What is the Controlled Release Program?
Sage ERP Accpac version 6.0 is well on its way towards General Availability. We have completed Alpha and Beta testing cycles. Controlled Release is the next step in our endeavor to continue the successful tradition of launching a high quality release on time. Controlled Release software is ready for "real world" environments as it has gone through the rigors of internal and external testing. The ideal candidates for Controlled Release are customers that can leverage the new features and will be excited to put them to work in their business.
Participating in the Controlled Release program gives you the opportunity to get up to speed on the new release, and assist your customers who will benefit from early adoption of the new features and enhancements. It will also give you the chance to provide feedback directly to Sage, building strong relationships and sharing your expertise. You will also gain comprehensive insight into how to introduce new functionality to your customers and prospects resulting in higher upgrade and new revenue sales.
Program Details, Benefits, and Requirements
Benefits
Be the first in your industry to upgrade to the new Sage ERP Accpac 6.0 program. Participating in the Controlled Release program provides you with early access to the newest Sage ERP Accpac product. We have validated the effectiveness of this product through rigorous rounds of testing internally and externally. Sage is committed to ensuring that the Participants in the Controlled Release program have a smooth, and as seamless as possible, experience converting to the new Sage ERP Accpac 6.0 Version.
For Customers:
For Partners:
Customers participating in the Controlled Release Program will receive:*
- Dedicated Support Analysts for Controlled Release calls
- Exclusive phone number for Support
- Calls to Support will be routed to a Senior or higher level Support Analyst
- Controlled Release Project Manager dedicated to the program
- Upon successful completion of the Controlled Release program, you have your choice of:
- 5 support cases used within 3 months starting at the end of the Controlled Release program, including phone, chat, and e-mail support
- Free Real-time class registration for Sage Accpac Intelligence courses for 3 people from your organization (offer valid for Intermediate and Advances courses).**
Participants in
- Beta OR Controlled Release
- 1.5 Tier Credit on the first 3 New Customer Sales within 3 months of the product release *
- Beta & Controlled Release
- Double Tier Credit on the first 3 New Customer Sales within 3 months of the product release *
- Exclusive phone number for Support
- Calls to Support will be routed to a Senior or higher level Support Analyst
- Free Real-time class registration for Sage Accpac Intelligence courses for 3 people from your organization (offer valid for Intermediate and Advances courses).**
* Tier credit incentives are valid for North American Partners only.
** Real Time courses offer expires 3 months after Controlled Release ends
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Enhancements
Sage ERP Accpac Version 6.0 Enhancements
Portal
- Simplified navigation helping you achieve more in less time
- Access any Sage ERP Accpac screen using an Internet Explorer Browser
- New tools help you retrieve information from Sage ERP Accpac in a faster and more efficiently way so you can focus your time managing your business rather than focusing on designing or modifying Crystal Reports
- Easier to learn, especially for new users. It takes less steps to access any Sage ERP Accpac screen
- Be better informed and become more productive by personalizing your Portal Home Page layout and Shortcut bar
- Multi-tab functionality inside of Sage ERP Accpac allows you to switch back and forth between screens or documents to simply validate or enter data simultaneously
- Learn any new Sage ERP Accpac feature faster than ever using the Getting Started snapshot
Snapshots
- Run your business better by using fully configurable and interactive Financial Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s)
- Open any report from your Home Page using the Snapshot drill down capabilities for Aged Receivables, Aged Payables, Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Days Sales Outstanding and Days Payables Outstanding.
- Change the configuration of any snapshot to fit the needs of your department or company
- Add more snapshots with different configurations to your Home Page to do side-by-side analysis or comparison
- Change your Home Page layout by simply dragging and dropping snapshots
- Remove snapshots from your Home Page to gain screen real estate
- Print any snapshot to share or analyze certain results
- Find help and answers by accessing any User Assistance link right on your Home Page
Inquiry
- Expand your reporting possibilities by easily creating public or private queries in AR, AP and GL
- Narrow your search results by using unlimited filters
- Export query results to Excel for further analysis
- Save, Load, Edit or refresh existent queries
- Create PDF, .rpt, CSV or Excel reports immediately
- Sort results to facilitate analysis and locate a record by clicking the header column
- Group records by field before exporting
- Show summary measures like min, max, average and total summary for all queries
- Use the Sage ERP Accpac predefined templates to help you get started
- With the action buttons, add and remove fields from your query to customize the query view to fit your needs
Locking Fiscal Periods
- Most requested enhancement request by our customers
- Lock each Fiscal Period per module for any given Fiscal Year
- Leave all fiscal periods and modules open for posting
- Close all fiscal periods and modules for posting
- Grid Control set by row, per column or entire Fiscal Period can be locked down with one click
- Flow through of transactions to other module. (New Behavior)
- Example: GL is locked but AP is not. Posting will be allowed in AP, and a batch will be able to be generated to GL. It will error out when attempting to post in GL when that module is still locked.
- Reduce your TCO by avoiding getting many unwanted postings that need additional work to reverse.
SageCRM Integration
- Enhanced SageCRM Quote-to-Order workflow for SageCRM Users
- Orders can be created from a Quote or from the Company or Order summary page
- Easy to use quotes and orders entry forms to increase user productivity
- Save time by creating new quotes or orders in one simple step without having to create an Opportunity first
- Reduce your TCO by eliminating the use of Sage ERP Accpac user licenses when creating a quote or order from SageCRM
- Promote multiple quotes to an Order within the same Opportunity
- Create a quote or order for any A/R Customer or non-existent Customer
- Review the Quote Summary which displays a listing of all Quotes for an Opportunity
- Choose which Quotes should be included in the Opportunity Total
- Review in one screen how much has been ordered, shipped and invoiced
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Partner Requirements
All Sage Accpac Partners are eligible to apply. Each partner must commit to bringing one customer into the controlled release program. Space is limited. Sage will review all applications and determine which partners and customers will be accepted into the program. We need participants from a variety of industries to take the software through real-world testing with unique and larger data structures. All associated partner fees must be negotiated with your customer.
Requirements for participation include:
- Complete and return the controlled release application
- If accepted, sign and return the non-disclosure agreement, attend the controlled release kick-off webcast, attend Anytime Learning Training prior to the controlled release start date
- Advise Sage controlled release contact, Raji Dhillon at raji.dhillon@sage.com of the scheduled installation date, and when the installation has been completed
- Complete installation at the customer's site by October 28, 2010
- Customer site is running live on controlled release build by October 29, 2010
- Open controlled release customer support cases by phone when issues occur, and provide as much detail as possible in the case (i.e., specific steps to duplicate)
- Support your customer in setup and issues that arise during the controlled release program, with assistance from Sage's Support team
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Key Milestones & Dates
September 24, 2010
Controlled Release Applications forms due to Sage
October 1, 2010
Sage notifies partners & customers that they have been accepted or rejected
October 8, 2010
Non-disclosure agreements due
Week of October 11, 2010
Controlled release kick-off webcast - partners & customers invited
Week of October 18, 2010
Begin controlled release (download or DVD installation)
October 28, 2010
Complete Customer installations
Week of November 29, 2010
End of controlled release program (certificates will be sent to participants)
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Customer Profile
We are looking for customers with a variety of system scenarios to participate in this program. Ideal candidates will meet one or more of the following system test requirements:
- Currently on a valid Software Assurance plan
- Work heavily in the areas that been modified in the Sage ERP Accpac 6.0 Release
- Willing to submit a copy of their data so that Sage can perform a test conversion ahead of time, to minimize risk when the Partner performs the live upgrade of the data. The converted data is to be used for the sole purpose of testing by Sage, not as a replacement for the live conversion.
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Sage Commitments
Sage values your support in our controlled release program. Our goal is to provide you with a positive controlled release experience. We commit to the following to make this controlled release program a success:
- All Participants will receive at least one "check-in" call from Sage
- Priority Support will be provided by a Senior Support Analyst
- Issues that are not resolved by Support will automatically be escalated to Sage ERP Accpac's development team for review
- A dedicated phone number will be set up for Support issues for controlled release participants
- Controlled Release software has successfully completed a full alpha and beta testing cycle
Note: We need to know all Sage Accpac Developer Partner Products, 3rd party add-ons and customizations to determine eligibility. If a customer has other Sage North America Integrated Solutions or extensive customizations they are NOT immediately disqualified from the program.
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Controlled Release Application
Please answer all of the questions. The more information you provide, the better your chances are of being selected as a Controlled Release Participant.
* indicates required field.