Exciting Release: Sage 200 2024 R2

We are thrilled to announce the release of Sage 200 2024 R2, packed with innovative features designed to enhance your business operations and streamline your workflows. This release brings significant updates to both the Sage 200 desktop and the Web Portal, ensuring a seamless and efficient experience for all users.

New Features in the Sage 200 Desktop

Bank Feeds

Managing your bank transactions has never been easier. With the new update, you can now import bank transactions from a file, perfect for those whose banks do not support direct download of bank feeds. Additionally, Sage have made some changes to the Sage bank feeds service. If you’re already using bank feeds, a brief update will be required the next time you use this feature to ensure everything runs smoothly post upgrade.

Sales Orders

Sage understands the importance of flexibility in managing sales orders. Now, when you change the requested or promised dates for an order, quotation, or pro forma, you can choose to update the dates for all items in that order. This feature simplifies the process and ensures consistency across your documentation.

General Updates

Sage have listened to your feedback from the ideas hub and increased the length of references from 20 to 40 characters for customer transactions, supplier transactions, and nominal transactions. Additionally, they have withdrawn the Sage Contact app to streamline their offerings and focus on enhancing other features.

New Features in the Web Portal

General Updates

Like the desktop version, the Web Portal now supports references up to 40 characters for customer transactions, supplier transactions, and nominal transactions. This update ensures consistency and ease of use across all platforms.

Coming Soon!

Introducing Sage Network & Sage Connect: Revolutionising Business Connectivity

Sage is excited to unveil Sage Network, a ground-breaking initiative designed to connect businesses through seamless accounting integration. Their vision is to synchronise and automate financial transactions and processes across various businesses, including those not currently using Sage. This innovation aims to reduce processing times and eliminate late payments, enhancing overall efficiency.

The cornerstone of this initiative is the new Sage Connect App, powered by Sage Network. This app will integrate effortlessly with Sage 200, using a state-of-the-art data connector. Among the many features being developed, one of the most anticipated is Accounts Receivable (AR) Automation.

AR Automation: Streamlining Your Payment Processes

Sage’s AR Automation feature is crafted to help you receive payments faster and with minimal effort. Key functionalities include:

• Automated Customer Onboarding and Verification: Ensuring that invoices are accurate from the start.
• Efficient Communication: Enabling you to schedule, send, and track payment reminders and invoicing communications effortlessly.
• 24/7 Customer Access: Providing your customers with a secure platform to view invoices, amounts due, and payment statuses at any time.

Currently, Sage Network and Sage Connect are undergoing rigorous testing before being made available to all Sage 200 customers. Stay tuned for more updates as we prepare to roll out these exciting new features.

Terms and Agreement Updates

Sage have also made some changes to the Sage 200 Product Terms & Conditions and their Online Service Level Agreement. You can find the updated Product Terms here and the Online Service Level Agreement here.

Next steps 

We are confident that these new features will significantly improve your experience with Sage 200. Stay tuned for more updates and enhancements as we continue to innovate and support your business needs. If you’d like to learn more about upgrading, please contact your Account Manager or complete the enquiry form.

You can also read some of our latest insights into Sage 200

Delivered in partnership with:

 

 

Sage Intacct facts:

• Highest customer satisfaction in the mid-market accounting industry – G2.
• Accelerates finance team productivity by 40% or more.
• Trusted by over 22,000 businesses.

Every business has unique circumstances and requirements, and there are many reasons why businesses may choose to upgrade from Sage 50 to a different accounting software. We advise conducting a thorough analysis of your current and future business needs before making any decisions about upgrading your accounting software.

So, what are the key questions you need to be asking?

1. Web Portals: In today’s fast-paced business environment, remote access to accounting information is becoming increasingly important. Does your business need access to accounting information while on the go? Then you may need to upgrade to a solution that offers remote access.

2. Scalability: As your business grows, you may need a more scalable accounting software solution that can accommodate larger amounts of data, users, or transactions.

3. API Integration: If your business needs to integrate its accounting software with other business software applications, you may need to upgrade to a solution that offers better integration capabilities.

4. Need for advanced features: Has your business outgrown the basic features of Sage 50, and do you need more advanced features that can handle increasing complexity, such as more extensive reporting, inventory tracking, or multi-currency support.

5. Support and maintenance: If your business is experiencing frequent issues or requires technical support, it may need to upgrade to a solution that offers better support and maintenance options.

Ultimately, the decision to upgrade from Sage 50 depends on the unique needs and circumstances of each business. Asking the right questions will enable you to make an informed and future-proofed decision.

At Utilize we work to gain a deep understanding of your business processes and needs, and we have the Sage expertise and experience to advise you on the right solution for your business. Why not talk to one of our Sage Consultants today about your next steps.

Register for our upcoming Sage Webinar

Interested to learn about 4 reasons on why to upgrade? Click here

Checkout our latest case study: 

Utilize Sage Development Team save time and resources with a new Purchase Transaction Authorisation for our client Vegetarian Express

 

Learn more about our Finance offerings

Sage 200c is a complete business management solution that offers a wide range of features, including financial management, sales and purchase management, project accounting, and inventory management. This makes it a powerful tool for businesses that need to manage their operations efficiently.

Sage 200c continues to be a great solution because of its comprehensive functionality, scalability, Cloud compatible, data security, and customisation capabilities.

Scalability: Sage 200c is scalable and can grow with the business. As the business expands, SMEs can add more users and modules to the system to meet their evolving needs.

Cloud-based technology: Sage 200c is compatible with Cloud solutions such as Office 365 and therefore enables you to manage your business on the move. This is particularly beneficial for businesses that have remote workers or multiple locations.

Data security: Sage 200c provides robust security features to protect sensitive business data. This ensures that organisations can operate with confidence, knowing that their data is secure.  

Customisation: Sage 200c can be customised to meet specific business needs. This allows them to tailor the solution to their business processes, rather than having to change their processes to fit the software.

For example, Sage 200c allows users to customise the software by adding and removing fields, setting up new workflows, and creating custom reports. Users can also create their own dashboards and views to give them a real-time view of their business data.

In addition, Sage 200c integrates with other software solutions and applications, making it possible to extend the system’s capabilities beyond the standard feature set. This means that businesses can create bespoke solutions that are tailored to their specific business needs.

Overall, Sage 200c is a powerful and versatile ERP system that can help businesses manage their operations more effectively, allowing them to focus on their core business activities and drive growth and profitability.

Our award-winning Team delivers Sage 200c support, implementation, consulting and development. Why not talk to us about how we can help your business with Integration for Sage 200 third-party apps and e-commerce websites to achieve a fully customised solution for your business.

Checkout our latest case study: 

Utilize Sage Development Team save time and resources with a new Purchase Transaction Authorisation for our client Vegetarian Express 

 

Learn more about our Finance offerings

Are you starting your year with the correct technologies to ensure your business achieves its goals?

Every year Sage moves its oldest version to ‘end of support’ meaning that it is no longer supported by updates or receiving security patches. They will then move the second oldest version into ‘extended support’ to indicate that soon this will also be no longer supported. With outdated or unsupported systems in place, your business could be vulnerable. It is vital that you check to see what version of Sage 200 your business is running and to consider upgrading if you are affected by these changes.

By upgrading to the latest version of Sage 200, you will gain access to the updates that Sage implements to improve its software and services. Knowledge gained from both Sage customer feedback and new technologies are just some of the factors that drive these upgrades.

You can find out what version of Sage you are running by opening settings within Sage and select ‘About Sage 200’ where your version number will be displayed. Once you find the version you are running, use our helpful guide below which indicates how your Sage 200 status is affected:

If you’re running the green version, then no further action is required. Amber means that you need to start planning your Sage 200 upgrade and if you are operating in the red, you should call our Sage support team to discuss your options.

Upgrading your Sage 200 can sometimes be a long process, if for example, you have customised software or integrations with third-party apps. Preparing early in advance of scheduled upgrades which may affect your status is always advisable. At Utilize, our team of experts have the knowledge and experience needed to implement a smooth and seamless upgrade. We will work with your business to schedule the upgrade around a time that avoids any interference with your daily business tasks for a seamless transfer.

To discuss the support status of your current Sage 200 version, or if you have any other questions regarding upgrading your software, send us an email today by clicking here.

Learn more about Sage

Sage 200 scheduled changes in 2022

In Q3 2022, there will be several technology retirements that will affect your use of Sage 200.

As part of ongoing efforts to modernize platforms, and to improve security and reliability, TLS 1.0 and 1.1 is being depreciated. The Sage 200 application uses the TLS protocol as does a variety of connected services including Sage CRM.

How will this affect Business?

From 30th September 2022, older Sage 200 versions will be unable to communicate with Sage licence server and become unlicensed after 30 days, at which point the software will cease to function.

What action do I need to take?

Steps, including patching and upgrades, will need to be completed by key dates to ensure the software continues to work and services are not disrupted.

Sage 200 Versions 2017.02 and above can request to receive software patches to allow Sage 200 to continue running past the effected date.

If you are currently utilising a Sage 200 version prior to 2017.02, you will need to upgrade to the latest version to ensure you remain within the product lifecycle and continue to receive technology and legislative updates.

If you’re using Sage 200 2022 R1, you’re up to date and no further action is required.

Not sure which version you are using?

Click on the Cog (Settings) button at the top right of the main Sage 200 screen and select About Sage 200.

What to do next.

To ensure that your Business is unaffected by these changes, we advise that you contact your Sage Partner to discuss the patch or upgrade options available to you.

You can also click on the link below to the Sage 200 roadmap which details their timeline of improvements and future releases.

https://my.sage.co.uk/public/help.aspx#/roadmap/sage-200

Find out more about our Finance management

The benefits of Sage 200cloud Professional

The start of 2020 saw the enforced period of lockdown and remote working. This caught many businesses off-guard and many employees weren’t equipped to work from home. A lack of suitable technology meant that remote workers did not have access to applications, data or the communication tools in place to facilitate business continuity.

Throughout this difficult period, many valuable lessons were learned regarding technology and, specifically the need for Cloud-based accounting and business applications. The way companies do business has changed and our flexible cloud services will allow businesses to flourish in the new cloud computing era.

There are many benefits of doing business in the cloud.

1. Mobile access at any time.
Wherever you are, you can always check on the status of your business.

With Sage 200 Cloud Professional, accounts and key financial figures can be accessed anytime, anywhere. Data and records are all safely encrypted and stored on a cloud server. Simply log in and work from your web browser, wherever you have Wi-Fi and an Internet connection.

2. A cost and time-effective solution

Working online reduces your IT costs and saves you time by keeping you constantly connected to the business.

Cloud accounting is entirely online. There is no costly IT infrastructure to maintain. You can access the software from anywhere and rather than having to wait to get back to the office, you can immediately approve payments, or send out invoices to customers, saving you time and making your financial processes far more efficient.

3. Robust security and back-ups

All your data is held on a platform such as a private cloud or Amazon, however we suggest the Microsoft Azure platform as Microsoft has taken major steps toward ensuring high levels of security within their cloud environment. Your work is also saved automatically as you go, saving both time and money on tedious back-up procedures.

4. Share and collaborate with ease

With a system like Sage 200 Cloud Professional, multiple stakeholders can access the same documents and files – instantly, from any geographical location. Collaboration is as easy as picking up the phone and logging in to Sage 200 Cloud.

5. Reduce paper and become more environmentally friendly

Significantly reduce your reliance on paperwork. Documents can be emailed out and to remove the costs of printing and postage – this also helps speed up payments through integration with payment gateways. Incoming bills and receipts can be scanned and saved directly with the associated transactions. And because your documents are all digitised and stored in the cloud, there is no need to keep the paper originals – saving on filing space and storage costs.

6. Better control of your financial processes and reporting

Gain efficiencies with greatly improved control over your core financial processes, a better view of expected income, an overview of outstanding debts, and an instant breakdown of profitability.

Our partnerships with Microsoft, Sage and Sicon allow us to provide our clients with Cloud and software solutions that have helped their businesses become more efficient and more productive.

To find out how we can help your business contact us today, click below

Contact Utilize

Sage 200cloud - Driving Efficiencies in the Construction sector

As numerous reports from the likes of McKinsey & Company in recent years have made clear, construction is behind the curve when it comes to digitisation. Many companies in the industry, they point out, continue to use disjointed technology that makes the free flow of accurate information difficult on an internal basis, let alone when it comes to communicating with the supply chain.

We’ve been able to help many of our customers in the lockdown period to review their technology. They’ve moved to cloud-based platforms, giving their staff the flexibility to work from home. As lockdown eases, and staff return to work they’re now able to use this technology to help improve productivity and access key information from remote sites.

Our partnership with Sage and Sicon allows us to provide you with software solutions that will help your business become more efficient and more productive. Download our free webinar on the link below, we’ll share our valuable knowledge and expertise on how you can fully utilise Sage 200 Cloud to manage data as efficiently as possible and give you information to make timely management decisions. Our Cyber Security team will also demonstrate how you can ensure you adopt effective security controls, to protect sensitive data from cyber-attacks.

Find out how we can help your business.

Click here to learn more about Finance management

Sage 200C & Cash Flow Enquiry

For most businesses in the current climate keeping control of cash flow is a major priority.

Sage 200c has a user-friendly Cash Flow Enquiry as part of its Cashbook Module, which can help you maintain visibility and manage cash flow easily.

The cash flow structure pulls information from bank accounts, sales ledger, purchase ledger, sales, and purchase orders, nominal budgets and manual ad-hoc income and expenditure entries, VAT due/to claim, Contracts from Sicon Contracts and Applications and Retentions from Sicon Construction.

You can use the simple drag and drop feature to adjust the transactions in the cash flow interface to reflect the expected cash impact without changing the due dates and promised dates manually.

Features include:

• Select the period you wish to view

• Select the Bank accounts to be included

• Transactions types to include: Regular Receipts/ Payments (Standing Orders & Direct Debits set up in Sage)

• Forecast Receipts/ Payments (Sales Ledger & Purchase Ledger items based on Due Date)

• Manually remove transactions you know you will not be paying or receiving in the current period

• Manually add additional Receipts/Payments

This link to the ‘Sage 200c help files’ provides more detail:

In addition to this, you may also be interested in a new add-on module for Credit Control. The Roundhouse Credit Manager module links directly to the Sales Ledger and has the look and feel of the standard Sage List View screens.

Features include:

Filter lists of customers based on:

• The Age of the Debt

• Whether they have orders to be processed

• Where orders have been placed on hold

• Keep notes on chases that have been made

• Produce letters to selected accounts

• Place accounts on Hold from the Credit Manager screen

The following link – Roundhouse Credit Manager provides a bit more information.

If you are a Sage 50 Accounts user, there is a Cash Flow module, as well as other options for Credit Control. If you would like more information about these modules, Cash Flow Enquiry or The Roundhouse Credit Manager please contact service@utilize.co.uk today.

Learn more about Finance management