» MAS 90 and MAS 200

Year End User Group Review

Brian Rice — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 19:44:29 +0000

During the final MAS 90/200 User Group meeting of 2010, we thoroughly dissected the subject of year end processing. If you attended that meeting, please let us know what you thought by leaving a comment below or completing this short survey.

In January, the schedule will continue with an online meeting available to all users. After learning about BIE (Business Insights Explorer), SMI (Sage MAS Intelligence), BizInsight, and the retirement of FRx, we will be looking at the reliable and endlessly useful Crystal Reports and our top tips for your forms and reports. Details including time, date, and registration will follow after the first of the year.

Sage MAS 90/200 User Group Meeting Scheduled

Brian Rice — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 20:28:11 +0000

Following the October and November online user group meetings covering the latest product updates and user customization options, the meetings go live again next week as we meet to discuss year end processing for all of your modules.

The year end user group is always full of information you will not want to miss. Lunch is provided and the meeting will close with the Open Forum so come ready to learn and ask questions.

Acuity Financial Center Board Room
7881 West Charleston Blvd. Second Floor
11:30 am -1:00 pm

Click here to reserve your seat.

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Payroll Filing and Reporting

Brian Rice — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 20:16:03 +0000

It’s December 1 and year end looms. If you need tax forms for payroll or for your vendors, now is the time to get your orders processed. Standard forms and other tax forms are available too.

While required for businesses submitting more than 250 W-2s or 1099s, electronic reporting is a cost-saving and time-saving option for more and more organizations. With the Electronic Reporting module for MAS 90 and 200, users can generate and file online while printing and distributing forms to their employees and vendors as needed. The annual maintenance cost for the module is only $85.

Now there is also an option to out-source reporting and e-filing through Sage and the partnership with Aatrix. Through the e-File Center, form data is viewed and edited and after it is verified, ready to print or eFile. Once you eFile, you’ll receive an email confirmation that the file was received. The e-File Center will file your state and federal W-2s and 1099 and mail the employees’ W-2s or contractor’s 1099s directly to them or offer your employees their W-2s over a secured website. For more information, click here for the Frequently Asked Questions.

We will discuss this information and other year-end processes in the next user group meeting, December 9 at 11:30 am in the Acuity Financial Center. Register by clicking here.

Sage Summit Virtual Event

Brian Rice — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 02:55:26 +0000

The Sage Summit Virtual Event seemed like Sage’s effort to continue to engage customers in their development plans and a tool to increase attendance at the Sage Summit event this July in Washington, D.C.

The “live” virtual event opened what appeared to be a recorded message centered around the latest news from Sue Swenson, Sage President and CEO. Next, Betty Otter-Nickerson, President Sage Healthcare Division and Tom Miller, Vice President Channel Management were shown in a pre-recorded “interviewed” by an actor posing as an industry analyst.

The session previews gave everyone an opportunity to select a product line and hear session pitches from Sage product teams. Some of the pitches were a touch corny, only showing that the presenters are aware of their audience. Sage Summit presentations are typically very good (which is absolutely necessary if you are going to travel across the country for a four day conference).

Give Sage credit for trying to involve the users.

Online User Group Meeting: Customizing the Desktop

Brian Rice — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 00:29:18 +0000

One of the tremendous benefits of MAS 90 and 200 is the ability to customize the system either by creating new integrations, adding new data fields, or customizing the way a user sees and access the system.

Our next Sage MAS 90/200 User Group meeting will be online, November 18 at 10:00 am. During the meeting will address several options for users to set up their desktop to best suit their needs by highlighting their most used tasks and reducing the mouse-clicks or keystrokes to accomplish any task. All of the topics on our agenda are available without any special licensing or additional products – that means you will be able to apply what you learn without restriction.

Space is limited for the online User Group meetings so leave a comment below to request a seat or respond to the invitation that will be delivered by email on Monday, November 15.

Sage ERP MAS 200 SQL Edition Available

Brian Rice — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 00:08:25 +0000

MAS 200 provides a broad feature set and with the release of version 4.45, it also makes use of the efficiency of Microsoft SQL Server. The long-anticipated release offers scalability, flexibility, integration, and reporting using SQL Server and retains the all of the features benefiting MAS 200. The SQL back end provides a common platform for IT departments to service and support.

The SQL edition is available now for new installations of MAS 200 and with version 4.50 (expected release of Q3 2011), the SQL edition will be available for system conversion Runtime licenses of SQL are available through either Per User or Per Processor licensing. With a current maintenance or support plan, users will receive the latest compatible release of Microsoft SQL server. The Microsoft SQL Server Runtime Edition has no restrictions on users, database size of performance.

You can read more about the SQL edition of MAS 200 and the SQL Runtime license.

Sage ERP MAS 200 SQL Overview and Avail Modules

Help Improve Sage Products

Brian Rice — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 23:31:58 +0000

Most would agree that Sage has put your Business Care (the software maintenance subscription) to good use as the software is continually developed. Beginning with version 4.0, several modules have been released in the Business Framework. The release schedule is reliable and consistently integrate new features. Sage has also done an outstanding job of indexing and documenting all of their development work.

Some would also agree that the lack of development of the Payroll module is more than an unfortunate oversight (but that’s another story). Sage bases their development plan on different factors including the install-base for each module and the feedback they receive from users. Over the past few years, Sage has made it easier for users to provide that feedback, most recently (and most effectively) with the Sage ERP Solutions feedback site.

Now Sage has included in-product survey. If you have upgraded to version 4.30 or version 4.40, you will have noticed that after a several weeks of using these versions, a dialog box will open asking you to answer twelve questions. The timing is great because you will have already had an opportunity to apply some of the new features. The delivery is great because you won’t have to actively seek out a channel to provide feedback.

Don’t forget that Sage (and your Business Partner) want to provide the features and services you want and need. As a user, you just have to speak up.

This Week – Sage MAS 90/200 Online User Group Meeting

Brian Rice — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 19:15:03 +0000

Join us this Thursday, October 28 at 10:00 am as we highlight some of the most useful features included with the latest Product Updates shipped by Sage. Product Updates include features developed by Sage and included with new releases as part of your annual business care agreement – if your business care is current, these features are available to you. We will also continue with the Open Forum where anyone can raise an issue, pose a question, or suggest a topic for the group to resolve, answer, or discuss. Seats are limited at this meeting so please register early.

Thursday, October 28 at 10:00 am
Click here to register
Click here to introduce a topic for the Open Forum

Register For The Sage Summit Virtual Event

Brian Rice — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 19:09:24 +0000

Sage Summit is the newly combined parter and customer conference scheduled July 10–15, 2011 in Washington, D.C. Because Sage aims to make the event as useful as possible, they have created a complimentary virtual event on November 18 to preview session samples, vote of topics, and share ideas to make the time most effective. Registration is now open.

Get More Information
Sage Summit Virtual Event
Thursday, November 18, 2010
10:00 am Pacific

Sage MAS ERP Intelligence Promotions

Brian Rice — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 19:01:11 +0000

With the introduction of Sage MAS ERP Intelligence (SMI), Sage has granted each system, at no additional charge, a license for one SMI Report Manager. Now Sage is offering two SMI promotions until January 31, 2011.

Current users can purchase the Connector module at 50% off the product price (without the Connector, only one database is available for reporting which means the Connector is required for consolidated reports).
The product cost of the Report Designer (which adds design features to the included Report Manager) will be waived by Sage but regular maintenance will still apply.

More information is available about SMI including FAQs, product brochures, installation guides and links to Sage University for training options.