During this Sage 100 User Group we spoke about one of the most underutilized features in Sage 100 ERP (formerly MAS 90 and MAS 200), Business Insights Explorer.
4. Business Insights Dashboard
• Snapshot view of critical business data
• Quick and easy access through Sage business desktop
• Graphical format
• Drill Down Capabilities
• Links to Multiple detail report options
• Customizable
6. Business Insights Dashboard Demo
Company Logo
can be included
on page
With permission,
users can modify
format of their
dashboard
7. Business Insights Explorer
• Easily organize, analyze/query Sage data
• Actionable data view
• Predefined views of commonly used data
• Drill down /around capabilities
• Role-based access to critical system information
• Access related Sage tasks
• Export data to a variety of output types
• Increases productivity for inquiry, reporting and analysis
• Released with version 4.2
16. Let’s Keep Talkin
Let us help you with you Sage 100
consulting and training needs.
Email: jeff.land@bcsprosoft.com
Blog: www.bcsprosoft.com/blog
Editor's Notes
BI systems can help businesses transform themselves from just another player in a sea of competitors to an exceptional enterprise operating as efficiently as possible.
With an effective BI system, you can:
Improve business processes and work force effectiveness
Find ways to potentially reduce costs
Facilitate the use and analysis of information
Better manage change
Expand customer relationships
Presenter should review Dashboard Options in live Sage demo system. Refer to script for recommendations and details.
Business Insights Dashboard presents information in a high-level, attractive graphical format that allows you to instantly ascertain the state of your business. Flexible yet simple to use, this dashboard can be displayed in the Sage 100 ERP Business Desktop or in Microsoft Internet Explorer or Outlook. You can choose from more than 15 predefined reports and place them on your dashboard with the wizard-based customization tool. The ability to drill down to detail is built in, and data is automatically refreshed so you are always working with current information,
Presenter refer to script for demoing the display of dashboard
BIE offers a streamlined grid interface and can span multiple data elements in one view. Predefined views are included for Sales Order, Accounts Receivable, General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Bill of Materials, Inventory Management and Purchase Order. Quick-click charts visually represent data and illustrate trends. You can drill down to the transaction level and even access Sage 100 ERP tasks without having to go back to the menu. The Business Insights Explorer window is comprised of three major areas: the Navigation pane, the Data View grid, and the Preview pane. All of these areas provide ways to navigate to related data or preview information for the selected view.
You can use the Navigation pane to explore data related to the selected view. The Navigation pane is located to the left of the main Data View grid in the Business Insights Explorer window.
Data in the Data View grid can be filtered, sorted, grouped, and summarized. You can also modify the columns in the grid by showing and hiding columns, changing the column order, changing the column names, and formatting the data that appears in the columns. Changes to the Data View grid can be saved to a setting. The information in the Data View grid can also be printed and saved to a report.
The Preview pane allows you to view related data in the Data View grid. The Preview pane is located below the Data View grid. The data in the Preview pane is filtered by the selected row in the Data View grid and by the option selected in the Preview group on the Navigation pane.
Mention that there are additional tools available for Business Intelligence. The features discussed previously (Business Insights Dashboard and Business Insights Explorer) are included in the Sage 100 systesm
Deliver automated alerts about any business conditions, such as overdue invoices, critical support issues, or contracts about to expire. Deliver the alerts via any method, any device, including email, text message, fax, dashboard, or instant message. And send them to everyone; employees, customers, and suppliers – in the format they want, and when they need them the most. Auto-deliver relevant forms, documents, and reports to the people who need them. Automate the generation and delivery of invoices to customers, purchase orders to suppliers, and analytical reports to managers. Schedule reports to auto-distribute based on any recurring schedule and in the requested format, and configure other reports to auto-run only when the business conditions warrant it.
Biznet provides a preloaded content pack that delivers reporting, dashboards and business intelligence within the framework of Microsoft Excel. Access Sage data directly through the Biznet interface within Excel and leverage your existing Excel knowledge to deliver key business insights.
Account Managers can schedule demonstrations and provide pricing or more information on these tools.
***Presenters should show the A/P and P/O setup Options screen where these settings are established***
Did you know that you can choose to post from the A/P and P/O modules in summary or detail? The settings in AP determine how postings originating in Invoice Data Entry and Manual Check entry are posted to the General Ledger and what data is contained in detail postings (with 7 choices for each type of posting). Likewise, the settings in the P/O module determine summary or detail, as well as the data contained in postings originating from Receipt of Goods, Return of Goods and Material Requisition Issues.
Presenters should show this screen and a previewed report in live Sage 100 system
Obtain an estimated cash flow report that combines estimated disbursements and receipts over a user defined time range. This report can be initiated in the Bank Reconciliation module under the Reports folder. Click the “Receipts” button to input any cash receipts that may not be accounted for in the Ac
counts Receivable module. Click the Disbursements button to enter disbursements (such as Payroll) that are not accounted for in the A/P module.
Presenter should show the security setting in Role Maintenance, and an example of updating a previewed report
Updating Journals from Preview is defined as a security event for each module in Role Maintenance. Roles that show this box as checked are able to update journals and registers by printing to preview screen. Roles that do not show this box as checked need to print hard copy in order to update journals and registers. This is a nice feature to have when working in a test company. Be aware that if you post from preview mode, there is no audit trail. If you want to post without printing hard copy but need an electronic audit trail, we recommend setting up paperless office.
Presemter should demonstrate the selection of Customer Last Purchase histrory on line entry of Sales Order. Explain that there is a setup option (explained below) to enable this option.
Select Sales Order Setup menu > Sales Order Options. Click the History tab.
In the Sales Order Options window, click the History tab. At the Retain Customer Last Purchase History field, select how you would like to track history. For more information, see Sales Order Options - Fields.
Select Sales Order Setup menu > Customer Last Purchase Maintenance. In the Customer Last Purchase Maintenance window, enter the customer number for which you want to view last purchase information. You can view and maintain item purchase history information for customers. For more information, see Customer Last Purchase Maintenance - Fields.
Based on your selection at the Retain Customer Last Purchase History field in the Sales Order Options window, you can view customer last purchase information on the Sales Order Entry and Invoice Data Entry Lines tab by clicking the Customer Last Purchase History button in the button bar. You can also use the last purchase price.
Did you know that you can choose to allow or disallow discounts by line item (as opposed to one discount for the total sales order)? On the Line Entry tab of Sales Order options, there is a checkbox which will activate or de-activate the ability to enter discounts by line item.