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April Showers brought May Flowers, and 6 fresh picked videos!  Stop by and pick a whole bouquet of our latest videos. 

This month's new videos are:

Building a New Report in Sage Accpac Intelligence (6 min 38 sec) Starting with version 5.6, Sage Accpac ERP now includes Sage Accpac Intelligence, an Excel-based reporting and analysis tool.  It comes standard with a number of reports, and with the included Report Manager license, allows you to build new reports from your Sage Accpac data.  In this tutorial, we show you how to build an inventory report, but the concepts can be used to build reports from your other Sage Accpac modules as well.

Bank Reconciliation in Version 5.6 (6 min 28 sec) The Sage Accpac ERP bank reconciliation module received significant enhancements in version 5.6.  In this tutorial, we run through an example reconciliation and point out some of the new features along the way. 

Working with Multiple Instances of a Data Entry Window (2 min 52 sec) Many accounting system users frequently work with multiple customers at the same time.  This is particularly true for people in customer service and telesales departments.  Accordingly, the ability to have multiple orders or customer records open simultaneously would be a great benefit to these employees.  This feature is available in Sage Accpac ERP and in this tutorial, we show you how to enable and work with multiple instances of a data entry screen.

Adding Search Fields to Finder Screens(3 min 55 sec) One of the most common requests during setup of SageCRM is how to add fields to the finder screens to allow searching by additional criteria.  In this tutorial, we show you how this is done.

Outlook Contact Synchronization in SageCRM (6 min 58 sec) SageCRM provides tight integration with Microsoft Outlook for your contacts, calendar and email. In this tutorial, we demonstrate how to synchronize your contacts between these vital applications.

Sending Mass Emails (7 min 47 sec)Sending your newsletter, product and service announcements and marketing messages is an easy task using the mass email function in SageCRM.  In this tutorial, we walk you through the process.

Take a deep breath and enjoy!  We are always looking for new subjects, feel free to contact us with your suggestions.

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We recently published a blog article about the changes in laws pertaining to credit card processing. You only have until June 30th to have your ducks in a row.

Sage had indicated they would be providing more information and it is available as of today. Sage info regarding this change can now be found at http://www.sageaccpacinfo.com/PCI/.

As indicated in our previous alert you can also find more information at the official PCI Security Standard website at:  https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/index.shtml.

Don't delay. This could have a huge impact on your business. Do your homework today.

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Take action before July 1, 2010.

As you may be aware, the five major credit card networks established the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI-DSS) as a set of requirements for merchants to use when configuring their IT and payment-processing environments. If you store, process, or transmit cardholder data, you may be subject to these requirements.

Merchants must comply by July 1, 2010, or risk losing the ability to process credit cards. For complete details on these requirements, visit the official PCI Security Standard website at:  https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/index.shtml

On April 12, Sage will send letters to your, our clients, letting you know more about this requirement and providing a link to a resource landing page. The letter will be followed by email communications on April 19 and 27. The resource landing page is currently in development, but when it goes live next week, the URL will be www.sageaccpacinfo.com/PCI/. This landing page will provide links to FAQs, Sage contact information, credit card and PCI security standards information, Trustwave certification services, webcasts, and more.

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It's daylight savings time again.  You might have lost an hour's sleep each day but this week you'll also gain two new Sage Accpac & SageCRM videos for your viewing pleasure.

Bank Reconciliation in Version 5.6:The Sage Accpac ERP bank reconciliation module received significant enhancements in version 5.6.  In this tutorial, we run through an example reconciliation and point out some of the new features along the way.(6 min 38 sec) 

Sending Mass Emails:Sending your newsletter, product and service announcements and marketing messages is an easy task using the mass email function in SageCRM.  In this tutorial, we walk you through the process. (7 min 47 sec)

Come and visit our site, you'll find hundreds of other helpful pages: white papers, FAQs, product brochures and much, much more. Stop by and look around, you'll be glad you did.

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Competitive Upgrade Datasheet

Get all the benefits of a comprehensive CRM solution for less than half the price!

Switch to SageCRM today and you'll get:

• 60% off your Sage CRM Solution when switching from an eligible competitive product*.
• 5% off maintenance and support for the first 2 years of product ownership.
• Receive a credit toward data conversion services from your current product to a new Sage CRM Solution. 

Visit our web site for complete information about SageCRM

If you are using any of the competitive products below, you qualify for this program:

• Salesforce.com
• Microsoft® Dynamics CRM
• SugarCRM®
• GoldMine®
• Maximizer
• Siebel
• Pivotal
• Onyx

Act Now. Contact BKD for more information about switching to SageCRM. Program ends March 31^st.

Why Switch?

Compared to other CRM solutions in the market, SageCRM offers a comprehensive CRM solution with hosted or on-site deployment options.

1) Full suite CRM solution. Broad feature set including sales, marketing, and customer service automation.

2) Out of the box integration. Unlike most CRM applications, SageCRM integrates out-of-the-box with Sage ERP applications, providing you a 360-degree view of your business.

3) Fast to deploy. Users can be up and running quickly increasing productivity, reducing administrative overhead, and delivering rapid ROI.

4) Easy to use, with intuitive interfaces and on-screen coaching throughout to drive user adoption across your organization.

5) Easy to customize. SageCRM provides extensive business process automation and can be quickly adapted to capture new processes or modify existing ones.

6) Enhanced productivity with interactive dashboards.

7) Extensive partner community. SageCRM is supported by an extensive network of specialized, certified, and experienced partners.

Best of all, SageCRM grows with your business, helping your business succeed now-and into the future.

*Current Sage Accpac ERP users do not qualify. Discount based on current MSRP. pricing on Sage SalesLogix and SageCRM only applicable when switching from an eligible competitive product. Proof of competitive product required and available only on a license for license basis. To participate in this program, new customers must agree to participate in the Sage Reference program after a 90-day successful implementation of Sage SalesLogix or SageCRM. Offer expires March 31, 2010.

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Welcome to the release of Sage Accpac Extended Enterprise Suite version 5.6.

Take a look to see what's new and different.

 Sage Accpac ERP 5.6 is packed with features and improvements designed to make you more productive, streamline your operations, and improve visibility. We want you to know everything Sage has to offer, and we don't want you to miss anything.

You talked. Sage listened.

With help from users just like you, Sage Accpac ERP 5.6 is better than ever. Not just more features, but more features and functions you asked for. Because Sage is committed to listening to what you want and making it happen, not just adding stuff because it looks cool.

You can build a better Bank Rec.  And that's exactly what Sage did. Now Bank Services features a streamlined reconciliation screen, with all transactions listed together, ready to be cleared with one mouse click.

Excel-based reporting. And not just for General Ledger, but for all your other modules too. Introducing Accpac Intelligence, a true Business Intelligence (BI) tool that lets you slice and dice your Accpac data without needing to be a programming expert.

More seamless integration. Anyone who has used AR Inquiry knows it's a great one-stop-shop for customer data in Accpac. Now Sage has built it right into standard Accounts Receivable screens. And for companies that use Serialized Inventory and Lot Tracking, Sage Accpac ERP 5.6 has incorporated this module into Inventory Control, Order Entry and Purchase Orders more tightly than ever.

Don't forget CRM. Since version 5.5, Sage Accpac Extended Enterprise Suite includes the SageCRM Server license and a single-user license for the award-winning SageCRM Customer Relationship Management system.

SageCRM for Finance

Accpac 5.6 Release Guide

When you're ready, call us.

Visit the 5.6 page on our website for more details on what's new and improved, then call us at 503.598.8895, or email us at support@bkdai.com to schedule your upgrade or contact us at info@bkdai.com and we'll find out what Sage Accpac ERP 5.6 could bring to your business.

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 Now for a few tid-bits to really get your attention!

Increase Productivity. Streamline Operations. Improve Visibility.

Sage Accpac Version 5.6 provides performance improvements that allow you to accomplish more with fewer resources, save you time and money, and help you grow your business faster.

• Better inventory management
• Proficient bank reconciliation
• Faster decisions with improved visiility into your business
• Growing your business through streamlined operations that save time and increase productivity
• More cost effective deployment
• Improve visibility into business measurements with the new Sage Accpac Intelligence
• Better manage IT costs and facilitate secure system access through utilization of virtualization platforms
• Improve cash flow with built-in AR inquiry tool
• Decrease operation costs through better management of your inventory
• Gain accurate view of cash position with improved workflow in Bank Service
• Reduce the risk of penalties and fees through the new functionality in Payroll
• Improve productivity of your workforce with user-requested enhancements

Sage Accpac ERP 5.6 offers the freedom of choice, ease of integration, high performance, and reliability that forward-thinking companies rely on to increase profitability and seize the competitive advantage.

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The economy is slowly recovering. So, will everything just go back to “business as usual”?

You’ve managed to stay afloat through one of toughest economies ever. Now signs are pointing toward a recovery. But will everything just go back to the way it was before the recession? Not likely. The post-downturn economy will redefine how businesses operate and compete.

Welcome to the “New Normal”

The current downturn is not simply part of a regular business cycle; it’s part of a “new normal.”

• Recovery will happen–albeit slowly–but business has fundamentally changed.
• Customers have adjusted their attitudes and shifted their expectations–and these changes are becoming entrenched.
• Doing more with less–cost-cutting, downsizing, improving efficiencies–is here to stay.
• The competitive landscape has also dramatically shifted.
• The recession caused a competitive shakeout, and only the strongest have survived. Your competition is leaner, hungrier, and wiser than before.
• But uncertain times can be an ideal time for bold companies smart enough to take advantage of opportunity.

While others are waiting the recession out, you can get a head start on the competition and watch your sales soar and your costs decrease. To thrive, not just survive–you need to get ahead of the curve.

Take advantage of shifting market trends and thrive in a post-recession economy:

1. Get a head start—start reinvesting capital now Most companies will wait for the recession to be declared officially “over” before they begin spending again. Beat the crowd and start planning for strategic capital spending now–on R&D, IT infrastructure, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. It may seem counterintuitive, but if you plan for strategic capital spending in key areas now, you’ll save in the short- and long-term and end up lowering your overall cost structures. Vendors are more flexible now. Some vendors are offering longer-term agreements, so you can better predict costs. Explore on-demand solutions; alternative deployments methods can reduce your licensing and hardware infrastructure costs.
The bottom line: Invest now, save later—and beat the crowd.

2. Position yourself to benefit from pent-up customer demand Sage ERP Solutions Improving the customer experience is critical to retaining–and attracting–customers in any economy. Signals pointing to a recovery will help your customers gain confidence. Focus now on building strong relationships with customers, targeting those in growth industries. As the economy begins to turn the corner, you’ll benefit from your customers’ pent-up demand. Visibility into customer behavior is critical. An integrated CRM solution allows companies to improve the customer experience and more effectively convert leads and prospects into paying customers.
The bottom line: Improve your customers’ experience and watch your top-line grow.

3. Free up cash flow—the true measure of a successful business. Improving the bottom-line improves cash flow. Another way to spur growth is to find creative and effective ways to reduce your costs. Use your ERP solution to get costs under control, without increasing resources or operating costs. More effective supply chain processes reduce waste. Better planning reduces expenses.
The bottom line: Improve bottom-line revenues and free up your cash flow.

4. Do more with less. Now is the time to optimize workflows to be smarter, more efficient, and more productive. When the recovery starts to gather momentum, you’ll already be a lean machine. If you have had to lay off employees or freeze staffing levels, minimize “brain drain” effects by centralizing data and making your internal processes more efficient. Automating processes, such as reporting, can save time and enable you to do more with less.
The bottom line: Streamline and automate your processes, and do more with less.

5. Tap into business critical information so you can make faster and better decisions. Your data may be your most important competitive tool. To respond to market trends in a more agile way, you have to know how your business is operating on a day-to-day basis. Make sure you have access to reliable data so you know what to do next and so you can quickly react to shifting economic conditions and seize opportunity. Real-time business intelligence will give you more transparency into your operations and support better decisions.
The bottom line: With reliable business critical information, you can quickly react to shifting economic conditions and seize opportunity.

The post-downturn economy will redefine the way you do business and the way companies compete. Agile companies are not just weathering the downturn, they’re actively preparing for the post crisis world. Will you be ready?

This article a courtesy of Sage and BKD. Print this article: Thriving in Today's Economy

The information contained in this material represents the views of Sage on the issues discussed herein current as of the date of publication. As market conditions are always subject to change, the information contained herein shall not be interpreted as any commitment from Sage. This material is for informational purposes only and Sage makes no warranties, expressed or implied.

©2009 Sage Software, Inc. All rights reserved. Sage, the Sage logos, and the Sage product and service names mentioned herein are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sage Software, Inc., or its affiliated entities. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 10-21017 12/09

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Check out "What's New" in Sage Accpac 5.6 Extended Enterprise Suite

Sage Accpac ERP 5.6 Compatibility Guide

Sage Accpac Edition Differences

Sage Accpac Version 5.6 provides performance improvements that allow you to accomplish more with fewer resources, save you time and money, and help you grow your business faster.

• Better inventory management
• Proficient bank reconciliation
• Faster decisions with improved visiility into your business
• Growing your business through streamlined operations that save time and increase productivity
• More cost effective deployment
• Improve visibility into business measurements with the new Sage Accpac Intelligence
• Better manage IT costs and facilitate secure system access through utilization of virtualization platforms
• Improve cash flow with built-in AR inquiry tool
• Decrease operation costs through better management of your inventory
• Gain accurate view of cash position with improved workflow in Bank Service
• Reduce the risk of penalties and fees through the new functionality in Payroll
• Improve productivity of your workforce with user-requested enhancements

Sage Accpac Extended Enterprise Suite offers the freedom of choice, ease of integration, high performance, and reliability that forward-thinking companies rely on to increase profitability and seize the competitive advantage.

For more information about Sage Accpac ERP 5.6 please contact BKD at info@bkdai.com. Or visit our web site at BKDai.com.

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With the holidays fast approaching it's a good time to think about what to do with your outdated gadgets when Santa puts the latest and greatest under the tree this season. 

So you got a new cell phone and now you have two.  You may even have additional older models lying around in the junk drawer.

Did you know that recycling one million cell phones saves enough energy to power more than 185 US households with electricity for a year?

There are tons of recycling options out there for cell phones. Depending on how old yours is you can even make money from recycling it!  Or you can donate it to a charitable cause of your choice.  You can even send it to soldiers overseas so they can call home more (something they would all appreciate this time of year).  Here are just a few links so it will be out with the old, in with the new!

Collective Good- Charitable resource for recycling spare cell phones in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.

Cell Phones for Soldiers- Will send your cell phone to soldiers to increase the amount of time they have to talk with their family.  Some carriers will even pay for your postage.  You can even drop off your old phone at over 1,800 AT&T stores nation wide and they will send them to Cell Phones for Soldiers for you.

Cell For Cash- Will buy your phone from you if you have one of the models listed on their website.  If your cell phone model is not on their buy back list and it is over 2 years old chances are it has no wholesale re-marketable value. However, all is not lost. Choose one of the recycling options listed to safely recycle your cell phone.

RecycleMyCellPhone-Provides you with online forms to generate a postage-paid mailing label. So you can print and mail all from home.   

eCycle Cell Phones- Tells you a number of places where you can turn in your cell phone for Donation or Recycling.  While you're there you can listen to the EPA's podcast on cell phone recycling to learn what happens to your cell phone.

Whatever you choose to do, you'll know the choice you are making is better then just tossing your old phone in the garbage with the tinsel and wrapping paper.  You could even organize a cell phone collection at work, school or church and send them all in at once (cords and accessories too)!  All donations are tax deductable.  Who knows, you might even make some cash.  What's more merry then a little extra cash after the holidays?

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SageCRM is an easy-to-use, fast-to-deploy on-site CRM solution with out-of-the-box but configurable business processes. It provides enterprise-wide access to vital partner information-anytime, anywhere-so you can manage your business with an integrated approach to inside and field sales automation, customer care, and marketing.

View a video of Sage CRM in action

(Effective with the release of Sage Accpac ERP vs.5.5 the SageCRM server software and one user license have been included.)

What's New with SageCRM 6.2

View the full SageCRM brochure

Just a few of the new features available:

• You can now change the look and feel of SageCRM installation with the new Branding Toolkit capabilities.
• Your customers can view/change/delete Project components through the Project and Job costing integration, issue RMA's through the RMA integration, and more.
• SageCRM gives you the ability to "computerize business process(es)/practices".  Users get the benefit of having things automated for them, owners and managers are assured that things are being done in an approved/consistent way with full accountability.
• A more powerful and flexible Relationship Manager is now available which allows users to set up many-to-many relationships among primary entities.
• The enhanced e-mail editor and multilingual spell checker makes it even easier to produce professional mass e-mails from within SageCRM.
• new Address Maintenance screen provides an easy-to-use overview of links between companies, people and addresses
• Component Manager has been overhauled to make it easier to add new capabilities to SageCRM.

For more about SageCRM

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