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Terminal Services and Sage ERP 100 MAS Explained

Essential Insights Into Remote Desktop Terminal Services and Sage ERP 100 MAS90 MAS200.

By: Tekoa Software
Cloud Enable Your Enterprise


Sage ERP 100 MAS 90 and MAS 200 from Sage Software are two of the most widely used mid size business management and accounting applications in service today. Both MAS 90 (standard) and MAS 200 (advanced) share the same end-user capability and functionality. The primary difference between MAS 90 and MAS 200 is the back-end technology. MAS 200 is a client-server application which works more efficiently than MAS 90 on wide area networks and large user counts.

One method gaining popularity among business that own Sage ERP 100 MAS 90 and MAS 200 is the use of Terminal Services to host MAS. There are a number of benefits to using Remote Desktop Services for Sage ERP 100 MAS 90/200. Here is a list of some of the benefits:

1. Improved Security

Something your MAS consultant may not tell you is that Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 require Full Access network security rights to not only the installation directory on the server, but often times the Program Files directory as well. Hosting MAS 200 on a Remote Desktop Terminal Server improves security because network administrators can limit the terminal session to only execute MAS, and then close the session when MAS is closed - therefore it is not a problem that the user has full control rights because the only software they can run in the terminal session is MAS itself. Using the MAS 200 client directly on the network without Terminal Services exposes your network to either malicious or silly employee errors.

2. Remote Office Capability

Using Remote Desktop Terminal Services for Sage ERP 100 MAS 200 also makes connecting remote offices and at-home users much more efficient and capable. IT pros familiar with MAS know that even the "thin-client" install of MAS 200 is not very efficient over a wide area network. Even with Sages addition of a client server ODBC driver, the performance of the direct MAS 200 Client over a wide area network is not ideal and has frustrated many an end-user. Using Remote Desktop Terminal Server to host MAS 200 is the "no brainer" solution for connecting home offices and remote offices to a centralized MAS 200 installation.

3. Easier Upgrades

Instead of having to visit each workstation and upgrade the client application, the Remote Desktop implementation of Sage ERP 100 MAS makes upgrades easier because you only need to update 1 client installation - the one on the host server, then all users get the upgraded functionality and benefits at the same time, with only 1 client upgrade required.

4. Flexibility

Expand and contract the amount of technical resources needed as your organization evolves and changes.  No need to overbuild and overpay now so you can grow into the future.  Get the amount of tech you need today and easily expand that capability down the road when more is needed.

5. Cost Benefits

Take the total number of dollars the business spent on Sage ERP 100 MAS support services and hardware infrastructure over the last year.  Divide that number by twelve and come up with an estimated monthly cost for running an on premises Sage ERP 100 MAS system.  Compare that number to the cost of a hosted Remote Desktop Terminal Server hosted solution and chances are very good that the benefits and costs will be attractive.  Take the time to run some quick numbers and see if it is a good idea for your company.


Allan Snodgrass
Tekoa Software, Inc.
Allan is a Technology Solution Professional at Tekoa Software in Washington state.  For more information about a Remote Desktop Terminal Server solution for your business, visit www.TekoaSoftware.com or call 888-811-2998.  Connect the dots with Tekoa Software.

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Sage ERP 100 MAS Production

Sage ERP 100 MAS90 MAS200 Easy Manufacturing and Make to Order

By: Allan Snodgrass

www.TekoaERP.com

It is not uncommon to come across a Sage 100 manufacturing enterprise that would like to add some functionailty to tracking production quantities without having to employ the whole Work Order Processing module. 

Here are some insights into how Sage ERP 100 MAS users can use Purchase Orders to track Bill of Materials Production.

Bill of Materials Production Entry in Sage 100 allows users to turn raw materials into finished goods with a simple and straight forward process.  Enter in a finished good bill, post the transaction and the component items are removed from inventory and the finished good receipted into inventory.  Simple and easy.

The problem lies in that it can then be difficult to track and schedule production of the finished goods inside MAS itself.  Often times spreadsheets or manual lists are used to calculate the production needed and then to track how many finished goods are required to meet the production schedule. 

Of course the Sage 100 Work Order Module is a full featured way of tracking production in detail.  But what if you just want to submit a "production order" and then when production is completed, update that production order to reflect the quantity produced.

Well, Tekoa Software has come up with an integration tool to help manufacturers track production orders using the Purchase Order module in Sage 100.

Using this new integration tool, Tekoa Software enables users to identify Production Purchase Orders that will be modified automatically when a Bill of Materials production entry is completed.  Simply enter in a MAS Purchase Order and identify it as a Production Order.  Then when Production is posted, the Production Purchase Order will be automatically updated to reflect the quantity that has been manufactured.  To prevent double receipts, the Tekoa Integrator does not post receipts to the PO, rather maintains a simple amount if production that can then be used to help with the essential scheduling of production.  Tekoa Integrator will also email key users alerting them that a production order has been updated, adding the ability to monitor your Production POs and schedule.

Gain this simple and easy to use functionality - without any custom programming.  No customization to MAS itself that would prevent upgrades or other enhancements.  Tekoas solutions employ the latest in application technology and do not require MAS to be modified to perform the task.

So if your enterprise needs a simple way of entering Production Orders using Purchase Orders, this new tool from Tekoa Software can help streamline your business processes.  For more information about Tekoa Integrator or Bill of Materials Production Purchase Orders for Sage 100, give Tekoa Software a call.

By: Allan Snodgrass
Technology Solutions Professional
Tekoa Software, Inc.
www.TekoaSoftware.com

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BYOD Mobile for Sage ERP 100 MAS

Mobile Computing Options for Sage ERP 100 MAS

By: Tekoa Software

www.TekoaERP.com

Mobile computing has exploded into a mission critical element for todays enterprise.  Mobile solutions are invading all areas of business including: marketing, eCom sales, warehouse automation and production tracking.  But the big question is: how does mobile fit with my use of Sage 100 MAS as a business management application?

Well, there are a number of answers to that question.  Lets take a look at some of the options and see if we can shed some light on how you can use mobile to enhance Sage ERP 100 MAS.  We will also take a look at growing trends in Sage ERP 100 app development and how that effects mobile.

Mobile Warehouse Management Sage 100 MAS

There are many warehouse management systems available, and the endorsed solutions are not necessarily the best.  Each one has its own take on making the business processes in your warehouse more accurate and efficient.  Better inventory management is a central and important aspect of managing your business and a Warehouse Automation application helps provide the tools users need to process inventory tasks, quickly and accurately.

One option in particular deserves your attention.  The Advanced Features Bundle gives you inventory management and warehouse automation functions that go beyond the standard capabilities of Sage 100 ERP.  Complete with barcode scanning and the ability to work on a wide variety of mobile devices, including iOS, Android and Windows mobile devices, The AFB for Sage 100 is a state of the art package of advanced enhancements for Sage 100.

Process inventory transactions, physical count, receiving and picking, and even production steps using mobile devices and track the details of your inventory management with a robust set of advanced features for Sage 100.

Mobile Production Tracking and Sage ERP 100 MAS

Businesses looking to implement production tracking mobile tools often are trying to balance the time users lose by entering the transactions, with the benefit the production data provides.  If the steps required to input the data exceed the value of the data, or slow production too significantly, then the value of tracking production on mobile devices diminishes. 

Again, the Advanced Features Bundle for Sage 100 appears to have the right balance of easy data entry for production users and insightful data that contributes to better performance and reporting.  Using almost any modern mobile device (yes those 5 year old devices you have probably wont work) users can quickly and easily input production tracking information without slowing down the process.  Track production costs by Sage 100 Sales Order and know the profitability by order.  Automate routes for fast and easy tracking.  For more information, check out the AFB for Sage 100 MAS at TekoaERP.com or click here.

Mobile Sales and Service for Sage ERP 100 MAS

Another Mobile solution for Sage 100 ERP available from Tekoa is the route sales and service module.  With this innovative module, you can give salespersons the ability to inquire about inventory and customers and enter sales onsite at the customers location from a tablet, phone or mobile barcode scanner.  Increase sales and improve customer service when sales and service reps in the field can inquire and input new sales from their mobile devices. 

Automatically email invoice receipts or print them out to Bluetooth printers, either way you can streamline the onsite sales process and have the information in Sage 100 MAS in real-time instead of delayed batch sync, as is common.

The Advanced Features Bundle for Sage 100 ERP MAS90 MAS200 is a cloud based, state of the art mobile solution for todays cloud enabled enterprise.  It provides mobile functionality for a variety of Sage 100 functions on many different mobile devices from virtually anywhere. 



Tekoa Software, Inc.
www.TekoaSoftware.com or call 888-811-2998.

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How To Speed Up Invoice History in Sage ERP 100 MAS

How you can purge Accounts Receivable Invoice History in Sage ERP 100 MAS90 MAS200 and still be able to access to the data.

By: Kevin Conlin


For example, the external SQL database maintains a perpetual invoice history table, while within MAS we purge invoice history leaving only the most recent 2 years of data. For older invoices, they can be printed from either an option on the MAS task menu, or a simple user interface, retrieving the desired invoice from the external SQL history tables. The user interface is easily modified to add selection options by customer number, invoice number, and invoice date [or additional search fields].

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Mobile Barcode Scanning With Surface RT and Sage ERP MAS

Perform Mobile Warehouse Management functions with barcode scanning and a Microsoft Surface RT tablet.

by: Allan Snodgrass

In the consumer electronics world, you hear commentators opine about the death of the Windows RT tablet and how it has not made significant inroads to the highly competitive consumer tablet market.  While that may or may not be true, todays enterprise faces an opportunity to leverage the capability of the RT as a warehouse and production floor management tool.  Heres what I mean.

In the never ending battle to make business processes more efficient and drive down distribution and production costs, businesses look to ways of making their ERP software solutions more mobile.  The thinking typically goes something like this: if we can track our data more efficiently on the floor, then we can shorten our order fulfillment cycles and track costs more accurately.  If we can do that, then we are more competitive, have better insights into our data, and costs can be more easily evaluated and ideally lowered.  Therefore, lets invest in a mobile solution that allows us to put our ERP or warehouse management application in the hands of the people on the floor and make it easy for them to input data.  A very common scenario.

Before you run out and buy proprietary handheld barcode scanners for your ERP solution, let me make a suggestion.  Surface RT with a Scanner.  Heres how we have made it work.

1. Purchase a Surface RT at about one-third the cost of a proprietary handheld barcode scanner device.
2. If you want a stationary solution, mount the RT to a work center or forklift.
1. If you want more mobility and durability, purchase a rugged cover shell case for the RT. 
3. Configure the RT to access your software.
1. Use Microsoft Remote Desktop on the RT to open ERP applications like Sage ERP 100 MAS90 MAS200.
2. Use the RT internet explorer browser if you want web based data entry and the Advanced Features Bundle for Sage 100 ERP from Tekoa.
4. Arrange the Start of the RT to make accessing either Remote Desktop or the web form very easy and intuitive.
5. Purchase inexpensive barcode scanners that have wireless capability.  Less that $100 each.  Plug the wireless transmitter into the RT USB port.  Or if you want, purchase a wired barcode scanner for even less and plug the scanner cable into the RTs USB port.
6. Done.  For a few hundred dollars each, you have a very capable warehouse management mobile console complete with networking, users, printing, remote access, bar code reading, etc.

Here is another trick.  Wireless scanners often have a range of 20 feet or better. So if the end user is within a reasonable distance of the RT location, then they can simply scan and the RT collects the data.

One thing to watch out for though is that the wireless barcode scanners sometimes conflict with wireless keyboards because similar technology is used.  So if you get odd interference between the RT and the scanner, look for wireless peripherals near by that might be conflicting with the scanners wireless connection.

In the end, todays enterprise can use a Surface RT tablet and inexpensive barcode scanners to scan data into their ERP software or into a warehouse management system.  For more information about a customizable Mobile solution using Surface RT tablets and Barcode Scanners, contact us at Tekoa Software.

By: Allan Snodgrass
www.TekoaSoftware.com

Available link for download