Sage Customer Satisfaction Survey – The results are in!

First of all, the entire team at ISM would like to thank everyone who let us know how we’re doing and took time to fill out Sage’s annual Customer Satisfaction Survey. We can’t stress how immensely helpful this is to us. THANK YOU!

By listening to your feedback, and making changes that you told us were necessary, we more than doubled our Customer Satisfaction Score this year. We are continually making advances in the services we provide to you; the results of the Customer Satisfaction Survey reinforce our stance that we’re moving in the right direction, providing you with even better value, business consultation, software support and more. We plan to keep this trend continuing in the years to come!

If you know other small or medium size businesses looking to expand who would benefit from streamlined and customized business processes, please spread the word.

Our focus is on making your job easier and your business successful. We plan to grow with you and the network of trusted businesses around you.

Thanks again, and here’s to a fantastic 2012 for all!

For those of you who didn’t get a chance to answer the survey – we hope you’ll take the time to share your thoughts in the survey in the next Sage survey (fall 2012) or anytime via bvanhoosen@goism.com

-The ISM Team-

Have a quick question of feedback? Send it to us here:

ISM – Locations in Portland, Manassas, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Diego, and San Francisco

You probably know that it takes much more time, money, and effort to acquire a new customer than to retain an existing customer. In this article, we’ll explore a few ideas for leveraging the tools and data in Sage CRM to make the most of every customer interaction, build loyalty, and perhaps generate some additional revenue in the process. Be sure to register for an exclusive, in-depth look at Sage CRM live on Wednesday, February 8th at 11:00am PST.

Marketing AFTER the Initial Sale

For many businesses, customer relationships are considerably more profitable after the initial sale.  Once a relationship has been established, cross-selling complementary products or add-on services is likely easier and probably requires less discounting. That’s why marketing programs that are aimed at current customers can play an important role in building customer loyalty and a mutually beneficial relationship.

The Sage CRM Marketing component provides powerful tools to plan, execute, and evaluate the performance of customer marketing campaigns. You can segregate campaigns aimed at existing customers as well as track and measure every phase of the campaign from initial promo to closed sale.

Sage CRM also allows you to build a detailed profile of customers over the course of your relationship to ensure that marketing communication is relevant based on previous purchases, product preferences, and other important characteristics of your existing relationship.

Tools That Help You Stay in Touch

While some companies make contact with customers only when they’re placing an order, the best-performing companies take a more customer-focused approach. They stay in touch often and realize that relationships are strengthened through a consistent presence and ongoing dialogue.

Using Sage CRM to schedule reminders, calls, meetings, and send holiday greetings can help blur the line between relationships that are “strictly business” and those that are more personal and ultimately foster stronger customer loyalty.

Access to Customer Account Data

All of that customer data within Sage CRM is rendered useless if it isn’t easily accessible by the people that are the face of your business – customer service reps and sales personnel.

With Sage CRM Mobile, your staff will have information they need in the palms of their hands to resolve customer issues quickly, place orders efficiently, and keep customers happy – whether in the office or on the road.

And because Sage CRM shares data with your MAS 90 or MAS 200 accounting system, sales & customer service staff can access information that’s typically stored in the “back office” – like shipping status, accounts receivable, and credit limits. They remain in the familiar Sage CRM interface and avoid “waiting in line” for an answer from accounting or fumbling around in the accounting system.

Technology That Strengthens Relationships

While you may be using Sage CRM to track leads and manage communication related to new business, don’t forget to leverage the same technology to strengthen existing customer relationships and turn customer loyalty into a competitive and profitable advantage!

Join Us Wednesday, February 8th at 11:00am PST for an in-depth look at what Sage CRM can do for your business. Click here to register today!

Have a quick question? Send it to us here:

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Sage MAS 90 &  MAS 200 ERP v4.5 Launch Party Coming in March!

Hey party animals! If you’re looking to upgrade your current MAS 90 or MAS 200 ERP system, ISM has the perfect event for you!

Join us at our office locations this March for an exclusive walk through of all the new features in Sage MAS 90 & MAS 200 version 4.5. Plus, we’ve got your lunch covered. That’s right – catering is on us!

Register fast and register early, as space is limited and we know you don’t want to get left out!

• Portland – Wednesday, March 7th, 11:00am – 1:00pm PST – Click Here to Register
• Manassas – Tuesday, March 13th, 3:00pm – 5:00pm EST – Click Here to Register
• San Diego – Tuesday, March 20th, 11:00am – 1:00pm PST – Click Here to Register
• Phoenix – Wednesday, March 21st, 11:00am – 1:00pm PST – Click Here to Register

Download the What’s New in Sage ERP MAS 90 & MAS 200 v4.5 PDF brochure to see what’s been added.

Got a quick question for us? Submit it here:

The rumors are true – Sage brand names are changing. While this is old news to resellers, Sage’s plan wasn’t fully rolled out until earlier this month, when it was revealed that the branding metamorphosis will be totally complete by August of this year. Sage’s ultimate goal in product re-branding is to spread familiarity with the Sage company name, and to show that its family of solutions are indeed all from same company and fully capable of working together.

Over the coming months, you’ll see certain product names change to a family numbering system that’s similar to the one Sage uses outside of North America.

For instance:

• Sage ERP MAS 90 & MAS 200 will both become Sage 100 ERP
• Sage ERP MAS 500 will become Sage 500 ERP

It’s important to state that although the product names are changing, the products themselves will remain exactly the same – they’ll just be called something else by ISM and Sage. There will be no difference between, say, MAS 90 and Sage 100 ERP other than the name.

Sage has recently released a website where you can get information on the transition, including a product grid detailing name changes, and a detailed FAQ answering some of the most common questions about the re-branding efforts. You can find it here.

And, of course, you can always email, call, or fax ISM for answers to any additional questions you may have.

Or just use this handy box down here:

ISM – Offices in Portland, Manassas, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Diego, and San Francisco

Sage ERP MAS 500 Version 7.4 introduced a number of major enhancements based on customer feedback from www.Sagemas.com/MAS_500_feedback.  One of those projects focused on improving the unit of    measure conversions and the precision of rounding which we’ll take a quick look at here.

Devil in the Details

A number of customers indicated there was room for improvement in the way Sage ERP MAS 500 handled unit of measure conversions, rounding, and minute quantities that were too small to observe through the user interface.  Particularly when it comes to raw materials and manufacturing, rounding and decimal precision play an important role.  So the development team at Sage embarked on a comprehensive project to redesign unit of measure handling from the ground up.

Results You Can Measure

The first step was the expansion of decimal precision in the data tables to 13 places to the left of the decimal.  This improves precision in conversion calculations and helps to minimize rounding discrepancies.

Next, an “auto adjustment” feature was added to clear out remaining quantities when a transaction will leave a quantity too small to be accessed through the user interface.  Simply put, the system will automatically generate an adjustment to clear out minute quantities.  The adjustment is still included on the journals for audit purposes, but there is no longer a need to manually deal with these “leftover” quantities.

In addition, the Physical Count process includes expanded decimal precision in the data tables.  Therefore should there be a minute quantity remaining on an item, it can be cleared by entering a zero in Physical Count – similar to the auto adjustment feature.

Last but not least, MAS 500 Version 7.4 adds flexibility to Inventory Reporting and Inventory Transfers to use units of measure other than the Standard U.O.M. That means you can run standard Inventory Reports in any unit of measure you choose, ditch the calculator, and let the system handle the calculations automatically.

Go online and learn What’s New in MAS 500 7.4 or contact us if you’d like assistance with an upgrade.

Product and Support Updates

Product Update 1 (PU1) for Version 7.4 is now available for download featuring the ability to:

• Post-authorize a credit card for an amount that exceeds the pre-authorized amount.

• Print an ACH remittance

Support Update – MAS 500 Versions 6.3 and 7.0 are now retired.  Product updates (including year end) and telephone support are no longer provided by Sage.  If you have questions about the Sage retirement schedule or need support for an older version, please contact us directly.

Have a quick question? Send it to us here:

ISM – Offices in Portland, Manassas, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Diego, and San Francisco.

Hey folks, it’s that time of year again. Time for friends, family, holiday cheer, and tax forms! That’s why we here at ISM want to give you a deal on all of your 1099, 1096 and W2 needs – all with envelopes of course.

1099 Forms with Envelopes:

1 – 25: $1.85/each

26 – 50: $1.50/each

51 – 100: $1.25/each

101 or more: $1.10/each

All 1099 orders include one 1096 form. Additional 1096 forms can be purchased for $2.25 each.

W2 Forms with Envelopes:

1 – 25: $2.75/each

26 – 50: $2.25/each

51 – 100: $1.75/each

101 or more: $1.30/each

Includes all transmittal forms.

All forms will be shipped 2 days after your order.

Please contact sales@goism.com to order.

Thanks and Happy Holidays!

Your ISM team – Portland, Manassas, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco

Sage ERP MAS 90 & MAS 200 – The Year in Review

Every year brings new features, performance improvements, and better value for your investment in Sage ERP MAS 90 and MAS 200 … and 2011 was no exception. Here’s a look at the year in review.

Introducing Version 4.5

Just when you thought Sage ERP MAS 90 and MAS 200 couldn’t get any better, Sage released Version 4.5 which provides tremendous value for customers on a current maintenance plan.  In fact, many of your top enhancement requests were incorporated into Version 4.5 including National Accounts Management in AR, new features in Payroll, improved purchasing processes, and streamlined Sales Order entry.  Plus, all customers that upgrade get a free SageCRM Server license and SageCRM user license so that you can experience the power of an integrated front and back office first hand.

If you’re running an older version of Sage ERP MAS 90 or MAS 200, Contact us and we’ll send you a copy of the Version 4.5 Release Guide with all the details.

Sage ERP MAS 200 SQL Version 4.45

Late last year, Sage totally overhauled the underlying technology of MAS 200 for Microsoft SQL Server.  Compared to legacy versions of MAS 200 SQL v3.X, the new MAS 200 SQL is fast, flexible, and performs like “true” SQL Server accounting software.  Previously available only for new installations, MAS 200 SQL Version 4.45 introduces an upgrade path for current customers.

MAS 90 Online

Look, up in the sky.  It’s a bird, it’s a plane, no it’s … MAS 90 in the Clouds.  Rolled out in late 2011, Sage ERP MAS 90 Online is a cloud-based ERP solution that’s ideal for small businesses with remote employees or multiple locations.

Hosted “in the clouds” by Sage, MAS 90 Online is a great choice for small businesses that want anywhere, anytime access to their accounting system without the upfront cost of hardware, network configuration, and ongoing IT support.  And with the convenient pay-as-you-go option, the up-front costs of implementation are eliminated.

Contact us to learn more about MAS 90 Online - cloud software at its best!

SageCRM Version 7.1

This year, Sage announced the launch of SageCRM v7.1 which boasts powerful new Social Media management tools, built-in e-marketing, iPhone integration, and the highly-anticipated Interactive Dashboard – a customizable workspace that helps you manage your appointments, tasks, activities, and anything else you need to get your job done effectively.

Get all the details at www.SageCRM.com/v7.1

Need help figuring it all out? Be sure to contact us with any questions about upgrading, updating, or anything in between!

Got a quick question? Send it to us here:

ISM – Offices in Portland, Manassas, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Diego, and San Francisco.

Important Sage SalesLogix Mobile Classic Update

Sage SalesLogix Mobile Classic v6.0 is now available, bringing with it multiple enhancements to the application, improvements to the Sage SalesLogix Mobile Classic architect, and an improved user experience.

General Enhancements:

• Full support for BlackBerry^® OS 6.0
• 64-Bit Windows Server^® 2008 is fully supported
• Improved platform stability for the Sage SalesLogix Mobile Classic architect and BlackBerry client

Improvements to the Sage SalesLogix Mobile Classic Architect:

• Install anywhere — the Sage SalesLogix Mobile Classic architect can now reside wherever it is most convenient for the user
• Improved version control
• Integrated Differencing Tool used for merging new plugins with customized plugins. The configuration supports Araxis^® Merge as well as other third-party merge tools that can be invoked from a command line.

Enriched Sage SalesLogix Mobile Classic Client:

• Improved performance for wheel focus on older devices
• Improved Calendar and Activity synchronization
  • History item sync duration can now be configured on a user by user basis
  • 30 day vs. calendar month synchronization
• Improved performance for auto-sizing forms with hidden fields, accomplished with a new grid property that allows for setting field visibility

Download your copy of Sage SalesLogix Mobile Classic Client at ftp.saleslogix.com/SalesLogix Mobile Classic/SalesLogix Mobile v6.0.

Have a quick question for us? Submit it here:

ISM – Offices in Portland, Manassas, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Diego, and San Francisco.

Sage Active Planner for MAS 500 – It’s Time to Ditch the Spreadsheets

Budgeting and Planning … the phrase alone conjures up feelings of inefficiency, frustration, and a lot of tedious number-crunching.  But in most cases, the aggravation can be directly attributed to the use of spreadsheets and manual adjustments for a process that requires something more powerful and automated.  The good news is that there’s a better way … it’s called Sage Active Planner.

The Spreadsheet Method is Broken

If you’re relying on the old spreadsheet approach to budgeting, you probably have multiple budget scenarios scattered across various hard drives, laptops, and databases.  Each spreadsheet is an island without any link from one budget to another.  No security, no controls, and no way to effectively update one spreadsheet without throwing a wrench in the delicate web of disconnected confusion.  Good luck if you’re responsible for the “role up.”

Perhaps worst of all, the beginning of a new budget cycle starts the process again from scratch with a need to import or manually type fresh data into each sheet to reflect the new numbers and time span.  There’s little, if any, efficiency gained from one year to the next.

Sage Active Planner

Active Planner is designed specifically to enhance the budgeting and planning process by making it easy to collect data, consolidate in a central database, manage multiple budget scenarios, perform side-by-side analysis, and create rolling forecasts.

‘Plan sheets’ (similar to spreadsheets) are arranged in a process plan flow which automates the passing of data and information from one sheet to another.  That means numbers populated in one sheet (like salaries) are automatically summarized and ‘passed up’ to a higher level sheet.  Decisions made at the top are easily dispersed among lower level plan sheets for ‘top-down’ budgeting.

Active Planner draws data from your MAS 500 general ledger which totally eliminates the need to manually key data into plan sheets or perform complex import/export routines.

The Right Tool for the Job

With a powerful tool like Sage Active Planner, you’ll turn a traditionally frustrating process into an opportunity to create insight and a meaningful roadmap to your strategic goals.  You’ll gain better insight from last year’s outcome, clearly evaluate this year’s results, and modify next year’s plan to improve business performance.

Ready to Ditch the Spreadsheets? Contact Us and discover a better way of budgeting and planning with Sage Active Planner or learn about the new Active Planner 2011.

Be sure to catch the webinar on Tuesday, January 17th at 11:30am PST. Click here to register today.

Have a quick question? Send it to us here: