Resources for Sage X3 Users

Amazon Simple Email Service (SES) is a robust email service provided by Amazon Web Services which helps businesses send business emails to their customers securely via the latest email transmission and authentication technologies such as SPF and DKIM. As more and more businesses are adopting these technologies in their email policies, they usually demand their business partners also adhere to these standards otherwise communications would be lost by their email filters/spam detectors.  Therefore, Sage X3 customers need the communications sent out of their ERP system to be compliant with these frameworks. Fortunately, in the latest release of Sage X3 (V12 2022R4), you can setup the system to use an external messaging server, also known as Notification Server, such as Amazon SES. Let’s see what we need to do to set things up for our business. HOW TO SET USE AN EXTERNAL MESSAGING SERVER First up, you will need to login to your AWS Console and search for SES. Click on the Simple Email Service link to be greeted by the following screen. You will need to establish an identity with SES so that you confirm the ownership of your business domain or email address and accept certain fair and rightful usage policies. Click on “Create identity” to get started. On this screen, choose whether you want to establish the identity for your entire organization via the domain name or a single email address that you will use to contact your customers. As Sage X3 will send emails to your customers from the user who initiates the message, it is recommended that you confirm your domain name. Choose “Use a Custom Mail from Domain” option so your emails will look like they have been sent from your corporate email.com, e.g. Sage.com. If Amazon is your domain registrar, enable the “Publish DNS records to Route53” option so SES can easily change your MX record settings for you, otherwise disable this option and you will be guided to setup your MX records later. In DKIM section, choose Easy DKIM option, followed by RSA_2048_BIT as your key length and Enable the DKIM signatures for the best DKIM authentication. Click the Create Identity button and you will be given a set of CNAME, MX and TX records you will need to add to your DNS settings so SES can confirm the ownership of your domain as well as establishing a certified SPF and DKIM relationship with your DNS server. Once you have added these records, your identity status will change to “Successful”. You will now need to create a unique SMTP credential to be used in your Sage X3’s Notification Server. Click on SMTP Settings and then Create SMTP Credentials. Do take note of the assigned SMTP endpoint (Server) as well as this will be the server you will need to set up in the Notification Server function in Sage X3. Choose an internal IAM name for this user or accept the default user. I am going to accept the default name and click Create. You will be given a confirmation window that shows you a unique SMTP username and password which you won’t be able to retrieve later, so please take good note of them as you will need to enter these in X3’s notification server settings: Now head back to X3 and create a new Notification Server in Administration module: Choose SMTP as your server type. Do not use the Amazon SES option as that requires a different type of credential setting not covered here. Enter the provided SMTP server in the SMTP Credentials page of SES Enter port 465 Choose TLS as security mode Authentication Type: Authentication with user and password Enter the username and password generated by SES. Sender Email: enter any email @yourbusiness domain. This will not be used to send emails from, but to establish trust with SES. You can either use the default theme provided by Sage or define your own HTML theme for your outgoing emails. Leaving this option blank will result in your emails generated in Text mode instead of HTML. Themes are configured in Administration > Collaboration > Notification > Notification Themes In order to enable this new functionality, two new Folder-level Parameters need to be modified: SYRMAIL : Use notification server? (SUP chapter, WRK group) to Yes if you want to use the new email client, otherwise No (Default value). SYRMAILSRV : Notification server (SUP chapter, WRK group) value contains the name of the appropriate notification server. In addition to setting the SYRMAIL and SYRMAILSRV General Parameters, if SYRMAIL is set to “Yes”, then each Workflow Rule can be configured separately to use or not use a Notification Theme by ticking the “Use a theme” box – this is not available if SYRMAIL is set to “No”. This is done in Setup > Workflow > Workflow Rules. Should you have any more questions about using Amazon SES as Notification Server in Sage X3, or for any other questions about Sage X3, please contact us. Note: Content for this blog post was originally posted on Sage City by Amir Shahi on May 1, 2023.

Security is at the forefront for all organizations today. Sage X3 has ability to integrate credentials to both SAML2 and LDAP. However, starting with version 12 patch 16, Sage added a password policy functionality native to Sage X3 which allows the X3 administrator to enforce strong passwords when you are not using LDAP or SAML2. We recommend combining the below with a review of your users and their security groups in Sage X3. Please note that this is done on the Syracuse layer of the application, so it would apply to all folders of a single Sage X3 environment. Proper backup of the solution prior to making that change is highly recommended. Also, consider making some of these changes during off-hours. HOW IT WORKS The way to implement would include the following steps and coordination for deployment: Setup of a policy There is a default policy you can use Upload blacklisted passwords If you want to prevent users from using a set of known passwords in the company, you can upload a blacklist of any passwords which would meet the general rule but remain weak. For instance Password@12345 would meet the below policy yet remain weak in terms of security: Apply the policy in the global settings Determine which users require password changes and which do not NOTE: Requiring password changes needs to be done one user at a time. Once configured, you should communicate the password policy to all affected users before deploying the enforcement. If you are interested in Net at Work deploying this solution with your team, please contact your Account Manager or your Team Manager for more information.

In the latest issue of Manufacturing Today, Mary Floate speaks to Rob Sinfield, VP of Product at Sage, about getting manufacturers ahead of the curve so they are not chasing but are actually setting trends. GETTING AHEAD OF THE CURVE IN MODERN MANUFACTURING Rob Sinfield, VP Product, Sage, ended up in the ERP industry almost by mistake. “I started out thinking I was going to change the world as a risk manager and auditor, but realized pretty quickly that it wasn’t what I wanted to do. I worked for a global manufacturing company initially and several subsequent moves later, decided that I wanted to get behind the scenes and cross over into software implementation. I felt there was a misalignment between software vendors’ product and the operational capabilities in the hands of the customer. In the past, frameworks often required a huge amount of technical knowhow from a customer perspective, in terms of day-to-day implementation. I wanted to move away from that scenario to be able to deliver capabilities that could be readily and easily deployed.” As VP of Product, Rob is responsible for the design, development and delivery of software solutions to manufacturers and distributors. “I look after a number of different teams that are focused on creating tailored customer solutions to ultimately deliver on our promises. Another aspect of my job is to look at what is happening form a policy and trend perspective. My goal is to get manufacturers ahead of the curve, so they are not chasing but are actually setting trends”, he explains. In terms of trends and current challenges facing the sector, Rob breaks them down into three distinct areas. “There are technological, macro-economic and perspective challenges that manufacturers face. All three areas of challenges need to be considered, but not in isolation. Legislation and societal trends are driving technological changes, and macro-economic circumstances are impacting all of them. So, it’s the perfect storm, but it’s not all bad. There are some really great things that are going to out of this as well. To read the full interview, check out the March issue of Manufacturing Today (pages 10 – 15). For questions about how Sage X3 can further help your manufacturing business, contact us.

There is one thing about reports that people rarely talk about—how hard they can be to read. It doesn’t really matter how great your data is if your reports aren’t easily consumable by readers. User-friendly reporting allows readers to focus on the implications of the data—not report itself—allowing for quicker decision-making. In this blog post, we will focus on creating a better version of the Traceability query/report in Sage X3. The query has great data but isn’t easy to read out-of-the-box. MODIFYING THE TRACEABILITY REPORT (CONSSTK) IN Sage X3 Go to STOCK > INQUIRIES > MOVEMENTS > TRACEABILITY Modify the Criteria in the right panel to only show certain transactions.  There are two options based on the information needed: Finished Goods and what materials were used (a.k.a., “backwards” search) Raw material and everywhere that material went (a.k.a., “forward” search) BACKWARD SEARCH, FINISHED GOODS AND COMPONENTS USED TO MAKE THE FINISHED GOODS: Click on the Criteria in the right panel, select the options below, then click OK (or save as memo): Click Display Sel. In the right panel and it will provide the full details: At this point, there are two options: Print an indented Crystal Report. Use the Printing function in the right panel.  Not the Printer Icon…. This will produce a Crystal Report that has indentions and line breaks between levels: This report, STOCK14, can be modified in Crystal to look as needed   Export to Excel with indentions From the main query, select the Detail option in the right panel This will produce an indented view that can be exported to Excel: FORWARD SEARCH, RAW AND EVERYWHERE CONSUMED  Click on the Criteria in the right panel, select the options below, then click OK (or save as memo): Click Display Sel. In the right panel and it will provide the full details of where that component went: You can follow the same process to convert to an indented view or report: In this example, RAW306 is the component (level 1), consumed in INT302 (level 2,3), which is consumed into INT301 (level 4,5), which is consumed into FIN304 (Level 6) which finally shipped in Delivery (Level 7).   Also, the lot was consumed in other level 2’s which explains why the quantities have differences, but in this example, only 1 track was followed. Hopefully these steps will help you create a more user-friendly traceability report. If you have questions about this process, or any other questions about Sage X3, please contact us.

Sage has recently released a recorded product demonstration showing out of the box configurations and capabilities for Trade Promotion Management (TPM) within Sage X3. TPM CAPABILITIES IN CORE SAGE X3 Specifically, this recorded demo showcases: How to use Sage X3 to calculate customer rebates How to apply a deduction as part of a customer receiving process Relevant dashboards for approvals and reports Tips and tricks on how to configure Sage X3 to support a Trade Promotion Management process EXTENDING NATIVE FUNCTIONALITY Some of our clients do need more capabilities than the ones provided by the standard features shown in the recording. Net at Work has developed a module that extends the standard functionality shown in the recording.  For these clients, we would be happy to arrange a personalized demonstration and discovery call to determine how to best extend the native functionality for your specific requirements using our module. To receive a link to the Trade Promotion Management recorded demo, or for more information about our Net at Work extension, please email Sage X3 Practice Director Samantha Marshall.

While we live in a digital world today, there are still some things that rely on paper. Large purchases tend to be one of those things. Often times, spending limits on credit cards force customers to resort to paying by check. So what do you do if a customer that paid by check needs a refund? How do you refund a check in Sage X3? In this blog post, we will explore how to refund a processed accounts receivable payment in Sage X3 and send a refund check to your customer. PROCESSING A REFUND CHECK IN SAGE X3 Use the following steps to process a refund check using the AP Payment Entry transaction. Expand A/P-A/R Accounting, Payments, Payment Receipt Entry Select the payment entry transaction used for issuing checks (ex. PAYAT) Create a new payment Enter the BP (Customer) Confirm the ‘Control’ field is set to the Account Receivable collective account (The default may be Accounts Payable)  Enter the Bank and BP amount If the grid is left blank the refund can be applied to another open document later using manual matching  Click Create  Print the refund check Post the payment and review the ‘Accounting Document’ Notice that the GL Journal posting affects the AR account instead of AP For more information on refunding a processed AR payment in Sage X3, or for any other questions, please contact us.

Automation is a key part to transforming finance. In fact, automation has become a top priority for finance leaders in 2023. Automation allows finance teams the flexibility and efficiency to automate the tedious, time-consuming tasks and dedicate more time to strategic and higher-value contributions. The trend in recent years has been toward a more increased investment in technology, with automation leading the pack. In the 2023 Finance Leaders Survey: How Finance Leaders Can Spark Change Net at Work partner Prophix asked over 700 finance leaders about how they currently use automation and their plans for the future. The results show that these leaders are following through with their emphasis on automation in 2023: 27 percent of respondents told us that half or more of their processes are automated 65 percent of respondents told us they plan to automate half or more of their processes by the end of this year. 11 percent say they plan to be fully automated by year’s end. Read on to learn how finance functions use automation and what leaders plan for the year ahead. HOW FINANCE LEADERS ARE USING AUTOMATION Finance leaders said automation is crucial to their future vision. Nearly all survey respondents (97 percent) said they had at least some automated processes. There are three business goals that our respondents plan to achieve through further automation: 1. Transform the business Digital transformation is top of mind for finance leaders. As we go into 2023, 41 percent of our survey respondents said they are using automation to transform their business. A transformed finance function allows its employees to shift the way they think. Instead of approaching their role from a strict recording and reporting perspective, finance teams can drive innovation. Automation positions finance as a strategic contributor to the business: forward-looking, data-driven, and advisory. 2. Focus on high-value tasks Over a third (35 percent) of finance leaders told us they use automation to help their teams focus on higher-value tasks. By automating tasks like routine reporting, allocating expenses, or closing out the month, the finance team can spend their time doing more strategic work like analysis, skills development, and providing strategic insights to drive the business forward. 3. Provide direction in times of uncertainty Nearly a quarter of finance leaders (23 percent) told us that automation gives them the best way to prepare for multiple scenarios. When processes are automated, data can be updated as quickly as it’s generated, which allows forecasting software to create reports quarterly, monthly, or even on a rolling basis. Reports based on the latest data provide actionable insights to finance leaders, which they can share with executive leadership. This type of reporting helps drive more thoughtful decision-making, even when circumstances are rapidly changing. FINANCE WILL INCREASE AUTOMATION IN 2023 One clear theme from our survey is that leaders need to build on automation’s capabilities. With the continued investment in automation planned for 2023, finance teams will realize a wealth of benefits. The time they spend manually entering data and transferring files will decrease dramatically, allowing them to focus on high-value tasks that will position finance as an invaluable strategic asset to the organization. To Learn more about how finance leaders worldwide are elevating the finance function, please contact us. NOTE: This content was originally posted on Prophix.com on April 18, 2023.

Net at Work is pleased to announce the acquisition of Innovation ERP, a leading Sage X3 consulting firm. The acquisition deepens Net at Work’s bench of experienced Sage ERP business technology consultants and provides Innovation ERP clients with direct access to a complete range of next generation technologies and services to help them unleash the power of their business, including: customer relationship management (CRM), Employer Solutions, eCommerce, Managed IT and Cloud Hosting services. ACQUISITION EXPANDS REACH OF NET AT WORK’S SAGE X3 PRACTICE The Innovation ERP team will become part of Net at Work, assuring their clients a seamless transition and the uninterrupted delivery of services and support. We are excited to welcome Jeff Moncrief (Sr. Sales Engineer), Robert Zickefoose (Sales Manager), Sylvia Ellison (Account Manager), Paul Adelmann (Sr. X3 Consultant), Blaise Rovney (Sr. X3 Consultant), and Jaret Ruscio (Sr. X3 Consultant) to the Sage Enterprise team. “We’re excited to welcome Innovation ERP as the newest member of the Net at Work family, as they are one of the most respected Sage ERP partners,” said Alex Solomon, Net at Work Co-President. “The acquisition brings additional world-class talent to our already industry-leading Sage group.” “I am proud to be part of such an inspirational and talented team that attracts the best from our Sage X3 ERP eco-system,” said Samantha Marshall, Sage X3 Practice Director, “Great things to come from the newly expanded team of Net at Work!” “Net at Work is one of Sage’s biggest and most valued business partners and have built one of the most trusted and respected business consultancies in North America,” said Jeff Moncrief co-owner of Innovation ERP. “Our team is excited to be joining Net at Work and providing our clients with the comprehensive support they need to transform, improve, and grow their business.” To view the entire press release, click here. For more information about Net at Work’s acquisition of Innovation ERP, or for any Sage X3 questions, please contact us.

2022 was a record-setting year for Nectari & Sage Enterprise Intelligence sales around the globe. Thanks is part to Net at Work who was recognized as Nectari’s top North America sales partner for 2022. INTIUTIVE BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE FULLY INTEGRATED WITH SAGE X3 Nectari’s seamless integration with Sage Solutions and rich feature set make Sage Enterprise Intelligence (aka Nectari) the business intelligence solution of choice for thousands of Sage customers worldwide. Sage Enterprise Intelligence is an intuitive business intelligence solution fully integrated with Sage X3 to help users reduce time spent on analysis and reporting and make faster, better-informed decisions. Intuitive, easy-to-use BI solution empowers users to analyze and report on information in a self-service manner Quick access to information enables faster and better-informed decision-making and reduces time spent on analysis and reporting Tight and secure integration with Sage X3 ensures the reliability of critical business information, supports coherent decision-making and fosters continuous cross functional improvement To learn more about Net at Work’s partnership with Nectari or how Sage Enterprise Intelligence (SEI) can help your business, please contact us.