ERP Software Industry News

Chicago–Retail Systems 2006, Booth 1827 - May 23, 2006 - Sage Software announced today at the Retail Systems 2006 Conference and Exposition being held here that apparel retailer Ardène has successfully deployed the Sage Accpac ePOS point-of-sale solution across its more than 300 registers located in its stores throughout major shopping malls coast to coast. Sage Accpac ePOS is an award-winning point-of-sale (POS) solution for small and midsized retailers that offers a broad set of retail functions, including customer retention features such as loyalty points programs and gift card/certificate tracking, along with sales promotion and multi-lingual translation functionality. Ardène’s Sage Accpac ePOS deployment, combined with Sage Accpac ERP, gives them a fully integrated business management system.
Founded in 1982, and with headquarters in Montreal, Quebec, Ardène is a national fashion accessories and clothing retailer that has been growing for the past 25 years. Ardène is known for its promotions and great prices, and they continually strive to be recognized as the leader in fashion accessories and the “one stop fashion shop” for young women.

Ardène’s existing POS system was not providing them with the performance this growing retailer needed, or empowering them with the level of managerial reporting required to fuel their executive staff with insights in this highly competitive market. In addition, they needed a scalable and integrated solution in order to keep pace with their growth. After considering several other POS systems, with the help of Allagma Technologies, a Sage Software business partner located in Laval, Quebec, Ardène chose Sage Accpac ePOS and Sage Accpac ERP to solve these issues.

“Sage Accpac ePOS has dramatically improved the way we run our business,” said Arden Derveshian, President for Ardène. “With over 300 registers connected to our main office, information flows in and out smoothly, and our visibility of the business has increased dramatically. With our new integrated, high-performance system, crucial business decisions are now based on readily available data. Our retail cashiers are more efficient in processing transactions, and our overall system is fast, accurate, and dependable. We are absolutely thrilled by its benefits and performance, and believe we definitely made a wise decision choosing Sage Accpac ePOS and Sage Accpac ERP.”

Using Sage Accpac ePOS, Ardène now enjoys benefits such as up-to-date processing of daily reports, which they depend on for day-to-day operations; an open architecture that allows for easy modifications and customizations according to their business needs, and; a user-friendly HTML interface that provides simplified screen views, for faster data entry. This feature alone has saved Ardène valuable time and training costs for its more than 1,500 store clerks.

“Sage Software provided us with unparalleled support during our deployment of this solution for Ardène,” said Vartkes Melkonian, president of Allagma Technologies. “Teaming up with Sage Accpac and their Professional Services Group (PSG) truly helped make the deployment a success. No other company offered us the firm commitment to tailor their product according to the specific needs of our client—a key factor in closing the deal and satisfying Ardène’s requirements. This exemplifies how Sage Software works toward our mutual success, and that of our clients.”

Sage Accpac ePOS—a POS Performer

Sage Accpac ePOS is an award-winning, leading POS application for small and mid-sized retailers. Sage Accpac ePOS helps clients reduce the wait time of their retail customers—a critical factor in creating customer loyalty.

With features such as loyalty points programs and gift card/certificate tracking, along with sales promotion and multi-lingual translation functionality, Sage Accpac ePOS can be run on a local area network or over the Internet to connect point of sale terminals to back office accounting and inventory databases in real time. This flexibility is especially beneficial for geographically separate, multi-store retail operations, offering sophisticated retail POS functions that previously were out of reach to many small and mid-sized retailers. Real time integration with Sage Accpac ERP back office accounting translates into single point transaction management, and the ability of Sage Accpac ePOS to easily switch between online and offline modes ensures uninterrupted transaction processing.

Pricing and Availability

Sage Accpac ePOS is available from authorized Sage Accpac ePOS business partners for an SRP of $2,000 (USD), $3,000 (CAD) for the server component, which includes one POS register license, and $1,000 (USD), $1,500 (CAD) for the POS register component. To locate a Sage Accpac ePOS business partner, call 1-800-945-8007, or visit www.sageaccpac.com.

Chicago–Retail Systems 2006, Booth 1827 - May 22, 2006 - Sage Software and M-S Cash Drawer LLC announced today at the Retail Systems 2006 Conference and Exposition being held here an agreement to co-market the award-winning Sage Accpac ePOS 5.3 point-of-sale (POS) application with M-S Cash Drawer POS hardware peripherals, offering small and mid-sized retailers a powerful, cost-effective POS solution that can be deployed on a retailer’s existing PC’s, eliminating the need for and additional expense of obtaining and deploying POS-specific terminal hardware.
Sage Accpac ePOS is an award-winning, POS application for small and mid-sized retailers. Taking advantage of fast online credit and debit card processing speeds using either dial-up or broadband Internet connections, Sage Accpac ePOS helps clients reduce the wait time of their retail customers—a critical factor in creating customer loyalty.

“We are always seeking the most cost-effective, high performance solutions to provide to our clients,” said Craig Downing, Sage Software vice president and general manager for Sage Accpac. “This new hardware and software combination makes sense for small and mid-sized retailers that are looking for a solid point-of-sale system that doesn’t require adding completely new hardware infrastructure—something especially important for growing retailers with multiple locations who have an eye on maintaining their bottom line.”

“M-S Cash Drawer looks forward to our partnership with Sage Software to offer this cost-effective POS solution to small and mid-sized retailers,” said Sam Gopinathan, M-S Cash Drawer vice president. “Sage Accpac ePOS combined with M-S Cash Drawer peripherals will provide these retailers with a powerful, turnkey POS solution that’s easy to deploy and maintain—filling a current need in the marketplace.”

By implementing this special Sage Software/M-S Cash Drawer POS combination, retailers can utilize their existing IT investments, rather than having to buy and implement a completely new POS hardware system. M-S Cash Drawer offers industry-standard POS hardware peripherals at an affordable, bundled price. Integrated with Sage Accpac ePOS, clients can deploy this solution quickly and easily, with minimal disruption to their business and a short learning curve. Software and hardware support is provided by Sage Software and M-S Cash Drawer, respectively, and the solution is highly suitable for multi-store, multi-till environments.

“POS hardware is typically a big expense for many of our small and mid-sized retail clients,” said Richard White, president of CATS International, a Sage Accpac business partner located in Copper Cliff, Ontario, Canada. “Having the option of a certified, industry-standard POS hardware system from M-S Cash Drawer, combined with Sage Accpac ePOS, not only provides a low-cost alternative for our customers, it also ensures a solid return on their existing IT investments by utilizing their existing PC’s. We will definitely recommend this combination to all our Sage Accpac ePOS clients.”

Sage Accpac ePOS—a POS performer

With features such as loyalty points programs and gift card/certificate tracking, along with sales promotion and multi-lingual translation functionality, Sage Accpac ePOS can be run on a local area network or over the Internet to connect point of sale terminals to back office accounting and inventory databases in real time. This flexibility is especially beneficial for geographically separate, multi-store retail operations, offering sophisticated retail POS functions that previously were out of reach to many small and mid-sized retailers. Real time integration with Sage Accpac ERP back office accounting translates into single point transaction management, and the ability of Sage Accpac ePOS to easily switch between online and offline modes ensures uninterrupted transaction processing.

Pricing and Availability

Sage Accpac ePOS and M-S Cash Drawer POS peripherals are available now from authorized Sage Accpac ePOS business partners. A typical M-S Cash Drawer POS hardware bundle includes a cash drawer, receipt printer, bar code scanner, keyboard with magnetic stripe reader (MSR) and a customer display – all for an SRP of $661 (USD), $827 (CAD). Sage Accpac ePOS is available for an SRP of $2,000 (USD), $3,000 (CAD) for the server component, which includes one POS register license, and $1,000 (USD), $1,500 (CAD) for the POS register component. To locate a Sage Accpac ePOS business partner, call 1-800-945-8007, or visit www.sageaccpac.com.

M-S Cash Drawer
M-S Cash Drawer, the first cash drawer manufacturer to introduce steel cash drawers into the POS market, helps its resellers identify the best POS product for their customers, which includes some very prestigious clients such as McDonald’s, Safeway, Federal Express, and Pizza Hut. In addition to manufacturing cash drawers since 1945, M-S Cash Drawer has also been distributing POS hardware such as receipt printers, POS terminals, barcode scanners, pole displays, touch screens, debit/pin pads, signature capture pads, UPS’s, line conditioners, portable data terminals, and barcode label printers for nearly 30 years. M-S Cash Drawer has four distribution centers, strategically located in California, Texas, and Florida in the U.S., and in Ontario, Canada. For more information, please visit our Web site at www.mscashdrawer.com, or call (800) 544-1749.

are’s Certified Consultants also will benefit from new and expanded marketing programs. Certified Consultants now have access to new co-op management resources in the online Partner Resource Marketing Center which greatly improves visibility of available co-op marketing funds. The “Marketing Assistant” provides marketing program suggestions that are aligned with Sage Preferred Vendors based on the amount of available coop funds. Through the Marketing Alliance program Certified Consultants can earn up to 100 percent reimbursement for eligible marketing activities simply by developing an approved six month marketing plan. New Specialization Training courses provide low-cost technical training, plus new product and newsletter templates are available, adding value to the overall Certified Consultant Program.

Nashville, Tenn. - May 9, 2006 - At Insights 2006, Sage Software’s annual business partner conference, the company announced today new recruiting, marketing and sales support programs designed to help business partners maximize overall business growth and profitability. The new Fast Track for Consultants program; another year of the award-winning 100/100 program; Fast Track for Growth in 2007; and improved marketing resources and lead generation programs are all being highlighted this week to the nearly 3,000 Insights 2006 attendees.
Fast Track for Consultants, 100/100 2007 and Fast Track for Growth in 2007 top the list of new programs aimed at addressing the greatest obstacle facing software resellers today: finding, hiring, training and retaining quality field sales executives and consultants that can help sell and support more new-name customers.

“Sage has always provided a mix of educational, business growth and cost-savings programs to our business partners, because we understand how varied the needs are for growing each individual business,” said Taylor Macdonald, executive vice president of channel and sales operations at Sage Software. “However, one thing remains constant among all the partners we talk to, and that is the difficulty and cost of finding high-quality consultants that will make an immediate impact on sales and service revenues.”

Fast Track for Consultants
The new Fast Track for Consultants program combines training and education on recruiting and consulting to give business partners a comprehensive method to help new consultants become productive quickly and generate more revenues. Program benefits include classes within the Sage Consultant’s Academy; free core certification training; Business Acumen training courses; free candidate pipeline building and profiling services; Interview and Hiring Process Guides; the 90-day Guide to Making your Consultant Productive; participation in exclusive Fast Track for Consultants educational Webcasts; one-on-one mentoring from a Sage Peer Advisor; and access to Solution Consultants – all with the opportunity to earn-back the program investment.

100/100 2007 & Fast Track for Growth in 2007
Sage Software will again offer its popular 100/100 and Fast Track for Growth programs in the upcoming year. The 100/100 program, which won the Best Partnering Initiative award from the Software Industry Association in 2005, has been extended with another infusion of $1 million for 2006-2007. 100/100 2007 helps 100 select business partners find, hire and train 100 field executives in 100 days, including a $10,000 investment with each participating partner.

Fast Track for Growth in 2007 provides dedicated resources, educational tools and significant investments to partners who are committed to growing their businesses and acquiring new customers. The program is designed for business partners that are not large enough to be able to invest in dedicated sales staff but want to accelerate their sales cycles and concentrate on bringing on new customers. The program includes sales training, lead generation support, mentoring relationships, and support for developing a custom sales and marketing plan. Business partners receive $8,000 value in direct training and service benefits for the $5,000 program investment. In addition, business partners can fully recoup their $5,000 investment through credits earned by new customer acquisitions.

Improved Marketing Resources and Lead Generation Programs
The Sage Software Partner Marketing Resource Center has been refined and expanded, making it easier than ever to find, customize and utilize marketing resources. Re-designed after extensive input from business partners, the Partner Marketing Resource Center features simplified navigation and new features to support partner marketing campaigns.

To accelerate lead generation, Sage Software’s new Webcast Lead Builder enables business partners to leverage Sage hosted Webcasts for their own marketing campaigns. More than 60 lead-generating Webcasts are offered each month, giving business partners a flexible and powerful marketing tool to help qualify new business opportunities.

For partners that lack the time to plan and execute a marketing campaign, the new Marketing Assistant program offers relief in the form of 31 marketing packages designed to support end-to-end execution.

Business partners can also utilize vendors from Sage Software’s expanded Preferred Vendor list for a variety of marketing options to fit specific needs. Preferred Vendors are cost-effective marketing resources that are knowledgeable about Sage products and enable business partners to easily utilize accrued co-op funds.

Improved Resources for Small Business Certified Consultants
Sage Software’s Certified Consultants also will benefit from new and expanded marketing programs. Certified Consultants now have access to new co-op management resources in the online Partner Resource Marketing Center which greatly improves visibility of available co-op marketing funds. The “Marketing Assistant” provides marketing program suggestions that are aligned with Sage Preferred Vendors based on the amount of available coop funds. Through the Marketing Alliance program Certified Consultants can earn up to 100 percent reimbursement for eligible marketing activities simply by developing an approved six month marketing plan. New Specialization Training courses provide low-cost technical training, plus new product and newsletter templates are available, adding value to the overall Certified Consultant Program.

Irvine, Calif. - May 2, 2006 - Sage Software announced today details on the company’s comprehensive publisher-sponsored financing program, Sage Superior Financing. The program was developed with and is administered by Key Equipment Finance.
Beginning with a minimum transaction size of only $1,500 (all dollar figures are U.S.) on leases from two to five years, Sage Software enables a greater number of small and mid-sized businesses to take advantage of financing through Sage Superior Financing. Moreover, virtually everything associated with an IT purchase, such as software, installation, maintenance, conversion, training, consulting fees, hardware and freight, can be rolled right into the lease terms offered through Sage Superior Financing.

The relationship with Key Equipment Finance enables Sage Software to provide a complete solution to its customers from industry-leading technology and service, to flexible financing options. Additionally, by sponsoring a lease program Sage Software enables its customers to take advantage of tax benefits, one-stop shopping and financing, upgrade flexibility and better asset management.

“Thanks to Key Equipment Finance, Sage Software’s new all-inclusive, flexible financing programs should attract small and mid-sized business owners because all the costs of an IT purchase are covered,” said Taylor Macdonald, Sage Software executive vice president, Channel and Sales Operations, Mid-Market Division. “We are proud to bring this new service to our customers.”

For qualifying North American customers, Sage Superior Financing offers deferred payment options up to five years. All offerings are available immediately from authorized Sage Software business partners, so customers need not spend time shopping at financial institutions for rates and packages that may not cover the entire IT purchase.

“Sage Software understands the challenges facing small and mid-sized business owners and recognizes the importance of offering flexible financing as part of the complete customer service package,” said Adam Warner, president and COO of Key Equipment Finance’s express leasing services group. “We look forward to working with Sage Software business partners and their customers to offer more diversified and comprehensive financing products, and we anticipate that they will experience even greater customer satisfaction as a result of the ease of customer financing through this program.”

The Right Financing at the Right Time
Delivering IT solutions to the small and mid markets for more than 25 years, Sage Software recognizes the needs and challenges of the 2.5 million North American customers it serves. With Key Equipment Finance’s support, Sage Superior Financing delivers terms and options that satisfy those needs and overcome the challenges most often faced by small to mid-sized business owners.

“Sage Superior Financing is more than just a tool in my bag to help sell more Sage Software,” said Kevin Cumley, president of Forepoint, LLC., one of the largest authorized Sage Accpac business partners in North America. “The outstanding flexibility the program offers enables my clients to put their cash assets to better use, attracting new customers and growing their business. Sage understands what it is like to run a small business, and Sage Superior Financing helps my customers and my business be more successful.”

“With the ability to finance my software purchase, I was able to purchase a complete solution for my business. Not only did I get the latest software, I added new hardware, installation, maintenance and training,” said L. Scott Harmon of The Settlement Plan Group, a law firm and Sage Software customer. “Best of all, I was able to keep my budget in line.”

For more information about Sage Superior Financing programs call 800-523-3398.

Cleveland, Ohio – NA 06, Booth #746 - March 27, 2006 - Sage Software announced today at the start of the Material Handling Industry of America’s (MHIA) annual show and conference the launch of Sage Accpac WMS (Warehouse Management System) 5.0, a major new upgrade, with improved integration and administration, that will enable small and mid-sized warehouse operations to more effectively compete with their larger competitors by providing them with powerful, cost-effective distribution tools to more efficiently ‘pick, pack and ship.’ Integrated with the award-winning Sage Accpac ERP and Sage Pro ERP business management systems, Sage Accpac WMS 5.0 is a modular warehouse management solution for small and mid-sized businesses, offering them the freedom to choose optional components to add to each of three available editions, for a truly customized supply chain management solution.
Sage Accpac WMS 5.0 offers greater efficiency and accuracy to businesses, through increased pick rates, decreased errors, higher compliancy, and accurate forecasting of warehouse resources and demands. Integrating with various RF (radio frequency) hardware, shipping systems, and warehouse automation equipment, it’s a paperless, wireless, Web-deployable solution that serves as the hub of a warehouse’s supply chain.

Available in three editions, 100, 200, and 500, Sage Accpac WMS 5.0 starts as low as $9,500 (USD) SRP for the 100 edition, including a two-user license. Clients can easily scale up to a higher edition, add more users, or supplement their edition with optional modules ‘a la carte’ to build a warehouse management system that maps to their growing needs, with most optional modules priced at only $5,000 per module.

“Sage Accpac WMS has always been an affordable warehouse management solution for small and mid-sized warehouses, and is now even more powerful and cost-effective,” said Craig Downing, Sage Software vice president and general manager for Sage Accpac. “The modular pricing model means these businesses can now pick and choose optional features they want, rather than having to pay for an inflexible ‘all-in-one’- product that doesn’t entirely fit their needs, or budget. With WMS 5.0, you simply add optional modules to customize your system, or upgrade to a higher edition as your needs change, avoiding hefty customization fees, and providing peace of mind knowing that as your business scales, so can we.”

Sage Accpac WMS 5.0–Available In Three Editions

Designed for low volume warehouses, features such as UPS Shipping, RF functionality, Web Dispatch, and Order Management are included in the standard 100 Edition bundle of Sage Accpac WMS 5.0. The 200 Edition, a larger bundle suitable for a medium-sized wholesaler with higher order volumes and a more complex warehouse layout, includes all modules in the 100 Edition, plus adds features such as EOL (end of line) & Shipping, Lots/Serials/Expiry, Kitting, and Multi Carrier Shipping, among others. The 500 Edition is a solution designed for customers handling large volumes, with multiple sites and/or complex warehouse setups that may need extensive customization capabilities. It includes all of the modules in the 100 and 200 Editions, plus features such as Return Materials Authorization (RMA), Packaging, and Multi Company.

For those modules that aren’t standard/included with each Edition, they can be added ‘a la carte’ at the client’s choosing. Additional optional modules for all three Editions include Demand Forecasting I and II, and RFID (Demand Forecasting II requires Demand Forecasting I).

Improved integration and administration

Sage Accpac WMS 5.0 also provides a significant upgrade to its Web Services API, which allows warehouses to create sophisticated integrations with both Web-deployed and LAN-based business management applications they count on for daily operations. For example, all reports created using the Web Dispatch Management Console are published as XML (extensible markup language), providing content in a standardized Web publishing format. These XML-configured reports can be produced on-demand, and orders and reports can be quickly exported to MS Excel by simply clicking on an icon in the user interface.

Administration tools in version 5.0 have also been enhanced for increased performance and easier, faster troubleshooting, including new and improved reporting and security functions.

“Sage Accpac WMS is the right product at the right time,” said Rod Matheson, a Sage Accpac WMS business partner and president of Groupe Conseil Matheson Giroux, located in St-Laurent, Quebec, Canada. “It enables small and mid-sized distribution clients to fully automate their supply chain in order to serve their customers faster and more efficiently, eliminating downtime and added expenses. The new product features, plus the freedom for warehouses to choose optional components to customize their systems as needed, with integration to other Sage products, sets the standard for warehouse distribution systems designed specifically for SMBs.”

Pricing and Availability

Available in three editions, 100, 200, and 500, Sage Accpac WMS 5.0 will be available from authorized Sage Accpac WMS business partners beginning April 3rd, starting at an SRP of $9,500 (USD) for the Sage Accpac WMS 100 Edition, which includes a two-user license. To locate a Sage Accpac WMS business partner, call 1-800-945-8007, or visit www.sageaccpac.com.

Rosemont, Ill - March 21, 2006 - Sage Software announced today the continuation of its Supply Chain Road Show here at National Manufacturing Week in booth #23016. The Supply Chain Road Show is a showcase of end-to-end software solutions specifically designed to meet the evolving supply chain needs of today’s distribution and manufacturing businesses. Along with select development partners, Sage Software has taken the Supply Chain Road Show to four different industry events, educating attendees on the innovative, industry-tailored solutions available today from Sage Software and Sage Software business partners. The fifth and biggest stop for the tour is this week at the industry’s premiere event, National Manufacturing Week.
Manufacturers, distributors and service industries are experiencing a convergence trend, as companies are blending the three to gain revenue and a competitive edge. As manufacturers outsource certain portions of their operations, their businesses begin to look and behave more like distributors. Similarly, many distributors are taking on light manufacturing to gain a competitive edge, breaking the traditional distribution model. All the while, distributors and manufacturers of all types are adopting service offerings to differentiate themselves and to increase revenue opportunities. With more than 20 years of successful implementations, Sage Software is in a unique position to address the needs of these new, hybrid organizations with end-to-end business solutions.

“Sage Software leverages years of successful implementations to deliver comprehensive yet flexible accounting solutions coupled with feature-rich vertical industry capabilities,” said Jim Portner, vice president and general manager of the Sage MAS product line. “The Supply Chain Road Show provides education and resources for attendees about how to solve their own supply chain challenges. This is especially important for mid-market business owners that see opportunities from branching into new distribution, manufacturing or service offerings.”

The Supply Chain Road Show features product demonstrations, successful case studies on innovative implementations, expert advice from on-site solutions specialists and successful software migration strategies for growing businesses. Participating Sage Software business partners at National Manufacturing week include Synergistic Software, creators of JobOps, the industry’s premiere job tracking software; and ASG, the global software and professional services organization, which will be featuring its document management solutions.

Products featured in booth #23016 include award-winning Sage MAS 90/200 and Sage MAS 500, which recently received “Top 100 Product” honors for 2006 in the High-End & Mid-Market Accounting category from the editors of Accounting Today magazine, plus Sage BusinessWorks, which received the same “Top 100 Product” recognition in the Small Business Accounting category (http://www.webcpa.com/article.cfm?articleid=16589&pg=acctoday). Highly scaleable and full-featured business management applications, Sage products enable small and mid-market companies to streamline operations and effectively manage information in order to help speed growth and profitability. Sage products automate accounting and financials, project accounting, distribution, services and manufacturing functions, plus tightly integrate with award-winning Sage CRM SalesLogix, Sage Abra HRMS and Sage FAS Fixed Assets products.

Irvine, Calif. - March 21, 2006 - Sage Software announced today another successful implementation of Sage MAS 500 ERP, the company’s premiere enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution, with Salisbury, Maryland-based Navtrak, Inc. The leader in GPS-based fleet productivity solutions, Navtrak provides comprehensive tracking and monitoring of fleet vehicles and mobile workforce employees. Implementing Sage MAS 500 enabled Navtrak to double in size over the last year in both customer volume and total number of vehicles tracked by its database, without increasing inventory levels or staffing. Tight integration with existing applications and improved workflow are the reasons most noted by Navtrak.
“Sage MAS 500 blew Great Plains [Dynamics GP] out of the water,” said Sheryl Auld, controller of Navtrak, Inc. “Sage MAS 500 was superior at integrating with our administrative database and CRM and was very easy to use. I’d worked with Great Plains [Dynamics GP] at a previous job and knew it very well. But once I saw Sage MAS 500, I told the Microsoft representative that they didn’t need to come back.”

The award-winning Sage MAS 500 recently was named a “Top 100 Product” for 2006 in the High-End and Mid-Market Accounting category by the editors of Accounting Today magazine (http://www.webcpa.com/article.cfm?articleid=16589&pg=acctoday). A highly scaleable and full-featured business management application, Sage MAS 500 enables larger mid-market companies to streamline operations and effectively manage information in order to help speed growth and profitability. The solution automates accounting and financials, project accounting, distribution, services and manufacturing functions, plus tightly integrates with award-winning Sage CRM SalesLogix, Sage Abra HRMS and Sage FAS Fixed Assets products. Sage MAS 500 is particularly well suited for companies with revenues ranging from $25 million up to $1 billion.

“Because Sage MAS 500 integrates with our CRM software, we only have to enter data once,” continued Auld. “This has cut data entry time by at least 50 percent, or the equivalent of several fulltime employees who can be used in other areas of the company. We use Sage MAS 500 to provide historic data for all purchases, as well as real-time inventory. This is invaluable information for running our business smarter.”

Navtrak receives inventory that is 90 percent complete then adds sophisticated communication modems, programs them, tests for quality control, and ships them to customers, primarily fleets in the trucking, ambulance, waste disposal and utility industries. Orders are received through a CRM system, which integrates seamlessly with Sage MAS 500. Products are scanned into the Sage MAS 500 inventory system upon arrival. The system pulls parts according to customer order, stages and processes production, and even manages orders through shipping.

“Navtrak fits into a growing trend we’ve seen where companies do light manufacturing, distribution and services in order to bolster revenues and differentiate themselves,” said Jim Portner, vice president and general manager for Sage MAS products. “This evolution aligns perfectly with our Sage MAS product line, which delivers depth and breadth across core accounting functions, manufacturing, distribution and service capabilities.”

For more information about Sage MAS 500 visit www.sagesoftware.com/mas500 or contact Sage Software at 800-854-3415.

Irvine, Calif. - March 13, 2006 - Sage Software announced today the availability of its new Customer Insights module for the Sage PFW ERP product line. Customer Insights is an interactive tool that enables Sage PFW users to deliver fast, personalized attention to every customer. By providing quick, easy access to detailed account information, Customer Insights gives Sage PFW users the ability to enhance each customer interaction, thus building customer satisfaction and loyalty and ultimately helping them create new revenue opportunities.
Franklin Paint Company, Inc. is a current Sage PFW user leveraging the powerful new features of Customer Insights.

“Our customer service manager, collections manager and controller work through issues with our customers on a daily basis,” said Robin Lander, general manager with Franklin Paint Co., Inc. “Sage PFW ties all our data together in one place, and the new Customer Insights module provides easy access – but more importantly, secure access – to exactly what information they need to provide superior customer service.”

Customer Insights creates a Customer Activity Dashboard, giving users single-click access to detailed credit status, pricing, quotes, orders, sales history, buying patterns and behaviors. By being better informed on all aspects of the customer, Sage PFW users can quickly respond to inquiries, quote more accurate pricing and effectively sell more products and services. Users can even access flexible PivotTable functionality to pinpoint vital information, making it easier to provide exceptional customer service and increase revenue opportunities from within existing customer bases.

“Today’s consumers demand a higher level of customer service than ever before, so building strong customer loyalty has become a strategic business initiative,” said David van Toor, vice president and GM for Sage PFW. “Customer Insights enables our Sage PFW users to truly implement a customer-facing philosophy throughout their entire organizations, so they can use customer satisfaction as a competitive advantage.”

Access Critical Information
Customer Insights provides one easy-to-navigate, comprehensive screen that includes Address, Credit, Pricing, Quotes, Orders, Order History, Open Invoices, Invoice History, Pay History, Shipments and Sales Analysis views with the associated customer information. Of equal importance, Customer Insights enables users to track more personalized data from customer interactions, including notes from conversations, birthdays, personal preferences, etc., that further enhance customer satisfaction and build lasting relationships.

Security Above All
With Customer Insights, users set security levels on an individual or group basis, so that only appropriate users can view and revise essential data. This enables Customer Insights users to access, manage and analyze pertinent data in order to speed decision-making, increase effective responses to customer’s inquiries and thereby improve overall customer service.

Streamlined Integration
A critical component of success is cross-team visibility to ensure that the right people have access to the right data, so they can efficiently respond to prospects and support customers. Customer Insights seamlessly pulls together data from throughout Sage PFW solution, making customer service workflow more efficient and providing the details required for better, more effective decision making.

Pleasanton, Calif. - March 7, 2006 - Sage Software announced today another example of how it responds to the needs, challenges, and dreams of small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) with the successful migration and upgrade of the business management system of Green Valley Growers, Inc., of Willis, TX, from its Peachtree by Sage entry-level accounting system to the award-winning Sage Pro ERP business management system. With the assistance of Sage Pro business partner Koenig Software Systems, LLC, located in Bellaire, TX, this migration exemplifies how Sage Software and its large network of authorized resellers in North America continue to mutually deliver on the company’s “customers for life” strategy, effectively providing the business management solutions SMBs determine they need as they grow and change over time.
With 160 employees, Green Valley Growers operates more than a million square feet of heated greenhouses, and has 400 acres in production, growing high-quality landscape and patio plants. Selling to independent garden centers, home centers, and other retailers, Green Valley Growers has become one of the largest wholesale nurseries in the nation.

Green Valley Growers started their business with Peachtree by Sage. As the company grew, it determined it needed a more sophisticated business management system to handle its ever-increasing complex operations. Sage Pro ERP is now used to manage virtually all business operations at Green Valley Growers. The system has automated standard accounting functions such as payables and receivables, payroll, and the general ledger. It also tracks customer orders, inventory, purchase orders, production, and work orders.

Jim Hessler, president of Green Valley Growers, is certain that Sage Pro ERP was the right decision when looking to upgrade their business management system. “Sage Pro reduced redundant data entry, allowing us to achieve 35 percent growth in sales in one year while reducing office labor by 10 percent. Also, we now have much better financial information. The system makes it easy to get real-time cost information, which makes us more efficient and improves production planning decisions.”

Green Valley Growers relies on Sage Pro ERP and its suite of sophisticated financial, inventory management, and Manufacturing modules to run the entire company, giving it a competitive edge while maintaining continued growth.

By better automating the company’s business management processes, Sage Pro ERP facilitates faster ordering, order fulfillment, and picking and invoicing, and helps make Green Valley Growers’ overall production processes much faster than before.

“Perhaps the best thing about Sage Pro is that it works for us, not vice versa,” Hessler notes. “It doesn’t force us to conform to someone else’s business system. It does exactly what we need now, and will support growth at our current rapid pace.”

Recently named a “Top 100 Product” for 2006 in the High-End & Mid-Market Accounting category for the 5th straight year by the editors of Accounting Today magazine (http://www.webcpa.com/article.cfm?articleid=16589&pg=acctoday), Sage Pro ERP is a powerful business management solution that features modifiable source code, a scalable architecture, and a complete set of optional, integrated manufacturing modules, plus integration with other end-to-end business management applications, including customer relationship management (CRM) and warehouse management, among others.

Pricing and Availability
Available in two editions, 100 and 200, Sage Pro ERP is available from Sage Pro business partners starting at an SRP of $995 per module (USD) for Sage Pro 100 ERP. To locate a Sage Pro business partner, call 1-800-945-8007, or visit www.sageproerp.com.

Irvine, Calif - February 27, 2006 - Sage Software announced today another successful implementation of Sage MAS 500 ERP, the company’s premiere enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution, this time at Chase Staffing Services of Atlanta, GA. Chase Staffing provides temporary personnel resources to regional businesses through 62 locations in the United States. The company’s growth dictated a change from QuickBooks, which was not keeping pace with the company’s success.
“We’d become way too big to run on QuickBooks,” said Lisa Lepping, controller at Chase Staffing Services. “The system was painfully slow, it didn’t have adequate reporting capabilities and it could not handle our branch activities. We needed a robust replacement that would automate financials and integrate with a front-end system, which we also needed.”

Chase Staffing replaced QuickBooks with Sage MAS 500, a highly scaleable and full-featured business management application for larger mid-market companies. Sage MAS 500 automates accounting and financials, project accounting, distribution, services and manufacturing functions, plus includes support for CRM, HR and payroll needs. The implementation at Chase Staffing utilizes the complete suite of financial modules, including general ledger, accounts payables, accounts receivables, purchase orders and cash management.

Sage MAS 500 impacted productivity and profitability immediately. Lepping notes that time to prepare monthly closing statements has been cut by more than half; processing time for payables reduced by one week; and paper flow between branches nearly eliminated.

“With QuickBooks, we were forced to mail paper copies of bills back and forth between the branches and headquarters for approval,” said Lepping. “With Sage MAS 500, everyone that needs access to the accounts payable and general ledger systems has access. This means we can review payables online and approve them, eliminating costly paperwork.”

Sage Software business partner, BCG Systems, implemented the solution, plus designed a custom interface to TempWorks, a front-end software package designed specifically for temporary staffing companies like Chase Staffing.

“One of the many benefits of using Sage Software is their extensive network of development partners with specific industry expertise,” said Roy Abernethy, president and CEO Chase Staffing Services. “We needed to overhaul everything QuickBooks wasn’t able to do, plus add a front-end solution to further enhance productivity. BCG Systems was able to leverage expertise with Sage MAS 500 and the right front-end application to provide a complete, end-to-end solution.”

Chase Staffing grew from seven to 62 branches in just seven years. The Atlanta-based staffing agency has won the Pacesetter Award four times for being one of the city’s fastest growing companies, and qualifies as one of the nation’s Top 100 staffing firms by size. With the addition of Sage MAS 500, Abernethy anticipates doubling again in only three years.

“Our goal is to make the world a better place by putting more people to work in more places,” said Abernethy. “Sage MAS 500 helps us do that by making us more productive, and supporting our growth plans throughout the foreseeable future.”

For more information about Sage MAS 500 visit www.sagesoftware.com/mas500 or contact the Sage Software Sales Department at 800-854-3415.