Press 1 for English

…ever heard this one? I have, many times. It usually means that the organization is very large and I should pay close attention to the options. I wouldn't want to have to start the list over. I brace myself for the sophistication of the automated call direction system.

I certainly understand the need for a system of this type in some situations. It can be very efficient at routing calls. It facilitates more effective use of the call center’s time, and ultimately, the caller’s. It allows specialists to deal with calls in their specialty rather than interpreting an issue and routing the call appropriately. Hopefully, reducing the amount of time it takes to resolve an individual issue.

This system needs careful monitoring, however. I've encountered times when I get five or six menu levels into a call and get disconnected. My attitude is not enhanced by this eventuality. …especially when I’m looking for resolution of a problem rather than information. When seeking information, patience isn't usually an issue.

At MISys we do use an automated attendant system as well. We don’t however, have several layers of menus or multiple languages. We have the luxury of staff that can address many different issues or can direct the caller to the appropriate party. Languishing in our voice mail system is not one of our options.

And, by the way, when you call MISys and dial 1, you get Sales.

Using the Source

At this point you should have a usable data source that Crystal can use as a conduit into the SBM database on your server. So what do you do with it?

1. Open Crystal Reports.

2. Click File | New and then select Standard Report.

3. Expand Create New Connection.

4. Expand ODBC (RDO).

5. Select your data source and click Next.

6. Enter your credentials (again, If you are using the instance of SQL provided with MISys SBM, contact technical support for this information).

7. Select the database name that you use- if you want to try the report on Sample Data, select SBMSAMPCO.

8. Click Finish.

What you see here might be different depending on which version of Crystal you’re using. Look for a node with your database name and expand it. Then expand dbo and then Tables. You now have all of the MISys tables exposed to the report.

Are you User Friendly?

Our survey of existing users of our MISys Manufacturing software earlier this year provided us with some valuable insights into how people are using the software and how they feel about the experience.

When asked what MISys should do, a significant number of respondents commented that making the software more "user friendly" would be a worthwhile endeavor.

I was contemplating this sentiment last night as I worked on a press release using my favorite word processor, Microsoft Word. I've recently converted to Word version 2010 -- the one with the "new and improved" ribbon menu.

Now I'm sure a lot of really smart software designers out in Redmond, Washington worked long and hard in an effort to make MS Word 2010 more "user friendly" than previous versions. To be fair, Word is a complex product (but not as complex as MISys Manufacturing) and I'm not sure whether anyone will ever consider Word to be "user friendly."

I don't know about you, but I've written thousands of documents in my career, and I've learned just enough about Word to do what I need to get done. There's probably much more in Word that I don't know how to use than what I do know. But that's OK. Word is a fine tool, a tool I use every day, and a tool I just couldn't do without. User fiendly? No, sorry.

I had the priviledge of working with the next version of MISys Manufacturing recently and I know the guys out in the labs have been working overtime to make MISys Manufacturing v5.0 more user friendly in response to last January's user survey. While I don't think MISys will ever become a "user friendly" product (like Word, it does lots of really complex stuff), I can tell you that the guys have made some significant improvements.

Going back to MS Word for a moment, one of the things that allowed me to become successful using the software was just learning how it was laid out -- where I should look for the functions I needed.

I think MISys v5.0 goes a long way in helping people understand what's inside the product and how to get to where you want to go. I can't wait until you see it!

MISys at Sage HQ in Vancouver BC

The MISys guys are visiting with our compatriots at Sage headquarters in Richmond, BC, a suburb of Vancouver. The MISys Manufacturing software integrates seamlessly with two separate Sage products (Sage ERP Accpac and Sage Simply Accounting). The managers of these two products occupy an office building here, so visiting everyone while we were in town for the annual TPAC Conference was a no-brainer.

Our first trip to Vancouver took place way back in 1986 when we first contacted Basic Software Group about integrating with an accounting package that is now Accpac. Simply came along much more recently when smaller manufacturing companies across Canada started contacting us about a right-sized solution for them. Simply enjoys a huge presence in Canada and a great many of their customers are manufacturing companies. Even though their accounting needs are modest (relative to Accpac and other mid-range products) Simply users have the same needs when it comes to advanced production, purchasing, master production scheduling, material requirements planning, and serial/lot tracking. So MISys provides an excellent solution for Simply accounting users. More information about the MISys manufacturing solution for Simply accounting can be found at www.misysinc.com/simply/index.php.

Welcome to TPAC in Vancouver BC.

I’m here in Vancouver BC with a couple of other MISys guys attending the annual TPAC (Third Party Access Conference) which, as its name implies, spotlights third-party application software designed to work with Sage ERP Accpac. Each year, software developers and Accpac business partners converge here for several days of sharing information related to extending Accpac into markets beyond core accounting.

Although MISys will be attending and promoting our manufacturing solution for a range of Sage accounting products (notably Peachtree accounting, Simply accounting, and Accpac) at the annual Sage Insights Conference scheduled for the Washington DC area on July 10-15, 2011, this TPAC conference affords us the ability to be in closer contact with the Accpac partners with whom we work all year.

Last summer, Sage announced its intention to reposition Accpac as a more horizontally oriented accounting system, while focusing on the newly-acquired Sage ERP X3 as the vertical solution of choice. Apparently X3 has a strong manufacturing component, but the fact remains that across most of the Accpac consulting world, “manufacturing” and “accpac” are spelled “MISys.” We’ve worked hard over the past 25 years to create and maintain this close relationship with Sage and Accpac partners and to be regarded as the manufacturing system of choice for Sage Accpac ERP (now Sage ERP Accpac).

Even though Sage’s reorganization has removed MISys from their corporate pricelist, sales of our Accpac-based manufacturing solution have actually spiked in recent months. There seems to be an enthusiastic group of Accpac consultants and VARs who understand and value MISys Manufacturing as the solution of choice for manufacturing companies seeking an integrated business management system. Today MISys enjoys its position as a Gold-level Development Partner.

Last week MISys completed a 4-part webinar series that explore the various points of integration between MISys Manufacturing and Sage ERP Accpac. If you missed attending these webinars, you will find streaming videos covering the same material on the MISys website at www.misysinc.com/accpac/.

Whether you are an Accpac partner or a manufacturing company looking over Sage Accpac ERP as a possible solution, we hope you’ll take advantage of this valuable resource.

Again, go to www.misysinc.com/accpac/ for complete information about the Accpac manufacturing solution.

Always and Never

These are terms that are used infrequently in Customer Service. This is an area where each situation is unique. Making hard and fast rules is nearly impossible when circumstances can vary widely. The manufacturing software that MISys develops is a reliable, consistent product and everyone gets the same version. However, how it’s used in the end user’s installation is singular to each company.

This reality presents opportunities for creativity and critical thinking that severely limit our ability to make “always-” and “never-” type policies. Though these would be convenient, they would not likely meet the need. If canned statements would address the questions and concerns that arise, we wouldn’t need the staff of professionals that we currently employ. We know that “canned” is not in the best interest of our customers.

This approach seems to resonate with our clientele. We get continual acknowledgement of our efforts in helping customers maximize the return on their MISys investment.

Visit us online at www.misysinc.com

Productivity Gains in US Manufacturing

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics published its findings regarding productivity trends in the US for the fourth quarter of 2010. The most encouraging part is the 4.2% increase in productivity for the manufacturing sector. According to many experts, productivity improvements are key to the long term success of the US Economy, which makes sense. This bodes well for the health of manufacturing. Check out the full article at www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/prod2.pdf.

It is true that increases in productivity can be achieved by reducing the labor force while maintaining the same output, and this did happen often in the 10 years since 2000. So productivity alone is not the best measure of health in a sector. You also have to look at the value and volume of outputs and the number of people employed. McKinsey, the global consulting behemoth, has issued a report that records that in the US there have been steady gains in productivity AND employment for every 10 year rolling period since 1929 (except one).

McKinsey concluded that there is a significant amount of room for an acceleration of productivity in US industry right now from two basic sources: adopting best practices within an industry (lean principles, etc...) and business and technology innovations. www.mckinsey.com/mgi/publications/growth_and_renewal_in_the_us/index.asp.

That is encouraging, particularly when a company like MISys plays in the space of helping manufacturers become more efficient.



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