The July edition of the Sage MAS 90 and 200 User Group will be our second online meeting. We will look at plans to replace FRx through BizInsight, a business intelligence and reporting tool from BizNet Software. Both FRx and Custom Financials users will learn about the additional flexibility and capabilities BizInsight provides. Following the presentation, we will following with a live Question and Answer session.
Join us for the 60-minute meeting on July 22 at 10:00 am. Space is limited so reserve your seat now.
Here is a short description of BizInsight directly from BizNet Software:
Looking for a suitable replacement for FRx? In addition to replacing FRx, are you also looking to enhance your financial reporting and analysis capabilities? BizNet Software has the answer. BizNet’s BizInsight™ is an Excel-based financial reporting and analytics solution that delivers simple, yet powerful, reporting and analysis capabilities to business users. Designed with the assistance of FRx professionals, BizInsight makes it easy to gain immediate control of the entire reporting and analysis process and allows users to produce reports accurately, efficiently and more easily than ever before.
According to Jacqueline Li, a Product Manager with Sage, in a discussion thread on LinkedIn, Sage MAS Intelligence will be released in August. Business partners are scheduled to receive the release in advance for an opportunity to train and become familiar with the features of the new reporting tool.
You can compare the features of Sage MAS Intelligence with other available reporting packages. After it become available, expect to find a full review of features or a presentation during an upcoming User Group meeting. We have a presentation of BizInsight, another FRx replacement, schedule for July 22 online User Group meeting. Invitations will be released closer to the date of the meeting.
The Sage MAS 90 and 200 User Group moves online for the first time. Users considering an upgrade to version 4.40 will learn some of the available features; users already upgraded will learn some of the lesser know but more useful features. Q&A will follow the presentation. As always, we will close with the open dialog.
Space is limited for this 45-minute meeting so your registration is required. Simply send an email and your invitation will be on its way.
The Sage MAS 90 and 200 User Group has met each quarter for the past eight years but in 2010 meetings were suspended while we listened to and reviewed the input of several attendees and facilitators. After a six month break, the User Group is returning with more information, more input, and more productive meetings.
Rather than attendees, the User Group will now offer membership and members will meet each month. Yes, twelve meetings a year sounds like a lot but now the group will meet online twice a quarter with one live meeting each quarter. The online meetings (which will vary from 30 to 60 minutes – you will know in advance) will include a presentation, an update, an introduction to a new feature, or some other information and will also include a real-time Question & Answer session. The live meetings will continue to include updates about the software, development, and Sage as well as feature highlights and other presentations. These 90-minute live meetings will continue to include the open forum in which users share and ask questions of the group members including the support and training professionals attending.
We have always been careful avoid a sales pitches. The User Group is designed to enable users to do more with their software and to create a resource users can depend upon for information. In order to do that, the User Group needs its members to come prepared to each live meeting with a question, an idea, a frustration, or even a success story so we know what matters everyone attending and everyone attending can learn.
Meetings will resume beginning this month with an online meeting June 24 at 10:00 am when we will share details about the latest release of Sage MAS 90 and 200. For users that have already upgraded, this will be a chance to learn about some features you may not have encountered. For users that are considering their upgrade, this will be a chance to learn about the different features that will become available. Space is limited for this event so register quickly when you receive your invitation. You can also leave a comment below or send a message to ensure your spot is reserved before the invitations are released.
On July 22, the second online meeting will include a closer look at Excel-based business intelligence and reporting tools and in August we will host our next live meeting at the Acuity Financial Center.
I think it is irresponsible for anyone to tell you that your office could be paperless. An office with less paper (maybe even a lot less paper) sounds a lot more reasonable and achievable. For those that think this sounds like a worthwhile goal, I suggest you first start to calculate how much the paper you use costs (to print, to file, to store, to replace when it is lost, etc.). A couple of webinars are scheduled in the coming weeks that will help you determine how much printing is costing you and uncover a manageable option for reducing that cost.
What is the paperless office? How you can work toward becoming one.
The paperless office is no longer the office of the future. This basic idea is now in the forefront of almost every industry. Attend this free webinar to learn how to create a work environment where paper is wisely used or virtually eliminated.
You will learn that “Going Paperless” can save you money, boost productivity, and make electronic documentation and information sharing easier. Sign up today, seating is limited.
Sitting 1 Date: Thursday, June 17 , 2010
Time: 2:00PM EST | 30 min + live Q & A
Lead by: Rolando Barberis
Sitting 2 Date: Tuesday, June 22 , 2010
Time: 2:00PM EST | 30 min + live Q & A
Lead by: Rolando Barberis
Please be aware that we have resolved an issue in the Accounts Receivable module that might be experienced by a specific group of Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 4.40 and Extended Enterprise Suite 1.4 customers when performing period end processing.
For customers who have a mix of open items and balance forward types of customers within a single company code, after period end processing is performed, the open item transactions can be missing or incorrectly combined in the AR_Transaction Payment History file. If this occurs, the AR Trial Balance with all transaction details run as of 12/31/2999 will be out of balance.
Details on how to discern whether a company has experienced this issue are included in Knowledgebase Entry 524615. The KB entry also includes steps to recover in the event a customer has already performed period end.
Customers who have this mix of open items and balance forward customers in a single company code, should install the fix provided in Support Tip AR4041-T (for version 4.40.0.1) or AR4042-T (for version 4.40.0.0) prior to performing period end. If you are experiencing the symptom described above and Accounts Receivable period end processing has already been performed please call Sage Customer Support.
Please note that single company codes that contain ONLY balance forward customers or ONLY open item customers are NOT affected by this issue.
Your software subscription/maintenance plan has long provided access to new product release upgrades, maintenance updates, payroll tax table updates, and access to the online knowledge-base as well as access to support from Sage-employees (depending upon the level of your agreement). If your business also depends on other Sage solutions such as ABRA HRMS, FAS Asset Accounting, or Sage Timesheet (to name a few), you also had supplemental subscription/maintenance plans which:
Renew at a different date than your Sage MAS subscription/maintenance
Provide different benefits
Have conflicting naming conventions (SupportPlus, Software Subscription, Maintenance Plan, etc.)
Sage has announced that, over the course of 2010, all of their product agreements will be aligned under the name Sage Business Care with tiered benefit groups including Bronze, Silver, and Gold. We will have to wait for the specifics of each product line and each tier, but we expect Sage MAS 90 and 200 benefits to continue to include:
New product release upgrades: Sage makes a significant investment in research and development to innovate and extend Sage applications so customers can continuously improve their businesses. Customers subscribing to a Sage Business Care plan receive product releases that incorporate all the latest enhancements.
Maintenance updates, patches, and hot fixes: Customers will receive access to downloadable solutions for reported incidents, scheduled maintenance updates, patches, and hot fixes. These changes may also include legal compliance updates.
Payroll tax table updates: Tax updates are crucial for customers processing payroll, and Sage provides assurance that payroll systems are compliant with state, county, provincial, or federal payroll tax changes.
Technical support and help: Customers are able to enter cases by phone, chat, email, or online. Whether it’s a critical incident that requires a rapid response or a “how-to” question about a function within the software, Sage ensures customers learn from every interaction with us – providing the expert guidance customers need to harness the full capability of their Sage solution.
Virtual desktop access capabilities: For complex situations, Sage technical support analysts are able to quickly diagnose and resolve issues by remotely accessing a customer’s software — with their permission.
24×7 access to the online Knowledgebase: Sage online Knowledgebases provide fast, searchable access to a database containing thousands of solutions. Customers can use the answers in the Knowledgebase to prepare for new releases, avoid known issues, access troubleshooting tips and compatibility guides, download updates, and track case statuses, while minimizing disruption to their business.
Technical webcasts and videos: Many Sage product lines offer technical support briefings that keep customers up to date on key issues and the latest enhancements. Topics are widely varied and sessions can be conveniently accessed and watched anytime with online Knowledgebases.
Online communities: Online product communities connect customers for sharing best practices, application insights, and industry expertise to get the most from their Sage solutions. Online communities also serve as business networking sites for users of Sage products, as well as Sage employees and partners.
Training: Training helps users get the most out of Sage solutions. Discounted training, including online and instructor-led courses, is available for customers with an active Sage Business Care plan.
1 Some variance does exist in the number of Sage Business Care tiers offered by the different Sage product lines.
Only the features in MAS 90 and 200 version 4.30.0.18 and 4.40.0.1 or greater are designed to address these requirements. Installations of less current releases will not be compliant with the new standards if credit card data is stored inside the system.
There are twelve requirements organized into six objectives.
Build and Maintain a Secure Network: Install and maintain a firewall and use unique, high-security, passwords with special care to replace default passwords.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
With the information that the official FRx replacement for MAS 90 and MAS 200 will be announced soon, Sage has issued a Business Intelligence Comparison listing reporting and intelligence tools that are available (or planned) with MAS 90 and 200 as well as integrated third-party intelligence tools FRx, BizInsights from BizNet, Crystal Reports and F9.
The document shows how wide and well-developed Sage’s intelligence tools have become, all included with a current subscription/maintenance plan. It also shows how comparable the BizInsights and Sage MAS Intelligence features are.
The search began several months ago when Microsoft announced the retirement of FRx and in June 2010, Sage MAS Intelligence will be introduced by Sage as their recommended FRx replacement. Sage MAS Intelligence is powered by Alchemex and is built on the framework of Sage Accpac Intelligence and Sage Simply Intelligence.
Sage MAS Intelligence allows users to build reports within the familiar Excel application with access to all available modules; FRx only allowed access to General Ledger data. While FRx allowed access to multiple company databases for consolidated reports, Sage MAS Intelligence will require an additional license in the form of a Connector. These details are not official until Sage publicly releases a statement but the plan is to supply all current, on-plan end-users with a license of Sage MAS Intelligence Report Manager allowing a user to:
Author new reports (organizing, creating, editing), as well as filter and aggregate data based on existing data containers.
Run, edit and clone the standard report templates for management (financial reports, dashboards, financial trend analysis), as well as general ledger, sales, purchases, and inventory transactional reports
Set permissions/security on all reports.
Connection to one ERP company database at a time (if running two or more companies, user can redirect to relevant company connection)
Optional Import/Export functionality requires the purchase of an additional Report Manager License, the Designer Module, or Connector Module
Optional Report Scheduling requires the purchase of an additional Report Manager Licence or, the Designer Module, or Connector Module
Connections to other types of databases or more than one Sage MAS company database at a time requires the purchase of a Connector Module
Specifically the Connector Module allows access to information from multiple sources and consolidation of data from multiple companies. The Connector Module allows for consolidations and connectivity to unlimited ODBC data sources and includes a graphical join tool to simplify database queries.
Although it isn’t particularly clear how, the Report Designer extends the flexibility of the the Report Manager.
System requirements for Sage MAS Intelligence users Excel 2003 or Excel 2007 but to run the Report Designer, Excel 2007 is required.
