Today I participated in a webinar put on my Scanco for the new module called Directed Picking.  Just a quick snapshot of what this does  - users with large warehouses will now be able to design a pick list that will move the pickers methodically around the warehouse.   This pick list can then be called up by the RF unit such that less time will be spent on finding product or moving around the warehouse.  It should decrease errors and also save a lot of time.

Finally Starship can ship LTL and FTL.  There will be two modules - Starship Parcel is what MAS 90 and MAS 500 users have now.  Then, the new module, Starship Freight, can be added on and allows freight rate shopping and shipping LTL and FTL.    Although Starship Freight is ready, V-Technologies and Sage are still working out the kinks as far as marketing and pricing.  But soon, Starship’s capaiblities will have much more diversity.

So what is the next step for MAS 90?  Version 4.30 is to be released in Summer, 2008, and the outlook is very promising.  First, the paperless office products are going to be embedded as a standard feature.  Second, SageCRM is going to be a bundled product.  What this means is that the integration is not only seamless, but it will basically be just another module.  Another exciting change is the integration of Sage Payment Services, which means MAS 90 will no longer be dependent on PC Charge.  Unfortunately, inventory and purchase order will not be upgraded to the business framework yet.  We are hoping for version 5.0 or above.

Exciting news from V-Tech - version 10 supports Less Than Truck Load (LTL) and Tuck Load (TL).   Other exciting new features are: a new and improved MAS 90/200 interface, pick/pack functionality, rating powered by Freightquote.com,  automated BOL reports, pallet and package lables, and EDI integration with True Commerce.

Sage Software has many FAS systems to choose from - FAS 50, FAS 100, FAS 500, and now Sage Fixed Assets for MAS 90/200. In addition, there are sub-categories, such as Construction in Progress and FAS Inventory. A good fixed asset system is a must have for small and medium sized businesses because it can replace a messy filing cabinet full of torn paperwork. Besides keeping track of depreciation, it keeps track of warranties, vendors, insurance information, and also allows user-defined fields. You can take it to the next level and appy pictures and bar codes to your items. FAS 500 is a SQL product, so if your assets are large in number, or if you have MAS 500, then FAS 500 is a must have. For smaller companies, FAS 50 and FAS 100 will do, as the main difference is the number of assets that you can have. And now, MAS 90/200 users can have a implement a FAS modules that sits right inside MAS 90.