VERSYSS Materials Management Matters E-Newsletter!

Online Edition

 

VERSYSS is happy to introduce the Materials Management Matters E-Newsletter, a free e-mail newsletter delivered directly to your PC with news and information to help you manage your VERSYSS system and your business. We hope this is informative and helpful!

 

Topics covered in this issue:  (click or control-click to jump to sections, depending on your email program)

  1. Current VMMS Release
  2. Changes to W2 & 1099 forms for Year End
  3. Support Tips  - tools, tips, and support information for the everyday user.
    1. Preventing System Slowdown
    2. Saving Time by Backing Up Correctly
    3. Is it time to replace your backup tapes:
    4. A Clean & Timely General Ledger Year End
  4. Training – learn more about Online and Computer Based Training!
    1. Year End Training CD
    2. Classes – Did you know that the average company spends $300 to $700 per employee on training?  Be sure to get the most out of your software by checking our current class schedules.  Attend an Internet based class and learn more about the software you run everyday.

 

We want to thank everyone for your continued trust in VERSYSS as your technology solutions provider and as always, if you have any suggestions on how we can make our software solutions, our services and this newsletter better, please do not hesitate to let us know.  Click here to email a suggestion.

Now everyone in your company can receive their very own copy of the newsletter!

  1. To request a subscription to Materials Management Matters E-Newsletter click here:  SUBSCRIBE
  2. To unsubscribe from this newsletter, click here:  UNSUBSCRIBE

 

Current VMMS Release                                                                                      Back to top

Are you on the latest release of the VMMS software?  Our current release version of VMMS is 6.4.0 (af).  If you also use General Ledger or Payroll, the current release of VFMS is 1.5.0.

 

If you’d like to learn more about the latest release, click here to read about the release features.  Keep in mind, if your system has custom modifications, you may need to review these with us to determine your upgrade path.  If you’d like to request a software upgrade, please call your support hotline, or send an email to support@versyss.com.

 

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Changes to W2 & 1099 Forms                                                                           Back to top

The IRS has released modified W2 and 1099 forms for use at the close of 2004.  Most of the boxes on the forms have shifted position slightly to allow the forms to more closely mirror the laser forms.  VERSYSS is currently working on implementing the changes to our software to accommodate the modified forms, and will send out notice to all customers when the forms modification is available to be loaded on your system. 

 

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Support Tips                                                                                                        Back to top

 

Prevent System Slowdown

 

Are the inquiry screens taking too long to display?   Does it take a few seconds between the time you hit <Enter> and the cursor moves to the next field?   If you can run laps around the parking lot faster than it takes to run the Daily Work Invoice Post it’s time to print the VOLUME STATUS report.

 

The Volume Status report may be printed any time.  Files that need immediate attention have 3 or 4 asterisks * in the RESIZE WARNING column.  Does a file resize make sense or is it time to purge history?   Many customers avoid the month end rush and review this report a week or two before period end activity begins.   File resize and purge history processes may be scheduled overnight or over the weekend to be completed in time for the month end processing. 

 

Click here for instructions on printing the Volume Status Report and contact support for help resizing the files.

 

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Save Time by Backing Up CORRECTLY

 

When was the last time you backed up the PC at home?  When the laughter subsides, ask yourself when was the last time your system was backed up?

 

Are you sure?

 

VERSYSS recommends daily backup, plus additional backups prior to period end processing and purging history.  Maintaining offsite backups is advised. Anything less limits our ability to provide optimum support.   Without the correct backup in place, your employees may take days to clean up a mess.  

 

A computer is only as good as it’s last set of backups.  The following support calls illustrate why a rock solid backup procedure is crucial to any business. 

 

When an employee accidentally purges accounts receivable, accounts payable, inventory or payroll history through yesterday, only a backup can recover the data.

 

During the General Ledger Year End process, both the current and historical years may be damaged when steps are skipped or the operator makes a mistake. No backup, no financial data.   Without a backup, the employee must first correct the balances for all affected accounts and general ledger periods, and then complete the year end correctly.  

 

When flood, fire or weather damage occurs to the processor, how old are the offsite backups?    Over the summer, VERSYSS reconstructed one account with horribly outdated backups. Employees had to re-create weeks of transactions. With the correct backups, the hardware down time would have been a few hours.  Actual data loss may have been limited to one week or less.

 

In each example, the customer’s backup took less than 30 minutes.

 

 When was the last time your system was backed up?

 

Click here to learn more about backing up, and the AutoBackup utility that performs the backup overnight.

 

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A Clean and Timely GENERAL LEDGER YEAR END

 

If the G/L year end was a disaster last year, these tips ensure the process is accurate and quick. With the right preparation, actual G/L year end processing takes 15-20 minutes. 

 

 

  1. Get trained.   Attend a Year End Refresher class online.  It’s free for customers on a Software Support Agreement.   Or purchase the Year End Guide CD (click here for more information and an order form).

 

  1. Follow all the steps on the G/L Year End Check list.  Do not skip steps.  Get a copy of this checklist on our website or by attending a Year End Refresher class.

 

  1. Initialize the Journal Files for periods 1-3 a few weeks before the first day of the New Year.  When done correctly, G/L history will be intact, and entries for period 1 of the New Year won’t be posted into period 1 from last year.    If you’ve experienced problems with data from period 1 this year combined with period 1 from last year, here’s why. Either the journals were not initialized correctly in preparation for the new year, OR  the General Journal Update with new year’s data  was done before the year end was complete.

 

  1.  Do not initialize the journals twice.  You’ll run the risk of deleting historical journal activity if the process is done incorrectly.   If journal history was lost last year, this is the reason why.

 

  1. Do not run the General Journal Update for any period in the New Year until after the G/L year end is complete. If you’ve experienced problems with data from period 1 this year combined with period 1 from last year, here’s why.

 

  1. Backup.  Do not begin work in the G/L Year End menu without running a daily backup.  Label this tape G/L YEAR END and set it aside.  Do not use this tape again until next year.

 

  1. During the actual year end process, start the journal initialization process with the correct G/L period.  Remember, periods 1-3 were already initialized.  What is the current period today?  If it’s period 1, 2 or 3, begin the initialization process with period 4.  If the current period is 4, initialize periods 5 and higher.    Do not guess.  Contact support if there is any question at all.

 

Click here to view/print the GL Year End Checklist

Other Support Tidbits

  1. Electronic Documentation is now available at a reduced rate! You can order your system documentation on a CD for just $20 (formerly $75) and print as many copies as you like. Call the Support Center to order.
  2. VIEW users - Did you know that you can download some popular reports from the VERSYSS website? Check them out by logging into the Customer area of the website, select your software package, go to the Products Menu and select VERSYSS VIEW.  To check it out right now, click here.
  3. Is it time to replace your backup tapes?  Tapes have a limited life span and need to be replaced on a regular basis.  Assuming a five-tape rotation it is recommended that your backup tapes get replaced every 6 to 12 months.  It is also important to regularly clean the tape heads to ensure a good backup.  Contact your sales representative to purchase a kit that is appropriate for your specific hardware configuration.

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TRAINING                                                                                                         Back to top

 

Year End Training CD

It happens each year, and should be no surprise, but Year End will be upon us soon.  And since it’s been a year since you’ve gone through it all, you may be understandably “rusty” . . .

 

VERSYSS is pleased to offer a training tool designed to actively assist you through your Year End Process – it’s our VMMS Year End CD Training Guide, an interactive CD-ROM containing step by step instructions designed to assist you through the year end processes.

 

1.      Year End Checklists – review and print out easy to understand checklists to keep you on track, and help you avoid missing any crucial steps.

2.      Interactive Simulations – watch an example of each year end step, and retain more of what you see, because you do the work.  Each simulation gives you step by step descriptive instructions – and you take the steps.  You’ll understand and retain more, because you actually get to practice the process as many times as you’d like.

3.      Self Tests – Once you’re confident that you’ve mastered a step, you can take an interactive test to prove your knowledge. 

4.      Microguides – When you are ready to process year end on your live system, you won’t have to do it alone.  A Microguide has been included for each step.  These small pop up programs sit on the side of your computer’s desktop and will help guide you through each year end step as you actually do it on your live system.

 

All these tools work seamlessly together to help make your year end smooth and painless.  Put the CD in, review each step, test yourself, and then launch the microguide to assist you during your actual year end!

 

How Much?

1.      Cost:  $39.95 for customers with a current software maintenance contract, and $139.95 for customers without a maintenance contract.

                Available Now!

 

How can I get mine?

1.      Log a support call and speak with one of our Dispatchers

2.      Email training@versyss.com to place an order, and we will send you back an order form to complete.

3.      Click here to download an order form, and fax the completed form to (401) 351-9109.

 

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Class Schedule                                                                                                    Back to top

 

In order to provide more flexibility for Online Class Training, after the start of the new year, we will begin  offering On Demand Training.  A limited class schedule will be available on our website along with a full list to training topics.  Software maintenance customers will be able to request individual classes, and our training team will work to schedule the specific classes at times of your choosing.  

 

Below is the VMMS class schedule for the remainder of the year.  All classes listed are presented online using Webex, and require a fast internet connection to participate (T1, Cable, or DSL).  Scheduled classes are free of charge for customer with current Software Maintenance contracts.  Classes are limited to 5 participants, and may be cancelled two weeks prior to the class date if there are no enrollments.  For more complete information and a description of the classes, click here to view a PDF file of the full class schedule with class descriptions.

 

Date

Event ID

Class Name

Start Time

End Time

10/6/2004

302

Sales Order Entry

9:00 AM

12:00 PM

10/6/2004

304

Sales Order Day End/ Sales Analysis & Commissions

1:00 PM

3:00 PM

10/7/2004

306

Quotes Entry

1:00 PM

4:00 PM

10/8/2004

313

Purchase Orders

1:00 PM

4:00 PM

11/11/2004

303

Sales Order Entry

9:00 AM

12:00 PM

11/11/2004

305

Sales Order Day End/ Sales Analysis & Commissions

1:00 PM

3:00 PM

11/12/2004

308

Inventory

9:00 AM

4:00 PM

11/16/2004

314

Physical Inventory

9:00 AM

10:00 AM

12/8/2004

309

VMMS Year End Refresher

9:00 AM

12:00 PM

12/8/2004

310

VMMS Year End Refresher

1:00 PM

4:00 PM

12/15/2004

311

VMMS Year End Refresher

9:00 AM

12:00 PM

12/15/2004

312

VMMS Year End Refresher

1:00 PM

4:00 PM

 

 

 

 

 

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