I've just started my first blog. So far in my social networking travels I've conquered Twitter, Linkedin, Referalkey, Google +, ecademy, and everyone has told me I need a blog. Here it is - for what's it's worth.
Introductions first. My name is Bob Earnshaw, my company is BusinessPlus, run by me and my wife, Jenny.
We are Business Partners with Sage. We've been running the company, which was started by Jenny's Dad in 1988, since 1998.
What a fortnight it's been. We went all the way to Nottingham last Wednesday - 120 miles, to meet the good people at Sage, who want to show us the new Sage 50 2012 and the new Sage ACT!
The first session on the new features in Sage 50 Accounts over-ran by an hour. I think it was enthusiasm and loads of questions from Business Partners.
Changes to Sage 50 2012 - due August 15th
Biggest step forward is improvements in SPEED. The bench mark testing Sage have done shows massive improvements in speed and stability, particularly for multiple users.
Next is the Sage 50 Accounts Mobile - FREE access via iphones and Blackberry's. Good for the mobile sales force and geeks like me. You will be able to access Customers and Suppliers details, and raise invoices and sales orders.
For the accountants - you can now prevent posting in previous periods, using the Lock Date function, and preview changes to the Chart of Accounts, to see what your management reports would look like before you change it.
Best news of all - Quick Search. Finally we've got the ability to do a search across all data in Sage 50 Accounts.
Quick Print - a simple change that saves a lot of time. Set a default template for your invoices, and hit quick print. It prints the invoice, no messing about choosing layouts. Brilliant.
Changes to ACT! - coming in October
Sage ACT! Scratchpad - older users of ACT! will remember sideACT! - a virtual notepad. It's back, called ACT! Scratchpad. Tap a note into it, deal with it later. Import into ACT! when you're ready to deal with it. Brilliant for PostIt users.
GMail integration - intergrate with your Google Mail Contacts and Calendar. Great if you're on the go all the time.
Sage ACT! Connect - Anywhere access to your ACT! data, via your mobile. If I'm honest, still think there are better third party applications, like handheld and Companion link, but don't tell Sage I said that.
I've done FOUR networking lunches and breakfasts this week to spread the word, so I think I'll be needing a diet book soon.
Our development PC picked up one of these malware things, so our IT support are currently running removal tools on it. What is it with the people who write these things? Is there money in it? Can it be franchised? Should they be strung up by their dangly bits?
That's it for now, before I get into grumpy mode. See you soon.
Bob Earnshaw
