Posted by Dee Dutton on Fri, Jul 30, 2010 @ 12:10 PM
When you are in Accpac, have you ever wanted to have the Vendor Activity window open twice? Have you ever wanted to work on 2 orders in Order Entry at the same time? How about entering 2 different AR Receipt Batches at the same time? Did you know that you can?
With Accpac open, you can see the “objects” in the right-hand panel on your desktop. If you right-click on the object you want to have open more than once, select “Properties”. You will then see the option to “Start Multiple Copies”.
If you select this and then hit “Apply” or “OK”, you will then be able to have that screen open more than once and be able to work in either screen.
Please note, this is based on security settings and will apply to the logged in user only.
Posted by Plus Sales on Fri, Jul 23, 2010 @ 11:39 AM
by Brian Morris, brian@plus.ca
One of the more frustrating tasks for the average Accpac user occurs when they are presented with a multi-line order, which needs to be rekeyed on a regular basis. Not only does this waste a lot of time in the sales/order entry departments, but it can potentially lead to errors on subsequent orders. There a few methods of automating this process, but let’s first consider the most basic approach: the copy orders function.
In the example above, the OE clerk has just posted a complicated order for ACME Plumbing, with different comments attached to various line items. If another customer then places a similar order to the one just created, the Copy Order function would be used. To run this feature, click on the icon found in the O/E Transactions folder of Order Entry, as in the image below.
On the screen that pops up, you need to enter the Customer Number of the client you want to copy from and to (in the case of a repeat order for the same client, this number could be identical). Then you simply need to specify the quote or order number that you’d like to clone, and click on the blue arrows.
Once clicked, you will then see the individual line items from the cloned order appear (see below). If any of them need to be modified or deleted, you can do this from this screen. In addition to the standard order entry fields, you can also edit the Optional Fields by selecting that tab on the same page. When the order looks correct, just hit the “Create” button at the bottom-left of the screen, and the new order number will be displayed.
That concludes our look at the Copy Orders function, but in an upcoming post we will look at other methods of reducing duplicate entry, such as employing Standing Orders. Please check back often, and post any questions or comments below!
Posted by Glen Mund on Wed, Jul 21, 2010 @ 12:43 PM
I read an interesting blog article by Austin Merrit of Software advice with the above title. It is an interesting article and makes many valid points but I have a slightly different take.
http://www.softwareadvice.com/articles/accounting/is-horizontal-accounting-software-dead-1062310/
1) What is the definition of Horizontal Software?
Most software publishers if not all now provide extended solutions/modules for specific industries. So the core system may not have been designed for a specific industry but the extended solutions are. Plus Computer Solutions is a Sage Accpac reseller and Sage and Plus have vertical solutions for the distibution, service, manufacturing, retail, Not for profit, etc industries. The core Sage Accpac modules might be consider at horizontal solution as they were initially not developed for one specific industry but for many different industries. This has created a great deal of functionality in the application that allows the application to be useful in many different environments. In fact the core modules have been developed to such an extent that they are usually far more functional than the core of a vertical software solution. We usually find that our General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable and Business Intelligence modules are far more comprehensive than any vertical software solution.
2) Is Stand alone software the same as Horizontal software?
In my opinion Stand alone software is simply a piece of software that does not integrate to any other application. Stand alone software is often designed specifically for a vertical industry. I would say as a reseller we see clients and prospects using vertical invoicing, customer management, estimating and quoting, time and billing systems that were designed for there industries but do not integrate easily to back office systems more often than a stand alone horizontal system.
3) Software Vendors are verticalizing there solutions.
Many of the major players he mentions are but many are not. In reality they are simply marketing to industries where there solutions have a strong presence. In some cases the solution may be strong in that vertical industry but often we find that it is just a perception issue and the product often does not meet the mustard test when compared to a non vertical solution.
In summary I personally do not think horizontal solutions are dead nor do I think they will ever die. They will just be enhanced and modified to meet the needs of vertical industries or extensive marketing to industries they are well suited to will be increased. In that sense the name horizontal solutions may disappear but some of the best vertical solutions are and will be built on the foundation of a horizontal solution. Alternatively I do think that stand alone solutions are dieing a slow death and we will eventually find more and more software developers will build solutions on common platforms so that integration will become less of an issue.
Posted by Bonnie Wittmeier on Fri, Jul 16, 2010 @ 11:06 AM
Sooner or later, it happens. You run your AP Aged Payables Report, and compare the total to the balance in your GL, (AP trade account), and they are not equal. What now?
A reconciliation will need to be done, there’s no getting away from that. You will need to do a comparison between all the transactions that have gone through AP and cross them off against all the entries in the GL Listing to find out which one(s) are different and/or missing. This can be a tedious process. However, there are a couple of tips and tricks that might help short-circuit the task.
- Ensure all your AP batches have been sent to the GL. (AP Periodic Processing / Create GL Batches). Then, POST all the AP batches in the GL. Re-run your reports to see if we are now in balance.
- Run your reports as of a future period, such as the end of the current fiscal year. Sometimes AP transactions get posted to prior periods. After they get sent to the GL, the period may be adjusted to a current period before posting. (So as not to affect an already published financial statement, for example, or because that period has already been closed). Therefore, the imbalance may only be due to a fiscal period discrepancy, and will even out at a later period. This is not normally a concern unless it crosses over a year end.
- Under GL Transaction History, select the AP trade account. Change the source code to different modules besides AP and check if there are any entries which originated from somewhere besides AP. These entries may be the cause of the variance.
If these 3 tricks don’t reveal the difference between your subledger and your GL, a full reconciliation will be required. Here’s how to make that process simpler:
- Locate the last fiscal period where the AP and the GL were in balance. Use that as a starting point to begin your reconciliation.
- Identify the variance amounts for each subsequent period since AP & GL were in balance.
- If several subsequent periods are out of balance by the same amount, locating and adjusting the first of those periods will bring the following ones into balance.
- If the periods are out of balance by different amounts, then there are variances in each period that need to be identified.
| Period |
AP |
GL |
Variance |
| 04 |
120,000 |
120,000 |
0 |
| 05 |
114,500 |
118,000 |
-3,500 |
| 06 |
95,000 |
98,500 |
-3,500 |
| 07 |
108,000 |
106,500 |
1,500 |
| 08 |
87,800 |
98,700 |
-10,900 |
In this example, period 4 is balanced, and there are discrepancies in periods 5, 7 and 8. The reconciliation process needs to begin at period 5. Depending on the adjustments required to bring period 5 into balance, (the AP may need to be increased, or the GL amount decreased, or some combination of these), the variance amounts of periods 7 and 8 may be changed, therefore it will be imperative to start the reconciliation at the earliest period that is out of balance.
- Print the GL Transaction Listing for the AP trade account for period 5. Then print either of the AP Transaction reports – Vendor Transactions, or GL Transactions – depending on which one works best for your particular set of data.
- Compare each of the entries in the GL to each transaction on the AP report. Once each line item has been compared and crossed off with its match, you should be left with the ‘orphan’ entries – your variance. You could also export each of these reports into excel and use some sorting and comparison formulas to assist with this task.
- Now that you have the source of your discrepancy, you will be able to correct the imbalance by making the appropriate adjustments.
This process is identical for the AR subledger as well.
There are some settings which can be optimized for reconciliation purposes.
- Ensure your AP trade account is set to be a ‘control account’ which allows only AP transactions to be posted into it. (GL Accounts / Accounts – select ‘control account’ and then add ‘AP’ to the ‘subledger’ tab)
- Check your AP Setup / GL Integration / Transactions. Set your Detail Transaction Types (invoice, credit note, payment, etc) to have easily recognizable fields sent to the GL Detail Reference and GL Detail Description columns (vendor number and document number for example). This will make identifying specific AP transactions easier in the GL Transactions Listing report.
Give us a call if you need assistance with this!
Posted by Glen Mund on Tue, Jul 13, 2010 @ 02:29 PM
When I speak to clients and prospects in the distribution sector, and ask about their inventory problems, the most common response is the lack of inventory accuracy. Most often this means the quantity of inventory on the warehouse floor does not match the records in the ERP or other system. Obviously this is very critical functionality that an ERP system can provide but the functionality requirements should not end here.
Other critical inventory accuracy functionality that should be expected from your ERP software are:
Inventory Value
- Obsolescence : What is the value of obsolete inventory? This reporting assists with the determination of how well an organization manages its inventory and how accurate the existing demand forecasts are. Perhaps product quality is poor. An ERP system should help make this type of assessment.
Check out the rest of my lastest article on the Sage ERP blog at; http://blog.sageerpsolutions.com/inventory-accuracy/
Posted by Alistair Hill on Mon, Jul 12, 2010 @ 01:59 PM
SageCRM is probably one of the most poorly named products in the Sage lineup. While being straight to the point as far as identifying what the product is, it also paints the product into a corner as to what it can really do. CRM stands for "Customer relationship management", which out of the box is most certainly a function of SageCRM, but it absolutely does not stop there.
Where the C in CRM stands for customer, there is the implication of accounts receivables. Because your customers are in AR, right? Sure, but what if you only have AP? SageCRM applies the same logic to your vendors as it does your customers and thus making it also a VRM, although a quick Internet search shows that VRM is general not a typical acronym in this context.
We've added V, but what else can we do? Let's add a few fields to the user record, like birthday, hire date etc, and now we've added H for Human Resources. We can customize the appointment interface a bit and now we have scheduling. Another customization to send details to an Accpac invoice and now we have Time and Billing.
So what are we up to? C for Customer, V for Vendor, H for human, and TBS for Time and Billing. Not your typical CRM software and we're not even done yet. Right out of the box, SageCRM has a Cases module. Lets rename Cases to Workorders (cause you can do that), and now you have Service Management software.
There is almost no limit to the information that you can track in SageCRM; it is not just limited to Customers. With a little imagination, you can change that C to almost any letter combination you want.
Posted by Alison Boons on Mon, Jul 05, 2010 @ 01:18 PM
As you are all aware, the HST arrived on July 01, 2010. Some of you may have noticed the difference on your purchases over the weekend, some may have not. Either way, it is here!
Have you not changed all your systems over, or are unsure what you should be charging HST on? The CRA still has HST sessions available & Plus is still offering our fixed fee services to help you implement the HST.
If you are still stuck, 5 days in to the new tax, give us a call today! We are here to help!
Posted by Wendy Gorrie on Fri, Jun 25, 2010 @ 12:38 PM
Sage North America has recently launched a new website (Portal) in an effort to better serve all of their customers.
For us "old dogs" who need some assistance learning these new tricks here are some quick links and helpful information to assist with the transition to the new site.
Accessing the New Portal
The contact person in Sage's database, for your company, would have already received an email from Sage with, see email below, your new Account ID#, details about settings required for Internet Explorer in order to view the portal and details on how to register for access to the Portal. Details of that email are as follows;
Important Logon Information for Your Account
Company Name: <>
New Account ID: <>
As we previously informed you, Sage is in the process of significantly restructuring our internal business management systems. This change will help provide you a unified experience with Sage including more personalized service and a new customer portal.
Your new account number is listed above. Please keep this email in your records to use when you contact us. This will help us access important account information as we help serve you.
We are also excited to announce the launch of our new Sage Customer Portal. You will be able to access account information, key information on your software, and access online support tools.
In order to access the customer portal, you will need to register for a user name and password using your account ID. If you use Internet Explorer 8, enable compatibility view. Go to Tools > Compatibility View Settings and click "Add".
Follow these instructions, to ensure you gain access today:
1. Click here to access the portal logon.
2. Click on "Need to Register?"
3. Select "Register as an Individual" and enter your new Company ID (provided in this email) in the box after "Enter your Sage Company ID or Reference Number".
4. Click "Register".
5. Enter your contact information. Your email address will be your log in ID to the Customer Portal.
6. Select and enter your password. Your password must contain at least 8 characters with at least one alpha, one numeric, and one special character.
7. Click "Save".
After your initial logon, you can visit https://customers.sagenorthamerica.com/, click "Logon" and use your new logon information you've just created. If at any time you have questions about how to log on or accessing information, please contact Sage at 877-828-6372.
You can also visit Sage's customer site for more information including frequently asked questions, video demos on how to use the new site, and more. Click here to learn more.
Navigating the New Portal
Ensure that you read and follow the instructions for Internet Explorer setting changes you may need to make, based on the version of Internet Explorer you are currently using.
Once you have logged in to the Sage Portal this link will direct you to a customer resource page where the most common navigation links are predefined for you.
Customer Technical Resource Center
Sage Accpac ERP | Sage CRM
Note: Please make sure you are logged into your Portal account for the links listed below to work.
Communities & Online Resources
Links to Commonly Visited areas in the Customer Portal
Product Downloads & Service Packs
Please note that the below links requires a current maintenance or support contract
Language Overlays
Please note files for Language Overlays for 5.6 Sage Accpac ERP are included with the program.
Sage ERP Accpac Payroll clients can find the instructions and downloads for Payroll Tax Updates, Click here. The following communication excerpt was sent out regarding the downloading of Payroll Tax Tables;
Tax Table Update - July 1, 2010
Both the U.S. and Canadian governments have announced changes that may affect your Sage Accpac ERP Payroll Update Plan (PUP) clients. Sage has incorporated these changes into the July 1, 2010 payroll tax updates for Sage Accpac versions 5.4, 5.5, and 5.6, which will be available for download on June 22, 2010. CDs will ship at the end of June.
Sage has received feedback that Portal navigation is challenging & have included the steps necessary for navigating these downloads.
Follow these steps to find your Tax Updates to download:
- Log on to the portal by entering your username and password (you must be logged in or you cannot access the Tax Updates)
- Click here
- Read the Download Instructions
- Select the Tax Update you need to install
Important Update: Installation Process Change
Activation Codes are no longer required. This modification to the installation process requires some additional requirements. Please ensure you update your installation process appropriately.
Critical: Product Update Requirements
Before installing the payroll tax update, you must verify your service pack or product update level first. More details on the error you will receive if you are not running the correct Product Update for your version can be found in the Answer ID 28923 Knowledge Base article. To verify what service pack or product update you have installed, click the System Information option in the Help menu in your Sage Accpac ERP program.
- If you are on Payroll 5.4A, System Manager Service Pack 3 or higher is required
- If you are on Payroll 5.5A, System Manager Product Update 3 or higher is required
- If you are on Payroll 5.6A, it is recommended that you install Product Update 1 before installing the Tax Update
Resources
The Knowledge Base offers several articles to assist with completing your update, including:
Sage Accpac Customer Support is prepared to help you during the hours of Monday - Friday from 6:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. PT.
Plus Computer Solutions is volunteering to assist Sage as part of an advisory council to ensure any usability issues are identified and resolved, if you have difficulty with navigation or have any questions about the new portal here are some helpful contact numbers.
How do I contact Sage for assistance with the Customer Portal?
For assistance with the Sage Customer Portal for Sage Accpac ERP or Sage CRM, contact Sage at 1.877.828.6372.
If you do run into difficulty and are having trouble obtaining help, please feel free to contact me at wendy@plus.ca or by phone at 604.420.1099 I will do my very best to assist you.
Posted by Plus Consultants on Wed, Jun 23, 2010 @ 12:01 PM
by TK Haran (tk@plus.ca)
1. What is Accpac Intelligence?
Organizations are increasingly suffering from information frustration. Having to manage large volumes of data, and needing to report from several databases and using inflexible reporting tools. Information delivery and user empowerment is increasingly taking centre stage in all enterprises with a resulting growth in the end user query and reporting (EUQR) category of the business intelligence market.
Sage Accpac Intelligence is an innovative software reporting solution that offers users, in organizations of all sizes, a powerful and intuitive reporting tool to take control of their own reports. It introduces a revolutionary approach to leveraging the reporting power of Microsoft Excel and protects and extends organizations existing IT skills and investment.
2. What Components does it have?
- Report Viewer
- Security Manager
- Report Manager
- Connector
- Analysis
- License Manager
3. Description of above components
- Report Viewer-This is used to view or to run the standard/shipped reports.
- Security manager- The Security Manager is an Administration tool that lets you (as System Administrator) manage Roles (User Groups) and assign Users and Reports to each Role. When security is enabled the User will be required to login and then will only have access to the Reports selected for the Role that User belongs to.
- Report manager- The Report Manager Interface allows users to design and manage their own reports and to display results in Microsoft Excel.
- Connector- The Connector allows an organization's system administrator to make a connection to their database in order to access the relevant tables for reporting purposes. It also allows an organization's system administrator to configure the metadata to empower the users to create their own reports.
- Analysis- An OLAP (On Line Analytical Processing) database allows business decision makers to analyze data that has been sorted into hierarchical structures. The data is static, so all mathematical aggregations can be built into the database query, thereby providing a more efficient and resource friendly means of reporting. This data warehouse can then be pulled into a pivot table within Excel, where the user is able to drill down into the report, using the hierarchical dimensions built into the query.
- License Manager- The License Manager provides a snapshot of your Sage Accpac Intelligence licenses and module configuration.
4. What Components come with a standard Accpac 5.6 installation?
- Report Viewer (1 user license)
- Report manager (1 user license)
- Security manager
5. Benefits of "AI"
- Works with a standard Microsoft windows look and feel.
- Reduces the need for IT department intervention.
- Reduces the need for custom complicated report creation by hired consultants.
- Consistent format (MS Excel) for reporting across multiple data sources.
- Business intelligence can become a standard desktop tool.
- Avoids inefficiencies in the report development life cycle thereby improving productivity.
- Empowers the user, thereby improving overall productivity.
- Optimizes return on investment by leveraging your existing IT infrastructure.
- Extends MS Excel skills rather than requiring learning of a new set of software skills.
6. Is there standard report/s available?
Yes and the shipped reports are as follows,
- Financials- Financial Report S, Financial Report D, Financial Report SB,
- Dashboard Analysis, Financial Trend Analysis
- Sales Master, Purchase Master, Inventory Master
Posted by Alison Boons on Fri, Jun 18, 2010 @ 02:27 PM
HST, HST, HST...that is all we are hearing these days as July 01, 2010 is right around the corner. Besides dealing with the fact that the year is half over, we now have this looming new tax banging at our door with only 12 days to go.
For more information about the HST, check out the article that Glen Mund (President of Plus) recently posted on the Sage ERP Solutions blog.
Click here to visit;
http://blog.sageerpsolutions.com/the-hst-is-on-your-doorstep-are-you-ready-to-welcome-it-in/
Still concerned about how this change is going to affect you, don't delay any longer, contact our office NOW!