Until the 1980s when technology and computer software development really progressed, accounting was a long and laborious task, requiring all notations and financial data to be analysed, recorded and stored by hand. Accounting software introduced a quick and reliable method of tracking accounts that has revolutionised the industry.

What is a Sage accounting system?

A Sage accounting system is a computerised package that has numerous facilities to process your financial information. The system collects your information, classifies it and then summarises the data in an accessible way to allow the user to view their financial information in simplistic terms. Just some of the many capabilities of a Sage system include:

• Ability to print out invoices
• Updating customer and supplier records
• Making payments
• Automatic update of the general ledger
• Automatic altering of stock levels
• Automatic calculation of payroll
• Summarises customer accounts with overdue balances
• Valuation of stock
• Analyse sales
• VAT returns

Due to its early beginnings and market dominance, Sage managed to attract accountants before other packages had the chance. It’s an aging industry, full of traditionalists so those who started with Sage have mostly stayed with Sage.

90% of accountants in the UK recognise the Sage format because of this, either using it in the past or still use it today, passing it on to their employees and the next generation of accountants. Sage have concentrated on providing users with solutions which benefit them, they include features requested by their clients and have remained loyal to the small and medium sized businesses instead of going to what is more likely to be the more profitable option of the corporates.

Sage understand what their customers need, the industries they work in and advancements in a quickly changing technology. This allows them to improve their package to retain their current users whilst attracting new ones.

The benefits

Rule out human error

By having a completely computerised method of storing all of your financial information, you rule out the risk of human error, such as jotting down the wrong figures or misplacing information. These seemingly small errors can have a catastrophic effect on a business’s financial standing, so having an accurate system is hugely beneficial to the user.

Real time financial information

You can access your account and see all the transactions and your cash flow to date as the system is updated in real time. This is handy if you need to check you can afford unforeseen costs or to confirm which transactions have been processed.

Less time consuming

Data entry can be carried out much quicker than if it were done manually, and the information only has to be entered into the system once, even if it’s to be used for many purposes.

Keep things simple

When businesses grow and develop, accountancy becomes much more complex. Computerised accounting systems sift through all of the data easily and make the process much more straightforward than manual accountancy.

Cost effective

Sage accounting systems are quick and efficient, which makes them much more cost effective than paper based accounting as the work requires less hourly paid work. Furthermore, the systems are usually issued at a very low monthly subscription cost.

So, what next?

If you are interested in finding out more about Sage accounting software, call us on 0191 500 8150 or email info@monpellier.co.uk and one of our Business Software Consultants will be more than happy to have a chat with you regarding this.

The latest Sage 50 offering was launched at the end of last month but what is Sage 50c and as a Sage 50 user why should you upgrade?

Sage 50c Accounts was designed with one key goal, to combine all the powerful elements of desktop Sage 50 with secure online access. Sage 50c gives the user the freedom to control the business from wherever they are without being tied to the office. This flexibility gives Sage 50 users the ability to make smarter, faster decisions as they can access their data on the road using secure cloud data access through the Sage Drive.

In addition to the ‘cloud’ feature Sage 50c also offers a range of value added benefits designed to save you time.

Free Office 365 Seat (12 months)

Office 365 gives you access to all of your essential office tools on the go including; Excel, Word, Sharepoint, Outlook etc.

Sage Capture

Take photographs of your expenses, invoices and other paper work and then use Sage Capture to save them to One Drive and post the transactions on Sage 50c Accounts.

Sage Contact

All of your customer records, contact details, balances and recent transactions will be available in Outlook so there will be no need to jump between Sage and Outlook.

Sage Intelligence Reporting

This means a richer, deeper understanding of your business through powerful Excel reports and Office 365.

Cloud Storage

Connecting to Sage 50c Accounts with Office 365 means you can now store all of your documents in the One Drive. This means your documents can be accessed via mobile, desktop or web browser.
The final reason, and possibly one of the most convincing arguments, is that there will be no further development on Sage 50, all future work and improvements will be carried out on Sage 50c only. If you are interested in seeing how much it would be for your business to upgrade to Sage 50c please give us a call on 0191 500 8150 or email us at info@monpellier.co.uk. Due to introductory launch offer we are finding in most cases it is cheaper for customers to move from their existing Sage 50 licence to Sage 50c so please do not miss out on the opportunity to save.

What are the options?

So you’ve heard that there is a system that can improve your business processes, help manage cash flow and allow you to make better informed decision in order to grow your company. That’s great news but with so many systems how do you know which one to choose?

As a Sage Business Partner, here at Monpellier we offer a range of Sage Software Packages, including accounting software, payroll software, HR solutions, business management systems, CRM software and payment services. Within the realm of accounting software alone we offer over 5 different solutions, including Sage 50 Accounts, Sage 200 Standard Online, Sage 200 Extra (on –prem) and Sage 200 Extra Online. These accounting packages are then made up of modules such as Financials, Commercials, Project Accounting, Bill of Material and more. The larger programs then give you the option to choose from a range of modules such as Manufacturing. There are then third party add-ons available which enhance the performance of the system. If choosing software is new to you, this process can become overwhelming and leave you baffled.

Sage have designed and developed software for every business, whatever the size and requirements. From simple accounting and finance software to more robust ERP (enterprise resource planning) systems to manage your entire business. Because every business is unique and no one is the same, there is no out-of-the-box solution and we cannot recommend a package without getting to know a little bit more about your organisation.

Here’s a quick overview of the types of packages Sage offer which will help you narrow down your search for the perfect solution:

Accounting Software – Simple invoicing and accounting for start-ups, sole traders and small businesses.

Payroll Software – Software to pay your employees, automate calculations and submit online to HMRC.

HR Solutions – Software and services to help manage your HR department, stay compliant and reduce admin.

Business Management – Financial and business management solutions for managing complex business processes.

Supply Chain Management – Inventory management, purchase order, sales order, etc. which can be integrated with E-Commerce.

Payment Services – Accept payments online, by phone or using chip & pin with Sage Pay secure payment services.

CRM Software – Manage your contacts and track opportunities from initial proposal to converted sales.

If you’re interested in more information about the Sage packages we offer or would like an accurate quote, we recommend you book a software requirements meeting with a member of our team. In the meantime, please supply us with as much information as you can, including:

• What type of software are you looking for?
• How many employees will require access to the system?
• Which modules do you require?
• Are you looking for an online or on-premise solution?
• Do you have any special requirements?

We’ll help you find the right software for your business!

Four key questions to consider

Sage 200 is a modular based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software solution that enables you to manage all of your key business processes and functions in one place. This allows business owners and key decision makers to make important, strategic decisions based on robust, up to date information from across the business.

Selecting the right partner is therefore a hugely important step in ensuring your solution provides the functionality and information you require.

So, if you’re in the market for a Sage Business Partner, here are four key questions to consider.

Has your Business Partner got a longstanding history of successful integrations?

With more than a decade’s solid foundation in accounts software, business IT services and EPOS systems, Monpellier Ltd is one of the largest providers of computerised business solutions in the UK.

We are proud to have been working with clients across the UK for over 20 years, expertly installing Sage Software into multi-million pound companies across a huge range of sectors.

When in discussions with your potential Business Partner, it’s important to ask about successful installations and review stories, videos and testimonials of past and current clients.

Does your Business Partner understand your specific business requirements?

From financial management through to customer relationship management, stock control and online sales add ons, Sage 200 has everything you need to systemise, co-ordinate and drive efficiency across your operations. It is not, by any means, a ‘one-size fits all’ solution and for this reason, it’s really important that your business provider sits with you to understand your needs before they begin outlining the options available.

At Monpellier, we work with you to define a clear specification of requirements before running through a clear demo of Sage 200 with you.  This gives you the opportunity to view the Sage 200 software firsthand, and test the various elements of functionality.

What ongoing technical and training support is your business partner able to provide following the installation?

We are proud to be a leading Sage Strategic Business Partner and we provide our clients with software and hardware support, consultancy, account management and customer services teams.

We can offer you the flexibility of support face-to-face, online or over the phone – giving you the confidence of knowing there’s always someone nearby who understands your business.

Within the Monpellier group, we also have a longstanding IT Business, which has over 15 years experience in providing technical support services with Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers (MCSE), Microsoft Certified Professionals (MCP) and Novell Netware Engineers.

When you work with us, you can be really assured you’re in good hands!

Is your Business Partner commercially savvy and able to help you maximize the commercial benefits of Sage 200?

The flexibility of Sage 200 means it’s ideal for companies with a turnover of £1 million to £50 million or typically 10 to 200 employees, across all business sectors and delivers scope to grow and it’s important that your business partner can work with you to deliver the functionality and commercial benefit needed for your scale and requirements.

If you’d like to find out more, call us on 0191 5008150 and we’ll arrange to visit you to find out more about your specific business requirements and challenges.