MISys SAE 5.5 Released. The much anticipated MISys Manufacturing for Sage Accpac ERP (aka MISys SAE) version 5.5 was released to all Business Partners and Upgrade Subscription Plan holders last week. If you have a current Upgrade Subscription Plan, you can claim your FREE upgrade to MISys SAE version 5.5 by visiting the MISys website. By filling out and submitting the upgrade request form there, you can speed the process of downloading and installing the new software. A list of the new features in MISys SAE version 5.5 is also posted there – make sure you check it out! If you are running and older version of MISys SAE, you can still benefit from upgrading right away. Since the release of your software, many existing features have been improved and new features added. Check the MISys web site for your upgrade options and costs. Then consult with your MISys Business Partner to set up a plan for getting your entire MISys/Accpac system up to date.

New MISys SAE Stock Movement Function. Over the years, one of the most often requested features for MISys SAE has been the ability to track changes in inventory over some designated period in time. We are pleased to announce that a new function in MISys SAE version 5.5 allows you to take a “snap-shot” of your inventory – manually at any time you choose, or automatically whenever you perform a fiscal period end. Multiple snap-shots (taken manually or automatically) form the basis for an informative Stock Movement Report.
Peachtree Manufacturing. In the United States, Peachtree Accounting enjoys a great reputation as an industrial-strength accounting system with all the core accounting modules a small- to mid-sized business could need -- unless you were involved in manufacturing. Until now, core functionality required in a manufacturing environment has been largely missing from the standard Peachtree product. MISys Small Business Manufacturing version 3.0 now offers seamless integration with Peachtree Accounting, turning Peachtree into an industrial-strength manufacturing system. You can learn all about the MISys manufacturing solution for Peachtree by visiting the MISys website and requesting the demonstration video.

MISys SBM Labor Tracker. Ever since the release of MISys SAE v5.5 and MISys SBM 3.0 earlier this Fall, the MISys engineers have been working diligently on a new add-on for MISys SBM designed to capture actual labor hours and post them to selected Jobs and Manufacturing Orders. When released, Labor Tracker will be available as an extra-cost ($500) option for MISys SBM 3.0. Labor Tracker can be installed on any PC (or multiple PCs) where actual labor capture is required. Labor Tracker communicates directly with the MISys SBM Server module and does not require that the MISys SBM Client module be installed on that same computer. MISys SBM users should watch their InfoCenter starting early next month (yikes, that just a couple of weeks away!) for instructions on how to order Labor Tracker.

MISys Holiday Schedule. Please note that the MISys offices (including Sales, Customer Service, and Technical Support) will be closed on Thursday, November 27, in observance of Thanksgiving Day. We will also be closed on Friday, November 28, in observance of Turkey Sandwich Day. We will look forward to serving you again on Monday, December 1, fed and well-rested.

MISys SAE User Group Meeting. This week's MISys SAE User Group Meeting will convene on-line this Thursday at 1:30pm Eastern. There is no charge for this meeting, but you must pre-register by contacting MISys Customer Service at 802/457-4600 for the required password.

Does MISys SBM Outshine MISys SAE? Since announcing the integration of MISys SBM with Sage Accpac ERP last summer, we’ve received a flood of inquiries asking if MISys SBM is “better” than our flagship product MISys for Sage Accpac ERP (MISys SAE).

First, let us be clear, for about 20% of our users, MISys SBM is definitely not better, mainly because the shop floor control functions of MISys SAE Level 3 don’t exist in MISys SBM.

On the other hand, the MISys SBM database has been optimized to perform extremely fast MPS/MRP calculations, so a job that took hours in MISys SAE is accomplished in just minutes in MISys SBM. That’s a huge benefit!

Furthermore, MISys SBM displays its purchasing, production, and master schedules in easy-to-understand and manipulate Gantt charts which just can’t be produced in MISys SAE.

Finally, MISys SBM can be a less expensive solution because it does not require multiple (and relatively expensive) Accpac LanPaks for multi-user operation. Instead, MISys SBM uses just one LanPak to gain access to critical information in the Accpac ERP database.

Sleeter Accounting Software Consulting Conference. On November 10th the MISys Guys are headed off to Phoenix to attend the 5th annual Accounting Software Consulting Conference hosted by The Sleeter Group.

Sleeter is best known for its training and consulting for QuickBooks, but this year representatives from Microsoft and Sage Software have been admitted to this popular conference.

Since MISys SBM integrates with all these products (actually, 3 different Sage products!) this is an incredible opportunity to meet with consultants who are building their practices by recommending right-sized business management solutions for their clients.

MISys Attends Simply Partnership 2008! The Misys guys, Dave and Terry, trekked to Vancouver last week to attend and exhibit at the Sage Simply Partnership 2008 conference. We met many Simply Business Partners at the show and found excellent interest from several who had manufacturing customers using Simply Accounting and needing a manufacturing solution. Now that MISys 3.0 is fully integrated with Simply, they now have an industrial strength manufacturing system available. The MISys booth was busy thoughout the conference. If you have Simply customers, or you are a Simply customer, make sure you check out the MISys Simply product page at: http://www.misysinc.com/misbm/simply/index.php

MISys At Simply Conference. Next week the MISys Guys will be attending the Simply Partnership Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia and demonstrating the terrific new functionality in MISys Small Business Manufacturing that turns Simply Accounting into an industrial-strength manufacturing system. Simply Accounting has a huge installed base in Canada, many of them in manufacturing firms. "With the functionality MISys SBM adds into Simply Accounting, we expect a great interest from Simply business partners who are always looking to expand Simply's market share." commented Dave Brown, MISys President and CEO.

Special Training for Sleeter Consultants. A 2-day training workshop focussed on the Basic Operations of MISys SBM is being held on October 20 and 21. Special $99 pricing is available to qualifiying Sleeter consultants who complete the online registration form.

MISys SBM MRP Training. There are just a couple of seats left for the MISys SBM Material Requirements Planning workshop which begins Thursday (October 23) at 1:00 Eastern time. To learn everything you need to know the capabilities of MRP in MISys SBM, there still may be time to register online if you hurry.

MISys SAE User Group Meeting. This week's MISys SAE User Group Meeting will convene on-line this Thursday at 1:30pm Eastern. There is no charge for this meeting, but you must pre-register by contacting MISys Customer Service at 802/457-4600 for the required password.

Dateline Woodstock:

News from Vermont made the national networks last week when it seemed like only a handful of stories dominated the media. In case you missed it, our friends at PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) have filed a complaint against Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, cofounders of Ben & Jerry's Homemade Inc., makers of the Vermont brand of ice cream now famous from coast to coast. PETA is asking that Ben & Jerry's Homemade Inc. convert their recipes to use at least 75 percent breast milk procured from human donors who are paid in exchange for their milk. According to a letter from PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman, using cow's milk in Ben & Jerry's ice cream is a hazard to customer health. Reiman claims that dairy products have been linked to juvenile diabetes, allergies, constipation, obesity, and prostate and ovarian cancer. Following the release of this news to the major networks, TV anchor Katie Couric (best know for her riveting interview of vice-presidential hopeful Sarah Palin) interviewed a number of Vermont dairy farmers for their take on the idea and the practicality of converting their barns to accomodate the needs of 30-50 lactating women. Vermont farmers, like farmers in many small states, struggle to keep their operations afloat and are generally open to new ideas for expanding their businesses. However, Brad Hemant, who was interviewed for the CBS story, expressed some doubt that consumers would continue their entusiasm for ice cream that, until now, has consisted of pure Vermot cow's milk. Brad's neightbor and fellow dairyman Jim Souther was more hopeful such a switch to human breast milk (HBM) could revitalize demand for all Vermont homemade products, including a Ben and Jerry's sub-brand called "Mother's Best" destined to compliment the now-famous "Chubby Hubby." Brad and Jim agreed that, although finding adequate farm labor has been a problem in the past, conversion to HBM could attract a large force of volunteer workers come milking time. Walter Knesome, manager of our local Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop, where customers were interviewed for their reaction to the proposition, appeared nonplussed with the idea of having to convert his signage for 1-scoop, 2-scoops, and 3-scoop sundaes to their A-cup, B-cup, and C-cup equivalents. Editor's note: anyone doubting the veracity of this story can read the original PETA letter here.

MISys SBM 3.0 is released. Late last week we finally released MISys Small Business Manufacturing 3.0. This new version, as discussed in our Wednesday blog, provides for enhanced integration to Sage Simply Accounting, Sage Peachtree Accounting and Sage Accpac Accounting. This gives manufacturers who are using these other accounting systems all the enhanced integration we have had for MISys SBM for QuickBooks and Microsoft Office Accounting. See the details in our last Wednesday's blog. MISys SBM users who have previous versions will automatically receive the 3.0 version as part of their yearly license contract.