Computer Management Services

Beat the 3 p.m. Slump

2012-01-27T06:55:00.001-05:00

We all hit that difficult part of the afternoon when our energy dips, our concentration flags, and it feels like we're not going to be able to stay awake until the end of the workday without crawling under the desk to take a nap. And not sleeping well the night before just compounds the problem.

At times like this, we reach for a cup of coffee, a can of soda or a candy bar to help us perk up. Unfortunately, we often wind up paying for our caloric quick fix with a bad sugar crash later.

There are healthier ways to beat the 3 p.m. slump. Here are some suggestions for keeping your inner engine purring steadily until the commute home.

Move Around

"When I hit that sleepy part of the day, I try to resist going straight for the coffee pot, and get up from my desk and take a walk outside instead," says Aubyn Peterson, administrative assistant for the Miss USA Pageant. Peterson finds that simply getting up, moving around and experiencing a change of scenery really helps her wake up.

If you can, schedule your active errands for that time of day. "Part of my job involves dropping by the theaters and picking up tickets, and a walk on Broadway always seems to give me energy," says Richard Ogawa, a sales and special events assistant for Broadway On and Off, a Broadway group sales organization based in New York City.

Laugh a Little

"If I don't have time to step out of the office, I get up from my desk for a few minutes and have a laugh with my coworkers," Peterson says.

Ogawa agrees that laughter is some of the best work-slump medicine. "Smiling always perks me up," he says.

Office Yoga

Lori Wiley, a certified yoga instructor and administrative assistant for HER Real Living, recommends doing a little rejuvenating yoga at your desk to battle the yawns. Here's Wiley's favorite pick-me-up:

While sitting at your desk:

Raise your arms straight up above your head.
Flap your hands really fast.
Breathe in and out quickly.
Do this for as long as you can manage -- or until your coworkers notice.

Eat Right

Your diet can make a big difference in your energy level throughout the workday. One of the best remedies for the 3 p.m. slump is eating breakfast.

"Eating a good breakfast boosts your concentration and revs your energy," according to Susie Michelle Cortight's article, "Eating for Energy: A Simple Meal-by-Meal Guide to Managing Your Mood with Food."

According to Cortight, you can keep your blood sugar on an even keel with complex carbohydrates, and you should avoid refined carbohydrates, such as white bread and white sugar. These have a high glycemic index, which can cause spikes and dips in your blood-sugar levels.

Breakfast: For a power breakfast, Cortight advises going with natural whole-grain breads and cereals with a low-fat protein added, such as yogurt, cottage cheese or skim milk. The right complex carbohydrates provide your brain and muscles with the steady flow of the energy they need, she says.

Lunch: Cortight suggests a lunch that's low in carbohydrates and should include foods like low-fat cheese, fish, lean meat or poultry. According to her article, "carbs can increase the amount of seratonin in the brain and may cause that sleepy feeling. Protein can actually raise energy levels by increasing brain chemicals called catecholamines."

Snacks: Snacking is a good way to pick up plummeting energy levels. Eating every few hours helps your body use its fuel more efficiently, stimulates your metabolism and keeps your energy flow constant -- but only if you reach for the right kind of fuel. For a midday snack, try fruits and vegetables instead of candy bars, which are laden with simple sugars and will bring on fluctuating and erratic energy levels. For a late-afternoon snack, try a lean protein, like low-fat yogurt, cottage cheese, a lean meat or peanut butter with a few crackers.

Training Should Be Center Stage

2012-01-18T06:48:00.002-05:00

A very important consideration that must be made early and can't be put off is the training that staff members must receive to make enterprise resource planning effective. Without putting the roles of personnel into perspective, companies will find themselves with onerously ineffective hardware and software that is curiously not producing the results that their software vendors assured them they would.

This means that training should be one of, if not the largest, centerpiece of an implementation.

CMS is here for all your training needs. Call to schedule your individual or group training session today. We can focus on the modules you want to get a better handle on or help you with customizations that will take your organization to the next level.

New Year Thoughts from Nikki Spirito, CMS Account Manager

2012-01-03T15:45:00.002-05:00

First, CMS would like to thank you for your continued relationship. Everyone at CMS hopes that you and your loved ones had a safe and happy New Year celebration.

We hope that as the New Year approaches, all of the changes made are positive ones. Here are a few tips from our experts that will make your life easier in the New Year.:

1) Please consult with us prior to upgrading your hardware. Time and time again, we run into situations where clients are purchasing hardware that is not supported with their current MAS Version. We can provide the information you need to avoid this situation altogether.
2) Always create a backup company before making any drastic setup changes, updating your system, or adding on any new products. This way, if something adversely happens during the changes, you can always restore your backup and start again.
3) Please call us if you have any questions…or even if it’s just to reassure you. Our experts are here to help make your life easier, and to help make you more efficient at your job.

Please keep in mind that our success depends on yours. Please let us know if there is anything that we can do to help you.

RePost from August: Additional Information Regarding Calculating Connecticut Taxes

2011-12-06T07:45:00.002-05:00

We have received numerous questions about the new Connecticut Payroll Tax Table Update. Please see the information below to help you with any questions that you may have.

Due to the significant changes in the Connecticut tax law you must pay special attention to employees' wages throughout the balance of the tax year. The following are some special circumstances where the Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 Payroll program calculations cannot fully accommodate these tax law changes and manual calculations may be required. For example:

• If you have recently hired employees, prior to August 1, 2011, you will have to determine whether to continue to use their existing filing status or change to the new filing status. Either way, for this small group of employees, they will be under or over withheld. You may want to calculate their taxes manually to determine which filing status will calculate the most accurate withholding amount for the rest of the year.

• For employees with varying paid hours (20 hrs week 1, 30 hrs week 2 etc) you would need to manually calculate their taxes using the wage bracket tables and enter as manual taxes in Payroll Data Entry for each check.

• In order for employees who have elected to have an additional state tax amount withheld from their check, manual tax calculation will be required because the new recapture taxcalculations for Connecticut will keep adjusting the YTD state tax based on the new tables.

• For employees with standard paid hours (40 hours weekly) who have elected to have an additional state tax amount withheld from their check, you would manually calculate their taxes and add the additional amount, then store the amount as an override Amount in Employee Maintenance. Or, you may elect to no longer make the additional calculation available to your employees.

• For employees with varying paid hours (20 hrs week 1, 30 hrs week 2, etc) who have elected to have additional state tax amount withheld you would need to manually calculate their taxes using the wage bracket tables, add the additional amount and enter the sum as manual taxes in Payroll Data entry for each check. Or, you may elect to no longer make the additional calculation available to your employees.

• For employees who receive a raise in pay after August 1, 2011, it may be necessary to re-assign their Filing Status when processing their change if the salary adjustment moves them into another bracket.

If you have any additional questions, please contact either the State of Connecticut, or your accountant.

Think about Year-End Processing!

2011-11-29T06:38:00.002-05:00

A Little Extra Pre-Planning Now Will Help To Make Your Year-End Less Stressful.

Computer Management Services (CMS) can provide you with the tools you need during the year-end hustle and bustle to stay well informed and ahead of the game.

Schedule time today for CMS to assist with your year-end preparations, creation of new companies, module closing and W-2’s, 1099’s and tax table updates.

Appointments for Year-End Processing are booking up quickly. Call Nikki Spirito at 860.399.4215 x.202 today to reserve your time.

Do you pay too much to manage sales tax?

2011-11-18T06:15:00.001-05:00

As you plan your 2012 budget, take time to evaluate your current sales tax management solution. Many accept this function as necessary overhead but do you know what you're actually paying? Have you considered compliance risks you may face?

Whether you manually calculate sales tax or use some level of automation, you may be paying too much. Here are some questions to ask yourself. Do you:

1. Use manual methods, which increase the risk of incorrect calculations?
2. Spend days or weeks preparing returns for filing?
3. Struggle keeping up with tax jurisdiction changes, which can reach nearly 100 per week?
4. Want to simplify exemption certificate management?
5. Dread the 1099 filing process?
6. Need to cut costs in your budget?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, we encourage you to learn more about AvaTax - the most frequently selected sales tax solution for businesses of all sizes. The time you take now to investigate AvaTax may pay off for you and your company in the months and years ahead. If you have any questions or need more information, please call Nikki Spirito at 860.399.4215 x.202 or visit www.avalara.com.

Only Two Days Left Until Our User Group

2011-11-01T07:11:00.002-04:00

There are only two days left until our Annual CMS MAS ERP User Group Conference. Registration is still open so if you can make it, but register with Nikki Spirito today. This year's conference is being held at Water's Edge Resort and Spa in Westbrook, CT. We have representatives from Sage Software, Knowledge Sync and Avalara attending. Great informational, networking and educational conference with giveaways. The conference is FREE. Call 860.399.4215 x. 202.

Tax Credits Save You Money

2011-10-13T06:03:00.000-04:00

How to save money while hiring with CMS's employment tax credit services. Booth #924

A perfect fit for staffing agencies, in these challenging times there is a way to save money while hiring and growing your business, with Work Opportunity Tax Credits. "WOTC" is a federal program designed to promote the hiring of individuals who qualify as a member of a target group with barriers to employment. Employers participating in the program can receive a Federal Tax Credit (typically $2,400.00) for each qualified new employee, which can be used to reduce your companies federal income tax liability.

Who can take advantage of these tax credits?

For profit companies in the United States i.e. C, S and LLC’s can all apply these tax credits to their Federal Tax Liability. Because Non-Profits and Municipalities don’t pay taxes they would not qualify. In addition, some states have also started similar programs to provide incentives to employers hiring.

Are you taking advantage?

CMS finds most companies are not aware of this federal tax credit, or if they are familiar with the program, they don’t have the resources or don’t want to ask the sensitive questions needed to acquire the tax credits. That’s exactly the reason many companies outsource this function to CMS. CMS performs the screening process of each new hire and thus protects the employer from any sensitive situations and shields them from a liability standpoint.

To learn more please visit CMS's Employment Tax Credit expert Harvey Patyon at Booth #924 or call 860.399.4215 to make an appointment.

Key changes made to R.I. sales tax

2011-09-28T05:40:00.001-04:00

Go into effect one week from Saturday

Updated: Saturday, 24 Sep 2011, 10:32 AM EDT

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Key changes being made to Rhode Island's sales tax will be effective within the next week.

On Saturday, October 1st, the changes for the state's sales tax will be made official.

The 7-percent tax throughout the state will be added to over-the-counter drugs, digital downloads, and even sightseeing tours. Those changes will be made in efforts to help curb the state's $186-million spending deficit.

Video: RI Sales Tax Changes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIVw5tSeIew

This is just another reminder of the constant changes as state seek to increase sales tax revenues.

Free MAS User Group: Register Now for November 3rd

2011-09-06T05:42:00.002-04:00

CMS Fall User Group - Free Event
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Water's Edge Resort and Spa in Westbrook, CT

Interactive Workshop for MAS Users!
CMS is committed to building a stronger MAS community.

Visit http://www.cmsct.com/newsandevents.html for the meeting summary and to register.

For the first 25 registrants you will be entered into a raffle for a free Kindle and Knowledge Sync user license.

What's New in V 4.40.0.06

2011-08-03T07:58:00.001-04:00

Q: What’s new in Version 4.40 Product Update 6?
A: You now can save printer information by Workstation for Report Settings and Form Codes! MAS V 4.40.0.06 will retain the last printer used based on the workstation ID.

Q: How can this be of value to me?
A: This can be very handy in multi-user and multi-location environments where each user would like to print to a specific printer. This enhancement is also is extremely beneficial when particular printers are used for different types of printing.

Q: Will this new feature work with every module?
A: This new functionality will work with the following modules: Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Bank Reconciliation, Bill of Materials, Bar Code, Credit Card Processing, General Ledger, Inventory Management, Purchase Order, Return Merchandise Authorization, and Sales Order.

User Group Registration is NOW Open!

2011-07-25T06:50:00.000-04:00

Register Now! Computer Management Services Annual Users’ Group Workshop will be on Thursday, November 3, 2011 at the Water’s Edge Resort and Spa in Westbrook, CT. It is scheduled to begin at 9am and will continue until 2:15. We will be covering topics from V 4.5 to Sales Tax, and everything in between. If you are interested in learning more, or if you would like to register, please contact Nikki Spirito.

Connecticut State Payroll Tax Changes Are Taking Effect August 1st

2011-07-22T06:00:00.001-04:00

Connecticut has made some significant changes to payroll withholding tax calculations, effective August 1, 2011. In order for the Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 Payroll module to fully support these complex changes, several areas of the product have changed, including:

•The Connecticut Tax Table
•Program changes to the calculation engine
•New employee filing status for all existing CT employees will be added

Due to this complexity, program changes for the Connecticut withholding tax will be completed for Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 versions 4.20, 4.30, and 4.40 and will be included in the initial release for version 4.50. Connecticut companies running Payroll on Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 versions below 4.20 must upgrade to one of the supported versions in order to comply with this new state-legislated change.

What You Need to Do?

These changes will be included in a program change that will be made available to you in late July. In order to accurately calculate CT payroll taxes the program change for CT employers should be applied to your Sage ERP system after the last payroll run in July and before the first payroll in August. Also, prior to the first payroll run in August, Payroll Administrators will need to assign a new employee filing status for any employee that earned CT income in 2011 prior to August 1. Full details on how and when to implement this new change on supported versions of Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 will be available to you when the program change is released.

Please call Nikki at 860.399.4215 x.202 to schedule time with our CMS product consultants to help you with these new changes or if you need information on upgrading your current Sage ERP system.

Simple Sale Tax Processing: FREE webinar this Thursday

2011-06-22T07:19:00.003-04:00

Register with Nikki today to attend our free webnar this Thursday at 2 pm (eastern). Learn how you can process your sales tax filing with ease in MAS 90 / 200.

Sage Sales Tax reduces your sales tax audit risk with cloud-based services that make it simple to calculate rates, manage exemption certificates, file forms and remit payments. Get intelligent sales tax calculations in your own software Sage Sales Tax integrates with your accounting or e-commerce software to deliver real-time sales tax calculations based on up-to-date sales and use tax rules.

8 Reason Why You Should Be At Sage Summit

2011-06-17T06:42:00.002-04:00

Want to attend Sage Summit and haven't registered yet? Want your boss to know the values of Sage Summit? Check out the 8 reasons why you should be attending. http://www.sagesummit.com/Documents/ReasonsToAttend_Customer.pdf

Do you file Sales Tax in multiple states?

2011-06-01T07:16:00.002-04:00

Have you ever found yourself in a Sales Tax Audit? Do you constantly find yourself dealing with Exemption Certificates? Have you implemented new processes recently? Have you completed a system upgrade recently?

If you answered yes at least once to the questions above, we encourage you to ask how we can help. What would you say if we told you that we can introduce you to a solution that can save you time, money, and offer you protection from the risk of a sales tax audit? This same solution can ensure your sales tax compliance.

Sage Sales Tax calculates Sales Tax accurately by identifying all applicable taxing jurisdictions to a street address. The best part is, it seamlessly integrates into MAS. Please give us just 30 minutes of your time, and we can give you a piece of mind.

Webinar Day: June 23, 2011
Webinar Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Upgraded? Now what!

2011-05-02T07:26:00.000-04:00

Upgraded to the newest version of MAS? Are you using the new solutions included in it? Why not? Call CMS today and we will help you utilize the newest solutions included in your current upgrade. Make your system and organization more efficient and productive with this Let one of our product training specialists work with you and your team on taking advantage of these great additions.

Now Available Product Update 4.40.0.5

2011-04-28T06:30:00.000-04:00

The fifth Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 4.4 Product Update — 4.40.0.5 — is now available via a compact download from Sage Online. Product Update 5 delivers new core features and functionality enhancements in Accounts Payable, Inventory Management, and Library Master as an additional onplan benefit. These customer-requested features add more flexibility, streamline workflows, save time and minimize errors in your Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 system. The 941 Form 2011 update is also included in Product Update 5.

Call Nicole for more details at 860.399.4215.

Be More Productive

2011-04-11T06:45:00.001-04:00

A great article from Inc. on 15 ways to be more productive from top executives. It is a quick read with tips you can easily implement into your office environment. Check it out:

http://www.inc.com/ss/15-ways-be-more-productive

Laughing: Stress Relief and Just Plain Fun

2011-03-30T07:16:00.001-04:00

Research has shown that the health benefits of laughter are far-ranging. Studies so far have shown that laughter can help relieve pain, bring greater happiness, and even increase immunity.

Only a Few Days Left.....

2011-03-01T07:10:00.000-05:00

To attend the March 8th seminar with Harvey hosted by the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce. This free seminar will cover "Increasing Efficiency and Productivity Within Your Organization."

For more details:
http://www.middlesexchamber.com/CWT/External/WCPages/WCEvents/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=364

Register now at: http://www.middlesexchamber.com/External/WCPages/WCEvents/EventResults.aspx?Category=Seminar&Keyword=&MonthNumber=0&FromSearch=True

Discussion Forums

2011-02-21T12:30:00.002-05:00

Have you joined the Sage Discussion Forums? What are you waiting for! The mission of this community is to enable all Sage ERP MAS customers to share,learn, and support each other on a broad spectrum of issues and interests. This is your community. Join a discussion, read a blog, share in the exchange of ideas and best practices.

Register now at http://community.sagemas.com/

Winter Trivia

2011-02-18T06:49:00.001-05:00

Check out our Winter newsletter. The trivia question has still not been answered. Be the first person to get us the correct answer and you can win!

http://www.cmsct.com/1quarter.pdf

Sage Summit 2011 - July 12-15

2011-02-15T07:02:00.000-05:00

Sage Summit is the conference for Sage customers and partners. It’s the single best event of the year for connecting with and learning from a diverse community of peers, product experts, and industry thought leaders.

With more substantive learning, more meaningful networking, and more concrete takeaways for your business, this year’s conference provides greater value than ever before. There’s no better place to learn tips, techniques, and proven tactics that can be implemented right away. Plus, we’re pleased to offer economy-busting conference rates and discounts that meet or beat the rates from our previous partner and customer conferences.

Visit www.SageSummit.com for details.

Register Today!

2011-02-09T21:30:00.002-05:00

Registration is open to attend the March 8th seminar with Harvey hosted by the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce. This free seminar will cover "Increasing Efficiency and Productivity Within Your Organization."

For more details:
http://www.middlesexchamber.com/CWT/External/WCPages/WCEvents/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=364

Register now at: http://www.middlesexchamber.com/External/WCPages/WCEvents/EventResults.aspx?Category=Seminar&Keyword=&MonthNumber=0&FromSearch=True

March 8th - Middlesex Chamber Guest Speaker

2011-02-03T07:21:00.002-05:00

March 8th from 8 am to 10 am.

The presenter will be Harvey N. Payton, Executive Vice President of Computer Management Services, LLC. Located in Westbrook, CT.

The seminar title will be Increasing Efficiency and Productivity within Your Organization.

The seminar description:
Is your current business management system working for your organization? Would you like to achieve a higher level of efficiency and productivity for your company? It may be easier than you think. As the leading Sage Software consulting firm in New England, we have had the privilege of helping companies like yours implement business management solutions that have propelled their companies forward and ensured their continued success.

Let’s analyze if your current software is working to the fullest potential for you and staff. Let us determine a system out there that can address every aspect of your operations saving your significant time and money, whether your industry is Distribution, Manufacturing, Finance, or Sales and Marketing.

Learn what will give you the competitive advantage that can make the difference between surviving and thriving.

If you are interested in attending you can call us at 860.399.4215 x.216 or e-mail us at lmaxwell@cmsct.com.

Inside Story: Harvey Payton

2011-01-26T05:40:00.001-05:00

Check out "A Few Minutes with...Harvey Payton, from Computer Management Services."

http://www.swktech.com/newsletters/swk/10-11/a_few_minutes_with.html

Tax Relief Act

2011-01-17T16:11:00.000-05:00

The Tax Relief Act of 2010 (TRA 2010) makes a major change in the withholding of social security taxes from employees' wages by reducing the employee share of social security tax from 6.2% to 4.2% for the first $106,800 of wages paid in 2011. The maximum that can be withheld will be $4,485.60, a $2,136 decrease from the 2010 maximum of $6,621.60.

The IRS is asking employers to update their payroll systems as soon as possible, but not later than January 31, 2011. For any social security tax over-withheld during January because of the rate change, employers should make an adjustment in employees' pay as soon as possible, but not later than March 31, 2011.

The benefits that are recorded by the Social Security Administration for employees will be unchanged by this new reduction in rate. It is still unknown if this reduction in rate will be extended past 2011. Tax returns (Form 941/943/944) are expected to be revised, but the IRS has not released any details as of yet.

The IRS released Notice 1036, December 17, 2010, which contains the percentage method tables for federal income tax withholding from wages paid in 2011. Again, the IRS is asking employers to update their payroll systems as soon as possible, but not later than January 31, 2011.

Notice 1036 is posted on the IRS website for further details: http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/newsroom

Happy 2011

2011-01-03T06:55:00.002-05:00

How exciting! It is the start of a New Year. The possibilites and challenges we face for the year ahead are unknown and unlimited as to what you can achieve in 2011. What a great time to make that fresh start and focus on your goals. All of us at CMS wish you the best of everything this year. Health, Happiness and much Success!

Sage Summit: Save The Date

2010-12-28T06:46:00.003-05:00

Sage Summit is the conference that will bring together the entire Sage community, including customers, partners, product leaders, developers, and more, for a collaborative learning experience. Save the date for Sage Summit 2011 and make plans to attend.

Sage Summit 2011
Gaylord National | Washington, DC
July 10-15, 2011
www.SageSummit.com

SageSummit.com is Updated and Live: The Sage Summit website is live and updated to reflect the 2011 conference agenda. Sage will be making frequent updates to the website so visit often.

Free Year-End Guide

2010-12-13T07:49:00.002-05:00

CMS is offering a free Year-End Guide. Contact Nikki Spirito today at 860.399.4215 x.202 or via e-mail at nspirito@cmsct.com. Year-end is fast approaching so get your guide and book your appointment today!

New LinkedIn Group

2010-12-09T07:13:00.003-05:00

We have a new LinkedIn Group at CMS. Please join us today!

http://www.linkedin.com/groupRegistration?gid=3712042

Year End

2010-12-07T07:40:00.001-05:00

Schedule your appointments today and end the year right! Call Nikki at 860.399.4215 or e-mail her at nspirito@cmsct.com

Year-End Updates, Windows 7 and Microsoft Compatibility

2010-11-24T07:24:00.007-05:00

Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 Year End Updates

The Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 Q1 2011 Tax Table Update (TTU) and Interim Release Download (IRD) are expected to be available after December 17, 2010 for download from Sage Online, Sage ERP MAS Support section. As necessary, throughout January 2011 we’ll update the TTU each week with late-breaking changes. Also, all of the program changes in the IRD will be included in Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 v4.4 PU4, and Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 v4.3 SU21, expected to be available the week of December 27, 2010. If you install PU4 or SU21 instead of the IRD, you will still need to download and install the Q1 2011 Tax Table Update before processing your first payroll for 2011.
For more details, please refer to the FAQs or call Nicole Ronchetti at ext 203.

Windows 7 and Microsoft Office Compatibility Important Notice

Please note: Sage MAS 90 & MAS 200 is only compatible with Windows 7 on MAS v4.3 (EES v1.3) and higher. If you purchase a new machine which has Windows 7 installed and you are on v4.2 or lower you will need to upgrade your MAS 90 installation. Also, check out the compatibility chart for Microsoft Office.

For questions or concerns or to have an upgrade quoted, please contact Nikki Spirito at ext 202.

Hot New Webinars

2010-11-16T13:42:00.003-05:00

Check out our list of free Sage MAS ERP webinars starting now into the early Winter. Now is the time to see what is new and hot for your Sage MAS ERP system. Take an hour and learn about products that can help your business excel and expand, increasing your sales and efficiency.

http://www.cmsct.com/events.html

Year-End Is Right Around the Corner

2010-11-11T06:12:00.003-05:00

As we know it year-end is just around the corner. It is not to soon to schedule your consulting time with our expert staff members. Let us help you make your year-end a smooth one. Year-end is always a stressful time of the year, but with CMS' help won't be.

CMS is here to assist you with payroll and 1099 year-end processing procedures—reports, reconciliation, W-2 printing, 1099 printing, and more. CMS can also review the new W-2 and 1099 e-filing and reporting functions built into MAS 90 and MAS 200 versions 4.30 and 4.40.

As year-end approaches our consultant's schedules get pretty booked and we want to ensure that we get your organization scheduled in. Please call Nikki today at 860.399.4215 x.202 to schedule your year-end consulting time.

Users' Group Success

2010-11-02T07:39:00.002-04:00

Thank you to everyone who attended our Users' Group last Thursday. It was a great success! At was an morning and afternoon of learning and discussions enjoyed by all. A special thank you to our guest speakers, Acom and V-Technologies, for their insight on how MAS Users' can increase productivity. The roundtable discussions were a huge success and many enjoyed the topics of discussions. Congratulations to all our raffle winners too.

Fall Training

2010-10-12T15:19:00.002-04:00

Join us for our Fall MAS 90 / MAS 200 ERP training classes in Version 4.4. These web based classes are a great resource for learning about the modules in your current ERP system. These classes are taught by either Greg Tisdale or Susan Payton, our CMS team members and Sage Certified Trainers.

Check out our current calendar of classes
http://www.cmsct.com/TrainingCalendar.pdf

Are you doing properly backing up your Sage MAS ERP system?

2010-10-04T09:17:00.001-04:00

Article by Nicole Ronchetti, Technical Services, Computer Management Services, Westbrook, CT

Keeping a regular backup of your computer data is one of the single most important tasks any user should carry out on a regular basis. It doesn't matter how careful you are, sooner or later you're going to suffer from data loss. It's always the people who think it will never happen to them suffer from the worst cases of data loss. Here are the top 5 tips for ensuring that your MAS system will be backed up properly.
1. Make sure that your back up is running when all users are out of MAS. If people are in the system or processing, the backup will not complete.
2. The backup should be backing up the entire MAS90 folder. If you are using additional features that may have folders outside of the MAS90 folder, ensure that these folders are being backed up as well. For example, if you are using Paperless Office check the location of the Paperless Office folder. If you are generating ACH files check that location as well.
3. If you are using MAS200, the activate.pvx file should be excluded from your backup. This file often times causes most backup programs to error out.
4. Check your backups. Many times clients assume that their backups are working properly. Periodically schedule time to review the back up. If you are unsure about the integrity of your backups check with your IT provider.
5. Schedule the frequency of the backup to run based on the number of transactions your company is processing. If possible, it is always best to run your backups nightly. Remember if all your data is lost and you need to retrieve the data from a backup, you may need to recreate transactions that were processed in that time frame. The less you lose the better.

Grants for your Business

2010-09-30T08:05:00.002-04:00

At CMS, we are always investigating into resources for our clients. At this time, we have come across several training grants that can be use for your organization. These grants are available in several states and will help reduce some of training expenses your company may have. By taking advantage of these grants your organization will save money, become more efficient and help with employee productivity. For more information, please call Nikki at 860.399.4215 x.202

Why Employee Training is so Important

2010-09-15T08:36:00.003-04:00

By Kori Rodley Irons
What's one of the first line items to get slashed when the company budget gets squeezed? It's training for employees that often ends up on the cutting room floor. Unfortunately, trained and energized employees are just what a company needs to stimulate growth and problem solve in the lean times. Here are some of the reasons whey employee training is so important...
The innovation, flexibility and dedication that are necessary to build truly dynamic companies come from well-trained and supported employees. One of the best ways to encourage and support individuals in your workforce is through professional development and training opportunities. As employees develop new skills, increase networking and represent the company out in the larger world, and develop leadership opportunities, the business work environment becomes infused with energy and creativity.

Sending employees to training opportunities, or bringing opportunities into the company, actually infuses a business with new ideas and creative ways of solving old problems. Sometimes, just getting employees out of the day-to-day grind of their everyday work schedule is enough to jump-start energy and encourage employees to recommit to their jobs and the company. But learning new skills and interacting with new and different people has a direct impact on the productivity and development of the work environment.

Trainings need not be expensive or last several days in order to be worthwhile. Workshops, classes and cross-training in other departments within the company can be as invigorating as expensive courses and conferences. Encouraging employees to learn all they can about the company--not just the department where they work--is one way to approach training. Providing individuals with information about accounting, production, marketing, or other aspects of the business can give them a good overall understanding of how all the pieces work together to contribute to the whole, as well as how their individual jobs or department fits into the whole, big picture.

Consider implementing or keeping regular training opportunities in place for employees. Training sessions that are once a week, or a month can be quite productive--giving employees something outside the ordinary work day to look forward to and encouraging a commitment to professional development and skill growth. While a dedication to keeping training opportunities alive and thriving within the company culture can be an expense of time and resources--the benefit in terms of qualified and energetic personnel is well worth it.

2010 © Associated Content, All rights reserved.

Register Now... Fall Users Group Workshop

2010-09-09T07:28:00.003-04:00

We are excited to announced that we have scheduled our Sage MAS Fall Users Group Workshop on Thursday, October 28th at 9 am. The workshop this year will be held at one convenient location, Water's Edge Resort and Spa in Westbrook, CT. This location has easy access to I-95, Route 9, Amtrak, Shoreline East and Route 1. This Fall Workshop is themed, “Increase Your Sage MAS ERP Use and Features.”

Taking the feedback we received from our last user group, we have designed sessions to discuss business issues specific to job functionality, so that all accounting personnel will be grouped together, all order entry personnel will be grouped together and so on. We feel that this will be extremely beneficial to each attendee providing you with shared experiences based on department.

This workshop will be covering Sage MAS 4.4. From Core Financials to Distribution and Manufacturing, Sage MAS 90 and 200 Version 4.4 is loaded with features. We will also be discussing StarShip 10 and the advantages of combining small parcel support with the freight modules already on the market to make shipping even easier. And we have much more on hand.

As always, the User Group is free and for all Sage MAS clients and prospects. Breakfast and lunch is included. Registration is required so please contact Nikki at 860.399.4215 x.202.

GREG is BACK!

2010-09-03T08:34:00.002-04:00

CMS would like to welcome back a valuable member of our team

Greg Tisdale, Senior Consultant has returned to CMS.

Westbrook, CT - September 1, 2010 - It is with great pleasure that CMS welcomes the return of Greg Tisdale.

We are very excited to have Greg aboard back and working in the capacity of Senior Consultant in charge of Professional Services. For all of those who have worked with Greg in the past, you know that he possess a wealth of information and experience, in addition to being a great person.For those who has not met Greg yet, you will be genuinely pleased with his consultative approach and friendly demeanor.

Greg has many years of experience with ERP systems and Business Management Solutions. (Yes, he is getting older). He is Sage and Crystal Certified, as well as being a Sage Certified Trainer.

Again, we are happy to welcome Greg back to the CMS family and team!

Feel free to give him a call or drop him an e-mail to say "Hello"

Phone: 860.399.4215
E-mail: gtisdale@cmsct.com

He would be delighted to hear from all of you!

Fall is Coming

2010-09-01T06:44:00.003-04:00

Check out what we have to offer this Fall. A lot is happening with our Fall User Group, Training Classes, Free Webinars and much more. Check out blog and website for details or call Nikki for more information.

Sage U on YouTube

2010-08-26T06:54:00.002-04:00

A great new resource for Sage MAS ERP users is Sage U ERP on YouTube. Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/user/SageUERPLearning#p/c/374D9C0112C77AFE

Summer Webinars

2010-08-04T07:01:00.002-04:00

Check out the News and Events page on our website and click the link for web events. We have added several new Sage MAS ERP web events that are free and very informational. For more information or to register, call Nikki at 860.399.4215 x.202.

Great Race

2010-07-27T08:14:00.002-04:00

Harvey Payton , the leader of Team CMS, participated in this year’s Tour de Cure and Angel Ride. Harvey raised over $4700 for Angel Ride and over $3200 for the Tour de Cure. Great job!

Urgent: Check with us on Hardware First

2010-07-22T08:01:00.001-04:00

We want to remind you that we urge all of our clients to check with us prior to purchasing new hardware (i.e. Windows 7)in order to ensure compatibility with the version of MAS which you are using. We will be able to provide you with the most up to date information regarding compatibility. If you are thinking of purchasing new hardware, please contact Nikki for the latest information on compatibility at nspirito@cmsct.com.

Custom Reporting Made Easy

2010-07-20T07:09:00.002-04:00

Maximize the flexibility of your reports. With Crystal Reports, FRX, and F9 you can customize the data you need to retrieve from you Sage MAS ERP system. You can create and customize presentation-quality reports getting the information you need to run your business and be "in the know".

Don't have the time to create these reports yourself. Contact CMS today and it is as easy as 1-2-3. All you need to do is provide us with the report details. We will take it from there getting you the report you need.

The Next Generation of Customizations

2010-07-08T08:13:00.002-04:00

Get the scoop on Sage MAS ERP from Nicole Ronchetti, CMS Tech Support Specialist

A little known fact about the new Sage MAS v4.4 is the enhancements made to Custom Office. In 4.4, Sage has added the ability to create “User-Defined Scripts”. This Custom Office enhancement allows you to program events to run with or without user interaction (clicking a button) in addition to the ability to add user-defined fields and additional buttons.

Customizations done using Custom Office now survive upgrades throughout most of your system, including those in Inventory Management, Purchase Order, Bill of Materials, and Bar Code, so the customizations do not have to be reapplied to a new release. For example, you can add expiration dates or other attributes for lot and serial items, and that information flows through the system. Or using standard scripting, Sales Order Quote Expiration dates can automatically change according to the type of order or quote that you choose.

Sage has released two pre-recorded Webex sessions from Steve Malmgren, Chief Architect of Sage MAS 90 and 200, entitled "Look Ma, No Buttons! - The Next Generation of Customizer in Sage MAS 90 and 200". These sessions were delivered in January 2010 to Sage business partners, and the content is based on a session of the same name held for customers at Sage Summit in November 2009. Enjoy learning more about the power of the next generation of Customizer for Sage MAS 90 and 200!
Click on the links below to find watch the session!

MAS 90 v4.4 Customizer Enhancements
http://sage.edgeboss.net/wmedia/sage/mas/sales/v44customizer.wvx

Next Generation of Customizations for MAS 90
http://sage.edgeboss.net/wmedia/sage/mas/sales/nextgencustomizations.wvx

Q2 Payroll Updates

2010-07-06T08:17:00.001-04:00

Nicole Spirito, Account Management Corner

There are new MAS 90 and MAS 200 2010 Q2 Payroll Updates. This update includes: a new 941 form and provides the software changes that are necessary to capture and process the required employee information in order for you to comply with the new HIRE Act. Even if the new HIRE Act does not apply to you, you still will need to use the new 941 form.

In order to read more about the HIRE Act, please visit the IRS’s webpage at:

http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=220745,00.html.

Please feel free to call us if you have any questions on the new form, or any other changes that are included in the 2010 Q2 Payroll Updates.

Annoying Habits @ Work

2010-06-29T09:03:00.002-04:00

10 surefire ways to become a workplace annoyance:

1) Being Unprepared.
2) You are not a Team Player.
3) You're Not Self-Reliant
4) You, Umm, Smell
5) You're Loud on the Phone
6) You're Unhealthy
7) You Walk Like an Elephant
8) Your Cellphone Is Always On
9) Your Computer Volume Is Blasting
10)You Shake Hands Like a Fish and Avoid Eye Contact

For the full article, check out: http://career-advice.monster.com/in-the-office/workplace-issues/top-10-annoying-habits-work/article.aspx

How to Conquer Your Email Inbox

2010-06-14T07:42:00.002-04:00

Email comes in "three flavors," irrelevant, relevant but not actionable, and actionable. Irrelevant includes spam and "reply all" notes from colleagues. Second is relevant but not actionable. Stuff that you need to scan or know about, that you might even save somewhere or archive or have on hand. The third is actionable that is work related. It can come from a variety of sources, like a boss or a client.

Forbes recommends deleting irrelevant emails immediately. The second group, of relevant but not actionable emails, they advise moving to an archive folder. Most email programs allow you to move e-mails into a folder outside your inbox.

Now you're down to the emails that need your action, that constitute work. Move those out of the inbox, too, into a digital "to-do" folder. There is even designed an online product that helps you do this, called Good Todo. You can use the free trial or pay $3 a month for the deluxe version.

The inbox was not designed to be a to-do list, a note pad, an address book, or a filing system. "It's only appropriate to be used for one thing," Forbes insists, "temporary storage."

Article by Susan Adams, Forbes.com

Build Business with Networking

2010-06-07T06:50:00.002-04:00

The best way for a small business owner to get noticed is by networking. People who meet you face-to-face or through online forums will be more willing to give you a chance and, if you leave them satisfied, tell their friends about you.

Check out your local business organizations.
Search the Internet for business groups in your town.
Volunteer at local organizations.
Serve on the board of directors or, if possible, sponsor an event.
Join a professional organization.
Attend conferences in your industry.

Tips on How to Recover from an Embarrassing Work Situation

2010-06-01T10:32:00.004-04:00

Have you ever been in an embarrassing work situation? How do you recover? Check out this link for some tips.

http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-embarrassing_moments_at_work_how_to_recover-1298

Stay Alert!

2010-05-18T07:47:00.001-04:00

During these busy spring months, you most likely have a lot going on in and out of work. In order to avoid the feeling of exhaustion, we’ve found the following article, which provides you with 7 Ways to stay alert during work:

http://www.scribendi.com/advice/seven_ways_to_stay_alert.en.html

Recap of our Manufacturing Workshop

2010-05-14T07:52:00.002-04:00

Thank you to everyone who attended our Sage MAS Manufacturing workshop yesterday. We hope that you enjoyed it and learned a lot about the products and features that can make your day to day activities easier.

Thank you to our partners who provided us with details on the great products they offer as an addition to MAS. We were very thankful to have Jack Travers of Unipoint Software at our office to talk about the benefits of managing the life-cycle and cost tracking of your organization’s quality control. Bill Connors of Valogix spoke about automated planning tools that improve your inventory investment.

If you were unable to attend and would like to get details on the products discussed, please contact Nikki at 860.399.4215 x.202

Recap of our Distribution Workshop

2010-05-11T07:30:00.003-04:00

Thank you to everyone who attended our Sage MAS Distribution workshop last Thursday. We hope that you enjoyed it and learned a lot about the products and features that can make your day to day activities easier.

Thank you to our partners who provided us with details on the great products they offer as an addition to MAS. We were very thankful to have Eric from Website Pipeline visit us in CT and talk about the benefits of integrated e-Commerce from InSync and designing an effective website. Kate from Scanco was also on hand to discuss end-to-end warehouse management solutions.

If you were unable to attend and would like to get details on the products discussed, please contact Nikki at 860.399.4215 x.202

Spring Newsletter

2010-05-06T08:05:00.003-04:00

Welcome Spring...

We are please to announce that we have released our newest newsletter. Some of the great articles covered in this issue are MAS on the Go, Feng Shui in the Office, The Scoop on Windows 7 and much more.

Here is the downloadable link for this newsletter:
http://cmsct.com/1quarter.pdf

Exercise at Your Desk

2010-04-28T07:33:00.003-04:00

It is important to take time and keep moving at your desk. Taking a 5-minute break to stretch and strengthening your body is important. It also helps clear you mind for a few minutes giving you a new prospective on your tasks ahead. It will also help increase your productivity.

Check out this resource for some simple exercises you can do from your chair:

http://exercise.about.com/cs/exerciseworkouts/l/blofficeworkout.htm

Earth Day 2010

2010-04-22T07:16:00.002-04:00

Today marks for the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. To celebrate, many businesses are offering free stuff, chances to win valuable prizes, and some good deals.

Check them out and do something eco-friendly for your office today.

•Trade in six plastic bottles or soda cans for a free hat made from recycled bottles at the Disney Store on April 22.

•Get a chance to win a $20,000 green home makeover by registering on the Purex website by April 30.

•Sign up for the Drive Home Green sweepstakes on Target's website through the end of the month. The grand prize is a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. You could also win bicycles, electric scooters, a national park trip, and other prizes.

May Breakfast Workshops

2010-04-19T08:03:00.002-04:00

Did you register for the FREE May Industry Workshops? Time is running out and the workshops are filling up. Seating is still available so call Nikki to register today.

May 6th for Distributors from 9 am to 12 noon at the CMS Training Center in Westbrook, CT

May 13th for Manufacturers from 9 am to 12 noon at the CMS Training Center in Westbrook, CT

For more details, visit out website at www.cmsct.com/newsandevents.html

Tax Deadline Today

2010-04-15T08:37:00.002-04:00

Don't forget to mail out those tax returns today. For some US Postal Service tips and locations with extended hours, please find the below link:

http://www.usps.com/tax/welcome.htm

A Greener Font: Century Gothic

2010-04-08T10:39:00.002-04:00

Change the font in the documents you print and you could save thousands of dollars.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100406/ap_on_hi_te/us_tec_money_saving_fonts

10 Ways to Cut Office Costs

2010-04-05T08:26:00.002-04:00

1)Save $300-500 a year by using mugs/thermoses rather than using disposable coffee cups.
2)Buying the most expensive and frequently used items in bulk, including coffee and printer ink and toner.
3)"Powering down" all electronic equipment at night. Turn off their computers when they are done for the day and have the office manager turn off copiers, fax machines and even coffee pots each night -- this can decrease your energy bill up to one-third every year.
4)Switch out your office’s incandescent light bulbs for high-quality fluorescents. Businesses can save up to 75 percent off your current lighting bill over the long-term.
5)Seal air leaks around windows and doors to increase your heating and cooling efficiency.
6)Reduce the number of phone and fax lines to the bare minimum number needed to conduct business without sacrificing customer service.
7)Save paper and money with email-to-fax services. Plans start around $4.95 a month, and include electronic delivery of faxes directly into your email inbox.
8)Sell old or unused office furniture, electronics, supplies and uniforms.
9)Renegotiate your office lease or ask for a temporary reduction during traditionally slow periods for your business.
10)Conduct a thorough review of your insurance expenses, as many small businesses spend thousands of dollars a year on insurance they don’t need or could simply find cheaper elsewhere.

Spring Fever

2010-03-25T09:47:00.003-04:00

Account Manager Corner: Your Resource for Excellence

Are you catching Spring Fever? Do you want more time to escape work? Would you like to spend more time outside of the office? Would you like extra time to maybe to catch a baseball game, or to take a walk in the park? Why can’t you?

We challenge you to think of your 5 most daunting tasks. What is it that keeps you in the office past closing? What tasks keep you awake at night worrying? Schedule a brief meeting with us to tell us about your worries. See what we can do to help you save time and automate your hassles.

Nikki Spirito
Customer Account Manager
Computer Management Services, LLC
NSpirito@cmsct.com
Phone 860.399.4215 Ext. 202
Fax: 860.399.5894

15 Predictions and Trends for 2010

2010-03-22T08:50:00.002-04:00

I was reading an interesting article from Entrepreneur about predictions for 2010. Let's see how these predictions pan out. Here is the link if you are interested:

http://www.entrepreneur.com/growyourbusiness/businessstrategies/article204474.html

Road Rage by Val Darling

2010-03-15T07:38:00.002-04:00

Another drive flies past you on the highway, swerves in and out of lanes ahead of you, cuts off another car or two. Maybe cuts off a huge truck as well. It’s annoying and unsafe. Ever wonder why people drive that way?

My guess if it’s after 4pm, they’ve had a bad day at the office. For which there are as many reasons as there are people. How could some of those reasons be eliminated? I asked myself this the other day. “Maybe Computer Management could make that person’s company one of their clients.”

Just how will that eliminate their road rage? Say that driver is a production manager. Big order in the works, important to meet a deadline, but there was an error in inventory and now the whole order has to wait for a shipment from a vendor with a long lead time. How many people yelled at the poor guy? Probably his boss did some yelling, as did the salesman who secured the order and perhaps others. A day like that might make me drive like that, too.

Or say that unsafe driver is in customer service. Customer calls in yelling about an order that’s late. Guy does his best to calm the customer down, then spends the rest of the day going from person to person to get information about the order – why is it late? When is it really going to ship? What can he offer to do to keep the customer from cancelling and make him want to order again? Which salesperson works with this customer? Notifying that person that their customer is angry is not going to be any more fun than talking to the angry customer. By the end of that day, I would have a real need to get out of there, pronto!

What’s the point? Software that allows for every area of a company to be aware of not just what is happening in their world, but in all other areas makes it possible to avoid these nightmares. Integrated software would allow production to know that inventory needs to be stocked. And would let purchasing know that a big order is in the pipeline so certain parts need to be ordered before they are needed. Customer service and sales would know before an order was late that there was a potential problem. So they could be proactive rather than reacting to an angry customer.
And the highways might even be safer at the end of the day.

Are your days difficult because you don’t have the information you need when you need it? Let Computer Management Services help. Give us a call, we’ll show you how better software tools can ease your stress.

Free Morning Workshop for Distributors

2010-03-08T07:30:00.004-05:00

Save the Date....Thursday, May 6, 2010 from 9 am to 12 noon at the CMS Training Center.

Seminar topics have been exclusively developed for Sage MAS ERP Distributors. You’ll learn about solutions that can help your people spend more time on important operations, like quickly fulfilling customer orders, and less time on mundane tasks.

The Distribution business processes that we will be discussing are:

The benefits of integrated e-Commerce and designing an effective website

Increasing accuracy with end-to-end warehouse management solutions

Come early…Breakfast will be served and we would love for you to join us during this time to network. Tour Computer Management Westbrook and meet the team.

Limited seating so registration is required. Call Nikki at 860.399.4215 x.202 to reserve your seat.

Free Morning Manufacturing Workshop

2010-03-05T08:47:00.004-05:00

Manufacturers who want to learn how to increase their net profitability are invited to attend this free manufacturing technology workshop offered by Computer Management this Spring. Discover industry tools that can teach you how to excel your manufacturing business. Seminar topics have been exclusively developed for Sage MAS ERP Manufacturers.

Topics include:
-Inventory planning and management made easy
-Managing the life-cycle and cost tracking of your organization’s quality control

Date: Thursday, May 13, 2010
Time: 9:00 am to 12 noon
Location: Computer Management, 70 Essex Rd, Westbrook, CT 06469
Cost: FREE with breakfast included

Seating is limited so register with Nikki today at 860.399.4215.

Version 4.4 has finally shipped

2010-03-03T09:23:00.005-05:00

Account Manager Corner: Your Resource for Excellence

Version 4.4 has finally shipped. Many of you will be receiving this in the mail within the next couple of days, if you have not already.

Please join us on Monday March 8th, at 2pm to see the beneficial changes in 4.4. If you have Inventory Management, Purchase Order, Bill of Materials, or the Bar Code module, you will be seeing many enhancements in this latest version. Version 4.4 is bringing all of these modules up to the new business framework. In addition to that, there are many new standard views in the Business Insights Explorer as well that will be reflecting the changes.

Some of the major changes include:
-Customer Number Expansions
-Item Code Expansions
-Increased Decimal Precision
-Miscellaneous Item Maintenance Changes
-Standard Cost Valuation Improvements
-Drop Ship Improvements
-Increased Usability in Purchase Order and in Bill of Materials

Please contact me to register or to discuss any questions that you may have.

-Nikki Spirito
860.399.4215 x 202
NSpirito@cmsct.com

Windows 7 Compatibility and MAS

2010-03-01T07:38:00.002-05:00

At this time Sage MAS 90 and 200 version 4.4 Windows 7 compatibility testing is still underway. Sage expects information on Windows 7 compatibility to be published by the end of March 2010. Prior to upgrading any operating system, please contact us, and we can provide you with the most current Supported Platform Matrix.

Spring Awakening

2010-02-25T07:55:00.002-05:00

I think just about all of us are ready for spring to come. Spring is a season of growth. It’s when the short, dark, wintery days transform into long, sunny, warm days. It’s when Mother Nature awakens from hibernation. When flowers bloom, and gardens are planted. It’s when the song birds cue the new day to begin.

Who said that the growth has to be limited to nature? Let this spring be YOUR season of growth. Save time by becoming more efficient at your tasks at hand. Let us help. With Sage Certified Trainers on staff, we are able to provide you with top-notch training and consulting. With a couple of hours of training, we may be able to save you HOURS of unnecessary work. Tell us what your needs are. Ask us how.

10 Job Sectors in Decline

2010-02-24T07:48:00.001-05:00

Disappearing Jobs

Here's a list of the top 10 industries expected to lose the most jobs by 2018:

1. Department stores: Projected to lose 10.2 percent of the 1.56 million jobs they had in 2008.

2. Semiconductor manufacturing: Projected to lose 33.7 percent of the 432,000 jobs it had in 2008.

3. Motor vehicle parts manufacturing: Projected to lose 18.6 percent of its 544,000 jobs.

4. Postal service: Projected to lose 13 percent of the 748,000 jobs it had in 2008.

5. Printing and related jobs: Projected to lose 16 percent of its 594,000 jobs.

6. Cut-and-sew apparel manufacturing: Projected to lose 57 percent of its 155,000 jobs.

7. Newspaper publishers: Projected to lose 24.8 percent of its 326,000 jobs.

8. Mining support jobs: Projected to lose 23.2 percent of its 328,000 jobs.

9. Gas stations: Projected to lose 8.9 percent of its 843,000 jobs.

10. Wired telecom: Projected to lose 11 percent of its 666,000 jobs.

Worried about a tax audit? Maybe you should be!

2010-02-19T08:33:00.001-05:00

Check out this article from CNN Money:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/A-guide-avoid-an-IRS-tax-cnnm-837338815.html?x=0&.v=2

Taxes, Taxes, Taxes

2010-02-16T08:45:00.002-05:00

Before you know it you will be filing your 2009 taxes. Right now is a prime time to prepare all your documents needed to file with. Here are some 8 tips you can use now.

http://www.bankrate.com/finance/money-guides/8-tax-filing-moves-you-can-make-now-1.aspx

What can we learn from the Super Bowl?

2010-02-08T07:37:00.008-05:00

The New Orleans Saints won Super Bowl 43. Before the game even started they were predicted to lose to the Colts. The Saints are now the underdogs. Times like this being the underdog is a great thing. The question is how can we apply this to business.

Check out this great find:
www.buildinternet.com/2010/01/how-to-win-clients-when-youre-the-underdog/

Winter is Extended!

2010-02-04T09:27:00.002-05:00

Six more weeks of Winter? This can't be and more snow predicted for this weekend. Well, CMS is here for you during these cold winter months. Now is the time to brush up on your MAS ERP skills with some one-on-one consulting time. Want to get familiar with new products and tricks to increase productivity, then join us for our FREE Winter webinars.The best part about these webinars are that you can attend them from your office, home, travel, in your PJ's with a cup of hot chocolate. Check out our Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn pages. During these cold months, checking out what we have to say on these social medias may just brighten your day and re-energize you. Information and giveaways, it is a win-win.

For more information on setting up consulting, learning about our webinars and finding us on these social medias, please contact Nikki at 860.399.4215 x.202 or via e-mail at nspirito@cmsct.com

Where's Your Resolution?

2010-02-01T07:19:00.002-05:00

So it takes 21 days to create or break a habit. How is your New Year's resolution doing? Hopefully, you are sticking with it. If not, let us know how we can help make your resolutions into reality.

Here are some interesting New Year's resolution stats for you:

40 to 45% of American adult make one or more resolutions each year.

Among the top new years resolutions are resolutions about weight loss, exercise, and stopping to smoke. Also popular are resolutions dealing with better money management / debt reduction.

The following shows how many of these resolutions are maintained as time goes on:- past the first week: 75%- past 2 weeks: 71%- after one month: 64%- after 6 months: 46%

While a lot of people who make new years resolutions do break them, research shows that making resolutions is useful. People who explicitly make resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who don't explicitly make resolutions.

“Cheers to a New Year and another chance for us to get it right.” – Oprah Winfrey

Save Money

2010-01-28T09:29:00.003-05:00

Account Manager Corner: Your Resource for Excellence

Let’s face it. In today’s business, it’s all about saving money. Below are easy ways for you to save money:

1) GO PAPERLESS- Allow Paperless Office to help you go green! Not only will you not have to purchase paper, purchase postage, and file documents, but you will also be helping the environment.
2) OPTIMIZE INVENTORY- Reduce Inventory Overhead by managing your inventory more efficiently. We can help you optimize your replenishment levels and automate your forecasting. Ask us how.
3) ALERTS- Many times we realize important pieces of information after the fact such as changes in a top 10 customer’s buying habit. Wouldn’t it be great if you could be notified of this as it was happening so you could contact the customer to see why? You can now have critical alerts about your company sent to you at the time they are occurring via email, pop-up message, fax, pager, PDA, cell phone or Web Browser.
4) PAYROLL- Reduce costs and bring Payroll in house. The Sage MAS 90/200 Payroll Module is easy to afford, and is designed to make Payroll preparation easy.
5) SHIPPING- Automate your shipping with MAS 90/200. This will save you time and money, increase customer satisfaction, and will ensure that your package will be shipped in a timely manner.

Ask us how to accomplish any of the above ways to reduce your costs.

-Nikki Spirito

Small Business Grants

2010-01-26T07:46:00.002-05:00

In these tough times, all businesses are looking for funding. By seeing what grants are available to you and how you can modify your needs to be a more efficient, you may be quite surprised that a grant my be there for you. A business grant is a real opportunity for any business owner in this economy.

Check out this informative article by Eilene Zimmerman, CNNMoney.com contributing writer

http://money.cnn.com/2009/10/27/smallbusiness/free_money_small_business_grants/index.htm?postversion=2009102811

Easier Way to Pay Vendors

2010-01-19T10:46:00.002-05:00

Account Manager Corner: Your Resource for Excellence

Have you ever wondered if there was an easier way for you to pay your vendors? There is! Many companies who are switching to ACH Payments are finding the value in using it. Here are the top 10 benefits for you to pay your vendors via ACH Payments:

1) Increasing Account Confidentiality.
2) Improving the accuracy and efficiency of your operations.
3) Eliminating many manual labor-intensive processes.
4) Eliminating the possibility of lost or stolen checks.
5) Improving Business Relations.
6) Helping the environment.
7) Ensuring transactions are made within minutes with a click of a button.
8) Transmitting files that meet all NACHA (National Automated Clearing House Association) Standards.
9) Saving Money by eliminating the need for postage, check forms, and envelopes.
10) Simplifying account reconciliation.

Please contact me if you would like to simplify your day-to-day transactions. I would be more than happy to setup a brief, 20 minute presentation for you to see how ACH works with MAS 90/200.

-Nikki Spirito
(860)399-4215 x 202.
NSpirito@cmsct.com

News from Nicole Spirito, CMS Account Manager

2010-01-12T07:05:00.001-05:00

Happy 2010!

We are very excited that MAS 90/200 Version 4.4 is due out during this quarter. This version is focused on bringing the Inventory Management, Purchase Order, Bill of Materials and Bar Code Modules up to the new framework.

In addition to enhancing these modules, there are also 19 Extended Solutions that will be included in the Version 4.4 release. (For a complete listing of these Extended Solutions, please visit: http://www.cmsct.com/newsandevents.html > and then select the link: “Click Here for the list of ES products incorporated into Version 4.4 and Greater.”) Also, there will be additional views added to Business Insights Explorer for the Inventory Management, Purchase Order, Bill of Materials, and Bar Code Module Enhancements.

Please contact me if you would like to discuss how these enhancements will add value to your business.

-Nikki Spirito
(860)399-4215 x 202
NSpirito@cmsct.com

Welcome 2010

2010-01-04T06:46:00.003-05:00

The first Monday of January begins a new and promising life, full of New Year’s resolutions that will revolutionize, strengthen and lengthen our lives. Unfortunately for many of us, these resolutions fade away as quickly as they are made. Here is a tip to make your resolution stick:

Each day, read and commit to your resolutions but only for that day, not for the whole year. By Feb. 1, they will become a new habit. Taking this day by day keeps it realistic and manageable. When you visualize the whole year it can be overwhelming. If you think in the mindset each and every day, "Today I will...." you will be able to commit to your resolution on a daily basis. Each day accomplished is a day closer to bring your resolution to fruition.

May the New Year promise you all good fortune, health, happiness and prosperity.

FYI...Our trivia contest from our last post is still open. No winners so far. Start the year off a winner and take a guess.

All The Best This Season

2009-12-28T06:34:00.003-05:00

Happy Holidays! CMS wants to with you a happy holiday season and a safe and prosperous new year!

Trivia: In Italy, what do people do on New Year's Day to bring good luck in the coming year?

a) Go to mass b) Wear red underwear c) Eat black-eyed peas d) All of the above

The first person to provide the correct answer in our comments area of this blog will win a gift certificate (include name, company and e-mail).

Thank You!

2009-12-18T09:09:00.001-05:00

Thank you for selecting CMS for your MAS software and consulting needs. We truly value your decision to work with our team. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help make your job easier, especially during this busy season. If you need to schedule time with a consultant, please do not hesitate to contact Sherri Wilds at swilds@cmsct.com or at 860.399.4215 extension 203.

If you are unsure if you need to schedule time with a consultant, and would like to discuss your needs further with us, please contact Nikki at NSpirito@cmsct.com, or at extension 202.

We would like to wish all of you a Happy Holiday Season.

Sage Summit: Customer Conference

2009-12-14T08:35:00.002-05:00

Sage Summit, the annual North America customer conference, wrapped up a month ago in Atlanta and was a hit with current Sage ERP Users I’m happy to tell you that planning for the next Summit is already well underway, and Sage will be making changes to add even more value to our customers.

Sage will also be shifting the event to July, which customers tell us works better for their business cycles. The next Sage Summit will be held at the Gaylord National in Washington, D.C., with customer focus tracks, July 13-15. This Summit is planned to be the first combined summit with customers and partners.

New Product Functionality

2009-12-08T07:43:00.000-05:00

Are you thinking about upgrading your MAS 90/200 Product? Are you curious to know about the new benefits in version 4.3? We’d love to help! Please contact Nicole at nspirito@cmsct.com or at 860-399.4215 x.202 to discuss how version 4.3 can help add value to your day to day transactions.

FREE Winter Webinars for MAS ERP

2009-12-02T10:16:00.010-05:00

"Enhance Your ERP System" Free Educational & Informational Webinars

Winter is the perfect time to take advantage of Computer Management Services' series of online webinars for Sage MAS 90 and Sage MAS 200 ERP. Access our offering of free educational and informational webinars throughout the winter months. So, get your cup of hot cocoa with mini marshmallows, of course, log on and learn. We hope that you can join us by attending several of these webinars. For more info or to register, call Nicole at 860.399.4215 x. 202. Click Link for the List of Webinars: http://www.cmsct.com/events.html

Holiday Season

2009-11-30T08:02:00.002-05:00

As the holiday season officially kicks off, we need to start to think of all the things that make the holidays special. Whether it is spending time with family and friends, enjoying your workplace gatherings, going ice skating, making snowman, we need to keep this into prospective. Don't let the holidays stress you out. Don't let year-end stress you out either.

We, here at CMS, are here to help you with your organization's year-end processes, as well as all the other processes throughout the year. Please give us a call and schedule some time with our highly trained consultants who can take that added stress away from you so you can enjoy a mug of hot chocolate and snowball fight.

CMS would also like to wish you all a very Happy and Healthy Holiday Season!

Relationships by Val Darling

2009-11-17T10:18:00.002-05:00

No matter what line of business you're in, without good relationships, success is much harder, if not impossible to come by. Take the Real Estate industry. I’ve used the same Realtor to buy my first home, to sell it when I was ready and now, to help my buy a new home. Why do I turn to her? Why do I recommend her to anyone I know looking to buy or sell? Because we have a great relationship. She’s been honest and forthright and I trust her. One of the best reasons is that she makes me feel like I’m her only client. I know she’s busy, I know she’s got lots of deals in the works all the time. But I never feel that I’m a number to her.

With technology we seemed to get away from the personal touch. An email can be faster than a phone call. Certainly, it seems a better way to get information from one person to another than leaving a message. But does technology mean the loss of relationships? It doesn’t have to, in fact, technology can enhance customer service. For example, my great realtor. I often find that she’s emailed me very late at night or early in the morning. While I would not appreciate a phone call at 6am, I do very much appreciate seeing an email from her that was sent at that time. How does she keep it all straight? Customer Relationship Management. Hardly a new idea. Staying in touch, following up, making sure nothing slips through the cracks.

With Sage’s CRM software, sales and customer service personnel can use technology to stay in touch. The software does the “remembering” and the customer gets the benefits. Meaning better relationships and a bigger bottom line.

We are all trying to spend less money. And to be kinder to the environment. Every sheet of paper we don’t use saves money and trees. When my realtor emails me and includes attachments, it’s faster than printing and mailing. Which is a benefit all around. Taking advantage of MAS’s Paperless Office can have the same benefits for your business.

Trusting her as I do, I’m glad to work with other professionals she recommends. The mortgage broker, the home inspector and others. It hasn’t surprised me that they, too, use technology to get me the information I need, fast. Nothing is late, or just forgotten, because they use CRM software. Technology does the remembering, letting us do what humans do best. The personal touch.

Thank you users

2009-11-12T11:35:00.000-05:00

Thank you for all who attended our recent User Group Meetings. The interaction between the end users was phenomenal. We appreciate all of the wonderful ideas for each of your exclusive business challenges. We’ve found that many of the companies that have attended the User Group have found solutions or ideas that will help with their unique organizational difficulties.

We appreciate all of the feedback which we’ve received in order to help improve this event in the future.

If you were unable to attend this past User Group Meeting, and are interested in learning more about future events, please contact us.

User Group Workshop: Last Chance

2009-10-30T08:00:00.003-04:00

We are so excited about the number of registered attendees for our upcoming User Group workshops next week. If you have not registered as of yet, this is your last chance.

This Free Sage MAS 90 / MAS 200 User Group will host numerous user sessions to learn more about your ER system. It will be a very interactive so be prepared to share and learn. These workshops are user-driven.

November 3rd at the Hilton Garden in Warwick, RI
November 4th at the Four Points Sheraton in Meriden, CT

This workshop and sessions are free to all clients and prospects. It includes a breakfast and a working lunch. Registration is required.

Visit our website for more information and to register, call Nicole at 860.399.4215 x. 202 or visit our website at http://www.cmsct.com/newsandevents.html

Think About It

2009-10-16T08:30:00.002-04:00

Take the opportunities that are available to you and build upon them. By doing this you will have a more successful, productive day. Take advantage of our web-based training classes and improve you knowledge of your MAS ERP system. Attend our FREE User Group or scheduled Fall webinars. You can only benefit from these activities. Call Nicole at 860.399.4215 to see what valuable programs we have for you.

Fall is Everywhere

2009-10-12T09:05:00.003-04:00

At CMS, we have a lot of great happenings this Fall. Web-based training is underway.

Check out our class schedule for v. 4.3 training. Classes are still open so be sure to register today. Our Fall User Group Meetings are scheduled for November 3rd in Rhode Island and November 4th in Connecticut. Don't miss out on this free infomative user-driven event. It is free and besides the great breakout sessions includes breakfast and lunch with raffles. Still happening is our exclusive webinar series, "Broaden Your Technology". Visit our news and events page of our website for all the details or call Nicole at 860.399.4215 x.202

We're now on Facebook

2009-10-05T07:39:00.004-04:00

Computer Management is now on Facebook. Check us out and become a fan.

http://www .facebook.com/pages/Westbrook-CT/Computer-Management-Services-LLC/1446559 64876

Check It Out!

2009-10-01T10:20:00.006-04:00

We are happy to say that we are now on Twitter and LinkedIn. Please visit our pages at:

http://twitter.com/computermgt

http://www.linkedin.com/in/cmsct

Dynamics of User Groups

2009-09-21T07:39:00.005-04:00

User groups offer benefits to everyone — for people who are new to computers and software, veterans in the technology industry, and for everyone in between.

Our user groups provide a forum to provide you, our customers, with the opportunity for networking, information sharing and exchanging insights with other users.

These informal meetings provide the opportunity for you to meet other software users in your area, and to share ideas about practice and product functionality.

Our Fall User Groups are scheduled and are free.

The meeting time is from 8:30 am - 1:45 pm with breakfast and lunch included.

November 3rd at the Hilton Garden in Warwick, RI
November 4th at the Four Points in Meriden, CT

Autumn is almost here!

2009-09-02T07:25:00.002-04:00

The traditional start of Autumn is almost here! All of us at CMS want to wish you a safe and happy fall season. We want to remind you that we are here to help serve you to make a very busy season easier.

Also, we would like to thank all of you who participated in our newsletter trivia. We greatly appreciate your involvement. If you are interested in participating, please keep an eye out for our next newsletter, which will be out at the end of this quarter.

Exciting News: CMS Phone Support

2009-08-28T08:04:00.005-04:00

I am very excited to announce changes to our Phone Support Contract to better benefit you! In addition to the existing benefits of the phone support contract, we now are offering the following:

- Being Entered into Two Yearly Drawings: Twice a year, CMS will be having a drawing of all clients on a CMS Client Care Support Contract. The winner will receive a 10% discount off of their next CMS Client Care Support Plan.

- Being Entered into Monthly Drawings: Once a month, CMS will be holding a drawing for all clients on a CMS Client Care Support Contract. Your name will be entered into this drawing as many times as you have had open tickets during the month. For instance, if you have opened up three tickets, your name will be entered three times. The gift will vary and will be sent out at the end of each month.

- A One-Time $200 Training Voucher: By signing up with a CMS Client Care Support Contract, you will receive a one-time $200 Training Voucher. This training voucher is valid for Classroom Training done at Computer Management Services.

- A 10% Discount on New Modules: For the duration of your CMS Support Contract, you will receive a 10% discount on all new Sage Modules (excluding maintenance and third party products).

For more information, please contact me, at 860-399-4215 x202.

Thanks,
Nicole Vachon