Sage 300 ERP – Mindover Software

We all know that cash flow can make or break a business. A strong cash flow will allow your business to prosper, but a cash flow shortage can stop growth in its tracks. You can improve your cash flow by effectively using the resources offered within your ERP system. If you aren’t sure what that means or where to start, we are going to make it easy and tell you about it.

What Is an ERP System?

ERP is short for enterprise resource planning. Enterprise resource planning (ERP) is business process management software that allows an organization to use a system of integrated applications to manage the business and automate many back office functions related to technology, services and human resources. ERP systems such as Acumatica, Sage 300, and Sage 100 ERP are great choices when it comes to implementing an ERP system into your business.

Are you doing the same thing over and over again in your software and expecting to get a different result? Join us for our webinar, Getting ERP Perspective, and learn how to get the results you want out of your ERP system. Register here.

Cash Flow Problems? Your ERP Can Help with That

The key to understanding how an ERP system can help with cash flow problems is to think about what it does best: automate and integrate. It can automate routine tasks such as billing and invoicing—and integrate with systems such as accounting and finance—to run reports on unpaid invoices, past due invoices, cash flow, and much more.

Your ERP system can help you improve your cash flow in the following ways:

Report late purchase orders: Orders may not be shipping out of your warehouse because only partial orders arrived. With late purchase order reports, you can see at a glance what you may be missing to fulfill orders. You can then follow up, improving both cash flow and customer service.
Run purchasing and planning reports: Purchasing and planning reports can help you plan your inventory more effectively. Businesses often have most of their capital tied up in inventory purchases, and any excess inventory merely takes up space and bogs down money that could be spent elsewhere. Purchasing and planning reports can help you decide what to restock and when to order it. It helps you plan more efficiently and effectively for the future to keep stock levels sufficient, without creating overages.
Streamline workflows: Improving efficiencies can save you time and money. Remember that an ERP system automates as well as integrates. What processes are you doing manually now that can be easily automated in the ERP system? Many of these processes, once automated, can save considerable time, thus freeing up personnel for other tasks.
Follow up on past-due invoices: Another benefit to an integrated system is that you can easily see which invoices are past due. Following up on open invoices can add cash back into the cash flow and close out some past due accounts. It is easy to see these open invoices on an ERP system.
Know your cash flow: ERP systems provide you with accurate, real-time reports. These reports can help you keep a close eye on your cash flow. Many companies now struggle to understand their cash flow simply because they lack data on specific transactions, patterns, and more. With easy-to-run reports, you can quickly review your current cash flow situations. More importantly, you can get to know your cash flow and how it fluctuates on a daily, weekly, or quarterly basis. It’s the start of regaining control over your cash flow.

An ERP that’s Right for Your Business

Acumatica is a complete and adaptable cloud based integrated accounting, CRM and business management suite, offering the deep functionality finance executives need to automate and streamline financials and project accounting. Ideal for small and midsized businesses, Acumatica Cloud ERP’s browser-based software offers many choices in deployment, licensing, integration, and customization – making it easy and affordable to implement.

Sage 100 has helped small businesses streamline business processes for years. This modular ERP helps businesses to enhance workflows, manage finances and increase productivity.

Sage 300 is an ERP system that is available both on-premises and in the Cloud. With a full 360-degree view of your business and a variety of modules designed to work with your accounting solution, Sage 300 can help you achieve your business goals.

To learn more download our free whitepaper Tips for Maximizing the Return on your ERP Investment.

Mindover Software offers enterprise resource planning systems that can help you improve cash flow and grow your business. Contact us to learn more about our ERP solutions, like Acumatica Cloud ERP, Sage 100 and Sage 300.

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Unless you live on a deserted island, I bet you have heard of the cloud. You can’t go anywhere without seeing someone on a smartphone or tablet. It’s also become a must have in many offices. Most software, including Acumatica Cloud ERP, Sage 300 and Sage 100 is either cloud-based or available in a cloud-based version. These cloud ERP systems add powerful resources to today’s office technology.

Download our whitepaper, Benefits of the Cloud to learn more. We also have a live webinar, What You Need to Know About the Cloud, scheduled for Tuesday, Jan 17, 2017 from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM CST. This webinar is free but you do need to register. Join us to learn what you need to know about cloud computing to make informed decisions about your IT deployment and infrastructure.

Here is what will be new in 2017 in the world of cloud computing:

Businesses are Moving to the Cloud

Despite the prevalence of cloud-based software, some businesses still aren’t in the cloud. As more businesses catch on to the many benefits of the cloud-based approach—better data access, real time analytics, less cost—more will join the cloud. Fortunately, the cloud can expand to accommodate these and many more businesses. Shared servers, easier partitioning, and other cloud resources will help fit these late adopters onto the cloud along with the others already reaping the benefits.

Security, Automation, and Legacy Systems Remain Challenging

Throughout the cloud computing world, three areas have consistently remained challenging: security, automation, and legacy systems.

Security remains the top concern for cloud computing providers. They take great care to secure their clients’ data, but sophisticated hackers continue their work, too. New security measures continue to grow out of the challenges faced by cloud companies.

Automation is also important. Automating tasks, especially routine tasks, can save businesses a great deal of time. Automated backups, for example, can ensure that your data is safely stored in case of system failures or other problems. These and other automated tasks can add great value to your cloud system.

Legacy systems aren’t as much of an issue for Sage customers as the software company has committed to regular updates that bring the latest technology to existing systems.

Hybrid Cloud

In the past, companies touted an all or nothing approach that focused on an all-cloud strategy. Today, many cloud computing companies recognize that some businesses still need to keep one foot in legacy systems and one in the cloud. These so-called hybrid systems blend traditional technology with cloud solutions so that businesses achieve a flexible model that suits their needs. Gartner predicted that 50% of all companies will use a hybrid cloud model by 2017.

Growth of the Public Cloud

Clouds are divided into public and private spaces. Private clouds are hosted by companies (usually large companies) to provide cloud-based software to their own users. Public clouds are those shared by many users. A good example of a public cloud is Google Docs; this storage facility welcomes millions daily to work on documents and store them in a public cloud.

The public cloud is expected to continue to grow throughout 2017, with both businesses and individuals driving demand for cloud space.

Are you keeping up with cloud technology?

We can see that cloud computing offers countless benefits and is constantly changing to keep up with the times. When you have made the decision to move to Cloud ERP, Mindover Software has the products and systems you need to be successful. Acumatica Cloud ERP is an easy-to-use and powerful cloud ERP solution available for small and midsized businesses.

We also offer Sage ERP software including Sage 300 and Sage 100, designed for businesses looking to improve efficiency, productivity, and profitability with one solution. These options are available both on-premises and in the cloud. If you already have a Sage ERP implementation, we can work with you to add web capabilities to your software.

It’s time to explore the benefits of moving your ERP software to the cloud and see for yourself how Mindover Software can position your company for success. If you are ready to make a move to the cloud, contact us.

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Developing a World-Class Supply Chain by Looking to the Past

Industry Week featured an interesting op-ed piece called, The Case for Supplier Development. Top manufacturing consultant Paul Ericksen stated, in order to have a world-class supply chain you need to return to the roots of good manufacturing. He believes you can achieve this by the development of a world-class supply chain.

Ericksen, who started in the world of manufacturing and supply chain development 20 years ago, remembers how when he began his professional career, companies cultivated and nurtured relationships with their suppliers. These relationships led to long-term contracts, good prices, and quality materials, which in turn led to thriving warehousing and distribution.

However, starting in the 1990s, upper management pushed for outsourcing supply chains to India and China, where cheaper prices and salaries meant lower prices and increased profits for manufacturers. If you can get the costs down in your supply chain, you can increase profits.

The pendulum has swung again in the opposite direction, according to Ericksen. Problems inherent in the overseas model include lengthy MCTs (manufacturing critical-path times) which can lead to delays in receiving goods. The “90 day” firm delivery date is laughable when many overseas companies deliver in six months plus six weeks of shipping time. Building up inventory is one solution, but that can be costly, both to build and house.

Enter the Role of Supplier-Developer

Ericksen suggests the role of supplier-developer added to warehousing and distribution businesses. The supplier-developer finds both global and national suppliers who can provide products at the lowest cost, but potentially long lead-time, as well as local suppliers, who may be able to turn around an order quickly but must charge higher rates. Cultivating relationships with both can ensure uninterrupted delivery of materials, albeit with some price variations. If the price variations aren’t too extreme, they can be smoothed out and averaged without too much of a hit to profits.

Benefits of Supplier Networks

Price is just one aspect of the supplier-developer network. Building a world-class supply chain also ensures that the quality of the finished products is superior to those produced by competitors. When the best components are added into the manufacturing of a product, the end result can be better others’ results.

Timely delivery also means a lot to customers. Customers who are kept waiting for weeks or months because you are still waiting for a shipment from China may take their business elsewhere. Having a local supplier, willing to work with you on timelines, may help you meet unexpected demand.

Returning to Supply Chain’s Roots May Be the Future

We often look to the future as if the success of a business relies upon the next, best, greatest invention. Sometimes, however, returning to the roots of manufacturing may be the answer. Within those roots is the role of supply chain development, of cultivating long-lasting relationships with trusted partners. The benefits of such relationships extend to your own customers, who can then rely on you to fill orders promptly and accurately.

There is no need to completely eliminate worldwide companies. There is still a place for low prices. If a worldwide company can provide low prices on your terms then there is no reason to terminate the relationship. It just seems that a mixed model of both local and global suppliers, along with a supply chain developer, is proving to be best for developing a successful supply chain.

Mindover Software is Here to Answer Your Warehousing and Distribution Questions

Learn more about how Mindover Software solutions can help you grow your business. From supply chain management to people management, our technology solutions can make your business more efficient and effective.

Interested in learning how you can start improving your inventory management? We would like to invite you to download our free whitepaper, 5 Tools for Inventory Management. In this paper, you’ll learn about some tools that can and should be integrated with your inventory management system to support efficient warehousing and distribution operations.

If you are looking for expert insights into how to improve your supply chain, Mindover Software can help. Our products such as Acumatica and Sage 300 can help you build a profitable supply chain. We can recommend the best software solutions to fit your business and to help you achieve your goals. Contact us today.

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We all want our projects to be successful, and the same is true for the implementation of Sage software or Acumatica Cloud ERP. A new ERP implementation works best when it coincides with organizational change. Yet some managers suggest that waiting until post-ERP implementation for organization change is the right way to go. Who is right, and why?

Organizational change is critical for the successful implementation of Acumatica or Sage ERP software. Many ERP consultants agree that projects without organizational change baked into them from the start are doomed to fail. That’s because ERP, by its very nature, forces some level of organizational change over an institution. It may be significant change or solidifying a gradual change, but at some level, things must change.

If you’re facing a skeptical senior management team who believes that organizational change is merely a set of “soft skills” activities intended to make people feel good, the following information can arm you so that you can push for real change. Organizational change is more than patting each other on the back and saying “job well done.” It involves training, systematic improvement, and much more.

Three Steps to Convince the Skeptics

Arm yourself with these three logical reasons to add organization change to your ERP implementation:

Prepare with facts: Facts can persuade even the most hardened skeptic into a believer. Research the facts about what makes a successful ERP implementation. Research shows consistently that successful ERP projects do include change management and organizational change. Facts that might be persuasive include facts about operational disruption. It’s a fact, for example, that about 50% of all organizations that implement an ERP system experience some form of operational disruption. About 44% of organizations experience a week of disruption, while 21% experience two to four weeks of disruption. It is facts such as these that may persuade senior management to accept the need for organizational change as part of your Sage 100 ERP implementation project.
Define organizational change: Management’s rejection of organizational change may stem from preconceived notions about what organizational change really means. They may have experienced poorly defined training, for example, and then conclude that all training is ill-defined with nebulous goals. However, organizational training isn’t about soft skills or feel-good group sessions. Instead, it should include an organizational assessment, communications, goal alignment, change impact and design, benefits realizations and KPIs, a training strategy, and accountability with potential workforce restructuring. In other words, it’s a series of clearly defined activities linked back to measurable metrics.
Fit organization change to corporate culture: The list above represents a comprehensive list of activities related to organizational change, but not every activity may be needed in an organization. Some organizations have excellent communications but lack an understanding of change impact. Conducting an organizational assessment early in the ERP project will help you understand the dynamics at play as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the organization. This, in turn, will help you build a comprehensive plan that aligns with your corporate culture rather than fights against it.

Building Towards ERP Implementation

Implementing Acumatica Cloud ERP, Sage 300, or Sage 100 ERP is an exciting time for any organization. But, without planning and a careful, considered implementation, the project may get off to a rocky start; or worse, fail and require the intervention of a consultant. If you can do any one action to get your ERP project off to a strong start, consider the need for and impact of organizational change on your implementation program.

Mindover Software

Mindover Software provides business software and solutions to companies big and small. We welcome your inquiry and can assist you with your ERP, BI, and warehouse management software needs. Contact us today.

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In 2016, Sage Corporation, the parent company of Sage 100 and Sage 300, released “Peggy.” Peggy is a chatbot. She’s like a super virtual assistant who never tires of your needs and questions. Sage’s Peggy can respond to simple commands such as, “How many invoices are past due in our accounts this month?” and “Which customers have paid their bills as of today?”

Did you ever think that Sage 100 and Sage 300 might have something as helpful as “Peggy” behind them? She’s not available quite yet, but she’s getting to the point where soon she may be greeting you in the office.

If you could have predicted the future of technology 50 years ago, it’s unlikely you could have predicted how technology has evolved. A telephone, camera, video recorder, and worldwide encyclopedia that fits in your pocket? You have that and more on your smartphone. Small airplanes that can fly over any landscape and take pictures and films day or night? Welcome to the world of drones. It seems like technology grows into new ideas, new shapes, and new forms with every passing moment.

The minds behind Sage 100 and Sage 300 have put together their list of the hottest technology innovations to watch today. These ideas, concepts, and developments are all in the works now. It’s only a question of time before they reach a viable stage for mass rollout and implementation. Which ones appeal to you for your business needs?

Blockchain technology: Once the purview of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, the algorithms behind blockchain are being explored by banks, financial institutions, real estate companies, and insurance brokers for their ability to encrypt and automate transactions. Blockchain enables secure, traceable lineages for transactions. Real estate companies are exploring blockchain as a way to finish closings without the need for cumbersome paperwork, and the technology appeals to banks looking for better ways to secure their customers’ financial information. Blockchain is a hot new technology that may one day change the face of how we handle and view money.
Chatbots: Like Peggy launched by Sage, chatbots and autonomous interfaces may also change the business world as it stands today. Typing questions to a faceless AI may seem strange until you realize that you’ve probably already held such conversations with robots. Many AI systems and chatbots now power the help desks for big companies. When you need an answer, the chatbots are there to help. They can handle common questions, simple problems, and routing complicated problems to human operators.
Artificial intelligence and data collection: The Internet of Things (IoT) has generated increasing amounts of data. There’s so much data being collected now that complex machines and artificial intelligence systems are needed to analyze it all. Such systems can look across multiple data streams and find commonalities and links where human operators might struggle.
Automated money transfers: We’ve all grown used to ATM machines, but money transfers have become increasingly complex. Now you can conduct online banking, open virtual bank accounts that pay greater interest than bricks and mortar accounts, and conduct most of your investments over the internet. Sage is especially interested in options like one-click bill payments and invoices which can help small business clients of Sage 100 and Sage 300 issue and collect invoices quickly and easily.

There are more technological marvels on the horizon today than listed here, of course, but these are four hot technologies that the minds at Sage believe are worth noticing. Not too long ago, resources such as Sage 100 and Sage 300 were just a hint of what might be. Today, businesses use these powerful tools for competitive advantage. Today, chatbots like Peggy seem surreal, but tomorrow, who knows? Peggy may be joined by other AI “sisters” who will do everything for us but take out the trash. Perhaps that will happen as well. Who knows? It’s certainly a great time to be in business with technology as the untiring partner who can help us succeed.

Mindover Software

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Sage ERP software If someone asked you, “Who is the most important person in your company?,” how would you answer?

Most people would say, “The CEO.” Someone a bit cleverer might add, “The payroll person because they make sure we all get paid!”

Yet, neither answer is correct. The most important person at your company isn’t an employee. It’s your customers. Manufacturers who stay close to their customers, understand their wants and needs, and adjust their business practices to suit their customers, end up coming out on top. Sage ERP software can help companies do this.

A KPMG survey found that keeping close to customers is directly related to innovation, thought leadership, and profitability.

With 49% percent of manufacturing CEOs who responded to the study agreeing that their business will change dramatically over the next three years, it’s smart to pay close attention to your customers. Your customers wants, needs, and desires will lead the way to your next best-selling product and important innovation.

Moving from a Product-Centered Mindset to a Customer-Focused Approach

Manufacturers have traditionally featured a product-focused approach to business. Because they rely on the actual creation and production of products, much of their emphasis has been on improving production.

Customer-centric models can feel odd to manufacturers who aren’t used to them, and it may take some adjustment to multiple business practices to put the customer first. Greater emphasis on research and development, databases, software such as Sage 100, Sage 300, and other tools that can help you track and respond to customer demands are all important in a customer-centric environment.

The point of a customer-centric method is to understand what your customers want and need so that you’ll produce more of what they want—and in turn, sell more.

Dealer Networks May Be In—or Out—of the Big Picture

Another hurdle for manufacturers seeking to understand customer needs is the current system for product sales. Dealerships and dealer networks can add a layer between the manufacturer and customer that prevents the free and easy flow of information.

Although you may choose to maintain a dealer network or a dealer network may be an integral part of your business and industry model, the ability to meet with and learn from customers directly can now be shared among both dealers and manufacturers. It’s less of a dealer monopoly and more of a democracy among all who seek to serve customers.

Long-Term Success Considerations

To enact a customer-centric model, consider the following long-term strategies.

Focus on niches: Instead of trying to be everything to everyone, focus on being everything to someone. In other words, focus on niche customer groups, special needs, or other things that set groups apart. This can help you build out a relationship with customers to help you become indispensable to them. By focusing on a smaller subset of customers, you can get to know them better. Using Sage 100 or Sage 300 to see which customer groups are most profitable for your business is one way to find a niche.
Adjust business relationship expectations: New technology such as social media has made it easier for customers to contact manufacturers directly. Customers don’t want to work through cumbersome dealer networks to talk to you. They want access today to someone at the manufacturing company to voice concerns, complaints, or suggestions. It’s vital to adjust your expectations for how customer relationships function to take into account this new world of open communications via social media, email, and more.
Use customer service for competitive advantage: Customer service can set your manufacturing firm apart, and it’s especially important in customer-centric models. Make sure that your service staff is trained to respond quickly and confidently to customer inquiries. Make them easy to reach. If you continue to maintain a dealer network, ensure that the service staff updates and communicates with the dealers so that issues, problems, and resolution information can be shared among all.

The manufacturing industry has gone through many great upheavals over the years and weathered them all. Manufacturers will always be needed to produce valuable goods and services. Now, however, those manufacturers likely to succeed in the future are those willing to meet the customer halfway, listen, and respond accordingly. Software such as Sage 100 or Sage 300 can help you become more competitive. The customer, it seems, is always king in any business—including manufacturing.

Mindover Software

Mindover Software provides business software and solutions to companies big and small. We welcome your inquiry and can assist you with your manufacturing software needs. Contact us.

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Many people make New Year’s resolutions—promises to change something for the better. Sage 300 is keeping their “new year’s resolutions” by making many exciting changes that are sure to please their customers and fans.

Sage 300 already offers exceptional value in an enterprise resource planning tool. It is an ideal software for businesses to use to control costs while maximizing profitability. It allows you to obtain a 360-degree view of your business, while additional modules add expanded functionality to it. With both on-premises and cloud versions available, Sage 300 is a flexible, accurate, finance and accounting software package beloved by many of its long-time customers.

2018 Sage 300

Now with the following updates, Sage 300 is proving once again that they truly listen to customer needs and respond to requests.

Connected Ecosystem

Sage 300 now offers a “connected ecosystem” with Microsoft 365. Sage contacts integrate through the Dashboard so all your contacts can be in one place. A new user interface, including customized folder structure, multiple browser support, online management packs, and online drill to balance all put more functionality at your fingertips.

Export Declarations Fields

Sage has added a new Export Declaration Field to the Taxes tab of the A/R Invoice Entry and O/E Invoice Entry screens. The Export Declaration Number field allows you to input export declaration numbers for exported goods. This is required in specific tax jurisdictions such as Malaysia and Singapore.

Web Screens

The biggest changes are occurring across many of the web screens on Sage 300c, the cloud-based version of Sage 300. UX-modernization creates a modern, streamlined user interface that offers an environment that many people will feel comfortable using.

With these new web screens, you’ll be able to find open, recently used windows with the click of a mouse. This makes browsing between folders easier. Improved performance in the finder tool also makes it easier for you to find important documents.

Improved import/export processes in the physical inventory screen let you choose the data you’d like to see.

Classic Sage 300 is also undergoing some nice revisions on its screens. You’ll probably notice right away a fresh, clean feel to the UI as you browse the new 2018 version of Sage 300. Redesigned buttons make the information easier and clearer to find and understand. Tools and controls now appear in a ribbon, which puts the user interface in line with many others on the market. This shortens the time it takes people to learn how to use Sage 300 when it shares many common best practice design features with other software.

Make the Switch to Sage 300

Now is a great time to make the switch to Sage 300 if you aren’t already using it. With the new 2018 features, Sage 300 classic and Sage 300 cloud-based versions are both exceptional tools to manage your accounting and financial needs.

Sage 300 features a core accounting module for powerful basic accounting. Additional modules can be added to enhance your system. These additional modules include:

General Ledger
Accounts Payable
Accounts Receivable
Sage Fixed Assets (FAS)
Sage Payment Solutions
Bank Reconciliation
Inventory Control
Sales Orders
Purchase Orders
Sage HRMS Payroll
Check and Form Printing by PrintBoss

Business intelligence reports, CRM, HR and payroll, inventory and warehouse management, and purchase and supplier management modules and solutions can also be added to adapt the basic Sage 300 system to your company’s individual needs.

With so much already going for it, Sage 300 is an outstanding ERP system. When you add in the 2018 improvements, it’s truly an exceptional tool to support your business. Learn more about Sage 300 from Mindover Software today.

Mindover Software

Mindover Software provides business software and solutions to companies big and small. Sage 300 provides a great ERP system to enhance your accounting and financial management. With a solid basic package and comprehensive modules to add as you need them, it’s a great tool for many businesses. Contact us today for more information.

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Sage 300 and Acumatica Enable Faster, Accurate Accounting

Accounting is a profession that rarely experiences great changes. The earliest known ‘accounting’ data consists of ancient tablets and scrolls found in the Mideast where scribes carefully recorded tribute sent to kings. This kind of tallying of inventory and wealth is the basis of most accounting methods.

Over time, accounting moved of course to parchment, then paper, and then to computers. Now, we’re in a period of time when great innovations in the world of computers have made it possible to handle massive amounts of data that would boggle the minds of those scribes back in ancient times.

What are you using for your accounting needs? An older software package that doesn’t integrate with other packages? Spreadsheets?

It’s time to update.

Changes and Disruptions in the World of Accounting

Both macro and micro forces are changing the world of accounting as we know it. Such forces may already be in play at your business or they may be on the horizon. Regardless of where they are today, they will certainly play a big role in how you view and use your accounting methods in the future.

Connectivity:Customers today demand real-time updates. They expect an interconnected world in which information flows freely and in real-time. Internet, cloud, and other technologies have raised expectations about how quickly and easily data can be accessed. The accounting profession is recognizing the benefit of interconnectivity and the ease with which they can keep clients informed. Connecting with clients using technology is at the vanguard of technological innovations affecting accounting.
Less manual entry: Manual data entry is the bane of many companies. It’s time-consuming and open to mistakes. Technology that integrates accounting and ordering systems eliminates many tedious manual data entry tasks. It also eliminates the errors that go with them, improving the accuracy of information.
More do-it-yourself: DIY is all the rage with consumers and it is growing in popularity among business owners, too. Why spend a lot to outsource tasks when software makes it possible to do them yourself? Accounting software packages have been on the market for many years and, of course, some companies still use the ubiquitous spreadsheet. Newer software packages make even complex accounting tasks easier and help you do much of your accounting on your own, perhaps having your accountant or CPA review files at the end of each month, quarter, or year.
Machine learning: It sounds scary—machines learning tasks. But machine learning is now part of the business world and it is affecting accounting, too. Machine learning means that machines learn from mistakes and tasks to better predict future responses. When it comes to accounting, both machine learning and artificial intelligence are helping accountants view data in real-time and make better predictions based on data.
Specialization as the norm: Specialization is impacting nearly everything from products to people. Accounting software now comes in specialized packages or bundles, so that no matter what industry you are in, you can purchase software specially designed with your industry needs in mind. You no longer must settle for generic alternatives when customized ones are so readily available.

Get the Best Accounting Software

With so many trends disrupting and influencing the accounting profession and accounting software, the field is changing rapidly. You no longer should settle for run of the mill software or spreadsheets to manage your business data. Accounting and financial data can be managed easily using Sage 300, Acumatica, and other specialized accounting software. It combines the best features outlined above with excellent support for a truly revolutionary approach to accounting and financial software.

Sage 300, for example, is considered an ideal accounting software for businesses seeking to control costs while improving profitability. The sheer volume of data that Sage 300 can handle effortlessly makes previous versions look like parchment scrolls compared to computers. Available in both on-premise and cloud versions, Sage 300 gives you the control you need to build your business.

Acumatica is another software package that offers great control over your accounting work. It offers a comprehensive and dependable cloud accounting solution that includes CRM and business management tools for one software package that offers flexibility and integration.

Even though accounting hasn’t changed much in the past several centuries, the way we record debits and credits have changed. We’ve moved from papyrus to paper and now form paper to PC (or Mac). It’s time to update, upgrade, and embrace the changes in accounting and accounting software for better business insights.

Free How-to Videos

Did you know that Mindover Software offers free how-to videos on YouTube so that you can get the most from your Acumatica and Sage 300 software? Check out some of these titles to learn more tips and tricks:

Mindover Software

Mindover Software provides business software and solutions to companies big and small. Cloud applications from Acumatica and Sage provide companies of all sizes with powerful data management and business insights. For budgeting and forecasting managers, we offer integrated business intelligence suites and assistance with integration, cloud software and more. Contact us today for more information.

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Document Management for Sage 300 and Acumatica

In today’s instant information environment, people are used to having any information they want or need available in seconds—whether they’re at home on their laptop or tablet, or at the pool on their mobile device. Why, then, is it so difficult to locate and process information in the office? It’s a daily routine in most people’s day to have to hunt down or recreate lost documents; digging through file shares (for incorrectly named files) and reminding coworkers to review past-due invoices. We expect immediate results in our personal lives; why can’t we expect this at work?

DocLink by Altec is a document management solution that integrates with many ERP solutions including Sage 300 and Acumatica that allows you to store, easily access, share and move documents through workflow, from any device! If you’re unsure about whether your organization really needs to make the move to a paperless office, ask yourself the following three questions.

Are we losing documents?

If your office uses filing cabinets, you’re most likely accustomed to the time-consuming and unnecessary process of sorting, scanning, printing, copying and filing, etc. When documents are lost, both time and money are required to recreate them. Data from PricewaterhouseCoopers states that it costs a company $20 to file a document, $120 to retrieve a document, and $220 to recreate a document. And what about the cost of a lost document if you’re audited? Ouch.

Money is not the only cost when documents are lost. If a customer calls you but you cannot find their files in your cabinet, customer satisfaction will suffer. In contrast, having their full history readily available to pull up the moment they call will benefit your sales and customer support teams.

DocLink provides another level of security with version control, security permissions per user and file histories tracking who has touched each document and how. Disasters can also threaten to damage or lose your documents, but with a Document Management solution in place, you won’t have to worry because your business-critical data is securely stored.

Is our document approval process a nightmare?

What is your document approval process? For example, what steps do you have to go through for approving an Accounts Payable invoice? How many people does that invoice pass through? How long does the process usually take? We know that approvals can be tedious when documents must be mailed across the country, sit dormant on coworkers’ desks, or must go through multiple employees before approval can be obtained.

With DocLink, you can automate that drawn-out business process, increasing organizational efficiency. Common bottlenecks are removed and processes made better: approvals can take place outside the office, via email, or on a mobile device. Rules and workflow delegation can be set so you need not worry when an approver is on vacation. Alerts can even be scheduled to notify employees of approaching deadlines.

How much time is lost on data entry and filing?

Manual data entry and filing is not the most efficient use of your teams’ day. If those tasks were cut from their daily routines, think about how you could reallocate their time to focus on more productive tasks. Plus, data entry and filing inevitably result in mistakes; correcting them uses more time and money.

With DocLink, you can minimize data entry during processing, leverage existing ERP data, reduce human error and automate indexing.

Many organizations experience the scenarios above. If you do too, consider going paperless! DocLink benefits any department and process—essentially, you’ll gain greater control, visibility and efficiency. And streamlining these processes will give you back time and money. How would you spend it?

The post 3 Signs That Going Paperless Is in Your Future appeared first on Mindover Software.

Businesses that shift away from hierarchical leadership (the so-called “pyramid” or “top-down” management style) grow faster, better, and stronger than those wedded to the old style of leadership. Sage products—Sage software—can help improve business management throughout SMBs.

The Deloitte Human Capital 2017 study reveals that among the 7,000 companies it surveyed, the #1 issue described by leaders is how to shift the organization and leadership structure to meet modern-day demands. The Harvard Business Review backs this up with an older article describing several companies with a teamwork approach who were successful using fewer people than other strict hierarchical companies.

In other words, the better your staff works as a team, the stronger your organization will become. How do you shift from a directive-based organization to one that supports independent thinking, team creativity, and shared ownership of projects?

Sage products, specifically Sage software, can be the catalyst that transforms your organization from a “do this” mentality to a “we can do this together” mindset. Here’s how Mindover Software’s Sage products can support the transformation of your organization into a teamwork-based company.

Sage Software Facilitates Teamwork

Whether you add an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system such as Sage 100, Sage 300 ERP or Acumatica or another type of companywide software product, the shared resources and information enhance teamwork.

Older business models relied upon the boss to direct individuals to complete tasks. It wasn’t that the boss was smarter or better than the workers. He might be the only one with the requisite knowledge to make decisions surrounding resources and personnel. The boss had information that the workers didn’t have, so they had to rely on his judgment to know which tasks to perform next, when, and why.

Fast-forward to today. With the rise of systems such as Sage 100, Sage 300, and Acumatica ERP, information can be shared among workers so that no one needs to rely solely on a leader to dictate when, where, why, and how tasks are done.

Leaders can set direction and focus, but workers are empowered with the information they need to manage tasks, work collaboratively, and streamline decision-making. Because all the information they need about accounts, clients, inventory, and sales are at their fingertips, they can act independently. The results are a faster, better organization in which individuals can work together on shared projects rather than wait for direction.

The Role of Leadership in Today’s Organization

Leadership has changed since the past century when one person dictated everything that happened within the office or factory floor. Today’s leaders are the ones who can motivate, inspire, and communicate the company’s vision effectively to the workers. The workers can then use information derived from systems such as Sage and Acumatica to complete important tasks. Leaders aren’t needed to convey information; Sage software does that. Instead, leaders interpret and organize that information to set goals and milestones as well as inspire and motivate teams to achieve them.

Technology Changed the Workforce

Although many factors influenced this shift from top-down leadership to a flat hierarchical structure, one important change is how technology impacts the workforce.

Technology bridges information gaps. It enables people to work collaboratively in ways never seen before. It helps people do more in less time.

It can be difficult, however, to keep up with the swift paces of change in the world of technology. That’s where Mindover Software comes into the picture. We help companies grow through the smart use of technology. By choosing the right Sage products, for example, you can gain a competitive edge.

We’ve been helping companies face and overcome technology changes and turbulent economic times, as well as helped them gain competitive advantages using new technology, since 2000. Mindover Software can assist you with choosing the right Sage software, updating existing Sage products, or adding to your base suite with new CRM and other modules that help you maintain a productive environment.

Throughout the ages, leadership styles have moved from dictatorial methods to today’s team-based atmosphere. The right software can help teams manage themselves, freeing leaders to motivate and inspire. It’s a healthy work environment that encourages growth, innovation, and productivity.

Mindover Software

Mindover Software provides business software and solutions to companies big and small. We help companies select and use technology, adapting to the ever-changing demands of their industries through new and innovative software products. Contact us today for more information.

The post Better Business Management Supported by Sage Products appeared first on Mindover Software.

Sage 300 ERP can be of great help to your company with its annual budgeting cycle. Using an ERP system makes it much easier to pull up past history, performance, and projections to build out new budgets. Planning becomes that much easier when the data you need is at your fingertips.

Mindover Software offers many resources to help you get the most from Sage 300. Visit our Sage 300 Tips and Tricks page to learn how to use all of the wonderful features in your Sage 300 ERP package.

Using ERP to Assist with Budgeting

Good budgets encompass three items: past year performance, anticipated or projected revenue, and projected expenses. Analyzing all three leads to an accurate budget that neither overstates nor underestimates the financial needs of a company.

Sage 300 ERP offers regular and timely access to your company’s financial information. Because the data from Sage 300 is updated in real time, you can check forecasts versus actual at any moment. Estimating demand and using data to determine inventory levels, restoring needs, and shipping updates all adds to your company’s productivity and efficiency. It also helps you estimate whether you need to budget for more inventory, additional advertising, or other needs.

As you sit down to develop your new budget, consider running reports from your ERP system. Depending on how you’ve established your current reporting system, you’ll find the following reports helpful:

Fiscal year-to-date comparisons: These comparisons help you review your overall profit and loss statement against previous performance to date. You can analyze revenues and expenses by category and study specific categories for further information.

Accounts payable: Your payables reflect debts that still must be paid. Review recurring expenses and note which areas, if any, you can cut expenses. If none, account for them in your new budget.

Accounts receivable: Before budgeting for next year, make an effort to close outstanding receivables. Review customer accounts to make projections about income for the next fiscal year.

Once you have these figures, comparing them to regional economic data and industry-specific data can be helpful. Analyzing actual versus projected, and comparing it to local and national industry estimates, all help you build the big picture you need for budgeting in the new year.

Should You Use Zero-Based Budgeting?

There are several methods of building out a budget. Some companies start with a fresh slate every year based on needs. This “zero-based” budgeting starts with a balance of zero, and managers must defend each year’s budget anew. Zero-based budgeting takes nothing for granted and forces managers to think through their business decisions each year so they do not grow complacent in their thinking (or budgeting.)

Incremental changes are another budget-building method used in some industries. Information obtained from Sage 300 ERP can help you build out incremental changes based on percentages derived from the previous year. If sales increased 6%, you can build out incremental additions to your inventory, raw materials purchases, and other items you budget for each year.

Both methods are fine, and either one may work well for a company. The important thing is consistency with budgeting. Once you’ve chosen a budgeting method, Sage 300 ERP can support budget building with accurate data.

Budgeting is an important part of a company’s annual cycle of controlling costs and planning for the future. Fortunately, with software such as Sage 300 to assist, you’ve got the data you need to budget more easily and effectively.

Mindover Software

The post Sage 300 Can Help You with Budgeting appeared first on Mindover Software.

The new year is an opportune time to look at replacing your business software. Unfortunately, this task may be easier said than done. With thousands of QuickBooks replacement reviews at the click of a button, knowing the truth can be challenging. We found a breakdown of the most popular QuickBooks replacement alternatives based on actual user reviews. These users considered over 500 product options before formulating their opinions. One piece of information that caught our attention was that one of the top three ERP systems buyers considered when they were ready to move beyond QuickBooks was Sage 300. Now this may not excite you yet, but continue reading to see why making a move might be right for your company.

Ready to replace QuickBooks? Download 10 Tips for ERP Selection or contact us online to schedule a consultation to learn more about an integrated business software solution.

Benefits of Changing Software

QuickBooks has long been the industry standard for small business accounting. However, when your company is experiencing growing pains such as duplicate data entry, storing data in different systems, exhausting report building processes, just to name a few, it is time to think about streamlining and upgrading. QuickBooks may be comfortable, and all that your company has known, but when you look at what you may be missing it’s easier to think of making a change. Here are just a few of the reasons some companies are switching:

Reporting that’s customizable
Stronger security
Larger files
Multiple users operating at the same time
Software that is scalable and can grow as you grow
Better support

We are not saying that QuickBooks is a bad product. In fact, some say no other business software has offered as much value to so many small businesses at such a low price as QuickBooks has. It just means it’s time for a change to grow as your business does.

Software that Grows as You Grow

If you’ve outgrown QuickBooks, take advantage of the freedom to do ERP your way. Designed from the ground up to meet the demanding needs of diverse business environments, Sage ERP gives you unprecedented flexibility to select from three powerful editions (Standard, Advanced, or Premium), a robust suite of modules, comprehensive customization and scalability, and instant, seamless integration to a full set of end-to-end business management software applications. This software can take you to the next level.

Sage ERP provides great accounting and business management solutions to replace QuickBooks. This software has multiple choices, including Sage 100 and Sage 300, just to name a couple. Sage also has a history of proven results and user satisfaction. Because of its expansive functionality, Sage 300 is most popular across a wide variety of businesses. One of the main reasons for switching to Sage ERP is that Sage is devoted to making changes to the software to keep up with the times. There is no need to constantly switch software as you outgrow it. Sage listens and updates the software when it is needed and asked for.

Contact Mindover Software

Mindover Software can review your current software situation and offer recommendations that will optimize your operations and meet your objectives. Contact us online or give us a call at 512-990-3994.

The post Time to Look for Better Business Software? appeared first on Mindover Software.