CPA Technology Blog

The Passing of Newt Becker

As many of you know, I’ve taught the Becker CPA Review for the last 15 years.  I learned this morning of Newt’s passing in the following e-mail from the Becker organization, which I am publishing in its entirety.

It is with sadness that I’m sending you this message. Newt Becker, the founder of Becker Professional Education, died Monday evening in Los Angeles after being ill for quite a while. Newt was 83 years old.

Newt started Becker CPA Review in 1957 in Cleveland, his home town. From humble beginnings and with a handful of students, he found a successful formula for dedicated CPA candidates to pass the difficult CPA exam. He was a pioneer in interactive learning for exam preparation, engaging his students in every facet of mastering the curriculum – through lectures, mnemonics, homework, etc. Most importantly, he truly cared about each student who selected the review course that bears his name. His goal was fulfilling their dream to earn the CPA credential and to ultimately enrich their lives.

All of us at Becker owe Newt our gratitude for the painstaking effort that he and his early team of colleagues expended to produce the best product for CPA exam preparation. His legacy of putting the student first resulted in the Becker culture that thrives today. We care about our students and we care about each other.

Newt devoted his life to making the world a better place. When he handed over the CPA Review reins to DeVry in 1996, he immersed himself in charitable and altruistic social endeavors, including the exploration of clean air alternative energy resources. He was truly a generous and good man.

So let’s remember Newt Becker for what he gave to us… A thriving business for sure, but also a commitment to excellence and caring about student success. We honor his legacy.

John P. Roselli

President, Becker Professional Education

At the CPA Tech Blog, all of our thoughts and prayers are with Newt’s family in this difficult time.  Many CPA’s I know are very grateful to Newt and the Becker organization for helping them pass the CPA exam, and I am thankful to have worked in his organization.

Accounting Technology Fashion Weeks, 2011

The last week of October and the first week in November each year is where many of the major conferences are held.  National conferences from CCH, Thomson Reuters, and the Sleeter Group take place this time of the year, and many state CPA societies have large conferences for their members.  These conferences are also where publishers announce new products and services for the coming year.  Most of us in the accounting technology business are running around the country trying to speak on various topics, take webinars on the big announcements from the publishers, write up what we learn, and in our spare time, travel to the next site and, occasionally, sleep.  (Nah – we don’t really sleep.  It’s a blur of receipts, airplane peanuts, taxicabs, and caffeine this time of the year.)

Some major trends have emerged from these announcements.

• Mobile is the new “must have” product offering.  CCH and Thomson Reuters both had big announcements (CCH, TR) about mobile strategy in the last week, and both promise more to come in the year ahead.  The new apps work on smartphones and tablets, and have expanded to include not only Apple’s iOS (iPad and iPhone) platform, but also includes the popular Google Android smartphone platform. 
• Hosting will be the way many locally-installed applications first move away from on-premises installation.  Many hosted offerings are helping organizations move to the cloud without giving up the option of running an application on their internal servers in the future.  Some notable examples include:
• Microsoft’s Office 365 bundle of hosted Exchange, SharePoint, and Lync
• Intuit’s hosting provider program and Sage’s hosting programs (PT, Simply, MAS 90) are making on-premises accounting software available from anywhere.
• CCH announced a new hosted version of its ProSystem fx Scan tax document automation application.
• Cloud-based offerings are moving from the “hot and trendy” category to the “must have wardrobe basics” section.  We are seeing the cloud-based offerings from many of the publishers mature, and there are a wide range of new, on demand offerings from every publisher. 
• Yesterday Intuit announced a new version of its QuickBooks Online product targeted at accountants (the aptly-named QuickBooks Online for Accountants).
• Doug Sleeter’s keynote address yesterday detailed many major cloud offerings, and his conference is the ground-zero for the web-based accounting revolution.  Major releases from Sage, Intuit, Xero, SmartVault, and many others will all be announced at this event, which continues through Wednesday in fabulous Las Vegas.
• Thomson Reuters announced a new product to be launched next year – Workpapers CS.  This tool will be a new cloud-based integrated workpaper management system, and although I didn’t get a chance to see it during my trip to San Diego for their conference, I’m hoping to see it in the near future.
• CCH announced the integration of Speedtax’s SaaS applications into the CorpSystem product line, and also highlighted how the newest versions of their solutions make it possible to rapidly develop, create, and deploy applications such as the new CCH Tax News Highlights App, which was designed, created, and deployed to mobile devices running Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android OS reportedly in just six weeks.

There is some consolidation going on in the marketplace, especially for venture-funded companies.  This summer, major acquisitions include Drake’s purchase of tax document automation provider Copanion, CCH’s purchase of sales tax provider SpeedTax, Sage purchased Alchemex (the publisher of most of the Sage business intelligence offerings), and enterprise computing giant Citrix purchased secure portal provider ShareFile.

Where in the world is Brian?  Well, I spoke at the Thomson Reuters User Conference in San Diego and at the PA Institute of CPA’s Emerging CPA’s Conference last week.  This week, I’ll be speaking at the Tennessee Society of CPA’s Accounting & Auditing Conference (today), then jumping on a plane to the CCH User Conference in San Antonio, and wrapping up the week at the Arkansas Society of CPA’s Technology Conference on Thursday and Friday.  (I really wanted to go to the Sleeter Conference in Vegas, but there were not enough hours in the day for me to make all of that happen). For more information about the goings-on, follow me on Twitter (@BFTCPA).  There’s some really fabulous stuff rolling out to the profession this week, dah-lings.

(Now, where’s that sugar-free Red Bull I just opened….)

Current Events, July 25, 2011

Well, it’s been a very busy couple of months for me, your reporter.  I’ve spoken at AICPA TECH+Practitioners, Sage Summit, the Office Tools Pro Conference, and the XCM conference.  I’ve also taught CPE events around the country – from PA to AZ to North Dakota and finally in Oregon.  Here’s a summary of some of the interesting news which has come across the wires lately:

1. Sage to Rebrand – As will be detailed in my September CPA Practice Advisor column, Sage is rebranding most of its products to have a new, number-based naming scheme.  For example, Peachtree and Simply accounting will have a name similar to “Sage 50”, and other products like MAS 90/200 and ACCPAC will have names like “Sage 100” or “Sage 200”.  There has been some coverage from the press on this lately, but beyond the fact that they’re going to rename over the next 18 to 24 months, there really isn’t that much to report related to the rebranding (an article from a Canadian press source is here).  There are a lot of interesting things going on with Sage lately – new online offerings, a new user certification for Simply Accounting, some interesting training initiatives to help partners transition to cloud services, and SDATA.  Since the rebranding is more of a long term play, I’ll let you wait for my column to come out.  No names have been announced yet, but I’ll keep you up to date on Twitter (@BFTCPA) as announcements come out.  There’s also some other interesting stuff coming  – more about that when the announcements come out later this year.

2. Concur Breeze implementation at K2 - We’ve been using Concur Breeze at K2 for a while, and it seems to be working out nicely.  The ever-present Joe Martino and Bob Lewis have been very helpful in our transition, and other than a few hiccups, I think it’s a keeper.  (BTW, they have an Advisor program for accountants with free CPE as well as a number of free accounts if you would like to learn more about their product.)

3. Field Monitor Pro Update – Despite the best efforts of both me and the TSA, my Field Monitor Pro from Mobile Monitor Technologies is holding up very nicely, and has survived a number of events which would have been career-ending injuries for other, less rigorous gear.  I’m very pleased with how well it’s working out, and I’ve actually sourced a few for others who are all thrilled with the product as well.  I have subjected the device to a fairly rigorous travel schedule in the last three months (If it had to buy tickets, my mobile monitor would already be Gold Medallion on Delta), and it keeps working like a charm.  Good stuff, people.

4. Google+ has been informally launched, and is rumored to have over 18MM users already.  Ho-hum.  With the recent announcement that Google is closing down much of their engineer playground, Google Labs, I’m in “wait and see” mode – especially since I can’t put users of my Apps Domain (HINT HINT) in Google+ yet.  Plus is till bleeding edge, not leading edge – but that may change in the next 60-90 days.

5. Lots of new writers coming on for projects at the CPA Practice Advisor – more on that at their site in the coming weeks.  @DustinWCPA, @deductme, and @jasonmblumer will be adding some new perspectives to our reviews and our existing authors over the next few months. 

6. Microsoft has released Office 365, and I think it’s going to give Google Apps a run for its money.  I’m not handicapping the race between the two to the pot of gold at the end of the Yellow Brick Road, but it seems like Google is the Scarecrow here (“If I only had HIPAA/GLB”), and Microsoft is the Tin Man (“If I only had some buzz”).  I think the Microsoft product is better for most business customers, but they need some “cool points” to cement this offering as better for SMB.  It will be interesting to see how Google+ fits into Google’s strategy here.  (Who are you backing, Dorothy Reader?)

That’s about it for right now.  If you have comments, please say so in the form below, or send a message at @BFTCPA on Twitter.

Sage Peachtree 2012 Formally Launched

My friends at Sage recently released Sage Peachtree 2012, the latest version of their easy to use business management application.  The product has versions which handle businesses from startups through mid-range businesses who need up to 40 users.  Major new/improved features include:

• Sage Peachtree Business Intelligence, powered by Alchemex, is one of the best new features.  (I wrote about this tool for my April/May CPA Practice Advisor column)
• Sage Advisor Technology gives you tips on how to improve your workflow based on your actual usage (this is one of the topics for my June column), and helps tech support know how you actually use the product.
• The Workflow Management in Sage Peachtree Quantum has been enhanced to allow tasks to be automatically assigned to certain individuals.  This is one of the strongest, least used features in the product, but IMHO, it’s a game changer for the people who use it.
• New components for the My Dashboard tool, which permits customizable dashboard reporting on key indicators.

The application still has unmatched reporting capabilities, including a bundled version of Crystal Reports and a serious Business Intelligence tool  (PTBI)bundled with some higher end versions.  In particular, an optional connector should permit combined reporting with data from ODBC-compliant data sources like CRM systems.  This could get very interesting, and I have some research in progress on this now.

The grid comparing the major versions of Sage Peachtree is at http://www.peachtree.com/productsServices.

Another interesting thing that Sage is doing with Peachtree 2012 is bundling of additional benefits beyond support and upgrades with their Business Care maintenance plans.  For example, two of the three offerings include payroll tax table updates, and all of the offerings include the PT Business Intelligence tool mentioned above, as well as online training and an HR resource center.

There are five releases issued yesterday (5/18/2011) targeted at different markets.  The releases are on the Sage Peachtree website (at http://www.peachtree.com/newsroom/InTheNews), and cover the following topics:

• General SMB topics
• Construction Companies
• Non-Profits
• Business Intelligence
• Manufacturers and Distributors

I’ve been a big fan of Peachtree for a long time, and I think it’s worth any small business checking it out who is considering changing accounting software.

Update from Brian

I’ve been working on a lot of writing projects and doing a lot of consulting this winter.  With my gig as Technical Editor for the CPA Practice Advisor (formerly the CPA Technology Advisor), I’ve been buried with issues related to reviews, review criteria, and working through the format for the relaunch of the magazine.  The April-May issue of the magazine went to press a few days ago, and I think we’re all excited about it coming out soon.  I’ve also been doing a lot of material writing for K2 Enterprises this year, and have been completing my projects there over the last couple of weeks.  It seems like there is just not enough hours in the day.

I’m very interested in how this tax season is going for everyone.  Since I’m not hearing many specific complaints (other than the occasional hiccup with e-filing from one provider or another), I’m assuming that it’s going well.  I’ll be able to say much better after teaching season picks up later next month.  If any of you have reports on how your tax season is going, I’d love to put a few of them together for a future blog post.  E-mail your reports to brian at bftcpa dot com.

I’ll be writing a review of the scan and organize tools for the CPA Practice Advisor’s July issue, and would welcome any insights you all have on how the tools are working for you.  While this was once a “bleeding edge” technology, the providers have really thought through the workflows associated with the scan/organize process, and I’ve been very impressed with how the products have evolved over the last few years.

I’m also working on some writing for some other organizations, and will be cross-linking to those projects from here when they are posted, most likely next month.

Until next time – Brian

News Roundup 2/16/2011

I’ve been working on projects quite a bit lately, and haven’t made time to blog as much as I would like.  Nonetheless, there is some interesting stuff going on right now in the world of financial technology:

1. AICPA came out with their list of the Top Ten Technologies for 2011 yesterday, and for the first time in about five years, Security (generally) is NOT the top item on the list.  The top item?  Control and Use of Mobile Devices.  More about the items on the list can be found at the AICPA website.

2. The CPA Technology Advisor came out with its listing of the Top 25 Thought Leaders in Accounting Technology, and your humble correspondent was honored with a place on the list.  More info at the CPA Technology Advisor website.

3. Tablets continue to dominate the computer news, and with the upcoming release of the Android 3.0 OS and Apple’s iPad 2, which WSJ.com is now reporting in production in China, I don’t see this slowing down for a while.  DigitalTrends.com did a comparison of three Android 3.0 tablets recently.

4. Although the Motorola Atrix and Xoom were both highly rated at CES, the early reviews of the Atrix are well, weak, and the Xoom is rumored to have the Wi Fi disabled until you activate a data contract with Verizon.  By the way, the price point looks like $800, but has been identified as high as $1,200.  I’m sure this will all be nailed down in the near future, but these issues are making the resurgence of Motorola look like much less of a sure thing than it did just a month ago at CES.

5. I’m still looking for that Toshiba Mobile Monitor I saw at CES.  If anyone out there in Cyberworld knows how to get me a demo unit, I’m game.  I’m always looking for new monitors to use on the road.  Address available upon request…

Intuit Announces ISP Awards

Just as Sage sells its low end products like Peachtree by Sage or Simply by Sage through three channels (big box stores, Sage Accountants Network members, and Peachtree Certified Consultants). Intuit sells its products through similar channels (retailers, ProAdvisors, and Intuit Solution Providers).

The PCC and ISP programs for Peachtree and QuickBooks, respectively, offer certifications, and are modeled after the Value Added Reseller programs used by organizations like Sage, Microsoft Business Solutions, and SAP to sell mid-range business systems through independent consultants (VARs). 

Intuit recently announced their ISP awards to recognize excellence within their ISP partner ranks, and the press release follows.  Sage makes similar announcements in the second quarter of each year.

 

bft

____________________Intuit Supplied Content Follows_________________

Intuit Announces Winners of 2010 Intuit Solution Provider Awards

More Than 20 Resellers Win Intuit Solution Provider Awards at Annual ISP Summit

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – Oct. 11, 2010 – With high-performing, high-commitment resellers in the Intuit Solution Providers (ISP) program, organizations have to perform at exceptionally high levels to be recognized among outstanding performers.

The winners were chosen from 550 Intuit Solution Providers and were announced at the ISP Summit in Los Angeles last week.

The 2010 winners include:

· Partner of the Year Award, The POSWarehouse.com, Austin, TX

· Rookie of the Year Award, Opportunity Interactive, Inc., SeaTac, WA

· Marketing Excellence Award, McWilliams & Associates, Inc., Moraga, CA

· Customer Satisfaction Award, Bottom Line Accounting Solutions, LLC, Willoughby Hills, OH

· Customer Satisfaction Award, English Management Solutions, Inc., San Diego, CA

Solutions Sales Awards:

· Financial Management Solutions Sales Award, Kee Technologies, Inc., Greenville, SC

· Financial Management Solutions Sales Award, Quality Consulting Group, Tampa, FL

· Payment Solutions Sales Award, A+ Qbooks Consulting & Services, LLC, Phoenix, AZ

· Payroll Solutions Sales Award, Presti & Naegele, New York, NY

· QuickBase Solutions Sales Award, Juiced Technologies, Inc., Ronkonkoma, NY

· Retail Management Solutions Sales Award, A+ Qbooks Consulting & Services, LLC, Phoenix, AZ

· Retail Management Solutions Sales Award, CMA Accounting and Consulting, Inc., Plymouth, MI

Territory Sales Awards:

· Central Region Sales Award, Barcodes, Inc., Chicago, IL

· International Sales Award, TransNational Computer, LLC, Bur Dubai, Dubai

· Mid-Atlantic Region Sales Award, Business Information Consultants LLC, Fort Howard, MD

· Mountain Region Sales Award, Arizona Retail Systems, Phoenix, AZ

· Northeast Region Sales Award, Juiced Technologies, Inc., Ronkonkoma, NY

· South Region Sales Award, The POSWarehouse.com, Austin, TX

· Southeast Region Sales Award, Quality Consulting Group, Tampa, FL

· West Region Sales Award, The QB Specialists, Roseville, CA

Territory Rookie Sales Awards:

· Central Region Sales Award, KDV Technology and Consulting Services, Twin Cities, MN

· Mid-Atlantic Region Sales Award, KC Solutions, Inc., Lovettsville, VA

· Mountain Region Sales Award, Opportunity Interactive, Inc., SeaTac, WA

· Northeast Region Sales Award, International Point of Sale, Teaneck, NJ

· South Region Sales Award, Robinson Financial Group, LLC, West Linn, OR

· Southeast Region Sales Award, ARC Accounting & Business Solutions, Jacksonville, FL

· West Region Sales Award, Adding Technology, Santa Barbara, CA

“It’s an honor to recognize these exemplary resellers,” said BJ Schaknowski, director of the ISP program. “Their outstanding performance and commitment is core to the program’s overall success and underscores their dedication to helping mid-market and small businesses run more efficiently.”

Helping Business Owners Succeed with the Right Solutions

Intuit, the recognized leader in business and financial management solutions, is revolutionizing the marketplace by offering an unmatched Solution Provider Program for firms serving mid-market customers. The Intuit Solution Provider Program enables qualified firms to better serve their clients and build their business through the sales, implementation and service of integrated solutions that include Intuit products.

Symbiotic Relationships between ISP Resellers and QuickBooks ProAdvisors

ISPs build their business through the sales, implementation and service of end-to-end business management solutions for mid-market customers and are experienced in business management software, systems integration, security, accounting, and hardware and software implementation.

QuickBooks ProAdvisors are primarily accounting professionals and consultants who serve their clients in setting up their accounting systems, ensure that transactions are recorded properly, and help businesses succeed through financial and management reports, among other services.

ProAdvisors often need the technical sales and implementation skills ISP firms provide, and ISPs often need the accounting expertise that ProAdvisors provide. Working together, they can better serve their clients and grow their businesses effectively.

About Intuit Inc.

Intuit Inc. is a leading provider of business and financial management solutions for small and mid-sized businesses; financial institutions, including banks and credit unions; consumers and accounting professionals. Its flagship products and services, including QuickBooks®, Quicken® and TurboTax®, simplify small business management and payroll processing, personal finance, and tax preparation and filing. ProSeries® and Lacerte® are Intuit's leading tax preparation offerings for professional accountants. Intuit Financial Services helps banks and credit unions grow by providing on-demand solutions and services that make it easier for consumers and businesses to manage their money.

Founded in 1983, Intuit had annual revenue of $3.5 billion in its fiscal year 2010. The company has approximately 7,700 employees with major offices in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India and other locations. More information can be found at www.intuit.com.

2010 K2 Enterprises 9th Annual Quality Awards

Hammond, LA – September 27, 2010 ‐‐ K2 Enterprises today announced the recipients of their annual quality awards as follows:

· Reseller Program – Avalara

· CPA Program – QuickBooks ProAdvisor – Intuit, Inc.

· Installation Channel/Methodology – Intacct

· Reseller Channel – Sage North America

· New Product – iPad – Apple, Inc.

· New Module – MIP Fundraising Online - Sage

· New Technology – Intelliconnect - CCH

· Management Strategy – Thomson Reuters

· Technical Support – Conexxus

· Customer Satisfaction – AccountantsWorld, Inc.

· Ease of Use – Confirmation.com – Capital Confirmation

· Marketing Communications – Thomson Reuters

· Overall Quality – Windows 7 – Microsoft, Inc.

· Tax – Pro Systems fx - CCH

· Accounting Industry Press Coverage – CPA Technology Advisor

· Audit – Knowledge Coach - CCH

· Financial Reporting - BizNet

· Workflow – XCM – XCM Solutions

· Small Business Solution - Freshbooks

· Small CPA Firm Solution - Drake

K2 Enterprises is the premier provider of technology continuing professional education (CPE) in both the United States and Canada. With seminars in over 46 states in 2010, 1,000+ presentations, special events such as their turn‐key Annual Technology Conferences, CPE & Ski, K2 Enterprises ‐ Canada, they are the largest provider of technology CPE in North America.

K2 Enterprises CEO, Val Steed, announced five new categories this year.  “We feel like after nine years we needed to expand our awards a bit.  The accounting technology industry is becoming more specialized and I would imagine we will add a few more categories next year”.  Executive Vice President Randy Johnston said “I am especially pleased to see so many good candidates this year.  It certainly makes voting much more difficult and expanding the awards is the right thing to do”.

K2 Enterprises Annual Quality Awards are determined by a simple voting poll of the K2 Enterprises instructor team. The polling members of this team are Randy Johnston, Will Fleenor, Val Steed, Bob Spencer, Alan Salmon, Lawrence (Mac) McClelland, Tommy Stephens, Brian Tankersley, & Ilene Eisen.

K2 team votes are influenced by, end user feedback, and experience from consulting and extensive teaching. Detailed biographies on each of the polled members can be found at:

http://www.k2e.com/team

 

K2 Enterprises Websites:

www.k2e.com

www.accountingsoftwareworld.com

www.cpafirmtech.com

www.totallypaperless.com

 

Press Contact:

Caron Choate

K2 Enterprises

1250 SW Railroad Avenue

Suite 240A

Hammond, LA 70403

caron@k2e.com

(985) 542-9390

Analysis on the Cheap

I often remind participants in my seminars that every accountant I’ve ever met shares a common favorite four letter word.

Seriously.

That word is, of course, FREE.

With that in mind, I’ve run across some tools over the last few months that I haven’t blogged about, and wanted to pass these along to you all.  The tools are available for the low, low price of….. wait for it…. FREE.

Analyzing and manipulating large data sets has long been the job of accountants, auditors, and analysts, and the classic tools for these tasks like CaseWare IDEA, ACL, and others have always been very expensive and required a week or so of training so that you can be proficient with them.  With the general availability of quad core processors, workstations with 8 GB+ of RAM, fast 1 TB hard disks, end users no longer need to wait on someone to create a report for them.  Get the right tools, get access to the data, and get to work. 

Basic Tools: Microsoft Query and Excel PivotTables

Although they aren’t technically “free” since you need to purchase Microsoft Office to get them, Microsoft offers a couple of tools which are just as useful to analysts as an adjustable wrench (a Crescent wrench) and a claw hammer are to those doing home repair.

• Microsoft Query is a tool for selecting, joining, sorting, filtering, and extracting data from databases.  Query is one of those “helper” applications which is hidden from most users – I have only executed MS Query from within the Data tab of the Excel 2007/2010 Ribbon (Data, Get External Data Group, From Other Sources, Microsoft Query), but it is invaluable for entry level work with databases, and is compatible with any ODBC compliant database which you can use on your PC, including MS Access, MS SQL, and many, many other formats.  Queries can be created, edited, saved, and executed from a simple menu structure, and a wizard makes the hard task of writing SQL statements into child’s play.
• Excel Pivot Tables make it possible to summarize large data sets into interactive tables.  Although a full discussion of Pivot Tables would take all day (I actually own entire volumes written on Pivot Tables, and teach TWO half day classes on them (1) (2) through K2 Enterprises), suffice it to say that Pivot Tables will change your life, and do just about anything you want except make your teeth whiter and make you more attractive to members of the opposite sex.  Seriously – they’re that good.

 

ActiveData For Office

My friends over at InformationActive.com have a couple of nice products which meet the needs of accountants, engineers, and other professionals who need to perform sophisticated analysis on large data sets.  While my favorite one, ActiveData for Excel, is still a pay application, there is a version of this powerful tool called ActiveData for Office, which is now available for the low, low, price of FREE.  ActiveData for Office (also referred to as “ActiveData for SQL”) uses standard ODBC connections to talk to large databases, and will perform routine calculations like verifying the accuracy of an A/R aging report based on the dates in an open item listing, stratifying a sample, and evaluating sample results.  I’ve been somewhat confused by the move to give away this product, as I think it’s more powerful than the Excel tool – but pricing decisions are above my pay grade.  For more information, visit InformationActive.com’s page on ActiveData for Office.

ActiveData for Office is a FREE data analysis tool which is invaluable for Accountants and other information professionals who need to slice and dice large data sets.

 

PowerPivot for Office 2010

With the release of Microsoft Office 2010, our friends at Microsoft have come to the table with one of the best tools for summarizing huge (100K+ records) data sets.  While the tool does require that you become an early adopter of Office 2010, the price is definitely right, and the tool has been used to analyze data sets with hundreds of millions of records.  PowerPivot (free from www.powerpivot.com) is a self-service business intelligence tool designed to let end users create their own business intelligence (BI) solutions which combine data from disparate sources using an Excel add-in.  For seasoned BI professionals, PowerPivot creates pre-summarized tables which are periodically updated and can be queried similar to cubes for almost instant calculations on data sets with millions of records.

While you can do many of the same things using MS Access, update queries, dummy databases, ODBC connections, and pivot tables, PowerPIvot is both more powerful (smarter) and easier to use (better looking) than the alternatives, and it’s free.

If you haven’t tried it, PowerPivot is available from www.powerpivot.com.

Sage Releases Peachtree 2011 and Peachtree Quantum 2011

Sage announced today the release of Peachtree 2011 and Peachtree 2011 Quantum.  Press releases are below.

 

Sage Peachtree 2011 Helps Small Businesses Stay Competitive

Customer-driven enhancements help small businesses get started quickly, stay on track, and on budget

Atlanta, Ga., May 18, 2010 – Sage North America announced today the availability of the Sage Peachtree 2011 product line, part of the broad portfolio of Sage business management solutions that service end-to-end business needs.  A longtime favorite of small businesses and accountants, Sage Peachtree is easier to use than ever, providing companies with instant access to key information that makes billing customers, reacting to issues and controlling profitability easier than ever for small businesses, helping them to stay competitive in a rapidly changing economy.  

“At a time when most small businesses need to do more with less, Sage Peachtree 2011 will help them to leverage efficiencies and answer the three most important questions of their day:  are business activities on track, on schedule, and within budget,” said Connie Certusi, general manager, small business accounting solutions, Sage North America.  “Sage Peachtree 2011 makes it easier for small businesses to quickly get the information they need so they can focus on what they do best:  running their businesses.”

Sage Peachtree 2011 helps small business owners and managers: 

Streamline Service Billing:  Businesses that provide services can quickly invoice customers for any unbilled time and expenses; unbilled items can be filtered by date, customer or job.  The outstanding time and expenses are then transferred directly to an invoice, increasing billing efficiency.

Improve decision making with the new Inventory and Services Management Center:  A customized dashboard helps users process large quantities of information about a single inventory item or a service at a glance.  It enables quick research, comparisons, and decision making, and helps small businesses easily see the impact of a service—usage, revenue, and more.  The dashboard cuts time needed to track details on inventory for planning purchases, freeing that time for other activities.  

Instantly identify Job Status: Customizable job status indicators provide  visual red/yellow/green “stoplights” for easy identification of what’s on or off track, and are completely customizable to suit the needs of individual businesses.  Small businesses can easily delete, rename, or change the color-coded stoplight button attached to each status, with virtually unlimited status types, for easy monitoring. 

“Sage Peachtree is amazing.  It’s so easy to use, and it really helps me keep track of my business overall,” says Pat Walther, owner of Whatsmokin’ Barbecue in St. Louis, MO.  “When I opened last year, I considered hiring someone, which would have been difficult at the time, but I bought Sage Peachtree instead, and it was the best decision I could have made.  I really depend on the reporting and analysis tools - they get me what I need quickly, so that I can focus on my customers and on doing what I love.”  

Sage Peachtree 2011 handily simplifies mundane tasks so that small businesses can get more work done faster, increasing efficiency with an easier installation process and a setup advisor that automatically displays related instructions, descriptions, and links for assistance.  The guide can be turned on or off for each user.

Other new features, which vary across products, include the ability to process change orders, enhanced assembly reporting, and additional improvements to jobs management.  For more information, please visit www.peachtree2011.com. 

Also available in the line are industry-focused products specifically for manufacturers, distributors, nonprofit organizations, accountants, and construction businesses, as well as Sage Peachtree Quantum 2011. Sage Peachtree Quantum is the most comprehensive application in the product line, offering all of the new features and enhancements in the core line along with exclusive new features to support improved jobs management.

Sage Peachtree is the entry point into the Sage family of ERP solutions.  The Sage migration path expands the Peachtree product line and offers a natural progression up to Sage ERP solutions to ensure small businesses have familiar and affordable options to support their long term business needs.  

Pricing and Availability
Sage Peachtree Premium Accounting 2011, Sage Peachtree Complete Accounting 2011, Sage Peachtree Pro Accounting 2011 and Sage Peachtree First Accounting 2011 are now available direct from Sage and will be available from most computer retailers and office supply stores in mid-June. The suggested retail price for Sage Peachtree Premium Accounting 2011 is $499.99, Sage Peachtree Complete Accounting 2011 is $299.99, Sage Peachtree Pro Accounting 2011 is $199.99, and Sage Peachtree First Accounting 2011 is $99.99. The Multi-User Edition (5 seat license) of Sage Peachtree Complete Accounting retails for $699.99, while the Sage Peachtree Premium Accounting 2011 Multi-User Edition (5 seat license) can be ordered direct from Sage for $1,199.99.  High-value competitive rebates are available from Sage for customers on other small business accounting packages.  Call 800-228-0068 for more details. 

About Sage North America

Sage North America is part of The Sage Group plc, a leading global supplier of business management software and services. Sage North America employs 4,000 people and supports 3.1 million small and midsized business customers. The Sage Group plc, formed in 1981, was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1989 and now employs 13,100 people and supports 6.2 million customers worldwide. For more information, please visit the website at www.sagenorthamerica.com.

Sage Peachtree Quantum 2011 Adds More Business Management Power At An Affordable Price

New jobs management features will help small businesses take advantage of stimulus-related opportunities

Denver, Colo., May 18, 2010 – Sage North America announced today the general availability of Sage Peachtree Quantum 2011, with major enhancements in usability and jobs management, adding even more business management power at an affordable price.  Sage Peachtree Quantum 2011 is part of the broad portfolio of Sage business solutions that service end-to-end business needs.

Sage Peachtree Quantum 2011 offers the simplicity of an integrated accounting solution, with unrivalled performance and unmatched capacity in its class:  twice as fast for transaction saves and report generation than its nearest competitor, and capacity from five to 40 named users. It’s ideal for businesses looking for more power on a modest budget, and adds a mid-way step in the Sage migration path for small businesses who have outgrown Sage Peachtree, but aren’t yet ready to move up to a midsized, fully customizable solution such as Sage ERP MAS 90. 

“Companies are maximizing their investments, looking at ways to do more with less,” said Connie Certusi, general manager, small business accounting solutions, Sage.  “For these firms, Sage Peachtree Quantum 2011 is a perfect choice; an out-of-the-box solution that is fast, flexible, and works the way a small business does.  It’s perfect for companies who have an eye on growth and are looking for value, or for companies who realize that their current system is more than they need, either from a cost or a transactional standpoint, and are looking to switch.”

With the government releasing most of the $787 billion in stimulus funds this year, new job opportunities will be developing for small businesses.  The new jobs management functionality in Sage Peachtree Quantum 2011 will assist small businesses in taking advantage of those stimulus-based opportunities, enabling them to track the data required to comply with federal project parameters.   

Exclusive new job-related features in Sage Peachtree Quantum 2011 include: 

Job Navigation Center:  A ‘one-stop shop’ for quick, easy access to all job-related information including tasks and reports from a centralized dashboard, in which a complete list of jobs is displayed.  Users can drill down for detail, and use new Job Status Indicators to easily view or sort by status. 

Interactive Job Reporting:  On-the-fly customized reports with real-time totals can be developed from job modules on the dashboard, based on what information is selected.  The Job Profitability module with comparisons of original, estimated vs. committed and the various filters can create hundreds of user-defined reports, all of which can be exported to Excel, PDF, or email. 

Job and Project Management Center:  Small businesses can proactively manage projects with easy access to job information in one centralized place.  A second tab in the Job Navigation Center provides a customizable dashboard view of information per job, per job/phase, or per job/phase/cc. 

A new Streamlined Service Billing feature enables businesses that provide services to quickly invoice customers for any unbilled time and expenses; unbilled items can be filtered by date, customer or job.  The outstanding time and expenses are then transferred directly to an invoice, increasing billing efficiency.  New customizable Job Status Indicators with visual red/yellow/green “stoplights” enable easy identification of what’s on or off track, and is completely customizable to suit the needs of individual businesses, improving efficiency and awareness.

Other new features include the ability to process change orders and enhanced assembly reporting.  Additional improvements simplify startup, increasing efficiency with an easier installation process and a helpful setup advisor. 

With industry-specific features and reports to meet the specialized needs of small manufacturers, distributors, contractors, and nonprofit organizations, Sage Peachtree Quantum provides growing small organizations with the accuracy, control, and results they require for successful business management, and is the entry point into the Sage family of ERP solutions.  The Sage migration path expands the Sage Peachtree product line and offers a natural progression up to Sage ERP solutions to ensure small businesses have familiar and affordable options to support their long term business needs.  

Pricing and Availability

Sage Peachtree Quantum is available direct from Sage or from the Sage network of Sage Peachtree Certified Consultants.  Pricing starts at $2950 for a 5 seat license. A payment plan is available, through which small businesses can pay six months in equal installments via credit card.  For more information, please call 800-228-0068, or visit www.peachtreequantum.com. 

About Sage North America

Sage North America is part of The Sage Group plc, a leading global supplier of business management software and services. Sage North America employs 4,000 people and supports 3.1 million small and midsized business customers. The Sage Group plc, formed in 1981, was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1989 and now employs 13,100 people and supports 6.2 million customers worldwide. For more information, please visit the website at www.sagenorthamerica.com.