Sage Software, Inc. — MAS 90 ERP

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From the September 2006 Review of Mid-Range Accounting Systems

Acquired by Sage Software in 1998, the products known as Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 ERP remain strong mid-market solutions, as they have been for 20 years — solid first-rate contenders in the mid- and high-end accounting markets. Building on the March 2004 release of version 4.0, the newest release, version 4.1, delivers an enhanced user interface, improved auditing, and more extensive security and reporting capabilities.

Ease of Use/Transaction Entry -- 5 Stars
Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 are built upon the same base system and offer the same general navigation functionality, with Sage MAS 200 offering additional data processing options; the benefits of a thin client/server platform; and the benefits of enhanced data integrity, reliability and scalability. The systems’ data-entry screens maintain a consistent look and feel throughout program operations, with easy-to-use tabbed data-entry screens and assistive features such as mouse-over field descriptions, lookup fields, search and query functions, pull-down selection lists and content-sensitive Help. Many of the interface’s screens provide customization with user-defined fields and the ability to attach virtually any kind of document or file to specific memos. As well, data-entry screens utilize a new dual grid design that allows resizing of columns, moving columns between grids, the ability to easily undo saved changes, and sorting or hiding of columns to match the users day-to-day needs.

Modules & Notable Features -- 5 Stars
Both Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 offer a broad set of core accounting modules, including GL, AR, AP, reconciliation, asset accounting, inventory and mag media reporting, as well as options for e-commerce, HR and payroll, CRM, financial reporting, and business intelligence and analysis tools. Sage also offers industry-specific modules for project management, manufacturing and wholesale distribution. The system can support multiple cost centers, divisions, subsidiaries and other departmental arrangements. The flexibility of the systems enables smaller companies running on less technologically advanced networks to get in with Sage MAS 90, which supports Windows 2000, Windows 2003, Windows XP and NetWare. Users can then move up to the more robust Sage MAS 200 system, which supports more users and uses a thin-client architecture.

The system’s business intelligence tools are very impressive, providing customizable Business Alerts that can send e-mails regarding significant events or pending urgent tasks such as credit holds, inventory thresholds, priority client transactions and urgency levels. The Business Insights Dashboard further helps keep users abreast of their responsibilities, providing quick access to key business information that can be presented in a graphical layout with customization to allow users to pick the information they need. Reports provided through this dashboard can be set to automatically refresh with current information as transactions occur, and offer extensive drill-down capabilities.
Version 4.1 improvements were focused on the Accounts Receivable, Sales Order, Bank Reconciliation, Return Merchandise Authorization and eBusiness Manager modules. One of the most significant changes in the 4.1 release is the integration between the Sales Order module and the Job Cost module by allowing companies to associate material revenues and costs associated with the order directly to a pre-defined job for ongoing cost analysis. Other enhancements and additions include better utilization of Crystal Reports and predefined report selection options, improved batch auditing, a Memo Manager that allows memos to be attached and assigned to specific transactions for a predetermined time period, right mouse-click functionality, and the ability to add user-defined fields.

Integration/Import/Export -- 5 Stars
Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 integrate seamlessly within their modules, automatically routing and retrieving data as needed through an object-oriented architecture that is also accessible to third-party partners. The systems can share data with many other Sage products including a robust integration with Sage FAS, Sage SalesLogix, Sage Abra and ACT! by Sage. The vendor also has a large network of third-party software developers who have built systems designed to enhance and integrate with Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200, providing specially focused applications for niche markets and functionalities. The systems can import from a number of formats including Excel, ASCII, ODBC-compliant sources and any system that can integrate with object-oriented systems like Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200. The system can also export to Excel, Word, *.PDF and ASCII formats.

Reporting -- 5 Stars
The Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 systems offer a good selection of pre-built system reports as well as the option to create or customize reports using the Crystal Reports system included with the programs. Reports are accessible from within modules, where they are arranged according to tasks, as well as through the reporting function, and reports can also be generated via the Business Insights Reporter, which is customizable by the user to include whatever data and reports he or she needs access to (and has rights to access). Both Sage systems offer report output options directly to Word, Excel, plain text and *.PDF and can e-mail reports directly from within the system. Reports offer drill-down capability when previewed on-screen. All standard reports now also include a new Word mail merge output option that allows users to output the report directly to Word with embedded mail merge capabilities.