Grow Your Business with the Right ERP Tools
Business Strategy, ERP August 30th, 2010
When implementing a new business system or replacing an old system, businesses should carefully consider their paths for future growth and choose a system that has the tools to enable that growth, while keeping expenses down and productivity high.
A few of the tools an ERP system should have to help you be positioned for growth are:
Integrated Functionality - What does that mean? It means all functional areas of your company (accounting, manufacturing, inventory, etc.) are unified with one interface and share one database, eliminating the need for redundant data entry and manual processes and minimizing the amount of IT staff needed to support it.
Business Intelligence - Effective intelligence will allow decision makers to quickly see customer behaviors, product and pricing trends, utilization data and other critical information they can use to make fast, informed decisions.
Collaboration with Business Partners - Being able to share information and work with your partners - suppliers, customers, contract service providers included - is imperative in a fast-moving competitive market. Web-enabled systems or SOA (Service-Oriented Architecture) platforms allow secure access to the functions that your partners require.
Does your ERP system enable your company’s growth, or inhibit it? For more information read How Does Your Business Grow. Or contact us to find out how Blytheco can help.
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News and Updates from BlythecoDev
Channel News, Development, ERP, Industry News, Sage Software, Weekly Roundup August 27th, 2010
In this week’s update, we are going to cover our progress with product development efforts, commitment to the catalog of products and suggested sites of the week.
bly:Apps Released and Ready on 4.40
BlythecoDev is pleased to announce the continued upgrading of the bly:Apps for 4.40 and we are also starting to prepare for setup on the future releases of MAS 90/200 solutions (4.45 and 4.50). We are currently beginning the upgrade process to future versions as we continue to update the 4.4 products and we will be preparing for this move to the newer versions of the product as the production code becomes available from Sage.
Below is the list of bly:Apps available for release:
Listening to your system - what is it trying to tell you?
CRM, ERP August 24th, 2010
How do you know when your data is trying to tell you something?
Most companies rely on reports – reams of them. Chances are, if you poke your head into an executive’s or manager’s office these days, you’ll see their head buried in a report. But that’s not listening to your data’s voice – that’s searching for it.
And not many companies can afford to have their staff spend hours a week searching for the occasional anomaly – which is all too-often missed due to “more important things” on a employee’s to-do list.
Depending on what data you’re tracking and what you need to know, your data might want to tell you such things as:
- “Hey – you need to re-order part #100-ABC . . . “
- “Ahem – you might want to remind Acme Inc to pay for that overdue invoice . . . “
- “Excuse me – did you know that this order has a 23% discount on it . . . ?”
In order to give your data a “voice”, you first need to identify what you might want it to speak with you about. For example, you might not need your data to tell you when a shipment has arrived on time, but you might want your data to tell you when a shipment arrives either early or late.
To begin to listen to your data, you must identify those data conditions which should drive decisions within your organization.
For the eight (8) types of data conditions that you should consider and much more about becoming a data-driven organization, read The Data Driven Organization from Don Farber, co-founder of Vineyardsoft Corporation, the makers of KnowledgeSync.
To learn more, join us for our free web event: “How to Achieve a Data-Driven Organization,” on Tuesday, August 31. Click here to register.
Alternatives to FRx: Sage MAS Intelligence
ERP August 20th, 2010
In the next few weeks, all Sage MAS ERP (MAS 90, MAS 200, and MAS 500) customers currently using FRx or F9 will begin receiving information about how to download their copy of MAS intelligence.
Sage MAS Intelligence is based on Excel and ships with 10 report templates. New and current Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 customers will receive a single-user Report Manager license for Version 4.4 as a support plan benefit. New and current Sage ERP MAS 500 customers will receive four single-user Report Manager licenses for 7.3 as a support plan benefit, which allow a user to:
- Author new reports (organizing, creating, editing), as well as filter 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).
Please note the following capabilities:
- 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 License, the Designer Module, or Connector Module.
- Connections to other types of databases or more than one Sage ERP MAS company database at a time requires the purchase of a Connector Module.
Intelligence ships with standard reports for MS-SQL and ProvideX databases for Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 v4.4, Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 Extended Enterprise Suite 1.4, and ships with standard reports for MS-SQL for Sage ERP MAS 500 v7.3. The Connector module allows reports to be created off any ODBC-compliant database for an unlimited number of companies/databases.
For more details about MAS Intelligence, including a list of the ten predefined templates that come included, contact Blytheco.
Product Update 2 for 4.4 Now Shipping, New bly|Apps Released and Maintenance Update
Channel News, Development, ERP, Sage Software, Weekly Roundup August 13th, 2010
We have some exciting news on our bly|Apps progress! Read further and remember to keep voting for the solutions that you would like to see moved up in our schedule.
bly|Apps Update:
Shipping on MAS PU2 for Version 4.4 and 4.30.19
Our systems are going into full production and we are now compatible with Version 4.4 Product Update 2 and the 4.30.19 release of MAS 90/200 bly|Apps (YOU DID READ THAT RIGHT - 4.4 PU2). Note that our systems allow us to have synchronized upgrades shortly after the release of these products so that your solutions are available sooner.
MAS 200 SQL 4.45 is Coming Soon!
ERP August 13th, 2010
Expected to be released in the fourth calendar quarter of 2010, Sage ERP MAS 200 SQL version 4.45 will combine SQL Server’s efficiency with Sage ERP MAS 200 ease of use, and robust features and functionality. Optimized for Microsoft SQL server, version 4.45 will offer scalability, integration, and open schema for flexible reporting.
Core Sage ERP MAS 200 modules that have been converted to the Business Framework will be available for 4.45 as well as some third party solutions. Sage ERP MAS 200 SQL 4.45 modules will be offered at the same price as the current Sage ERP MAS 200 ProvideX modules. Version 4.45 does require Microsoft SQL Server licenses. These licenses will be available from Blytheco.
Sage ERP MAS 200 SQL 4.45 will be based on the current version of Sage ERP MAS 200, version 4.4, which streamlines processes and enhances workflows.
bly|Apps Catalog, Voting on Solution and Online Documentation
Development, ERP, Sage Software August 10th, 2010
We are excited to announce the availability of the BlythecoDev Product Catalog and Wiki Resources. These sites will provide you support access to the current products, release timing and user documentation. Below are the details for each of the sites and the information that is contained in them.
The BlythecoDev bly|Apps product catalog (click on the link) is available for review and below are the highlights on what can be reviewed on this Web site.
- Detailed description of the solutions with availability information - Each of the apps will be marked with an Available Now, In Development or Currently Unavailable flag so that you can see the status of the solution. If you would like to escalate the enhancement schedule of the “In Development” or “Currently Unavailable,” please contact us through the “Vote here” option to move this up in the queue, or email solutions@blytheco.com.
- Advanced Searching Capabilities - The site provides searching by title, keyword or product ID so you can easily find the correct solution.
- Grouping of Products - The catalog will allow you to review products by All Items, Module Available or Currently Available.
- Pricing - Pricing will be displayed with the maintenance price in the catalog. bly|Apps prices are based on pricing from Sage’s Extended Solution price list (No Conversion Fees)!
- Estimated Release Date - In order to assist with planning we are placing an estimated release date on the In Development Products. This is a tentative date and subject to change but will give you an idea when the solution will be available.
- Vote the Solutions - We have added a section under each of the products (with the In Development or Scheduled for Future Development) that allows you to vote for the solution you’d like to see moved up on our enhancement schedule. Vote and submit your contact information. Solutions that receive significant numbers of votes may be moved up on the enhancement schedule.
The BlythecoDev Wiki is available and will provide access to the bly|Apps Users Guides. On this site you will find the following information:
- bly|Apps Users Guides - This Wiki site is an open site that will present the users guides for the modules that are available. This will be updated with the latest versions as they are released so you can reference these documents as you need.
We want to make it easy for you to use bly|Apps whenever you need Extended Solutions. What else would be helpful? Let us know in the comments!
Sage MAS 500 ERP Product Updates Available Now
ERP August 3rd, 2010
The May 2010 Product Updates for Sage MAS 500 versions 7.3 and 7.2 are now available for download from SageSoftwareOnline.com.
All product updates are cumulative, so you only need to install the latest product update for version 7.3.
New Enhancements in May 2010 v7.3 Product Update include:
- New Security Events for Surcharge Amount and Percentage
- Sales Order Entry Line Updates
- Stock Status Report Unit Of Measure (UOM)
- Inventory Valuation Report UOM
- Inventory Cost Report UOM
- Support for SQL Server 2005 Update 8
- Support for SQL Server 2008 Update 7
If you would like more information about the Product Updates or need to schedule your upgrade, contact us today.
Sage MAS 90 and 200 4.4 Product Update Now Available
ERP August 3rd, 2010
The second Sage MAS 90 and 200 4.4 Product Update — 4.40.0.2 — is available via a compact download from Sage Online. Product Update 2 includes enhancements to Bank Reconciliation, Accounts Payable, and Paperless Office. Many of these enhancements are the result of incorporating the main features and functionality of select Extended Solutions into the core product, and others are totally new customer-requested features that solve pain points.
Also included in Product Update 2 is a new Pre-Installation Data Scan utility that will help identify data issues prior to installation.
New features available to Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 4.4 customers are:
- Bank Reconciliation – Automatically Reconcile Checks (similar to BR-1005)
- Bank Reconciliation – Enforce Tighter Controls over Bank Reconciliation Adjusting Entries (New)
- Bank Reconciliation – Enter Checks, Deposits, and Adjustments On-the-Fly (New)
- Bank Reconciliation – Conveniently Use Recalculate Outstanding Entries Totals Utility (New)
- Bank Reconciliation - Positive Pay Export (similar to BR-1004)
- Bank Reconciliation - Positive Pay Export Wizard (New)
- Bank Reconciliation - Expanded Comment Field (New)
- Accounts Payable – ACH Electronic Payments (similar to AP-1063)
- Paperless Office — Accounts Payable Checks, Extended Stubs, and Electronic Payment Remittance Advices (similar to AP-1095)
- Product Update Pre-Installation Scan Feature (New)
If you would like more information about Product Update 2 or need to schedule your upgrade, contact us today.
Introducing bly|Apps (formerly Extended Solutions) - New Pricing and Options
Channel News, Development, ERP, Sage Software August 2nd, 2010
As you have probably heard, Sage Extended Solutions are now “bly|Apps.” bly|Apps is the new name for the BlythecoDev suite of products that includes the former Sage Extended Solutions, blyMobile, and other enhancements to Sage ERP products. To review the available catalog plus pricing, visit our website. But I wanted to provide a few more details about the program to answer the questions I’ve been receiving about the program.
What are our goals with the Sage Extended Solution catalog?
We are offering simplified pricing by setting the price for the top selling titles (and maintenance) to the Sage Software catalog price with NO additional conversion or upgrade fees. Our goal is to get a majority of these titles completed within 6 - 8 months for version 4.40 and then maintain them for versions going forward. After the top titles are converted, we’ll evaluate fees and timeline for the next round. The titles and their status of conversion will be presented on a new web site that will be released shortly with some additional functionality to allow end users and resellers in helping us determine some of the priority for the conversion efforts through feedback on their catalog titles. We will continue to review the conversion schedule on other titles as we progress through the initial round. Some of these items beyond the top titles selected may become obsolete, due to newer technologies and functionality changes, and we will identify these titles on our web site with potential work around solution. We’ll also offer Version 4.30 of the solutions at the same catalog price. Earlier versions of the extended solutions can be purchased but these will require a conversion fee.
How does the pricing work?
We want to keep the process very simple for clients and partners so below are a couple scenarios to assist you with how the process will work for your system.
For clients with existing Sage Extended Solutions who need to upgrade to bly|Apps:
• Provide an installed applications listing and Sage Product Listing (Sage Online) with the existing Extended Solutions identified as being installed and registered for the client as proof of ownership.
• Renew one full year of maintenance for the products you own. Maintenance pricing will be determined by the enhancement installed; contact us for the amount of maintenance to renew.
• The client will pay an administration fee for setup of the bly|Apps.
• The products will ship when they are available.
For clients who want to purchase new Extended Solutions
• Research the catalog item online and determine your needs or contact one of our bly|Apps experts for additional information.
• Let us know if you will need 4.3 or 4.4. We will deliver the latest version when complete.
What if a client needs a title prior to the scheduled completion?
To have a title converted earlier than planned, we have created an escalation pricing system. Contact us for the escalation pricing for these titles.
What does Maintenance cover?
The maintenance covers two upgrades per year (to include product updates and service packs). When an upgrade or rewrite occurs that may be considered a change in functionality, additional fees may be required. In this case, the client is eligible for the title through the supported version. Changes in functionality and enhancement requests are not included in regular maintenance however, we do also provide support, including bug fixes, to resellers and clients.
Where can I find documentation?
All of the extended solutions documentation will be located on our wiki site at wiki.blythecodev.com. This is where you will find the latest docs as they are updated for the new version of the software.
How are the solutions delivered?
Currently the solutions will be delivered via an Install Shield delivery process to the reseller and/or client but we are currently reviewing new technology capabilities to make this process easier and faster. It usually takes about a week to prepare the installation files if they are currently available.
Will we be adding additional items to the bly|Apps Catalog?
The answer to this is YES; As we continue to enhance our Blytheco Catalog Offerings we will be evaluating our technologies and custom requests. We are committed to the MAS community providing apps that extend the MAS solution for our clients.
We are very excited about offering bly|Apps Extended Solutions to the Sage community. Please do not hesitate to contact me (or comment here) with any questions you have about bly|Apps.