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Sage MAS 90 and Sage MAS 200
NEWSLETTER
Volume 7 Issue 3, May 2007
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Sage Summit, the annual conference
for Sage Software customers,
will be held this year in Chicago,
during the first week of November.
You'll learn about software,
connect with other Sage MAS 90
users, and generate lots of new
ideas for growing your business.
Go to www.sagesummit.com for
the latest conference information,
including great rates at preferred
hotels. |
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| New SageCRM Integration Link |
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If your company is like most, different types
of customer information are kept in two
or more applications. This requires a fair
amount of duplicate data entry to keep both systems
current. This lack of a central view of customer
information impacts the effectiveness and
efficiency of both your front office customer service
and sales staff, and your back office accounting
and finance staff.
For example, when the sales team closes a
sale, information must be entered into the contact
management or customer relationship management
system (CRM)
and then be rekeyed into
the accounting system
by the accounting staff.
Sage Software has
released a powerful new
integration link between
Sage MAS 90 ERP and
SageCRM. It can spare
you the unnecessary
overhead cost of redundant
data entry and help
you reduce errors and
keep information consistent
between systems.
SageCRM is an award-winning customer
relationship management solution that is flexible,
customizable, and easy to learn. Here is a
brief overview of SageCRM and details of how
the new integration can benefit your company.
About SageCRM
SageCRM is an on-site CRM solution that is
both easy to use and fast to deploy with out-ofthe-
box but configurable business processes. It
provides enterprise-wide access to vital customer
information anytime so you can manage your
business with an integrated approach to sales
automation, customer care, and marketing.
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| Create sales orders and quotes within a familiar interface
while tracking the opportunities within SageCRM. |
Sales Automation
SageCRM puts you in complete control of your
sales pipeline, allowing sales team members to
effectively manage,
forecast, and report
on all phases of the
sales cycle. You can
easily view and analyze
all current and
historical account
details and activities,
manage multiple
accounts and opportunities,
and automatically
distribute
leads to sales professionals
- around the
office or around the world.
SageCRM provides your sales team with
instant access to vital customer data, including
reports and graphs, quotes, forecasts, and historical
account details. They will be able to perform
on-the-spot analysis, make informed decisions
with the data to back them up, and eliminate bottlenecks
that typically lengthen the sales cycle.
Marketing Automation
Use SageCRM to plan, schedule, launch, and
track marketing activities within a campaign.
With full visibility into your marketing activities,
you can evaluate which campaigns are
most successful, ensuring the best use of your
marketing resources.
Customer Care Automation
SageCRM helps you build and maintain lasting
relationships by delivering real-time access
to the relevant customer data your staff needs
to provide effective support. Imagine the power
of having purchase, call, and escalation history,
interactions, support cases, e-mail communications,
and documents all centrally located and
available to your support team. Build a knowledge
base of problems and associated resolutions
to speed call handling and improve your
overall service levels.
Web Self Service
Use SageCRM to allow your customers to log
cases, access information, and request your
firm's services and support over the Web at any
time. You can create customized customer and
partner portals to deliver information based on
preferences, requests, and history.
Integration With Sage MAS 90
The new SageCRM integration with Sage
MAS 90 is seamless; you can look up customer
contact information, enter a sales order,
perform customer maintenance, and access
other Sage MAS 90 information directly from
SageCRM. The data between the two systems is
synchronized automatically according to various
parameters you specify.
Generating Accurate Quotes
Empower your sales team to work within
SageCRM and generate accurate and detailed
quotes and orders. There's no need for staff to
learn a new order entry system, they will work
in the familiar Sage MAS 90 Sales Order screens
to generate orders and quotes.
From within SageCRM, staff can launch
the Sage MAS 90 Sales Order Entry task and
create quotes and orders as if they were working
directly in Sage MAS 90. Orders and quotes will
use the customer-specific pricing you've established
in Sage MAS 90. Inventory availability is
displayed and updated just as it would be if the
order were created in Sage MAS 90.
The advantages of performing this task
from SageCRM are significant. As a quote or an
order is generated, SageCRM records the activity
allowing staff to schedule follow ups and
track that opportunity as it turns into a sale.
The order can be tagged to a specific marketing
opportunity in Sage CRM, allowing you
to track the sales resulting from various campaigns,
for example.
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| Launch Business Insights Explorer from within SageCRM to uncover detailed
customer account information. |
Keeping Information Current
As your sales staff is speaking with a customer,
they can record an address change, add a new
contact, update an e-mail address - essentially
anything they could do from within Sage
MAS 90 Customer Maintenance. The advantage
is that the two systems are automatically
synchronized. This means the information is
updated in both Sage MAS 90 and SageCRM.
Insightful Queries
In an earlier issue of this newsletter, we introduced
you to the powerful new Business
Insights Explorer (BIE) tool that is now part of
Sage MAS 90 version 4.2. You'll have access to
BIE within SageCRM, allowing you to navigate,
sort, query, and drill down into Sage MAS 90
from within SageCRM.
From the Inquiries tab in SageCRM, you
can launch various BIE views. And just as you
could if you were working within Sage MAS 90,
you can customize each BIE view, drill down
into related underlying data, and even create
new views.
With this integration link you can deliver
selected back office data to your front office
workers. Now your sales staff can answer customer
questions without delay and without
troubling your accounting staff.
Business Rules And Security
The business rules you've established in Sage
MAS 90 are honored within SageCRM. For
example when creating a sales order, users will
be notified if a customer is on credit hold or
has exceeded their credit
limit.
The role-based security
established in Sage
MAS 90 is enforced within
SageCRM.
Fearless CRM
You may have heard horror
stories about long,
expensive CRM implementations.
No such
worries with SageCRM.
You'll find SageCRM easy
to deploy, easy to learn,
and easy to use. It's easily
customizable to the way you do business,
so your team can be productive right from the
start. The innovative Training and Coaching
tool within SageCRM assists users in getting
started quickly using quick tips, videos, and
wizards.
Availability
SageCRM is available for Sage MAS 90 and 200
version 4.2 and higher. Call us for details and a
demonstration of the power of SageCRM.
With the addition of this latest integration,
you now have three CRM integration
options available for your Sage MAS 90 solution:
SageCRM, Sage SalesLogix, and ACT! by
Sage. Call us to discuss how you can increase
your efficiency by integrating your front and
back office systems. |
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| Keep Your Data Secure |
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Data security has always been a top concern
of businesses. Threats seem to be
everywhere: viruses, malware, natural disasters,
power surges, disgruntled or simply careless
employees - and the list goes on. What are
some practical steps you can take to ensure the
security of your company's valuable data? In
this article we offer a few suggestions for securing
your Sage MAS 90 ERP database and the
rest of your company's electronic data.
Access On A Need-To-Know Basis
Your employees must have access to your company
data to do their jobs. However it's prudent
to tightly control that access.
Sage MAS 90 gives you an exceptional level
of control over who has access to various programs
and tasks, and even allows you to control
what type of access a user has. For example,
some users may have full-access rights while
others have view-only rights.
With Sage MAS 90 role-based security,
you assign users to one or more roles. Examples
of roles you can create are: customer service
representative, payroll entry operator, or
sales manager. You'll then assign specific access
rights to each of these roles. Assigning access
rights consists of applying security control
attributes such as: Full Control, Create, Modify,
Delete, and View Only to each role and task
combination. In this way, for each task within a
particular role, you have complete control over
who can create, modify, or delete entries.
One convenient, secure, and effective way
to provide your staff with the Sage MAS 90
information they need is to use the new Business
Insights Explorer (BIE) tool. You can create
a view for each role, or even for each user,
containing just the data they need to perform
their job effectively. The security you have set
up is enforced within BIE, ensuring that users
cannot access information they are not authorized
to view.
Strong Passwords
Did you know that a blank password (no password)
is more secure than a weak password,
such as 1234? Many users select a password
because it is easy to remember, but criminals
can easily guess a simple password. On computers
using Windows XP, an account without
a password cannot be accessed remotely by
means such as a network or the Internet.
However, we are not recommending that
you use a blank password - we simply want
to stress the danger of using a weak password.
Sage MAS 90 supports what are often termed
Strong Passwords, and it makes sense to take
advantage of this capability. So just what makes
a password strong?
While the definitions vary, a strong password
typically has a minimum length of seven
characters and includes upper and lowercase
letters, numerals, or symbols. Sage MAS 90
allows you to enforce strong passwords and also
to set a number of days until password expiration.
This will require users to select a new
password every 30 or 60 days, for example.
Building Best Practices
The International Organization for Standardization
(ISO) and the International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC) have adopted an
information security standard document: Code
of Practice for Information Security Management
- ISO/IEC 17799 for short.
The standard is lengthy and highly informative.
To simplify it greatly, the standard is
based on three principles:
Confidentiality - ensuring that information
is accessible only to those who are
authorized.
Integrity - safeguarding the accuracy and
completeness of information and processing
methods.
Availability - ensuring that authorized
users have access to information when
required.
Even if your company is not interested in ISO
certification, the best practices laid out in ISO/
IEC 17799 are worth considering. Visit the
ISO's Web site at www.iso.org/iso/en/prodsservices/
popstds/informationsecurity.html.
Back It Up
Without a doubt your company has established
backup procedures for its servers. Be certain
to periodically test your ability to restore
from a backup and invest in secure off-site
storage. Should you ever find yourself in need
of that backup, any costs and inconveniences
you experience maintaining a usable back up
will be well worth it.
Beware Of Malware
It is likely that you have strong anti-virus software
installed and running on your company's
network, but there are other sinister threats to
your system lurking.
Malware, short for malicious software,
is software designed specifically to damage or
disrupt a system. Malware finds its way onto
your computers stealthily. Spyware is the most
common class of Malware, but there are others
such as zombies, keyloggers, and dialers. While
not technically Malware, Phishing scams are on
the increase. Internet Explorer 7 has a built-in
Phishing filter, plus there are several other low
and even no-cost malware and phish-catching
software options available.
Let us know if we can help you address
your company's security concerns. |
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| Vista Compatibility |
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Currently, Sage MAS 90 and 200 Version 4.2
does not support the Microsoft Windows
Vista operating system. In June 2007, a Version
4.2 Service Pack will be available that provides
Vista-capable support. Sage integrated products
and most third-party products will be Vistacapable
by September 2007.
Sage MAS 90 and 200 Version 4.1 does not
support Vista, currently. In July 2007, a Version
4.1 Service Pack will be available that provides
Vista-capable support. Not all Sage integrated
products and third-party products are updating
their prior versions for Vista support. If you are
running Version 4.1, we highly recommend that
you purchase new equipment with the Microsoft
Windows XP operating system.
Note: No prior versions of Sage MAS 90 and
200 will be supported on Windows Vista. |
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In The Spotlight:
Sage MAS 90 Sales Tax |
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Sage Software has partnered with Avalara to create a useful module for Sage MAS 90
ERP: Sage MAS 90 Sales Tax. Powered by AvaTax, Sage MAS 90 Sales Tax is a sales
and use tax calculation service that works in the background of your accounting system
via a secure internet connection. This integrated Web-based sales tax calculation
service helps ensure you're always collecting the accurate tax amounts, regardless of
where you are selling.
Rising Complexity Of Sales Tax
With more than 8,000 jurisdictions across North America collecting sales tax from
business owners, the task to stay compliant with tax laws can be overwhelming. Some
jurisdictions have different tax rates for different products. Others charge tax at a different
rate over a certain dollar volume. And with state, county, and city jurisdictions all
overlapping, sometimes it's hard to know exactly what taxes to collect for a particular
street address. Add to this the fact that any jurisdiction can decide to change their rates
at any time, and you have an enormous number of variables.
With all this complexity, it makes sense to leave tax calculation to a specialist in
getting sales tax rates right - Sage MAS 90 Sales Tax. Powered by AvaTax. The service
keeps in touch with all the jurisdictions to stay on top of rate changes, and tracks the
proper combination of applicable jurisdictions for every street address in the country,
so you don't have to. This service is particularly beneficial to organizations
with offices in multiple jurisdictions or with remote sales teams.
Straightforward Integration
A major benefit of this Web-based service is the simple but powerful
integration with Sage MAS 90. When a new button in Sales Order
entry is pushed, the system connects to the AvaTax service to calculate
the correct tax amount based on the latest rates, and places the proper
sales tax amount on the order and invoice. The AvaTax databases reside
on Avalara servers and are updated continually, ensuring that you're
using the most current information every time you create an invoice.
You don't have to worry about updates or downloads to install. The
AvaTax service is transparent and seamless in your normal work flow.
Full Government Reporting
Sage MAS 90 Sales Tax. Powered by AvaTax, provides all the information
you need to complete and file required tax returns. An optional
service provides automatic filing of tax returns - or you can download
information into Microsoft Excel at any time and file your own.
Reduce Audit Exposure
Budget deficits in many states are causing government agencies to go
looking for additional sources of revenue. Many are choosing to bump
up the number of audits in the hopes of finding uncollected revenue. By
using AvaTax, your organization will have the peace of mind of knowing
sales tax has been properly calculated.
Flexible Pricing Model
Sage MAS 90 Sales Tax. Powered by AvaTax, is priced based on transaction
volume, making the service affordable no matter what your sales
volume. You pay a monthly fee based on an estimated transaction volume.
A transaction is an invoice. You are only charged once per invoice,
even though the invoice may call on AvaTax data several times. If the
transaction estimate is exceeded, you have the option of upgrading to
the next level of service or continue at the previous basis by paying a
small per-transaction fee.
Are you ready to simplify and streamline the calculation, collection,
and reporting of sales tax? Give us a call with your questions Sage
MAS 90 Sales Tax. Powered by AvaTax. |
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© Copyright 2004-2010 Tango Marketing, LLC. www.tango-marketing.com All Rights Reserved. This newsletter and its content have been registered with
the United States Copyright Office. This content is licensed by Tango Marketing LLC and can be distributed by licensee until 07/31/2010 at which time the licensee must cease
distribution and use of this content unless permission in writing is obtained from Tango Marketing LLC. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited.
The capabilities, system requirements and/or compatibility with third-party products described herein are subject to change without notice. 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 the property of their
respective owners.
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