SWK Blog

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When it comes to compliance, how sure can you be that your business is up-to-date and following all regulations?  With constantly changing rules, running a business becomes more difficult, and more man hours are taken up researching compliance rules than you would like.  No need to fear.  With NetSuite, you have everything you need for compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

“The elephant in the room is that Sarbanes-Oxley doesn’t directly specify the key role of technology and its support of corporate compliance. The reality is that all roads to compliance are driven on technology’s management of business processes and data. The greatest challenge is unifying companies’ technology patchworks and fragmented data, as well as securing internal processes and ensuring integrity of operations and accurate, auditable reporting.”

 While the primary responsibility for Sarbanes-Oxley compliance rests with a company to define and document their internal processes, the internal business applications play a crucial role in ensuring that such processes are implemented and auditable.  NetSuite provides a business foundation of centralized, consolidated data management; robust and auditable financials; and seamless integrated business processes, enabling efficient operations and reliable financial reporting-serving as the compliance engine supporting internal controls and reports to fulfill Sarbanes-Oxley requirements.

Data fragmentation is the number one hurdle.

 Industry and compliance experts agree that multiple ERP, CRM, and ecommerce systems are the single greatest IT hurdle to Sarbanes-Oxley compliance. NetSuite, with its ‘one system’, real-time architecture and unified business processes, provides the perfect platform to both support and audit internal processes.

 Your defined business processes are integrated in a single system.

 With a single, integrated application for CRM, ERP, and ecommerce, NetSuite automates key business processes across your entire business, including: finance, sales, marketing, service, order fulfillment, procurement and employee management. NetSuite ensures data integrity because employees no longer have to re-enter data in different systems, rectify inconsistent or inaccurate data, or wait for batch updates.  Instead, all your data is consolidated in real-time, ensuring greater process control with reporting visibility and accuracy.

 Real-time, ad hoc and historical audit history increase visibility and reporting control.

 NetSuite’s customizable Dashboards offer real-time access to key performance metrics, supporting intelligent, timely business decisions.  System sensing and alerts provide instant notification of out-of-compliance positions, enabling proactive management of at-risk issues. In addition, standard operating and ad hoc financial reports provide clarity and visibility for regulatory reporting.

Contact Our NetSuite Team

Are you interested in learning more? Contact SWK’s NetSuite professionals for additional information at 877-979-5462, or click here to contact us.

 Image courtesy of pakorn/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Headquartered in Skokie, Illinois, UreSil, LLC is a leading manufacturer of products for interventional radiology and vascular surgery, which are distributed worldwide through independent sales reps and a network of domestic and international distributors.

Since opening the doors in 1986, it has expanded from a product development enterprise to a fully integrated development, manufacturing, and distribution company.

What was their process for selecting an ERP product that could handle the unique needs and future growth of their company?

System Evaluation

UreSil had been operating on an MRP system that the company feared would soon become unsupportable due to the number of third-party customizations it had undergone. While limitations in planning and flexibility hindered the company’s ability to run an efficient business, complying with FDA regulations and maintaining the required documentation proved to be a challenge all its own.

After quickly excluding packages that were too complex, too expensive, or too small, UreSil issued a request for information (RFI) to approximately ten vendors. Sage and two other vendors were selected to present a product demonstration.

“All three systems looked good on paper and in the demo,” says Chuck Davis, vice president of operations for UreSil. “We realized we needed to dig deeper into each system to see which one would really fulfill our requirements.” The additional investigation revealed that the Sage ERP X3 database had the best design philosophy. “It’s not old-school technology masked with an appealing front end,” adds Davis.

The selection committee believed that the logical design and open, flexible architecture of Sage ERP X3 would enable them to more easily capture and assess mission-critical information. In addition, they realized how much easier it would be to create custom reports.

The Implementation

After conducting a formal training program, the pilot was a success. UreSil performed the cut-over to the new Sage ERP X3 system over the weekend, and by Monday, it was handling all mission-critical processes. The transition went so smoothly that the Sage implementation team left after only one day, and within one week of the cut-over, Sage ERP X3 was running all processes previously handled by UreSil’s legacy system.

Results

UreSil appreciated the flexibility of Sage ERP X3 in how it could be configured to manage the company’s business processes instead of having to adapt its processes to fit the software. As a result, the company is finding it easier to comply with FDA regulations. Tracking systems have been streamlined, and paperwork is more manageable. Flexible report-writing capabilities enable UreSil to create fields according to company jargon.

Planning processes have been tightened, and the company now operates with a just-in-time planning philosophy, minimizing inventory and warehouse space. Additionally, with Sage ERP X3, UreSil reduced finished goods lead time by 50 percent. And, with the introduction of print-and-place labeling across all product lines thanks to automatic integration with Sage ERP X3 work orders, the company expects the process to be reduced by 1.5 man days per week.

Looking to the future, Davis concludes, “No matter what business philosophy we adopt, we’re confident Sage ERP X3 can handle it.”

Contact Our Sage ERP X3 Team

Want to learn more about Sage ERP X3? For additional information please contact us at 877-979-5462, or click here.

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One of the biggest mistakes a business can make is growing too big, too fast.  With Sage ERP X3 at your side, you can grow at your own comfortable pace so you don’t outgrow yourself before you’re prepared to take the next lunge forward.  With full integration, Sage ERP X3 gives you the freedom to change platforms and adapt to changing environments.  Let Sage ERP X3 help suit your business to success and take it to the next level.

 Grow at your own pace

Because your management system should always support your business strategy, not hinder it, we designed Sage ERP X3 software to provide your business with more control and flexibility. You can deploy all or part of the Sage ERP X3 functions (finance, sales, CRM, manufacturing, purchasing and inventory management) according to your requirements, one step at a time. All functions are integrated into the system: you simply activate them as you need them, without having to start a new project from scratch.  In the same way, you can implement your ERP system in a single location and for a limited number of users first, and then progressively connect new users, either locally or remotely in the same way. Sage ERP X3 scales from 10 to 1,000 users and benchmarks up to 1,500 concurrent users!

Sage ERP X3’s open technology design provides full independence between the functional and the technical layer. No matter what platform you choose today, your company can choose to change operating environments with no consequences for its management system.

Sage ERP X3 works equally well in web and/or client-server architecture and with most standard environments: Oracle or Microsoft SQL Server databases, Windows, Unix or Linux operating systems.

Who knows what your business will be tomorrow? By choosing Sage ERP X3 software, you ensure that your existing and future business processes will be supported by your management system. Simple parameterization of the system allows you to change or define new information flows and procedures very quickly, without additional development. But, should the need arise, the provided development toolset also allows you to create a fully customized routine.  Sage ERP X3′s open architecture makes it easy to connect new applications to your system when growing. For example, an Sage ERP X3 customer who wanted to expand its business online in addition to its traditional channels simply connected a web storefront to its ERP system using the Xtend e-Commerce component. The company achieved a total ROI after only nine months, and most of all, took advantage of the seamless integration with its Sage ERP X3 system to keep full control of the inventory, shipping and invoicing process.

Want to learn more about Sage ERP X3? For additional information please contact us at 877-979-5462, or click here.

Image courtesy of Master Isolated Images / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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There are many reasons to choose NetSuite as an ERP solution.  However, NetSuite is powerful because of five primary reasons:

1. Single data source
2. Customization
3. Cloud Based
4. Integration
5. Adaptation

 Single Data Source:

Businesses that run on NetSuite are able to track/process your financial, employee and payroll, marketing and sales and company asset data from one system.

Businesses can take what NetSuite offers out of the box or customize it to fit their business needs.

It runs in the Cloud which means you don’t have run your own in-house server(s).

You can essentially integrate with 3rd party applications via Web Services. This means you can have NetSuite talk and exchange data with other web based applications that you use.

With the ability to customize NetSuite comes the power of adapting to changing environment.

Keep these in mind when considering NetSuite as your ERP/CRM solution:

1. Have clear understanding why you are taking your business to cloud based, combined ERP/CRM solution. What do you want out of it? Compare your current systems and outline what you are not able to or have to pay for to do. There are other platforms that excel in ERP only or CRM only.

2. Accept and understand that NetSuite is a business tool. Just because you implemented NetSuite, it doesn’t mean everything will work magically. You need to invest in it.

3. Be ready for change. NetSuite will bring changes to everyone in your company. Those who accept changes will welcome it… those who are set in their ways will fight it.

4. Choose the right partner/consultant to implement NetSuite.  There are many cases where it wasn’t implemented correctly for two reasons:

1) You didn’t have clear understanding of what you wanted (#1) or

2) Partner/Consultant who just screwed everything up. Find out what their strengths are.

5. Most Important: Commit to it. NetSuite will help you run your business more efficiently if you commit to it.

NetSuite is a business tool like any other tools. But it comes with so much potential only if you commit and invest in it.

Are you interested in learning more? Contact SWK’s NetSuite professionals for additional information at 877-979-5462, or click here to contact us.

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Sage is offering a new promotion for Sage Summit 2013, held July 21-26 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

New Promotion

• $200 Off Registration
• PLUS 2 nights hotel at Gaylord
• LIMITED 100 Customer registrants
• New registrants only
• Add 3rd night for $145
• Additional nights at conference rate
• Use promo code: HOTEL

Take advantage of this offer to attend and learn more about Sage 100 ERP, Sage 500 ERP, and Sage ERP  X3.

Register Now!

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Does your ERP system require tons of man power?

What about man hours?

If you have Sage ERP X3, the answer to all of these questions would be NO.  Stop wasting time with the IT department and gear more focus towards your business.  Sage ERP X3 eliminates the need for excessive implementation, training, and costs.  Be confident with your ERP system.

Providing mid-sized companies with the best functionality in their industry, while dramatically reducing the costs usually associated with ERP systems, has been the base roadmap for Sage ERP X3′s successive releases for almost a decade. The result is one of the most cost-effective and coherent ERP packages for mid-sized businesses, integrating best-of-class features in accounting and financial management, sales, purchasing, inventory management and manufacturing.

From the start, Sage reduces your costs by offering you software that adapts to your enterprise without requiring custom developments and months of professional services. Designed to meet your constraints in terms of time, budget and organization, Sage ERP X3 places the emphasis on simple operation and flexibility. It has been developed to minimize both costs and installation time by making the most advanced features a standard and simplifying – not impoverishing – parameterization to fit your unique needs.

Sage ERP X3 adapts to a pre-existing IT environment without inducing major upsets and adjusts to the management procedures and methods of your company. The integrated data import/export engine allows data recapture, automated interfacing and data feed to third-party tools. It can be configured and integrates over 100 predefined recapture models: databases, inventories, balances, budgets, rates, etc. ASCII and Unicode formats can be used.  Sage ERP X3 does not require major human or financial investment. Initial budgets and completion times are met, and users can continue to work normally during installation of your new system.

Sage ERP X3 does not require a large IT team to operate. Not only does its robust design ensure the serenity of day-to-day operations, but particular attention has been paid to Sage ERP X3 ergonomics, to ensure daily optimum productivity and working comfort for your staff. It is highly user-friendly, and a new user usually requires just a few days of training to master this highly intuitive product.

Sage ERP X3 easily evolves with the growth and new requirements of your enterprise. Its integrated design makes it easy to activate new functions when you need them, connect new users to the system or quickly provide a new branch with a fully operational management system without the need for custom interfaces. Plus, Sage ERP X3 gives your company the benefit of constant software improvements by a simple and secure update procedure, with the system itself ensuring the distribution of the modifications across all the connected workstations.

Want to learn more about Sage ERP X3? For additional information please contact us at 877-979-5462, or click here.

Image courtesy of Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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The decisions we are faced with, and make daily, often times trigger a string of results. Sometimes these results are great, and sometimes they are poor.  What needs to be analyzed here is not the actual decisions made, but rather what data or information we base our decisions on.  This is where NetSuite comes in.

With increased visibility and more in-depth information at your fingertips and with the unique capabilities of NetSuite gives you the opportunity to observe and analyze your business data from top to bottom, you can make educated, accurate, and effective decisions for great results.

NetSuite is the first solution to deliver on the promise of intelligent, integrated and simpler applications for growing and midsize businesses.

 NetSuite is intelligent. The system holds all corporate data in a single database, giving you access to your key performance metrics on a customizable, real-time dashboard. As a result, NetSuite enables you to make better, faster decisions.

 NetSuite is integrated. Within a single, powerful application, it combines complete customer-facing CRM and Ecommerce capabilities with back-office Accounting/ERP and self-service portals for partners. As a result, it allows companies to unite fragmented data and automate processes from end to end.

 NetSuite is simple. With NetSuite, implementations are both faster and less expensive than traditional business applications. Modularity enables phased implementations according to your company’s need.  In addition, click not code and advanced customization supports business as you define it. As a Web-based on-demand solution, NetSuite significantly reduces your total cost of ownership (TCO).

 Why NetSuite?

With a single, integrated platform for CRM, Accounting/ERP and Ecommerce, you can automate key business functions across all departments, including sales, marketing, service, finance, inventory, order fulfillment, purchasing, and employee management. Your employees no longer have to re-enter data in different systems, rectify inconsistent or inaccurate data, or wait for batch updates. Instead, all your employees view and share accurate data in real time, leading to greater collaboration among departments and increased productivity across your business.

 Increase Visibility for Better Decision Making

Customizable Dashboards offer real-time access to key performance metrics, supporting intelligent, timely business decisions. In addition, full visibility into unified customer records results in more efficient and highly personalized sales, fulfillment, and service processes.

Given today’s need to work closely with partners through an extended enterprise, NetSuite offers self-service portals that enhance both B2B and B2C collaboration. In addition, proactive notification of partner-specific events accelerates process cycles and improves responsiveness, ensuring your position as a preferred partner.

 Customize and extend NetSuite with SuiteFlex

NetSuite is the world’s most customizable ASP. Click not code configuration and modular implementations jumpstart your business on NetSuite. Advanced customization with simpler, industry standard tools allows you to tailor business practices and processes to meet your specific company and industry requirements.  Because our customization carries forward seamlessly with upgrades, we actually encourage you to highly customize NetSuite—make it your one-of-a-kind software application.

 Get Superior Value with an Affordable Solution

Built from the ground up for growing and midsize businesses, NetSuite offers affordable pricing, accelerated implementation, and comprehensive support packages that results in unbeatable TCO. Plus, you eliminate the costly and time-consuming integration often associated with using a patchwork of disconnected systems. NetSuite also provides leading-edge professional services and educational programs that ensure efficient implementation and continued, long-term success.

Join us for a complimentary webinar

Date: Thursday, June 20, 2013
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EDT

Reserve your Webinar Seat Now at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/388575297

Contact Our NetSuite Team

Are you interested in learning more? Contact SWK’s NetSuite professionals for additional information at 877-979-5462, or click here to contact us.

 Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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In just one year, Systems Maintenance Services (SMS), a global provider of IT and Managed services, reduced their days sales outstanding (DSO) by 40%, they get money to the bank almost one full month faster, they are more efficient when it comes to their accounts receivable activities, and most impressively, in 2012 they collected more money than they invoiced!

So, how did they do it? SMS implemented Anytime Collect accounts receivable credit and collections automation software. To learn more about the SMS story and how you can see results in your company, Join ERPVAR and e2b teknologies, Inc. As we discuss:

• The benefits of automating credit and collections activities
• Current research on accounts receivable
• The need for automation of credit collection activities
• And the story of a company who saw truly amazing results after implementing AR automation technology for their accounts receivable management

And more!

Any Time Collect works with Sage 100 ERP

Join us for a complimentary webinar Thursday, June 13, 2013 from 1 PM – 2 PM ET

Follow the link to register!

http://erpvar.com/swk-reduce-accounts-receivable-june-13

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Ever needed an important document and/or piece of information on the spot without the ability to access it?  This is a problem that many experience, and it is a problem that needs to be addressed.

Good News: It already has been addressed.

Sage ERP X3 allows for the access and distribution of access of priority information on a secure network.  Sage knows where you want to head, so Sage ERP X3 is opening up the doors to make it possible to get there.

Facilitate access to information

 All users can access Sage ERP X3 functions through their web browser, in just the same way as in traditional client-server mode. So, wherever they are located, each member of your staff can log onto the company’s information system. The user obtains immediate access to the information required, without delay and under secure conditions, from any computer with internet access. For example, reps can monitor and document the business deals of their customers or issue orders from an exhibition stand.  You can also open a new regional branch and hook it up to the company’s existing management system without the need for any special infrastructure.

Explore new opportunities with partners

 Your reactivity also depends on your ability to ensure that your privileged partners (loyal customers, suppliers, principals, etc.) can access your information system easily.

Sage ERP X3 does more than just manage business transactions. It can help optimize each key business process both internally and outside the walls of a company.

With Sage ERP X3, you can provide remote access to certain functions of your information systems round the clock. You can also connect a sales solution to your ERP system on-line.

While Sage ERP X3 supports traditional external information flows with key business partners via electronic data interchange (EDI), its e-business approach provides additional choices for connecting the system to key business partners: Sage ERP X3′s web-native architecture makes it possible to work via the Internet with customers and suppliers, ensuring time and productivity savings for both the company and its partners.

By setting up a secured extranet connection with key business partners, a company can easily extend Sage ERP X3 system access to processing certain business transactions and information, making it easy for companies to conduct business and helping to ensure customer loyalty and retention.

Sage ERP X3 allows you to publish ERP objects, object lists and sub-programs through web services that will make them accessible to external applications such as:

• A web storefront creating orders into your ERP system,
• Enterprise applications other than Sage ERP X3,
• PDA applications,
• Etc.

 Sage ERP X3 web services fully comply with the public Web Service Protocol and support all the standards (XML, UDDI, WSDL, SOAP, etc.) as part of the development toolset.

Contact Our Sage ERP X3 Team

Want to learn more about Sage ERP X3? For additional information please contact us at 877-979-5462, or click here.

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Question: Is there anything more important in business other than having control of its operations?

Answer:  No.

With Sage ERP X3’s workflow engine, control becomes second nature.

Control over operations can make or break a business.  Sage ERP X3 retrieves and stores data across all departments, giving you a scoop on the details, so you can establish and reserve control, suiting you for success.

Let’s face it – some information must be processed rapidly and under controlled conditions. This is why Sage ERP X3 gives you the ability to manage some of your company’s procedures electronically and simplify all your traditional paper-based and task-intensive processes. Its workflow system makes it possible to launch information – either inside or outside the organization– follow-up actions, warning and validation cycles on the basis of any event in the system, and according to their own rules and procedures for handling key and exceptional events.

For example, when a new purchase order is entered into the system, you can ask Sage ERP X3 to immediately inform a particular buyer according to the type of order, and also automatically warn a manager if it exceeds a certain amount and prohibit the process from continuing without validation, if appropriate. Thanks to the workflow engine, the electronic signature process and data traceability are flexible. Therefore, you simplify and secure control over your activities.

Business is subject to increasing legal constraints related to security and traceability: financial security, the Sarbanes Oxley Act, FDA rules, etc.  For effective security administration, Sage ERP X3 makes it possible to control access to the functions, actions, on-screen fields and data, by user, group of users or profile. The web connection via HTTPs makes it possible to encrypt data traveling over the line. One can define constraints for password length and renewal, lock users attempting to intrude, disconnect inactive users at the end of a configurable period of time.

For traceability, one can activate various tracking levels based on users, and define alerts via workflow on any specific event.

Signature processes are included standard, in particular for purchases, budgets, payment slips, etc.

The traceability of modifications to sensitive data can be configured to activate directly on the database level. Details of the modifications can be traced.

• Trigger an event (initiate processing, send e-mail, etc.) based on user actions such as printing, creating new records, editing, deleting data or based on the result of a database inquiry,
• Trigger the dispatch of e-mails (including attachments), allowing recipients to take action by simply clicking on the embedded option buttons and/or by returning in one click to the ERP entry that triggered the message,
• Provide users with work schedules based on customized processes or workflow circuits, and
• Trigger workflow circuits based on batch processes such as data imports or exports

Contact Our Sage ERP X3 Team

Want to learn more about Sage ERP X3? For additional information please contact us at 877-979-5462, or click here to contact us.

Image courtesy of Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Join us for a Webinar on June 20

Space is limited.

Reserve your Webinar Seat Now at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/388575297

Do you have a single point of view for your business? Attend this webinar to learn how one of the most crucial metrics a services-centric company can have is a single view of the business. In order to see where your business is at financially and operationally at any given time, the core business applications must be well integrated with the right data that is accessible to decision making staff.

Also, learn the benefits of service lifecycle management. The cloud has forever changed the services value equation. Accelerated time-to-value has become the new normal as today’s services organizations productize their services offerings and streamline business processes for a better, more repeatable customer experience.

Title: Your Professional Services Organization In The Cloud: A Look At NetSuite

Date: Thursday, June 20, 2013

Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EDT

System Requirements PC-based attendees Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server Macintosh®-based attendees Required: Mac OS® X 10.6 or newer Mobile attendees Required: iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ phone or Android tablet

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More and more states are requiring out-of-state retailers to collect sales tax.  In the past, most states did not require multi-state online retailers to collect sales tax unless they had a significant physical presence within that state, known as nexus.  Nexus refers to a “physical presence” and determines whether a business is subject to collecting and remitting sales taxes for sales within that state.  Laws vary from state to state, but most define nexus as an office, warehouse or employee living in that state, but the definition can be broader.  As the sales tax landscape continues to change, and states broaden the definition of nexus, it is more important than ever for a business to stay on top of current sales tax legislation at both the state and federal levels.

• Amazon Laws – Many states enacted Amazon laws to require more multi-state online retailers to collect sales tax for the first time. These laws expanded definitions of nexus to include online-specific relationships such as affiliate and web advertising.
• Affiliate and Related Entity Nexus – Affiliate nexus describes a type of relationship between an out-of-state seller and its in-state affiliate that triggers a nexus obligation.
• Click-Through Nexus – Aimed at multi-state retailers that use web advertising—when a buyer clicks through an ad on a local site to a remote ecommerce site.
• Consumer Use Notification – Some Amazon laws also include a consumer use tax notification component, which requires vendors to notify consumers of their use tax obligations and/or to report in-state sales to revenue authorities.
• Marketplace Fairness 2013 – In May, the Senate passed the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013. If the bill becomes law, it would give states the authority to require remote retailers, such as online sellers, to collect sales tax, some within 180 days of the bill’s passage.

Is it the end of nexus as we know it?  Download the white paper, The End of Nexus & Other Sales Tax Compliance Challenges, to learn more about the current sales tax changes that are redefining nexus. 

One thing is clear…businesses can no longer assume that just because they do not have nexus in a state, they are free from sales tax obligations.  As the sales tax landscape changes, chances are that these changes will affect your business in one way or another.  Thus, you are wise to stay on top of current changes, so your business is not caught off-guard.  Be prepared and attend an upcoming educational webinar to learn more:

Title: The Sales Tax Landscape is Shifting… Are you Ready?
Date: Thursday, June 13th, 2013
Time: 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET
Register:  www.avalara.com/swk_sales_tax_webinars

Sage Sales Tax by Avalara works with Sage 100 ERP and Sage 500 ERP.

Contact SWK if you are interested in learning more about automated sales tax solutions from our partner, Avalara, so you can stay ahead of the changes!

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Take a look at World-Herald staff writer, Emily Nohr’s article profiling Marathon Ventures, a Bellevue-based company located in Omaha.  Originally starting out selling nuts, Marathon Ventures has expanded their range of products, and continues to grow at a rapid rate.  Once a business consultant and IT specialist, John Larsen has switched gears to an entrepreneur.  Stories such as these suggest that IT work and consultation experience can be an asset when taking on the role of an entrepreneur and other business related activities.

http://www.omaha.com/article/20130530/MONEY/705309899/1697

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Companies around the world use Sage ERP X3 to help them streamline their operations.

By linking the essential areas of business operations together for enhanced visibility and usability between users, Sage ERP X3 provides an all-in-one concept for businesses to utilize.

For example, Sage ERP X3 helps with:

• Common reference system for the whole company
• Horizontal approach to management flows

• Simple analysis
• Efficient coordination tool
• Seamless management of Microsoft Office documents within the ERP system database

• Coherent system for implementation of all management functions
• Rapid learning curve

• Effective communication with all company partners
• Flexible and reactive operation

 In addition, Sage ERP X3 can help companies to:

• Integrate all company management
• Optimize resources

To ensure the enhanced efficiency of your company, the Sage ERP X3 system shares all information now required for company management in a single database. Its extensive integrated functional coverage allows you to manage accounting, purchasing, sales, inventory, customer relationship and manufacturing concurrently, within one coherent global environment.

When you load information in the system it is distributed throughout the company: an order issued has an impact on stock levels, production, accounting, etc. The information is present in real time wherever it is needed.  This means no need for re-entry, no time lost, fewer errors, reliable and coherent data.

Also, the system’s seamless integration with Microsoft Office allows users to export and manipulate data in Office standard format, without losing the accuracy and consistency provided by the single, up-to-date database of the ERP system. Office documents (images, video, Excel or Word documents …) may be created or modified within the context of your ERP operations and are stored in the Sage ERP X3 database as part of your enterprise data.

 With Sage ERP X3, you will obtain the fullest benefit from your resources, know-how and expertise in each management field. The range of Sage ERP X3 modules offers an extensive choice of standard functions.  When required, each function can be adapted to user preferences and work practices with the powerful parameterization wizards embedded in Sage ERP X3.  Each member of your staff is provided with an efficient tool fully adapted to his or her particular requirements.

Want to learn more about Sage ERP X3? For additional information please contact us at 877-979-5462, or click here to contact us.

 Image courtesy of renjith krishnan/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Sage ERP X3 joined forces with the Marussia F1 team as an official supplier to the team, to help them bring every element of their business together – from tracking the location and quality of the thousands of parts in their race cars, to reporting on the speed and efficiency of their operations.

Sage ERP X3 is a fully integrated business management solution and handles everything at Marussia from inventory, stock management, finance, project and job costing to provide a consolidated view of the company’s total operations and delivers new levels of business insight.

Marussia needed to ensure that the back office systems they have in place match the pace and prestige of the race season.  As well as equipping the team with our flagship software solution, Sage is ensuring that the team has first class support services to see them way beyond their early days as F1 contenders, and hopefully all the way to the podium.

If anyone understands the challenge of delivering on time, every time, it’s the Marussia F1 team. With over 4,500 specialized parts in each car, 20 world championships to get to and tons of equipment that needs to be in the right place, and ready to race, in locations all over the world.  Whilst all the excitement is at the race track, back at base there’s a massive team operation, with suppliers to pay, stock to replenish and reports to review and analyze.

Kevin Lee, Operations Manager at Marussia tells us why Sage ERP X3 was the right choice for their operation.

“Before I joined Marussia, purchase orders were being raised on Excel spreadsheets, finance was running on disparate systems and there was no electronic connection between front and back office.  I quickly realized we needed an ERP solution to integrate our processes and make us more efficient”.

“With so many parts that all require quality assurance, logging into stores, tracking, logging out of stores and re ordering on a very tight deadline, after all race dates are non-negotiable – we needed to streamline our operations and fast”.

“Following a period of requirements gathering the decision swung in Sage’s favor, mainly because Sage ERP X3 is a modern integrated system, not several systems cobbled together to make an ERP system.

“It lets us create our own reports and do our own exports into MS Office.  It also ticked virtually every functionality box we could have wanted”.

“Since going live Sage ERP X3 has been used to record every engineering release, to create the parts database and then the bill of materials. Every purchase order that has left Marussia, every goods inward receipt and every invoice that has been paid has been generated on Sage ERP X3.

“It has been used since go-live, to control the business functions of the team.  As soon as a part leaves the design office it is loaded onto Sage ERP X3, and from the point where the design is finished Sage ERP X3 controls the whole lifecycle of the part, from bill of materials through to purchasing and finance.

“The system can be updated by Marussia workers who are at the races and sent back to the team’s Banbury headquarters, allowing the team to keep track of parts in real-time.  We’ve now got visibility into what parts are on the car, what are spare and what are back at HQ. We didn’t have that visibility and control before”.

Want to learn more about Sage ERP X3? For additional information please contact us at 877-979-5462, or click here to contact us.

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Register now for Summit! The early bird rate expires May 31!

Use ‘PTOC2013’ and save $200

SWK will be exhibiting at Sage Summit at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center near Washington D.C. from July 21, 2013 to July 26, 2013.  Sage Summit brings together Sage customers and partners to see the latest and most talked about trends.  In addition you can see new technologies and best practices to help master your Sage solution.

Come visit us at Booth #959!

During Sage Summit, SWK will be presenting two sessions:

• 10 Steps to Increase Profitability Through Supply Chain Management for Sage Customers
• Retail and Sage 100 ERP for Sage Partners

Learn how to increase the profitability of your operations by managing your supply chain better – from supplier to distributor to retailer.  In this session we will review how Sage ERP users can reduce their costs through integrated EDI, increase revenue by preventing stock outs at the warehouse and store level, and how to make better decision using business intelligence tools. We will share information on best practices using case studies of successful implementations.

Learn how to identify and sell into retail opportunities to grow your business.  In this session you will learn how retailers can control their inventory, deter credit card fraud and track customer demographics. It will include also include practical examples of how retailers can fix sudden “shrinkage”, avoid inconsistent pricing in different locations, and how store managers can retain control even if absent from the store. We will also review how to best manage discounts and optimize gift card programs. After attending this session you will be able to pursue opportunities in retail with confidence!

Once again, be sure to look for SWK’s sessions when you register, and come visit us at Booth #959 at Sage Summit from July 21 to July 26 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center near Washington D.C.  Use ‘PTOC2013’ and save $200

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SWK Technologies, Inc. is proud to announce the 5/28/13 release of Version 2013 of Time and Billing for Sage 100 ERP. This is the first key milestone in the SWK/HTI Enhancement upgrade initiative.

Clients who are current with their Time and Billing maintenance may download Time and Billing version 2013 from the following website: http://www.swktech.com/products/swk-hightower-enhancements/time-and-billing/software-download

Please be sure review the “Requirements Document” prior to installing the new version.

New unlocking keys will be required for version 2013. Please contact Stella.Chammas@SWKTech.com for new keys.

We look forward to providing you with the next generation of all HTI enhancements for Sage 100 ERP. The following team members are here to assist you anytime you need.

For product pricing & demos, please contact:
Patty Benitez at (973) 251-0074 or patty.benitez@swktech.com

For maintenance & support plan questions, please contact:
Stella Chammas at (973) 251-0072 or stella.chammas@swktech.com
Alex Nastashkin at (973) 758-6126 or alex.nastashkin@swktech.com

To schedule an upgrade or for new implementations, please contact:
Debbie Berndt at (973) 758-6128 or debbie.berndt@swktech.com

General support questions and issues should continue to be directed to the SWK help desk at (877) 979-5462, or you can submit a support ticket to helpdesk@swktech.com. Support will be provided Monday through Friday, between 8:30AM and 5:30PM Eastern time. Calls will be handled on a first come, first served basis, with special consideration to mission-critical issues.

Image courtesy of  Feelart/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

This is the third of four articles profiling potential pitfalls with delivering professional services from the cloud. The first of the articles can be found here. The second of the articles can be found here.

In the third of four articles, emphasis will be placed on communicating with the client.   With a professional service organization (PSO) no longer onsite, clients demand more attention. The communication process entailing what the client wants vs. what you recommend can become troublesome.

The key is to come to an understanding about the “tactics”, or use of the cloud. The functions need to meet the client’s objectives. NetSuite’s easy-to-use navigation creates a stress free learning environment, aiding the process of explaining and understanding. Extracting data and explaining what it means to the client is a very important task for effective communication and business relationships, and is made easy when using NetSuite.

The bottom line is: clients still want choice and flexibility. The PSO, removed from the client site, will have the tendency to adopt more of an “it’s our way or the highway” mentality – at times alienating clients who want it their way. Here are a few ways to enhance your business relationship with the client.

Just as your Project Management capabilities need to stay strong – if not become more effective – your Business Analysts, Architects, and Developers need to:

1) Gain a strong understanding of the client’s objectives,

2) Enhance their ability to communicate back to clients how and where change can be effective, and

3) Ultimately your staff needs to know when to push the client and when to pull back and accept that the client wants the system to work a certain way.

This last point will not be easy – as you’ll need to balance what the system can and cannot do in a Cloud environment. But, by gaining a deep understanding of what the client actually wants, the PSO should be able to develop solutions that meet the objective – even if it is not the exact “way” the client believes it should be delivered.

Systems implementations are a series of compromises and trade-offs. By being better able to communicate the pros and cons of the trade-offs, the PSO will be better able to manage client satisfaction through the process.

Are you interested in learning more about the features in our NetSuite solution? Contact SWK’s NetSuite professionals to learn how these features can benefit you. For additional information please contact us at 877-979-5462, or click here to contact us.

Image courtesy of bulldogza / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Source material for this article is from the whitepaper: “4 Keys to Success in Delivering Professional Services from the Cloud” by Mark E. Sloan

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It’s happened to you – overdue invoices that have to be written off, an unfulfilled order because you ran out of stock, or a discount lost because you missed the deadline. Troubling enough during a good economy, mistakes like this can determine the very survival of your business during tough times. Your organization simply cannot afford to miss out on critical information that can save you money, save you time, and keep your business afloat.

If these are concerns you share, then consider Sage KnowledgeSync – the most effective Business Activity Monitoring solution on the market today.  Sage KnowledgeSync is your invisible assistant; it automatically identifies and responds to critical business conditions that – left unchecked – can jeopardize the very survival of your business.

Not only will Sage KnowledgeSync alert you to events, but it can also automatically deliver reports and can automate business processes.

Sage KnowledgeSync works with Sage 100 ERP, Sage 500 ERP and Sage ERP X3.

Both the Professional and Enterprise versions of Sage KnowledgeSync come with a large collection of preconfigured business alerts that include the following:

Out-of-the-Box Alerts:

• AP Discounts About to Expire
• Payables Due Today
• Payables Due in ‘x’ Days
• Payables that are Overdue
• High Balance Vendors
• Invoices with Excessive Freight
• Today’s Payments
• Invoices Due or Overdue
• High Balance Customers
• Customers Running Out of Credit
• Customers Over Credit Limit
• Customers Not Buying Recently
• Stock Surpluses / Shortages
• Quotes Expiring in ‘x’ Days
• Employee Review Upcoming
• Employees with Negative Sick Time

Most organizations today spend far too much time manually running, distributing, and delivering various forms, documents, and reports to both their internal employees and external clients and partners. Sage KnowledgeSync automates both the production and delivery of such documents, whether it’s sending quotes, invoices, or letters to clients, or distributing analytical reports to an organization’s own managers and executives. Using the industry-standard Crystal Reports, Sage KnowledgeSync generates forms and documents when needed—or when business conditions demand it—and delivers this information to the right people at the right time.

Intelligent Workflow & Business Process Automation Sage KnowledgeSync does more than just send alerts; it triggers “workflow” to update your applications, schedule intelligent tasks, and move information between an organization’s disparate software systems. Whether it’s to update a client’s history based on the receipt of an email message from them, or to schedule a phone call for a prospect who has not been contacted within the last week, Sage KnowledgeSync gives organizations the means to automate (and monitor) critical business processes.

Are you interested in learning more about the features in KnowledgeSync? Contact SWK’s professionals to learn how these features can benefit you. For additional information please call us at 877-979-5462, or click here.

Image courtesy of ddpavumba / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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With the discontinuation of Sage Pro due in March 2014, some of you are probably asking yourselves where to turn next.  Sage’s new ERP solution is geared to fit your business needs and requirements.  So sit back, take a breather, and learn why the new Sage ERP solution should be considered.

1. Connect to cloud services. Sage Cloud Services extend your ERP solution to integrate seamlessly with hosted third-party applications including freight and shipping, sales tax calculations, account monitoring and alerts, and payment processing.

2. Extend through our large ecosystem of third-party solution providers. Easily integrate information and automate business processes with extended solutions including EDI, e-commerce, bar codes, Point of Sale (POS), and complete suites for discrete and process manufacturing.

3. Mobile access. Mobile CRM puts the right customer information into the hands of your sales team at the right time to help increase customer service and drive sales. And with mobile payments, you can collect money due anytime, anywhere with a smartphone or tablet.

4. Flexible deployment options. Sage ERP solutions are built using industry-standard technology, and most of them can be deployed on premises or in a hosted environment.  

5. Flexible pricing options. Choose the payment model that works best for your business with options to buy perpetual licenses up front or to utilize subscription-based pricing. The Sage Investment Protection Program (SIPP) provides trade-in credits for both purchase options.

Options for upgrading, depending on your business needs, include:

• Sage ERP X3
• Sage 100 ERP

• Wednesday Jun 12 2013 4:00 p.m. ET – Register Now
• Wednesday Jun 26 2013 4:00 p.m. ET – Register Now

Are you interested in learning more about the options and promotions available from Sage for upgrading from Sage Pro? Or are you interested in a demo of other possible solutions? If so, contact SWK’s Sage Pro professionals and we’ll help you discover what the next step should be. For additional information please contact us at 877-979-5462, or click here to contact us.

Image courtesy of mrpuen / FreeDigitalPhotos.net