Technology in Practice

Sage SalesLogix v7.5.3 features numerous enhancements such as desktop integration, a new web administrator tool, role-based security for the Web Client, and sleek new widgets for the newly refreshed personal workspace tabs. Highlights of Sage SalesLogix v7.5.3* Welcome Page Widgets: Coupled with a visual refresh to the Welcome page, v7.5.3 offers new widgets enabling users to further personalize their Welcome page and workspace tabs and share that content with other users. The refreshed Welcome Page gives you quick and easy access to the information you use the most. Web Administrator Tool:  While this does not replace the current Sage SalesLogix Administrator, it does let you access common administrator tasks via the web, such as managing users and teams, pick lists, products, lead sources, library, teams, users, roles, and more. Desktop Integration: Drag and drop attachments and email from Microsoft Outlook, perform mail merge, export to Excel, drag and drop Library files (administrator only), and much more. To learn more Register for this upcoming Webcast: What’s New in Sage SalesLogix v7.5.3 * Features available in Web Client only.

Whether you manage your payroll in house or outsource it to a service provider, as a Sage Abra HRMS customer, your organization has the flexibility to choose either one, and still enjoy a fully integrated solution. Here we cover Sage payroll outsourcing by CompuPay, as well as a PayCard service. The PayCard service provides an additional benefit to employees while saving you money and it can be added to either your Sage Abra Payroll module or to the Sage outsourced payroll service. Sage Outsourced Payroll ServicePayroll outsourcing can help reduce your workload, freeing up time to take care of what is really important – attending to your clients and growing your business. Sage payroll outsourcing by CompuPay makes payroll simple and cost-effective regardless of your companyís size. As a payroll services client, you can take advantage of a full range of payroll outsourcing services including: Secure and convenient online, phone, and fax payroll processing options. Payroll tax payments and filings for all federal, state, and local agencies. Multiple check, direct deposit, and paycard options. Personalized customer service from a team of payroll professionals. Online employee access to W-2 forms and pay stubs with online payroll. Integration with Sage Abra HRMS. About CompuPay CompuPay was chosen as the Sage outsourced payroll solution partner for its experience and track record providing payroll services to small and medium-size businesses, and for its competitively priced services. Founded 30 years ago, CompuPay is the fourth largest outsourced payroll provider in the U.S., processing payrolls for over 600,000 work site employees for 26,000 plus businesses in all 50 states. Working With CompuPay Experienced payroll industry specialists at CompuPay will work with you every step of the way in setting up your online payroll. Staff at CompuPay gather your year-to-date payroll data and load it into the online payroll system for you. They will then guide you through your first payroll. You even can customize the Web page to help make entering payroll faster. You simply enter your payroll data online through the secure Web site, review the net-to-gross totals, and approve your payroll. Within minutes you can review your reports and checks. CompuPay can print and deliver paychecks to you, or you can print them from your desktop printer. There also is an employee self-service system that allows employees to go online and review their payroll-related information. When you opt for CompuPay outsourced payroll, CompuPay maintains changes to tax rules and rates; files and delivers W-2 forms at year end; remits federal, state, and local tax collections; prepares and submits federal, state, and local payroll tax returns; and processes all payroll checks and reports for you. Tax filing is guaranteed penalty-free, provided that the information that is provided is complete and accurate and your payroll tax account is fully funded. Fully Integrated The CompuPay payroll service can fully integrate with your other software solutions. It synchronizes closely with the Sage Abra HRMS HR and Attendance modules. The payroll synchronization process is performed from within the processes menu in Sage Abra, you simply select HR, and then Sage Payroll Service Sync. Information flows from the Sage Abra HR and Attendance modules to CompuPay including: Company Benefit Codes, Org Levels, Attendance Codes, Absence Reason Codes, and New Employees. The following information flows from CompuPay to the Sage Abra Attendance and HR modules: Absence transactions, Pay checks, and W-4 forms if integrated with AWC Employee Self-service. The CompuPay payroll service also generates appropriate journal entries for posting to your general ledger. A General Ledger Self Service Wizard allows you to view accounts online and set up and revise the posting accounts for cash, payroll expense, and employer taxes. You can choose different posting accounts for departments or even individual employees. You even can edit the GL posting prior to synchronization. If you want to leave all the worries of payroll to someone else and have more time to focus on your business, consider Sage outsourced payroll services by CompuPay. Sage Payroll PayCard Do you have employees who are without a bank account? According to industry research, more than 28 million people in the U.S. are unbanked or do not have a bank account. If you have employees who are unbanked, they will typically use a check cashing service and will be charged to cash their check – from one to six percent of their total paycheck. Now paycards offer a way for employers and unbanked employees to enjoy cost savings and convenience similar to direct deposit. In fact, the paycard can be offered as an alternative to paper paychecks, which translates to cost savings for your business. The primary advantage of paycards is the immediate elimination of costs associated with producing paper paychecks, which can equate to more than $1 per employee, per pay period. Sage Payroll PayCard offers this service. It is easy to implement and works seamlessly with your existing payroll solution. The Sage Payroll PayCard works the same way as a direct deposit transaction, and requires no additional systems, software, or hardware. Your company can incorporate the Sage Payroll PayCard program into your existing process regardless of the payroll software or service you currently use. If your company offers direct deposit, you also can offer the Sage Payroll PayCard. The Sage Payroll PayCard is a prepaid, reloadable, Sage-branded Visa debit card. The employeeís name is embossed on the card and an optional secondary card is available for qualified family members. With the Sage Payroll PayCard, you can offer your employees 24/7 access to funds. They even can receive their pay on time when they are out of the office whether on vacation, sick leave, or working remotely. With paycards your employees eliminate time-consuming trips to the bank. The Sage Payroll PayCard can be used anywhere debit cards are accepted, including ATMs, retail establishments, and for online purchases. With the Sage Payroll PayCard, you can save money while offering your employees additional benefits and convenience. Please give us a call with your questions.

The Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act was signed by the President on March 18, 2010. The HIRE Act provides hiring incentives to help restore some of the jobs lost in the latest economic recession and put Americans back to work as soon as possible. This new legislation includes tax benefits related to hiring employees and writing off investments in equipment. Tax Incentive For Hiring An important piece of the HIRE Act is a new tax incentive designed to encourage businesses to hire unemployed workers. The tax incentive includes both an exemption from payment of employer Social Security taxes and a tax credit of up to $1,000 per hired worker. Qualifications For Tax Incentive The 6.2 percent Social Security tax exemption begins with wages paid after March 18, 2010, the date the bill was signed into law, and lasts until December 31, 2010. The new employee cannot replace other employees, and in order to qualify, an employee must provide a statement indicating they were unemployed 60 days before beginning work or that they worked less than 40 hours total for someone else during the 60 days before beginning work. The IRS has developed Form W-11 for this purpose. Only employees who meet all the requirements of a qualified employee may complete this affidavit. Form W-11 requires qualified individuals to provide their name, Social Security Number, first date of employment, and the name of the employer. For an employer to receive the tax benefits under the HIRE Act, including the payroll tax exemption or the new hire retention credit, Form W-11 must be completed and signed by the employee. Form W-11 is not filed with the IRS. Rather, employers must retain them along with other payroll and income tax records. For more information and to obtain a copy of the Form W-11, visit http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=221036,00.html. This reduced tax withholding will have no effect on employeesí future Social Security benefits. Keep in mind that you will still need to withhold the employeeís share of Social Security taxes, income taxes, and employer and employeesí shares of Medicare taxes. If your company retains workers hired under the HIRE Act for at least a year, your company can claim a tax credit of up to $1,000 per worker. The credit is claimed on the 2010 income tax return. The worker must be employed for at least 52 consecutive weeks and the wages for the last 26 weeks must equal at least 80 percent of the wage for the first 26-week period. Act Now Businesses that hire qualifying workers sooner rather than later will get the most out of the tax credits, as the tax credits diminish over time, disappearing completely by January 1, 2011. HIRE Act And Sage Abra Suite Changes have been made to both Sage Abra Suite and Sage Abra SQL HRMS to accommodate the provisions of the HIRE Act. Give us a call if you have any questions about how the HIRE Act impacts your business.

Today we announced OnTheGo™ for Sage SalesLogix™ CRM, a mobile application for iPhone and Android phones (a Blackberry version is coming shortly). Available for download from either the Apple Store or Android Market, the OnTheGo application allows users to access their Sage SalesLogix 7.52 CRM database and the SalesLogix Cloud Edition from their smart phone, where they can leverage contact and historical information from their Sage SalesLogix database. Created by Net at Work’s US-based application development group, the Sage SalesLogix app allows users to source information from the host database without requiring them to carry large volumes of data while facilitating secure transactions and fast data retrieval. “OnTheGo was driven by customer demand for anytime, anywhere access to real time information, enabling users to add critical functionality to the devices they already depend on every day,” said Danny Estrada, CRM Practice Director from Net at Work. “OnTheGo for Sage SalesLogix is easy to download, install, and use, without requiring IT support. Net at Work will develop other OnTheGo applications based on customer feedback and demand. As smart phones get smarter and become increasingly robust platforms for business use, we expect the OnTheGo line to grow exponentially and become an indispensible business productivity tool.” The OnTheGo™ for Sage SalesLogix product line adds mobile functionality to business applications, offering the following key benefits: Real Time Information – Live transactions talk to your internal databases. Leverage Data on Your Phone – Use information with core phone capabilities for email or phone. Simple Installation – No server software or IT consulting needed to use immediately. Feedback Portal – Give us your thoughts on future releases while you use the application so that we can make it better. “The team from Net at Work has leveraged the investment Sage has made in providing cloud friendly platforms that can make information available to any user or any application wherever they need critical information,” said Matt Yearling, SVP, Technology Strategy and R&D for Sage CRM Solutions. “We love to see this type of innovation that takes our best of breed Sage SalesLogix application and makes front line sales and service people more productive without adding significant overhead to IT operations,” added Jeff Gregorec, VP, Sales for Sage CRM Solutions. The OnTheGo mobile product line is powered by the development team from Net at Work. For the past 15 years, Net at Work has worked with thousands of organizations in making technology easy to use, deploy, and maintain. OnTheGo for SalesLogix will be offered in three “flavors:” OnTheGo, OnTheGo Plus, and OnTheGo Platinum (the latter will offer expanded read/write capability). Whether using the network version of Sage SalesLogix or the Cloud Edition of Sage SalesLogix, users can download OnTheGo from either the Apple Store or Android Market. For more information, visit www.myonthego.com. About Net at Work Founded in 1996, Net at Work provides business technology consulting, solutions, and services including application development. The OnTheGo™ line of mobile business productivity applications is based on 15 years of expertise developing, extending, and integrating business applications. Headquartered in the heart of Times Square in New York City, Net at Work has offices around the country. For more information on Net at Work and the company’s development capabilities, please visit www.netatwork.com. For more information on the OnTheGo™ mobile application for Sage Saleslogix CRM (now Infor CRM), call 1800-719-3307, x4CRM. OnTheGo™, the OnTheGo logos and the OnTheGo product and service names mentioned herein are registered trademarks or trademarks of Net at Work, Inc., or its affiliated entities. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. Sage, the Sage logos, and the Sage product and service names mentioned herein are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sage Software, Inc., or its affiliated entities. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Sage is following up the its release of Sage Abra Suite Version 9 with two Service Releases. The first one, released in June, contained changes required for the HIRE Act. The second Service Release is scheduled for release this Fall and includes capabilities requested by customers during the beta testing of Version 9.0. Simplified Product UpdatesOne of the capabilities added to Sage Abra Suite Version 9 is the ability to install cumulative product updates that include all changes made to the product. This means that Service Releases will include all changes made to the system and you will have the benefit of all updates added to the system since the previous release. June Service Release If you are running the Sage Abra Payroll module, you already should have downloaded and installed the June Service Release because it included changes required for second quarter tax reporting and third quarter payroll processing. This release addresses changes made to comply with the HIRE Act legislation. A new field, HIRE Act Qualified Employee, has been added to the Payroll Status window. The field default is no, check yes to indicate a HIRE Act eligible employee. Two new tax codes have been added for the HIRE Act: EMP9 (HIRE ACT Employer Social Security Tax) is similar to the EMP1 (Employer Social Security Tax) tax code but it has a rate of 0.00. RR19 (HIRE ACT – RAIL & RETIRE LEVEL 1 TAX ER ) similar to the RR1E (RAIL & RETIRE LEVEL 1 TAX EMPR) tax code but with a rate of 0.00. By default, these tax codes are set to expire on 12/31/2010. However, if this tax credit is extended, the expiration date can be changed. The 941 form has been modified to accommodate the HIRE Act. Changes to the Form W-2 and Form W-3 also are needed for the HIRE Act. These changes will be made in the fourth quarter and will be available in the Q4 2010 Tax Update. The June Service Release also corrected a performance issue with the HR module. Customers reported performance problems when running an Employee Find at the same time as running a Crystal ReportÆ that used the HRPERSNL database. The June Service Release corrects this issue. September Service Release Another Service Release is scheduled for delivery with the 3rd Quarter Tax Update for Payroll customers and also will be available for download for HR customers in late September. The Service Release includes a selection of customer-requested updates in the Sage Abra Suite HR, Benefits, Attendance, Payroll, and ESS modules. These requests were gathered from customers who participated in the beta testing of Sage Abra Suite Version 9.0, comments added in Product Feedback, and through Customer Support. Among these are several key enhancements for Employee Self Service. Payroll and Attendance information now will be available to include in the dynamic information sharing capabilities of ViewBuilder, introduced in Sage Abra Suite Version 9.0 Also added is the ability to create and publish Crystal Reports on the Web and include them for viewing in ESS. Give us a call with your questions about the Sage Abra Suite Version 9.0 service releases.

Credit card fraud has been a serious issue for some time now, fueled in part by the high volume of Web-based credit card transactions. According to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, more than 100 million records containing sensitive information have been exposed to theft since 2005. To safeguard sensitive information, effective July 2010, all organizations processing credit card data must comply with the new Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI- DSS) or risk being fined by their credit card processor. Here we provide a brief overview of the PCI-DSS requirements. 12 PCI-DSS Requirements All businesses processing credit cards are required to comply to the 12 components of PCI-DSS requirements below: Install and maintain a firewall configuration to protect cardholder data. Do not use vendor-supplied defaults for system passwords and other security parameters. Use strong system passwords. Protect stored cardholder data using programming methods such as encryption, truncation, masking, and hashing. Encrypt transmission of cardholder data across open, public networks. Use and regularly update anti-virus software. Develop and maintain secure systems and applications. When a software vendor, such as Microsoft, issues a security patch, it must be installed promptly. Restrict access to cardholder data to those who need it to complete their job responsibilities. Assign a unique ID to each person with access to your computer or network. Secure hard copies of credit card information in a restricted access location. Track and monitor all access to network resources and cardholder data. Test your security systems and processes on a regular basis. Maintain a written company policy that addresses information security. Sage ERP Accpac Credit Card Data Scrub Utility To assist customers in complying with PCI-DSS by removing credit card data from Sage ERP Accpac, a Credit Card Data Scrub Utility has been developed. The utility is compatible with all supported versions of Sage ERP Accpac, including Versions 5.4, 5.5, and 5.6, and addresses all Order Entry, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, and Bank Services records that contain credit card information. An option is provided to export the credit card information. In this case a password will be required to protect/encrypt the exported data file. The password will not be stored by Sage ERP Accpac and Sage will not have the ability to extract it at a later date. You must run the utility separately for each company that contains credit card information. Make certain to backup all company databases before running the utility. Once you have completed running the Scrub Utility you will be able to complete the required Self-Assessment Questionnaire, stating that you do not store credit card information in your payment application. For more information on PCI Compliance, please visit: http://www.sageaccpacinfo.com/PCI/

For current Sage ERP Accpac customers there is a sample multi-currency company available for your review and testing.If you would like to see for yourself what a company operating in multiple currencies in Sage ERP Accpac looks like, files for Sample Data can be DBLoaded from the Sage Accpac shared data location in the Samdata folder. This folder is by default: C:Program FilesSage SoftwareSage AccpacSamdata The multi-currency database is: SAMLTDóSample Company Ltd with Canadian Payroll and Multi-Currency Please give us a call with any questions you may have.

Automating And Integrating The Purchasing Process Can Result In Significant Cost SavingsIn this difficult business environment, smart managers are seeking ways to reduce expenses. Here is a powerful statistic: if a business operates on 10 percent profit margins, a reduction in expenses of just 5 percent has the same impact on the bottom-line as 50 percent higher sales. Is your company paying too much for purchased items? Effective purchasing processes can play a critical role in cost control and its contribution to the bottom-line cannot be overstated. Yet this vital function is often overlooked in the automation process. In this article we discuss the signs of inefficient purchasing processes and how the fully automated purchasing system in Sage ERP Accpac can help. Signs Of Inefficient Purchasing How efficient are your purchasing processes? The following are signs that you are missing potential savings that can be achieved with an integrated, automated process: Individual departments each make small orders of items, such as office supplies, with various vendors. Paper forms are used to request purchases and gather approvals. In routing, requests are often delayed or misplaced. After a requestor fills out paper forms or spreadsheets for purchase approval, other staff must then key in the information to update the General Ledger and Accounts Payable systems. The formal purchasing process is only required for big ticket items. Smaller purchases are made on an individual haphazard basis. The purchasing process is lengthy, and results in loss of productivity because items are not available when needed. The Purchase Orders Module The key to simplifying purchasing is integration. Purchase Orders is a comprehensive, automated purchasing system that is fully integrated with your Sage ERP Accpac system enabling you to: Manage suppliers better Negotiate lower prices Establish effective internal controls Maintain optimal inventory levels Maximize purchasing power Reduce time in the purchase cycle Analyze spending data Negotiate Better Prices The first benefit of centralizing purchasing with the Purchase Orders module is the ability to set up standard supplier lists and develop relationships with preferred vendors. You can negotiate better prices for high volume supplies or inventory items. This module allows you to set up contract pricing for each vendor to track special pricing agreements. You also can create message templates to speed the process of sending purchase orders and returns to vendors by e-mail. Maintain Optimal Inventory Levels To achieve optimal inventory you must have the right products on hand when needed, while avoiding overstocking to minimize carrying costs. The Purchase Orders module can be configured to automatically produce purchase orders based on Inventory Control reorders or from Order Entry backlogs. It also allows you to smoothly drop-ship items directly to the customer from your preferred vendors. Integrating the inventory, purchasing, and order entry processes helps you maintain the delicate supply/demand balance. Purchases can be made quickly based on real-time order information. Fresh inventory can be ordered just-in-time, so that you maintain adequate stock while avoiding overstocking items and the associated storage costs. Flexibility In Purchase Order Creation and Receiving Features in the Purchase Orders module make creating purchase orders fast and easy. You automatically can produce purchase orders from Inventory Control reorder information or from Order Entry back orders. Templates can be set up for frequently ordered items to improve productivity. A single purchase order can be created from multiple requisitions, to give you more purchasing power with your suppliers. Various purchase order types are supported. You can create standing and blanket purchase orders, and you even can set up future purchase orders. Choose from seven costing methods for the default item cost that prints on purchase orders. The costing methods include: Most Recent Cost, Standard Cost, Average Cost, Vendor Cost, Last Unit Cost, and two alternate amounts for added flexibility. Productivity gains are realized during the PO receiving process as well. You can combine multiple purchase orders on a single receipt and multiple receipts on a single invoice. You can process adjustments to quantities, item costs, and additional costs directly on the receipt, rather than as separate inventory adjustments, and allocate additional charges manually or by quantity, weight, or cost. Once goods are received, the Shippable Backorder report helps identify the customer orders that can be shipped. Leave purchase orders open indefinitely until all items are received, or cancel any remaining ordered items at any time. Analyze Spending Patterns Another important benefit of an integrated purchasing system is the insight it provides into your companyís spending patterns. You can review current status and spot patterns using built-in purchasing reports such as Purchase History, Transaction and Audit Lists, Purchase Statistics, and Aging Reports. The Purchase Orders module information also will flow into your business intelligence solution so that you can analyze your spending using graphical views. Purchase Globally With Ease Is your company sourcing materials, parts, or finished goods in other countries? If so, the Purchase Orders module can make your day-to-day job much easier. Used along with the Multi-Currency module you can create POs in multiple currencies and translate them back into your home currency before posting to Accounts Payable and General Ledger. The module also allows you to report on purchases across currencies by translating them into a single currency for analysis. While it adds efficiency, you do not need to use the Inventory Control module to take advantage of automated purchasing with the Purchase Orders module. As the economy recovers, your integrated purchasing system will help your organization continue to control costs and improve purchasing power. If you can purchase more goods and services than your competitors do for the same money, your company will gain an advantage that directly impacts the bottom-line. Give us a call to learn more about the Sage ERP Accpac Purchase Orders module.

Imagine a different world where you could have immediate access to key employee information, from job history to performance reviews? What if you had software that would remind you about important dates, and organize all of your employee documents, including W-2 forms? Do you wish you could easily create benefit plans and take the hassle out of compliance? Sage HR solutions can help you effectively manage your human resource and/or payroll needs. Eliminate the use of Excel spreadsheets or other manual reporting tools Stop double entry into your accounting solution! Fully integrated HRMS (Integrated to GL and/or PR for MAS 90/200, MAS500, ACCPAC, Sage Pro) or alternately integrated to an outsourced Payroll service (i.e. CompuPay or ADP). Move toward a paperless HRMS and/or Payroll processing environment reducing costs and helping the environment. Grow your business with improved processes without adding more employees