Windows VistaÒ June 30, 2008 deadline and XP Options

Despite the fact that Microsoft has announced that Windows Vista will automatically be loaded on all PC's as of June 30, 2008, customers will still have the option to 'downgrade' to Windows XP when they purchase new equipment after that date.

Since it has been widely reported that the corporate world has resisted the deployment of Windows Vista due to concerns over stability and its need for more powerful PC's, most PC manufacturers have chosen to offer so called "Downgrade Rights".

The alternative for customers is to place orders before June 30, 2008 in order to avoid the somewhat complicated downgrade ordering procedure.

Downgrade Rights explained  

• Downgrade rights are only available for equipment running Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate (Windows Vista Home Basic and Windows Vista Home Premium do not have this option).
• The hardware cannot run both operating systems simultaneously unless an additional license is purchased.
• Manufacturers such as Dell will take care of the downgrading at their factory so that you receive your new hardware with Windows XP preinstalled. Dell will also include a backup media disc for both Windows XP Professional and Windows Vista, so you can upgrade when you're ready.

Contact <name and email> to go over your options

If you know that you will need to purchase new desktops, laptops or servers during 2008, then you may find it advantageous to place orders before June 30, 2008 in order to be guaranteed to receive the Windows XP operating system, and thus avoid the somewhat complicated downgrade procedure.

Software Marketplace, Inc., (SMI) of Miami Lakes, FL, joins the WAC Consulting Group

We are pleased to announce that SMI, a long time Sage Software Authorized Partner, has joined the WAC Consulting Group. Through this alliance, SMI is now able to offer its clients new areas of expertise to help solve business challenges in all facets of their operations. And for the WAC Consulting Group, SMI brings yet another expert resource to provide extended support in the group's core competency, accounting, manufacturing and distribution solutions.

In addition to being a Sage Pro ERP consultant, SMI is a certified Clickbase vendor. Clickbase is a business intelligence reporting system that integrates with a number of Sage products, and as such, provides in depth data that facilitates a management team's decision-making process.

Easy HR Administration + compliance + payroll

For any company with more than a handful employees, the tasks involved in managing the administrative aspect of human resources - benefits plans, history and performance reviews, tracking and recording skills and education, attendance, training, recruiting -  coupled with compliance requirements and topped by payroll management can easily siphon valuable work hours each week.

Enters Sage Abra HRMS, a flexible solution featuring a comprehensive array of features plus the powerful reporting and analysis capabilities you need to efficiently manage your workforce:

Human Resource Management

• Manage HR information based on your company's unique structure and needs. Sage Abra HR automates administrative work and lets you manage unlimited benefit plans and define eligibility criteria, and manage employee information.

Government Compliance

• Sage Abra gives you peace of mind when it comes to ensuring compliance with government regulations, including EEO and OSHA, I-9 and VETS 100. Abra collects and tracks the required information and provides reports in the mandated formats.

Flexible Payroll Management

• Make payroll processing a breeze with flexible, in-house payroll management solutions that are optional yet integral components of Sage Abra HRMS. Streamline payroll processes with direct deposit, federal, state, and local tax management, and comprehensive payroll reporting. 

Attendance

• Easily set up and administer unlimited employee paid and unpaid time-off plans with the Sage Abra attendance solution. Manage virtually all types of plans, including vacation, illness, leave of absence and FMLA. Accrual or lump sum calculation support lets you track year-to-date hours available versus year-to-date hours taken. 

Employee Self-Service

• Easily provide employees, managers, and administrators with a central location for viewing and managing personal data and company information, including time-off requests, pay stubs, current benefits, and training history.

Benefits Enrollment

• Empower your employees to make their own benefits elections via the Internet or your company's intranet. Easy, step-by-step wizards in Sage Abra’s benefits enrollment solution guide administrators through the benefit plan setup process and provide your employees with easy-to-use open enrollment walkthroughs and year-round life events management. Additionally, you can cut the costs and complexity of benefits administration with Abra’s carrier connectivity service. Securely automate communication of employee benefits enrollment data with insurance and benefits carriers.

Training Management

• Sage Abra training solutions give you the edge when it comes to employee training, with automatic scheduling of training classes, more organized training record-keeping and hassle-free delivery of the courses your employees need.

Simplified Recruitment

• Now it’s simple to recruit the right employee for the job. Sage Abra recruiting management solutions help you recruit more effectively using the Internet, keep an organized database of qualified applicants, allow your managers to track their open requisitions and expenses, and automate the entire hiring process.  

You use only the features you need - give us a call to find out how to get started.