Before I get started on my (highly opinionated) post, a disclaimer: there are times when custom programming makes good business sense.

I also like to make an important distinction between “configuring” software and “customizing” software. Customers of ours are not frequently software professionals and therefore do have a tendency to interchange the two terms. That’s understandable but the implications of the two are very different for them.

Configuring software is all about using the toolsets provided by the publisher to mold the software (as closely as possible) around your specific business processes. Of course, the more sophisticated the software, the more this becomes a possibility. QuickBooks Enterprise, for example, offers limited configurability as compared with Sage MAS 500, a product intended to support larger enterprises.

Customizing software is when you take and modify the source code. This typically has some important ramifications for the software licensee because there are often ongoing costs to maintain the modifications when new software releases are made available by the publisher.

A unique advantage of Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 (thanks to its popularity and longevity) is that a vast collection of product enhancements called “Extended Solutions” exist to affordably provide additional and modified functionality to MAS 90 and MAS 200 owners without the added expense of truly “custom” programming.

Currently, Sage is highlighting a choice selection of Extended Solutions to help customers who are looking to mitigate credit risks and managing invoicing and account groupings more efficiently.

Here are the current Extended Solutions recommended for the following key areas:

1. Improve awareness of account status with these or similar solutions:
AR-1115 Enhanced Credit Checking ($895 + $265 Maintenance)
This addition strengthens the ability to manage past due receivables and provides a credit warning window pop-up if an account has past term invoices prior to taking new orders.
AR-1216 Invoice History Collection Notations ($1295 + $265 Maintenance)
Adds the ability to add collection notes to AR Invoice History Records so the user can keep track of collections activities on an invoice by invoice basis.
AR-1054 – Automatic Credit Hold Utility ($795 + $265 Maintenance)
Allows you to set a customer’s Credit Hold flag by printing the Aged Invoice Report. A customer will be flagged as on Credit Hold if they have either exceeded their credit limit or have an AR account balance greater than zero on or before the Credit Hold Aging Cutoff Date.

2. Manage invoices and statements more effectively with these or similar solutions:
SO-1121 Multiple Sales Orders on a Single Invoice ($1095 + $265 Maintenance)
Enables you to create a single Sales Order Invoice with lines from multiple Sales Orders for the same customer.
SO-1241 Invoices with Multiple Due Dates ($1195 + $265 Maintenance)
This solution allows a company to provide a ‘payment plan’ to their customers, to establish installed payments toward a large invoice.
AR-1235 Statement Printing with Sales Order Selection ($895 + $535 Maintenance)
Provides a consolidated billing document for customers with multiple Sales orders.

3. Group accounts more efficiently with these or similar solutions:
AR-1068 National Accounts ($1195 + $265 Maintenance)
Provides the ability to designate a ‘Bill to’ customer for their “Sold to” customer accounts.
AR-1200 Cash receipts by Invoice Number ($995 + $265 Maintenance)
For companies who receive payments referencing a third party or DBA, where the company name on the payment doesn’t match the company name maintained in Sage MAS 90 or 200.
AR-1239 Multi Company Customer Synchronization ($1095 + $535 Maintenance)
For customers who maintain more than one company in Sage MAS 90 or 200 and also have the same customer in multiple companies.

For more titles, please reference the Extended Solutions online Product Directory. Contact your IncorTech representative today for detailed pricing information and assistance with installation, setup and product trial versions.