90 and MAS 200
September 30, 2009
Here’s some information on a new module from the same folks who brought you the JobOps manufacturing package for MAS 90 and MAS 200.
This package used to be called Component Exception Manager and it was a big portion of the Job Ops manufacturing package feature set.
Now Job Ops have unbundled the functionality. Given it a new name (Purchase Agent) and instead of pricing it at $5k or more — they’ve set an affordable price of around $1,500.
Check out the details below in the demo script that JobOps has distributed to us.
via: Jim Woodhead – DSD Business Systems – San Diego MAS 90 Consultants and Master Developers
View the Purchase Manager by JobOps for MAS 90 and MAS 200 full color brochure
Hellene Thurston joins SWK Technologies
August 11, 2009
Hellene Thurston has joined SWK Technologies of Livingston NJ as their Senior Channel Sales and Marketing Executive. She’ll work alongside Dane DeSantis, Jeff Roth and Gary Berman to market SWK’s line of Mapadoc EDI products to Sage Business Partners as well as develop and implement other exciting marketing initiatives for the company.
I’ve known Hellene for many years when she worked as my contact at Sage Software. Always responsive, friendly and quick with to respond with needed information – she’s a great addition
What many people don’t know about Hellene is that she’s a wine connoisseur as well as a damned smart accounting software representative. Contact her at 973-758-6137 to chat about her collection of fine wines or via email at hellene.thurston@swktech.com.
I’m sure she’d also love to talk to you about any of SWK’s offerings.
Internet faxing for MAS 90 and MAS 200 Paperless Office
August 6, 2009
If you’ve recently started to use the Paperless Office features of MAS 90 or MAS 200 you may have found that while you could fax documents via Microsoft Fax the capability to fax via Internet based services was omitted.
This internet faxing capability was removed when Paperless Office was included in the latest version of Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200.
Now that capability is back, albeit as an add-on ($795 product + $265 maintenance = $ 1,060 total)
Sage’s Extended Solutions LM-1033 – Enhanced Faxing for Paperless Office adds internet faxing capabilities to Paperless Office by converting faxes to emails for the following providers:
Use this enhancement with paperless forms faxing from within your Sage MAS 90 or MAS 200 system.
Generic faxing has also been added in case you need to configure your fax service to work with one of those that has not been listed above. Sage however does not provide any special support for configuring generic fax services so you’re on your own with any special configurations outside the 4 supported services listed above.
If You’re Not Using Paperless Office – Why Not?
Nearly 20 percent of the typical office space is set aside for storage, in addition to offsite storage. This method is both expensive and wasteful. Sage’s Paperless Office (included at no extra cost in both Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200) allows you to generate forms and registers to an electronic archive (PDF format) on your hard drive.
The software handles all system security (providing the option for only those who printed a document to subsequently access it) as well as the task of naming each document, filing it in the write spot on the hard disk and when desired allowing forms to be sent via email.
MAS 90 and MAS 200 Paperless Office Modules Include:
More Information on Paperless Office for MAS 90 (PDF)
Accupos for Sage MAS 90 recorded demo
June 1, 2009
Looking for a Point of Sale solution that integrates to your Sage MAS90 or MAS200 accounting software?
Join the newest Endorsed Partner for Sage MAS 90, AccuPOS Point of Sale, and learn about the opportunity available for you to reach into the Point of Sale market without traditional challenges many partners face in the retail sector. Focused on cash and carry retailers and on restaurants, this award winning front end software uses the inventory of Sage MAS 90 allowing you to remain the expert in the product with which you are already familiar. AccuPOS has provided and supported Point of Sale for Sage financial management solution users for over ten years and we are excited to present them as our newest Endorsed Partner.
FRX Support Plans – FAQ
May 28, 2009
Microsoft have announced that on 12/31/2010 their FRX Financial Report Writer will no longer be sold to those requiring a new license.
As of 12/31/2012 all Microsoft official support will terminate.
These are the latest dates that we have regarding the future of FRX support and availability. Since we expect some vendors to “self support” the report writer (including possibly Sage) you should check with your financial software supplier to see what their plans are for the product.
FRX Support Options – Post 2012
The question that we’ve been asked more frequently by both Sage and non-Sage users of FRX is what will happen after 2012. Will the FRX software stop working or are there alternate means by which users who are happy with their financial reporting can obtain support?
We provide support for FRX via our unlimited phone agreement (copy here). Other consultants will likely offer the same thing. When we spoke with Sage they were leaning toward (but not committing to supporting the FRX program beyond the 2012 end of life date).
You should consider that FRX (at least on the Sage MAS 90 level) has not been significantly upgraded since the last MAS 90 level service pack for FRX was issued dated December 2008 (Service Pack 10 for FRX v6.7).
Your Options
A. Self Support
Using internal resources, maintain your own help desk to answer user questions. If you’re already at this level then you probably are already also self-supporting. Remember that no new FRX modules/licenses will be sold after 2010.
B. Vendor Support
We think (though we’re not 100% sure yet) that you’ll see vendors like Sage (and others) offering to carry on the support for FRX during the period of time that they announce a transition to an as-yet unnamed financial report writer.
C. Use Third Party Support
Given that FRX has not had the need for a program patch since December 2008, you’re reasonably safe to continue using the program for at least the immediate future. Your main risk factor will likely be an incompatibility between FRX and a future operating system. However you’d likely know of such incompatibility months or years ahead of the time that you decided to upgrade operating systems.
Conclusion
Most consultants (including the ones you use to maintain your current financial software should be able to support you for the next few years. It would be prudent to begin the process of migrating your financial reporting to a new program just a soon as your vendor announces one.
Prior to 2010 you should plan to acquire any essential programs that you may need from FRX. If you need to acquire more licenses or remote you’ll need to do that before 12/2010.
DSD Business Systems SQL Mirroring YouTube Demo
May 13, 2009
Would you like to have the advantage of the significant performance improvement offered by SQL data tables? Well you can with an enhancement for Sage MAS 90 or 200 that mirrors your data tables into SQL in real time.
SQL Mirroring for Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 product that DSD Business Systems has offered for the past few years that they were demonstrating at Insights 2009.
From DSD Business Systems’ Product Page:
SQL Mirroring allows a user (version 4.05 to 4.30) to choose which Sage MAS 90 and Sage MAS 200 Data files to be mirrored directly into a SQL Database in “Real Time” . This means as the records are added, updated, or removed from the native Providex Database, a live record will be mirrored to your chosen SQL Database.The user may use Crystal reports to report directly from the SQL database.
For Sage MAS 90 and Sage MAS 200 Form Printing, if the module is a “Business Framework” module, then the Crystal Work Files are mirrored to SQL automatically.
NOTE: The SQL Mirroring product only writes, removes, and updates the SQL Database, but doesn’t read from it. Therefore, if you use another application to write to the SQL Database, those changes will NOT be reflected back into MAS90.
We’ve used this at a client who mirrored some large MAS 90 tables and the setup was easy (about 30 minutes tops) and once running the process is seamless with the tables mirroring in the background with no intervention on the users part.
Naturally reporting off the SQL tables is lightning fast and as noted in the product description any of the framework modules can have their Crystal Reports take advantage of SQL Mirroring.
Link – DSD Business Systems SQL Mirroring for Sage MAS 90 and 200
bMobile web enables MAS 90 and MAS 200
May 13, 2009
Blytheco is demonstrating their bMobile suite which uses PVXPLUS technology to translate MAS 90 or MAS 200 screens to html which are then easily rendered on web browers (Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari).
bMobile takes MAS 90 panels and converts them into Dynamic HTML (DHTML) and uses AJAX based technology to create a user interface which can be easily used via a web browser. Another interesting use for the program might be to make use of low cost netbook computers in the field. These netbooks are typically extremely inexpensive and offer just enough power to run a web browser.
Expect availability in the second half of 2009 late summer with pricing starting at $5,000 for up to 5 users.
link: bMobile
Service Management for MAS 90 and MAS 200 – Brutally Honest VAR Survey Results
April 30, 2009
In November 2006 I had a prospective client (actually it was an existing end user who knew me from a prior job and had called for my advice) seeking options for Service Management for MAS 90. They were already using one package and though it appeared to work they’d been through quite a bit of back and forth with a local Sage Business Partner who sold the Service Management and then had no clue how to make it work.
So they came to us asking if we could “fix it”.
Since we hadn’t worked with this particular software package before (and our rule is that we don’t bill clients for our learning time) – I advised her that I’d take a poll of other resellers of Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 to see what they were using for Service Management.
Boy did I get an earful.
The question just came up again. Someone asked for some feedback on different service management packages. Since the analysis was written almost three years ago – I have to caution that some responses to it may have changed. Packages could have improved (or gotten worse). Take this information as a general overview of candid responses from experienced Sage consultants who have worked with these products and are providing the feedback to me.
I know each of these consultants personally – however to protect their companies and insure totally candid replies I’ve stripped out the firm name and identifying information.
These experiences are often the result of only one or two implementations. You may find that other consultants who have done dozens of impelementations of Service Management software have a totally different reply. The trouble is that I never can find these consultants. Service Management seems to be an area where consultants sell and run.
Here are my informal survey results. I do not claim they are scientific, authoritative or have any other special insight that you couldn’t get from asking around yourself. Simply take this information as one component of your own due dilligence as you reseach Service Management for MAS 90.
Full Disclaimer:
These results are from 2006 – the products mentioned may have been improved since I took this informal poll
While I know every person who submitted information – I cannot know what their level of competence with the product was. It’s very possible that some of the people who replied and whose opinions are included here were never properly trained and that taints their feedback. For this reason I strongly recommend using this information only as one portion of your own due dilligence when researching Service Management Software.
Service Management Options for Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 – Survey Results
From: Wayne Schulz
Sent: Tuesday, November 07, 2006 4:34 PM
To: [prospect name]
Subject: RE: MAS90
Hi [prospect name],
As discussed today – I have put together some of the comments and feedback about the various Service Management packages for MAS90.
As I thought, none appear to standout. I’m continuing to look for a reseller with more than one or two clients using any one of these.
I think this is a fairly complete list of the Service Management available for MAS 90. I compiled the feedback from various emails that I have received over the last 6 months. These emails are internal communications between resellers as we are looking to find software or solve problems for our users.
The only solution that I have not seen anyone using but have repeatedly heard recommended is Job Ops. This is a more expensive solution from a company called Synergistic. The address is http://www.jobops.com
I hope this information is helpful. It appears to me from the comments below that you’re probably on the most widely used Service Management solution. I will follow-up with some additional information as I continue to query the resellers who work with these products to see if anyone has done more than three (so far what I’m seeing is resellers who’ve done one or two of these types of implementations).
-Wayne
IIG – Service Maestro
http://www.iigservicemaestro.com/ -
mixed feeback from resellers.
FEEDBACK FROM A CONSULTANT:
Service Maestro from IIG is not that bad, but it isn’t that great either. The product is solid. Support is very slow. It is difficult in an implementation to teach. There is a lot of functionality, and sometimes it gets confusing because there is so much functionality. It is not made for a particular industry, so lots of terminology is very generic and vague.
I like Wayne’s idea. Tell them that you will charge them for time and disclaim at the onset.
I have also heard great things about JobOps, but cannot get a client to take the large dollar investment. Probably worth it in the long run.
FEEBACK FROM A CONSULTANT:
IIG doesn’t return phone call’s or e-mails inquiries for Service Maestro. I now believe that if you can’t basic sales questions answered, then watch out once they get the client’s money.
Ascent – Automated Service
http://www.ascent-sys.com/ – wmixed feedback (see below)
FEEDBACK FROM A CONSULTANT:
We have several clients in the service management industry. Three are on Automated Service from Ascent, and three are on Service Maestro from IIG.
First the really bad: I spent 3 days last summer in Houston with their top (only) trainer. It was a painful three days to say the least. Obviously training, plane tickets, hotel, partner fee, and lost billable time were very expensive. By the end of the second day, I was on the web getting my airline reservations changed to that night. It was only the second day, and it was clear that this was an absolutely terrible program. Based on
what I heard, they really have it installed at one big company that is satisfied. I know that none of my clients are satisfied. There is absolutely no dispatching functionality. They have three “dispatch” functions, but they are all just terrible. Also, no job cost functionality.
We also choose this path because we also do Peachtree and BusinessVision. I was very excited about the prospect of learning only one service management solution for the three products that we carry. These were also jokes. The software just doesn’t work. One of the students in our class had the BV version for 6 months and still no go live. He spent the entire three days with the head programmer working on bugs.
FEEDBACK FROM AN END USER:
Yes, my current maintenance/support for MAS90 is through Ascent, since I also have Automated Servic (Ascent) support, this way all our issues are handled through one company. They have a very slow response time, although once they get involved, they are proficient at resolving issues.
They are located in Texas, so there isn’t any local support, they handle everything through PC Connect or VNC. If you would like, you can call me with any questions.
FEEDBACK FROM A CONSULTANT:
Ascent Business Systems has a very robust and well-integrated Field Service MAS 90 Add-on. Tell Shelley Roth I sent you. She’s been great to work with and is extremely helpful. Here’s her contact information if you want to talk with her, the package is called Automated Service.
Shelley Roth
Director of Channel Development
Ascent Business Systems, Inc.
1880 S. Dairy Ashford Suite 535
Houston, TX 77077
281-497-8882 x209
800-256-6853
sroth@ascent-sys.com
FEEDBACK FROM A CONSULTANT:
We have a couple of clients on Automated Service. The product is good for Field Service and not so good for Depot or In-House service. Ascent is just about the only player that is still standing. Their service is ????, their customer centric focus is ???? and their willingness to listen to resellers is ?????
IIG I would not touch, Cognitive is not even a player sooooooo your choices are limited.
Watch out when applying updates and third party stuff. Acent will try to burn you. One of our clients they wanted 3-4K to integrate Paperless Office. The client told them to buzz off and they finally did it for $00.00.
FEEDBACK FROM A CONSULTANT:
Either of you ever deal with Ascent Systems (Automated Service)? The are the least service oriented group I have ever dealt with and I swear if they go home and have a nightmare about us, they come in the next morning and hit my charge card, nickle/dime!
FEEDBACK FROM A CONSULTANT:
We just sold one 2 months ago – they make you pre-pay and then they never tell you how much you used. Also they won’t go direct to the client for services – very annoying – so I prepay but if the client doesn’t use the hours I am stuck.
FEEDBACK FROM CONSULTANT:
We have done a few Automated Service installs at a couple of larger customers and found out the hard way that the Automated Service files are not standard MAS 90 structure and you can’t use VI to import to them all the time (some you can, some you can’t). We had to pay Ascent to do some custom data conversion and custom import utilities for ongoing integration. Every time we speak to Ascent it is more money, to the point that I should just send them my charge card and let them use it when appropriate. Service is a bit spotty
(slow or non-responsive). Product is as good as any 3rd party apps tend to be.
FEEDBACK FROM CONSULTANT:
I have one client and authorized by Ascent. The upgrade to 4.05 is not too difficult and Ascent has the patches/bugs worked out. The hardest is getting the GL to convert to 4.x. Support is available from Ascent – The client will need the current patches for Automated Service. This cannot be stressed enough. When I did an early conversion, AS wasn’t that mature with 4.05 and hard to work with Ascent to address issues. It has been very stable the last nine months. 4.10 will be released soon, but we’re not encouraging that yet.
Procedure is:
Prepare 3.71 data just like any conversion.
Install 4.05 MAS 90
Install 4.05 MAS 90 patches
Install AS 4.05
Install AS 4.05 patches
Convert company data.
BCS – Service & Warranty Management
http://www.bcs-tx.com/product/swm/index.html – I
am not positive these guys are the originators of this software. I also have no feedback at all on this.
Conative Systems
http://www.conativesystems.com/
A few have looked at this and found support lacking
FEEDBACK FROM CONSULTANT:
I looked at Conative in late 2002 also. [xxx]the owner did the presentation. It looked to be solid. However, during the on line demo, [xxx]kept going down side alleys showing us how some things could/would be handled which became distracting. The other presentation was done by Automated Services. The presenter that day was a novice and didn’t know much about the software. I decided to pursue Conative, but soon realized that it was a one man shop and getting simple timely quote was impossible. I gave up after two months.
FEEBACK FROM CONSULTANT:
Unfortunately I haven’t any recent experience with service software, but attempted to work with http://www.conativesystems.com/ a couple years ago. Owner is a talented, but I think it was too much for him to sell MAS 90/200, service his clients AND market an enhancement. I recall that most of the SM2000 implementations were customer specific, making it difficult to support and learn (since there was little consistency). While very robust, the product also didn’t “feel” like MAS 90 (screen design was different, function key assignments were different, etc). Having also reviewed Automated Service a couple years ago, I was less than impressed with their sales pitch (pick us because the other guys suck).
ACSG
http://www.aboutpm2000.com/Product/SWO.htm
Service Work Order – does not appear to be widely used – no feedback found
Conclusion
My recommendation to you is to do your own research in this area and insist on talking to users who have been using Service Management software for over 1 year in exactly the same way that you anticipate using it.
Avoid using a consultant who only has one or two implementations of the software. My own personal belief is that you cannot make any money as a consultant doing “onesies and twosies” of a product. If there is a source to many troubled engagements that I’ve seen it si that the consultant who sold the specialized product did not have the necessary skills to actually implement it. Usually you’ll get a hint of this if the consultant promises to hold implement the specialized package in “phase two”.
Also keep in mind that the above comments are unfiltered feedback from consultants and end users who I know and trust. This is not research that I’ve done myself – rather I’m compiling various emails that people had sent to me in the year 2006. Because this feedback is almost three years old the various packages may have improved. So use this information to compliment your own good research – and not as a replacement.
Update 5-5-2009 from Traci Clay Marketing Manager – Ascent Business Systems:
Ascent Systems has this to say in a certified letter sent to me dated May 1, 2009 (read the entire letter here) which they say points out what they claim is inaccuracy in several of the responses to the informal survey we took :
We do understand that every company has some less than favorable press out there and we can handle that, but we would like for the information that is blatantly incorrect to be removed from your post. We specifically request that posting number one, Feedback from a Consultant, be removed in its’ entirety. This post contains serious inaccuracies such as Ascent having installed AutomatedService in only one big company that is satisfied, no job cost functionality and the information regarding Peachtree and BusinessVision. We also request that the inaccuracies in posting number four: Feedback from a Consultant be removed. The quote that states “They wanted 3-4k to integrate Paperless Office” appears to be blatantly incorrect. We have no record of every quoting any customer that amount to integrate Paperless Office. If you believe that statement is important enough to leave in your post, we would appreciate the name/company of the Consultant so that we may verify the accuracy. We would be comfortable with only removing the inaccduracy in posting number four, but due to the many inaccuracies in posting number one, we feel the only recorse is to remove the post in its entirely.
To further enlighten you as to the success that both partners and end-users have with AutomatedService, I have included the Success Story that Sage presented during a quarterly Sage Channel Partner webinar regarding the joint BIG win we had. Ascent was able to sell Sage Softwasre along with Automated Service to Ranger America beating out the incumbent, Great Plains. I have also included a success story to give you a broader picture.
Update 5-20-2009 – FEEDBACK FROM A CONSULTANT – ASCENT BUSINESS SYSTEMS:
DSD Business Systems has two recent implementations of the Ascent Automated Service software. Overall, both of our end-users are happy with the product. The most challenging of our end-users is a mechanical pump distributor who also performs maintenance work on their products. They were previously using Conative’s SM200 product, which is a complete disaster. Since switching over to AutomatedService (AS), they have been happy. This end-user says that support response times are sometimes spotty and if the question is very complex it can take Ascent a while to get back to them. But, they always do get back, which has not been our experience with other Service Management products on the market. Overall, they say that Ascent’s AS product works for them and they are very satisfied with it.
As far as reseller support is concerned, DSD’s VP of Sales, Pete Morone, has been extremely happy with Ascent. He says that Chris Fix, their VP of Sales, has been accessible and willing to work with us. Jim Woodhead, our VP of Professional Services – MAS says, “Chris is very knowledgeable about the Ascent package and can be counted on to deliver on his promises and to resolve problems. I have no hesitation to recommend Ascent to a customer that needs a strong service management product.”
I read some of the older Consultant Feedback for AutomatedService, and I know from firsthand experience that some of the criticism levelled by other resellers is no longer true in 2009. While that criticism may have been valid 2-3 years ago, much of Ascent’s business model, staff, and software features have evolved greatly since then. At one point, 8-10 years ago, DSD had decided not to continue using Automated Service as a supplier because of their predatory policies regarding their relationship with our end-users. That is no longer a concern for us, because the Ascent staffers who executed those policies are long gone. DSD has nothing but the highest regard for Ascent’s current products and delivery model.
Doug Deane
President, DSD Business Systems
Extended Solutions for MAS90 and MAS200
April 22, 2009
Have you ever wished that your existing MAS 90 or MAS 200 software had just a little more functionality? Some good examples of functionality tweaks that our clients have requested would include:
- Multi-company transaction processing
- ACH processing for Accounts Payable (wireless transfers)
- Payroll Direct Deposit
- Custom pricing within Inventory
- Unlimited history
There are literally thousands of inexpensive enhancements that are already written for your MAS90 system. These install as if regular MAS 90 programs and each year when MAS 90 is upgrade – so are your enhancements.
We recommend that you always first browse the Sage Extended Solutions (catalog example below) prior to hiring anyone to customize MAS90. Even though some of the items available as add-ons for MAS 90 or MAS 200 will appear expensive at first – we think you’ll ultimately save money long term.
You can review the entire list of Sage Extended Solutions or browse down for a sample listing.
Mas90 Enhancements and customizations
FRX MAIL SERVER: Email does not appear to be installed on your system – please install email and then try the operation again [solved]
March 26, 2009
Just had a client call with this error message:
FRX MAIL SERVER: Email does not appear to be installed on your system – please install email and then try the operation again
The message was occuring when they tried to email reports from their FRX Report Manager module. According to the Sage and Microsoft knowledgebase the cure is to find and install OLEMSG32.DLL to the \windows\system32 folder.
Both knowledgebases advised finding the file (OLEMSG32.DLL) on a spare workstation. The only issue we had was none of the workstations had that exact DLL file.
We were able to find the DLL by searching Google. The only issue was the DLL was listed on sites that we weren’t sure hosted the original. Not wanting to get a virus, we decided to look for a more authoritative download.
It appears Microsoft (beginning with Exchange 2007) has begun delivering the MAPI client libraries and CDO 1.2.1 as a web only downoad.
If you’re wondering where to find it — look here:
Microsoft Exchange Server MAPI Client and Collaboration Data Objects 1.2.1
HighTower waives any MAS90 enhancement back maintenance penalties through 4/30/09 – other cool promos
March 24, 2009
From now until 3pm CDT on 4/30/09 users who’ve allowed their Hightower software maintenance to lapse can renew with zero back maintenance and zero penalties.
This is a pretty good deal (actually very good) for any company who has let their maintenance go and now finds themself needing to be back on the plan so they can receive the latest software upgrades.
Under the terms of the spring specials – users can get back on HighTower software maintenance with no late or lapsed years fees, new HighTower users can buy one enhancement and get one free and existing HighTower end users can purchase any additional enhancement at 50% off.
Hightower Enhancements At A Glance:
HightTower Direct Deposit : Handles all direct depositing needs, following the National Automated Clearinghouse Association (NACHA) standards for Sage MAS 90 and Sage MAS 200 Payroll checks.
HighTower Professional Retainer Control : Users of this enhancement can offer clients discounts on services by pre-purchasing blocks of time at lower rates!
HighTower Point of Sale Professional : Allows stores to complete standard retail transactions while incorporating the data into their Sage MAS 90 and Sage MAS 200 accounting, distribution, and manufacturing system.
HightTower Gift Card Expansion Pack : Seamlessly integrate Gift Card transactions with all the Sage MAS 90 and 200 modules through Point of Sale Professional (Requires Point of Sale Professional v4.2 or above).
HighTower Time and Billing : Track employees’ activities on all billable projects and produce detailed billing invoices for your clients. Time/expense entry and invoicing features for law firms, CPAs, consultants, or any business that bills clients based on time.
HightTower Time and Billing Professional : Track employee time for accurate invoicing and enhanced service to your clients, while increasing overall efficiency. Unlike the standard Time and Billing module, Time and Billing Professional integrates the Sage MAS 90 ERP or MAS 200 ERP Accounts Receivable module.
HighTower Timekeeper for MAS90 : Enter time and expenses via Sage MAS 90 or Sage MAS 200, the Timekeeper Remote application, through your PDA device (Palm OS or Pocket PC), and/or via the Internet – the choice is yours with the Timekeeper module.
HighTower Multi-Bin Advanced Distribution For MAS90 and MAS200 : Use MULTIPLE bin locations per item and warehouse with the Multi-Bin Advanced Distribution enhancement. Track an unlimited number of bin locations for each warehouse and inventory item.
HighTower ScanBlaster : Effective and inexpensive bar code scanning solution for use with the Sage MAS 90 and Sage MAS 200 Bar Code module. ScanBlaster runs on most Symbol-branded or Symbol-compatible Palm OS devices with a bar code reader attached.
HightTower MICR Encoded Laser Checks : Print laser-quality MICR encoded checks at high speed with low cost, optimizing the Accounts Payable and Payroll process.
HightTower MAStransit : Export your MAS 90 4.x and MAS 200 4.x data to Microsoft’s SQL Server products for additional reporting options and efficiencies.
HighTower RemoteXerver : Utilizing the XMLRPC technology, the RemoteXerver enables cross platform data sharing to and from your Sage MAS 90 and Sage MAS 200 system.
Pre-Written Crystal Reports for MAS 90 and MAS 200
March 5, 2009
Getting started with a Crystal Report for MAS 90 or MAS 200 is the hardest part of the design process.
Once you know the tables to link (and the formulas to create) – the rest of the report design process is a piece of cake.
Did you ever wish there was a “starter kit” of Crystal Reports you could use as a basis for your own MAS90 reports? If there was just a report that kind of looked like what you wanted — and then you tweaked it (as opposed to writing it from scratch).
Well here’s your opportunity!
I have over 60 Crystal Reports that are available. These are written for version 3.71 but they can be upgraded (you’d have to do this yourself – we aren’t bundling labor in this deal) or used as a guide to show how to create a similar report in 4.x.
The last time we sold these we offered them as a bundle for $995 back in 2006.
I’ve since had several clients inquire about the availability of such a bundle of reports and for a limited time (though April 30, 2009) I’m going to make them available under the following pricing:
Client of Schulz Consulting and Member of Unlimited Support – $ 250
Client of Schulz Consulting – $ 500
Due to license restrictions we are not able to distribute these to other resellers or to users of MAS90 who are not clients (listed as reseller of record) of Schulz Consulting.
At this price we cannot invoice for the reports. We require credit card payment in advance and then we will provide you with a copy of every report in the package.
If this is of interest – email me directly – wayne@s-consult.com. Remember, Schulz Consulting must be your reseller of record and I’m only offering this through April 30, 2008.
Crystal Catalog of MAS90 Reports
Hightower Associates launches penalty free stimulus plan
February 25, 2009
Hightower Associates have just announced a new stimulus plan that’s designed to assist users of their software who may have fallen off the maintenance bandwagon.
Under the plan, all prior year penalties (a 25% normal fee) are waived. All that a delinquent subscriber has to pay is the normal lapsed maintenance (up to two prior years’) plus the current year.
This offer is in effect until March 31, 2009. To take advantage of the stimulus, contact your Sage Business Partner or Patty Benitez (847-763-4754) at Hightower Inc.
All Hightower Enhancements Available in Version 4.3 are Now Officially Extended Enterprise Compatible
If you’re using the Sage Extended Enterprise Suite (EES) for MAS 90 or MAS 200, all of the enhancements that Hightower provides which are current at level 4.3 are now officially compatiable with EES.
Among the enhancements provided by Hightower Inc (not all of these are at the latest 4.3 level so check with Hightower Inc. prior to making purchasing decisions):
- Direct Deposit
- Food Distribution for MAS90 and MAS200
- Gift Card Expansion Pack (Point of Sale add-on)
- MASTransit (export to SQL)
- MICR Laser Checks
- Multi-Bin Advanded Distribution for MAS90 and MAS200
- Point of Sale Professional
- Professional Retainer Control
- Remote Salesperson (discontinued)
- RemoteXerver
- ScanBlaster
- Time and Billing Professional
- Timekeeper
For more information on any of these enhancements – give Patti Benitez a call at Hightower – 847-763-4754
FRX Report Writer for MAS 90 Still Alive
February 15, 2009
FRX Financial Reporting for MAS 90 appears to have gained a new lease on life. According to Mark Chinsky of Client’s First Business Solutions – New Jersey, the FRX Report Writer is back under development (or at least is being promoted as a solution by Microsoft) after being slated for discontinuation in favor of PerformancePoint Server.
Mark spotted an article in Network Computing that states in part:
Microsoft made a surprise announcement that presents good news and bad news for customers and partners who were developing on the PerformancePoint Server product. The good news is that the dashboarding, scorecarding and analytic capabilities of PerformancePoint are now being made available as free services to customers with an enterprise license of SharePoint Server. The bad news is that PerformancePoint and its planning functionality will no longer be offered as a separate product, though there will be a final “Service Pack3″ upgrade to the planning functionality released this summer. Translation? Microsoft’s BI team is backing away from deep financial and operational performance management, ceding those opportunities to the Microsoft Dynamics unit and stranding some customers and partners in the process.
Microsoft says it is bundling high-demand PerformancePoint functionality like dashboarding, scorecarding and advanced analytics with SharePoint to better fulfill its longstanding goal of spreading business intelligence to the broadest possible base of users.
“By putting this functionality into SharePoint, it makes it available to exponentially more users,” said Kristina Kerr, Lead Product Manager, Microsoft Business Intelligence, in an interview with Intelligent Enterprise. Share “As for the financial budgeting and planning piece, we found that it involves very different buying behaviors, different people and different deployment scenarios, so we’re very deliberately splitting those two areas.”
A final upgrade of PerformancePoint may buy planning-focused customers and partners some time, but nobody wants to make long-range plans around a product without a road map. Thus, one of two paths forward Microsoft points to exploits what Kerr describes as “broad planning capabilities” it can offer with the combination of SQL Server, SharePoint Server and Excel.
“For example, we have an Excel add-in that exposes the analytic capabilities of SQL Server Analysis Services,” Kerr explained. “Analysis Services offers a function called Forecast, which is really predictive analytics based on historical trends. [That's the kind of functionality] that’s suitable for scenarios that aren’t specific to the office of finance but that call for broad planning and forecasting capabilities.”
A second path forward for partners and customers interesting in planning is to work with the Microsoft Dynamics ERP and applications unit, which will continue to develop its Forecaster and FRX products for forecasting, budgeting and financial reporting.
via: 90Minds
How to add new credit card merchant acct to Credit Cards by Sage
February 9, 2009
Did you ever have one of those days where you felt like a complete dunce? Today’s one for me and I’m going to share my “dunce-ness” so that perhaps it will help someone in a similar situation avoid the two hour exercise in frustration that it took me to figure out something as simple as adding a new type of credit card to the Credit Cards by Sage module in MAS 90.
My client was already using Mastercard and Visa. The setup worked beautifully through Credit Cards by Sage (which integrates with Sage Payment Solutions).
Now they wanted to add Discover and American Express. The client had received their new merchant account number for Discover and was inserting to the Payment Type Maintenance in Sage MAS 90 (as they should have).
Try as we might, the “valid processor connection ” was never displayed (this is a check box in the lower right corner of the payment type screen.
We checked and re-checked the new merchant ID — still no success at enabling the new Discover account.
Finally The A-Ha Moment
Want to know how we finally got it to work?
Well with the Sage Payment integration to Credit Card by Sage — you must use the SAME Merchant ID number for all your credit cards.
Apparenly Sage Payment sets up the flow of data on their end so that they know to process a Discover Card differently once the card is entered into MAS90.
My problem ? I had been trying to use the DISCOVER MERCHANT ID # — which was not right,.
Use the Sage Payment Services TERMINAL ID NUMBER for all credit cards being processed through Credit Cards By Sage.
A Suggestion To Sage
Although take full credit for missing this one — it would be helpful if in the future the field labeled “Merchant ID Number” was replaced with “Terminal ID Number” when you are using Sage Payment Services.
Sage Payment Solutions integration to MAS90 Recorded Demo
February 6, 2009
Does your business accept credit cards? Are you using Sage MAS 90 or MAS 200? Did you know that Sage offers a free solution that will allow your accounting software (Accounts Receivable and Sales Order) to accept credit cards right within the module.
You can maintain customers credit card data (fully encrypted) and use their card for future purchases. All data entered via credit card is automatically validated with pre-approvals obtained directly from the Sage Payment Services processing bureau.
Interested in how this works? Here’s a quick 5 to 10 minute overview that demonstrates the entire process of accepting credit cards into MAS 90. The video is a little scripted but I think covers all the major points and serves as a good example of how this works within Sage MAS 90 and Sage MAS 200.
Sage FAS 50 and Sage FAS 100 Fixed Asset Pricing
February 5, 2009
Here’s the pricing for Sage FAS 50 and Sage FAS 100 as of February 4, 2009. These are list prices and you should add both the product list price and the maintenance list price to determine a total price.
We recommend Sage FAS 100 single user NETWORK with Report Writer as the basic package to begin with first. If you select the single user FAS 100 be advised that this only works standalone and loading the data onto a network (even if used by only one person) is not supported.
Sage FAS 50 has an asset limit of 1,000, does not support report writing and can only be run standalone.
Find add-ons for Sage MAS 90 and 200 [How To]
February 2, 2009
Have you ever found yourself in a position where you wish Sage MAS 90 or 200 could be “tweaked” just a little bit more to fit the specific needs of your industry?
Finding a qualified developer can be a challenge. You can hire someone who claims to “know” your software and can custom write an enhancement for your company.
The problem with hiring a lone developer is you have no way to know what type of experience they possess. Luckily Sage has solved this problem by creating certification levels.
Sage Certification for Developers
Sage has a stable of development partners who have been certified as either Endorsed, Gold or Silver.
Endorsed Partner: Sage invitation only. These partners are required to meet rigorous strategic, technologic, and integration criteria. Their solutions are handpicked by Sage and marketed aggressively alongside their core solutions.
Gold: The Gold level is a select tier for established development partners who have a closer relationship with Sage. These partners agree to adhere to Sage Best Practices and have one of their solutions certified through an independent testing company.
Sliver: Entry level tier for developers who are new to a particular Sage suite of products.
Solutions are either Endorsed or Certified
Sage has a certification process for differentiating the solutions available for their product line. This certification process includes basic qualify and integration tests with the Sage product line. The different certifications are either Endorsed or Certified.
Endorsed: A Sage Endorsed solution means Sage has put the product through additional paces and QA testing. These solutions carrying the Endorsed label have been classified as strategic to the product they integrate with. These solutions may also sometimes be an integrated component of a Sage solution.
Certified: A solution marked as Certified tells you that it is reliable and developed to the highest standards. Vendors must submit their application to Sage for testing prior to achieving this status.
Sage Partner Solutions
The Sage Partner Solution Source is a web site that lists third party enhancements for a wide variety of Sage products. There are over 12 separate Sage product lines represented on the site:
- Act! by Sage
- Peachtree by Sage
- Sage Accpac ERP
- Sage BusinessVision Accounting
- Sage BusinessWorks Accounting
- Sage MAS 500 ERP
- Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 ERP
- Sage PFW
- Sage PRO ERP
- Sage SalesLogix
- SageCRM
- Simply Accounting by Sage
Link: Sage Partner Solution Source via Bill Kizer, Sage Software Consultant
Batch number xxxx already exists in the direct deposit transaction file
January 28, 2009
Here’s a quick resolution to a very common error message that occurs with Sage MAS 90 or MAS 200 Payroll Direct Deposit (Extended Solution PR-1017).
If you receive the message:
“Batch number xxx already exists in the direct deposit transacton file”
While trying to update your payroll register — take the following action:
- Go to Payroll
- Direct Deposit Menu
- Generate Direct Deposit Interface
- Select the second option on the menu – Purge Direct Deposit Interface Files
- Select a beginning date that is early enough to remove the offending register number (Tip: In some instances I’ve had to go back as far as 1900 even though I was certain we weren’t using Sage MAS 90 payroll Direct Deposit then…;-) )
Link: Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 Direct Deposit Manual (PR-1017)
Retail Pro files bankruptcy
January 26, 2009
The software company behind the widely used Retail Pro point of sale software has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
According to a story from Multichannel Merchant, the Retail Pro parent company and a subsidiary Page-Digital filed bankruptcy re-organization on January 10, 2009.
According to the article:
Retail Pro has been struggling to survive over the past several years with declining sales and fewer annual maintenance renewals. On Sept. 5, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed securities fraud charges against Retail Pro and two of its former CEOs, as well as a former chief financial officer, for their roles in an accounting fraud scheme designed to falsely inflate Island Pacific’s revenues.
Retail Pro offers and integration to the Sage MAS 90 and 200 accounting software system. While it’s been some time since we’ve worked with it, the integration several years ago was fairly impressive with most data flowing seamlessly to the General Ledger and Accounts Receivable.
The other widely used solution for Sage MAS 90 and 200 is a Point of Sale solution which used to be offered directly by Sage themselves but has since been taken over by another third party developer.
Starship freight offers MAS 90 and MAS 200 users an option for Bill of Lading and multiple order shipments
January 21, 2009
Starship Freight is a new module ($3,500 – single user / $700 add’l user / $2,500 five user) for Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 that provides for shipments that utilize LTL trucking common carriers.
One of the unique things about Starship Freight is that the software now replaces the Shipping Data Entry for nearly all activities (packing lists are still printed in the Shipping Data Entry module).
You may combine multiple Sales Orders into one shipment and then place that shipment within separate pallets and automatically notify the carrier that your order is ready for pickup.
Here are some rough notes that I took during an hour long demonstration that was just hosted for one of my clients by V-Technologies.
Starship Freight
Targeted users are those with large, palletized freight
Starship vs Starship Freight Differences
- Initiate shipping from Starship Freight and not MAS90 Shipping Data Entry
- line item detail from Sales Order (for bill of lading)
- pick pack functionality (optional)
- print BOL and Pallet Labels
- Uses Microsoft SQL 2005
- Server/Seat licensing separate from MAS 90 / MAS 200 (previously the licensing was unlimited)
Tip: Starship 10.1 combines parcel and freight (hoping for year end 2009) — unsure on timing of final release but seems more like it will be in the first half of 2010. (Standard disclaimers about projected shipping dates apply)
Three carriers currently supported (more to be added as other carriers have API availability)
Freightquote.com
- 3pl – muli-carrier
- Electronically tender & book (don’t have to call the carrier for pickup)
- Shipment visibility (tracking) – only for freightquote.com shipments you’ve selected
Yellow
- Generate PRO #
- Electronically tender & book
- Shipment visibility
SMC3 – coming soon
- must license the tarrifs (additional cost)
-
There is no rating engine built in
- one of the rating methods is freightquote.com for rating.
- freightquote will load negotiated rates as well as freightquote negotiated rates
- service of freightquote is free if you select their rates (at least sometime)
- there is a possible monthly fee if you don’t use the freightquote rate – there’s a salesperson who is assigned to your account
- Note: Sounds like freightquote.com takes a piece of your freight and if you don’t use them then they can charge you a fee
-
Requires MAS 90 or MAS 200 4.1 or higher
- Can ship against orders (takes place of shipping data entry) and you can do multiple orders to place onto one shipment
- Most people start at Sales Order
- Shows “related orders” by looking at the ship to address of other open orders
-
Potential Issue/Concern:
Can’t look up the rate ahead of time to quote the customer on freight — rating of the carrier is not required.
If you load up negotiated rates – then freightquote.com carrier rates are not displayed (even if lower)
Freight write back can be turned off if you quote the customer the freight in advance.
SLP Pricing:
Starship Freight – $3,500
Includes:
- 1 seat
- server
User Pricing (additional)
- $700/seat for an additional single user
- 5 seats $2,500 – concurrent licensing (NOT named)
Link: Starship Freight Product Page – V-Technologies
FAS 2009.1 Fixed Asset Update Available Now
January 12, 2009
A new update to Sage FAS Fixed Asset Solution is available for download from the Sage Software site.
This update includes important, new tax law changes that are now in place along with the latest rules, rates and IRS forms. Provisions made to your software include, but are not limited to, the following:
Tax Rules
* The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, which offers adjustments to Section 179 limits, is now accounted for.
* The Heartland, Habitat, Harvest and Horticulture Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Act), which allows a 168k bonus and Section 179 expensing, is now included.
Tax Rates
* Updated Tax Limits. The 2009.1 tax update complies with the scheduled updates to the Section 179 limits and luxury auto limits. This includes a reduction in the Section 179 limit from $250,000 to $133,000.
* Updated ITC Credits. The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 created new ITC credits and extended the dates or increased the percentage for existing credits. Included are new credits for historic properties, advanced coal projects, and green energy expenditures.
* Increased Section 179 Limits for Two New Property Zones. The 2009.1 tax update includes Section 179 dollar limits for two new property zones: the Qualified Disaster Zone and the Kansas Disaster Zone. The update also includes increased Section 179 limits for Gulf Opportunity Zone and Enterprise Zone property. Tax Forms
* Updated forms are now available, such as the 4562 and worksheets for your 3468, 4255, 4626 and 4797.
You may also be missing other recent software enhancements that are available in this update, like:
* Assets Snapshot. Get an at-a-glance graphical summary of important information for instant command over your fixed asset “portfolio”.
* Report Writer with Crystal Reports® XI . While still offering the ability to customize built-in standard reports, now you can more easily integrate Sage FAS data with data from other sources, specify run-time input parameters, create charts and graphs, and so much more.
* New IRS Form 4562-FY, which reflects recently instated depreciation and amortization allowances.
Need more details? Be sure to view the What’s New document for complete information!
This update will be automatically mailed to you on CD over the next few weeks. Or, you can download it now and get more information by visiting: www.sagefas.com/update.
Act! coming to iPhone soon via Handheld Contact
January 2, 2009
Mike Lazarus of GLComputing has been working extra hard over the holidays and reports that Handheld Contact for iPhone is due out soon.
This add-on for Sage’s Act! contact manager allows for wireless synchronization of Act! Contacts, Calendar Activities, Notes, Histories and more.
They’ve started a mailing list which will provide notifications when the application is available. Sign up on Mike’s site at the link below.
Handheld Contact to put Act! on your iPhone via Life and Times with ACT!
Avalara offers free sales tax compliance kit
December 23, 2008
Avalara is offering a special Sale Tax compliance kit that includes a free rate calculator that allows for looking up rates by exact address and show the state, county, local, city and special taxes.
Speaking as someone who has witnessed a fair number of sales tax audits – I suggest that paying attention to sales tax issues before they come under audit is one of the best courses of action.
Remember that in most instances if your company is audited you’ll have little (if any) recourse to collect back sales tax from any customer where it was not computed correctly.
If your company is unlucky enough to be audted, guess who’s pocket sales tax discrepancy comes out of..
Whether you’re an owner, CFO, CEO or accountant – you should be looking to ensure that your company is in compliance with local sales tax law.
When you are operating in one state the compliance matters can be manageable. Spread those operations out between multiple states and suddenly what was manageable can become a huge time sink as well as potential liability during any audit.
Could your company benefit from automating the sales tax computation and filing functions?
When considering whether a sales tax calculation and filing service such as Avalara makes sense for your company, here are some questions to ask:
- Do you pay sales tax in multiple jurisdictions?
- Do you have a remote salesforce?
- Are you registered to pay sales tax in more than one state?
- Do you have business in one or more of the four home rule states (Alabama, Colorado, Louisiana or Arizona)?
- Do you have offices or locations in more than one state?
- Do you need to calculate sales tax in multiple jurisdictions on behalf of your customers?
- Do you have over 3,300 transactions per year?
Are you in a specific vertical industry such as:
- High Tech
- Medical Devices
- Multi-Level Marketing
- Warranty Support
- Printing
- Have you gone through a sales tax audit (with unfavorable results)?
- Have you had staff change in your tax department?
- Are you upgrading or changing your ERP or order entry system?
- Have you entered a new market
- Have you begun producing a new product?
Answering yes to one or more of the above may mean at a review of your sales tax reporting is in order. Start the process by requesting a free Sales Tax Compliance Kit from Erica at Avalara. She’ll send you out the free rate computation utility as well as some information specific to your local tax jurisdiction.
For more information fill out the inquiry form below.
[contact-form 2 "Contact Information Avalara"]
Sage Act! moves from being a strategic CRM product to a value product
December 16, 2008
UPDATE May 2009: There has been a re-organization of roles within Sage which may result in the Sage Act! product line moving out of the Value Business division.
In a blog post dated December 9, 2008, David Van Toor, General Manager for Sage CRM North America announced that he handed over the supervision and management of the Act! product line to Sam Hunter, GM Value Business.
Van Toor presently has North American management responsibility for the Sage North America CRM line which until now have included: Saleslogix, SageCRM and Act!.
The responsibility for the Act! product line will now be transitioned to Sam Hunter as per this announcement which was posted on David Van Toor’s blog at the Sage Community Forum for Act!.
From his blog post:
The past 18 months have been a highlight of my career as I’ve lead the North American operations for the ACT! product line.
I’m proud of my team’s accomplishments in that time, including the creation of this vibrant on-line community, and increasing the value of being an ACT! customer through the ACT! Platinum Care subscription offering.We’ve also seen support hold times reduce, and service levels increase. The global product delivery team delivered ACT! version 11, which many of you have told me is simply “the best ACT! version ever!” ).
As some of you know, I also managed our mid-market solutions of SalesLogix and SageCRM. When we took a look at the level of attention both groups of products could benefit from, we decided I could not do justice to both.
Consequently, effective immediately, I’ll be focused on the North American operations of SalesLogix and SageCRM.
The North American leadership for ACT! will shift to Sam Hunter. Sam is a trusted colleague, and he and I share many management philosophies. I look forward to the benefits his leadership will bring to our staff, and to you, our customers.
This then will be my last post to this community site. This community has become so strategic to Sage that we’ve created a new position to focus exclusively on its development, and I know Sam’s new team will be continuing communications in this forum in an appropriate manner.
Such a transition carries mixed emotions for me. I’m sad to formerly leave a community of customers with whom I have formed strong relationships with, and whom have taught me much about delivering excellent customer experiences. I’ve enjoyed my interactions with you, and these have shaped my view of what it means to present a professional and caring business. I’m also excited to be able to focus my energies on SalesLogix and SageCRM, and drive their growth in today’s uncertain economy.
Should you wish to continue to read blogs by me, I welcome you to www.davidvantoor.com, and to the new blog I’ll be establishing on the soon to be launched SalesLogix customer community.
To all ACT! customers, a sincere thank you for your passion and loyalty.To all of you who’ve I’ve spoken with through this community, a special thank you for you willingness to engage directly in this new, Web 2.0 business world.Should your CRM needs change, I’d love the opportunity to work with you again.
Dave van Toor.
What Does Sage Act! As A Value Product Mean?
On the surface this may appear to be only an offloading of responsibilities from one busy general manager to another. However Sam Hunter is the GM who supervises the Value Business line at Sage North America.
The Value Business line is widely understood to include those products that are not strategic to Sage North America and therefore would not typically be first in line for research and development or marketing resources.
We don’t think this signals that Act! is being downplayed by Sage in any way. It almost certainly will continue to be funded and developed. Rather what is more likely is that instead of receiving further development efforts to integrate Act! to existing Sage ERP systems it will continue as a standalone CRM product sold primarily through resellers and retail.
This transition of Act! from the CRM division to the Value Business may signal a different positioning for the Act! product line and we’ll have to see if there is any official word (other than the blog posting) issued by Sage,
UPDATE: According to Sage – “ACT! is a strategic product for us. Sam Hunter is now responsible for both the Value Business Unit and the ACT! Business Unit.”
UPDATE: Several Act! consultants have pointed out that Sage’s CRM 2010 prominently features the ACT! product line aside Salelogix and SageCRM.They question whether this movement of Act! outside the traditional CRM group points to a change in the integration plans for the three Sage CRM products announced 9 months ago.
As part of this plan (documented in this March 2008 document titled Sage CRM Solutions 2010 Strategy):
A key part of the CRM 2010 technology strategy is to evolve all Sage CRM Solutions products to support integration with other applications using a common CRM integration contract approach. This approach is Web services-based and is independent of any particular implementation. Any service provider or service consumer can implement the contract. This leads to flexible, lightweight, loosely-coupled integrations.
The initial use of the contract integration is for application to application integration — this could be ACT! to Sage 50 Accounts for example. Each application can choose to publish information, as well as consume information. This same system is then used to generate feeds of information from the CRM application so that customers can view information through a standard Web browser or feed reader.
Link: Passing the torch – David Van Toor blog entry on Act! Community site
Crystal Reports scheduler for Sage MAS 90 and 200
December 2, 2008
Perryman Software introduces availability of their Crystal Reports scheduler for Sage MAS 90 and 200. This solution
The Ps Report Scheduler allows you to define and schedule stored procedures and reports, executables, and batch process tasks to be run monthly, weekly, daily, or on-demand. One Crystal Report can be used multiple times with different parameters because unique, preset parameters can be passed for each instance of a scheduled report. Parameters are entered during scheduling, and SQL statements can be defined as needed. Once scheduled, the item automatically runs at the designated
time and can be output to an electronic file, printer, or automatically emailed to multiple addresses simultaneously. You only need one version of the report regardless of the output variations required, allowing you to build a comprehensive Crystal Reports library in a single location and edit one, not multiple, versions. Included with the Ps Report Scheduler is the Ps Library, which controls user access
and network connections based on group and individual privileges. Authorized users can define and schedule reports and executables or run them on demand without a local copy of the application or Crystal Reports on their client system.
While the initial product information does not specify how this solution is run, it appears that you need to dedicate a workstation to run the scheduler (as opposed to running this as a service as some Crystal Report schedulers do).
The price of $ 1,200 is steep for casual users but will be attractive to those 10+ user sites with lots of Crystal Reports that they’ve been generating manually during off peak hours.
PS Report Scheduler: $995 + $199 support
Link: Download PS Report Scheduler PDF
What’s your experience with Avalara Sales Tax for Sage MAS 90 or 200
November 22, 2008
Do you use Avalara Sales Tax Reporting integration to Sage MAS 90 or 200?
We’re getting a lot of feedback from users returning from the Sage Summit in Denver. Apparently the link between Avalara’s sales tax reporting and processing service to Sage MAS 90 and 200 was the subject of quite of few heated comments.
Aside from the fact that Avalara may be the only integrated solution that supports US and Canada sales tax, we continue to hear feedback from users about unresolved issues with the integration. These range from transactions that won’t update to the dashboard to lack of clear documentation. As best we can tell the issues aren’t so much to do with a lack of functionality as they are to do with finding someone to support the integration.
According to our sources on the ground at during the entire Sage Summit 2008 customer conference, several end users were vocal in discussing issues they’d experienced getting support with this Avalara integration to Sage MAS 90 or 200.
How about you? Are you using Avalara for Sage MAS 90 or 200? If so, leave a comment and let everyone know how it’s working for you — good or bad.
Were you at Summit and did you speak with Sage about this issue? If so, what was the outcome?
Update 11-24-08: I had a conversation with an Avalara representative Sunday who seemed surprised to hear there may have been conversations about the product during Summit that spotlighted potential issues. She assures me that people are happy with the Avalara to Sage MAS 90 integration and in instances where there are problems, they’ve been isolated.
As I said above, the comments are open and I’m looking for feedback.
JobOps for Sage MAS 90 and 200 version 4.3
October 28, 2008
The latest version of the popular job management software package Job Ops has just been released in version 4.3 format. This new update is compatible with the latest Sage MAS 90 and 200 accounting software which was released in June 2008.
Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 contains a Job Costing module which is adequate for many small job tracking situations. However if your company wants to get more in depth with job tracking, then you should consider JobOps.
One of the key features which has proven atrractive is JobOps ability to begin the job process with a quote. Starting in Sales Order, work tickets are fashioned from their original quote status. This is a step that standard Sage MAS 90 and 200 doesn’t provide and one of the key reasons that over 600 Sage MAS 90 and 200 users have turned to Job Ops for increased Job Management flexibility.
We also have clients that migrate to JobOps due to the configurator module which enables the creation of a product from a much more complex matrix of possible options and materials. Once this product has been created, it can be fully integrated into the job management function of the software.
Some of the key features of JobOps for Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200:
Estimating
- Re-use past quotes to create new ones
- Combine bills of material, routings, labor and services to create a detailed cost roll-up
- Automatic update of material costs
- Product configurator assists with selecting options and calculating final price
Sales Orders & Work Tickets
- Fast conversion from quote to sales order
- Generate work tickets automatically
- Check availability of material prior to release
- Product documentation and procedures can be attached to job ticket
- Automatically create item price via product configurator
Job Planning
- Verification of quote accuracy and pricing
- Material availability
- Purchasing shortages
- Production scheduling
- Track estimates (current versus revised)
Field Service & Dispatch
- Service ticket creation
- Scheduling dispatch board
- Customer contracts, equipment history, warranty tracking
- Preventive maintenance orders
- Integration to Microsoft Outlook
- Dashboard
Product Configurator
- Quickly configure custom product estimates
- Generate a bill of materials and routing
- Graphical rules based wizard eases data entry
- Update pricing automatically based upon configuration
- Smart part numbers to uniquely identify a newly configured part
- Web enabled for remote configuration entry
For more information on Job Ops for Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 please download this full color PDF brochure that contains additional details. We will happily provide you with the names of consultants we know in your area who can assist with implementing Job Ops for Sage MAS 90 and 200.
Link: JobOps Brochure
Edit MAS 90 General Ledger Detail with DSD’s G/L Detail Editor
October 15, 2008
Have you ever wanted to edit your historical General Ledger detail transactions. Generally it’s a good idea to make corrections to the detail by posting another general journal entry. However there may be situations where data must be corrected in a way that cannot be accomplished by an adjusting journal entry. For example if you have corrupted data or transactions posted to future periods that you simply want to move to the current date.
The General Ledger Detail Editor for MAS 90 allows the G/L user to:
1. Edit posted General Ledger transactions (in GL_DETAILPOSTING.M4T file). The Account Number, Posting Date, Posting Remark and Posting Amount may be changed for any transaction. If the Posting Date, Account Number, or Posting Amount are modified, appropriate changes are made to
the Chart of Accounts Master File. When the Detail file is changed, the GL Period Summary file is also updated.
2. A unique search capability has been incorporated into the Editor, in order to allow the user to quickly locate posted transactions.
3. Posted transactions may be deleted. Corresponding changes are made to the Chart of Accounts Master File, in order to ensure that the Detail Posting file is always in balance with the Chart of Accounts Master File.
4. New transactions may be added. They are added simultaneously to the appropriate period’s activity in the Chart of Accounts Master File. The Editor does not force a balancing entry to be made, and, for this reason, the Editor must be used with care in order to ensure that the General Ledger is not placed out of balance.
5. The Editor constantly displays a BATCH BALANCE, in order to assist the user in constructing one-sided ledger entries which do not cause an out of balance condition in the General Ledger.
6. All transactions are posted in “real time”. That is, once the changes have been accepted by the user for each transaction, the General Ledger files are updated immediately.
7. Each addition, deletion or transaction edit is written to a special holding file. When the Editor is exited, the user may elect to print the Transaction Edit Listing, or not. The user decides whether to keep or erase this special holding file.
DSD G/L Editor User Manual (pdf)
The cost of this enhancement is $1,750 which includes the first years’ maintenance of $416.67.
This enhancement is on promotion for 15% off through November 15, 2008
For more information – use our contact form below.
[contact-form 1 "Contact form 1"]
-
Custom Search
